Haman was an Agagite, which possibly defines him as a descendant of the Amalekites whom God told Saul to utterly destroy, or it can simply mean the location where his descendants lived. (Agag can be a title not necessarily a person's name.) The story unfolds when King Ahasuerus promotes Haman to the position of grand vizier or chief minister of Persia — second in command of the kingdom. Is it possible that this prime position went to Haman's head? His nature as novice is clearly noticed. "Being lifted up in pride," he fell "into the condemnation of the devil" (I Timothy 3:6).
The king commanded everyone to bow down and reverence Haman. This indicated an act of worship. Rulers during this time were to be considered as gods, and they demanded the honor and glory deemed upon deity. Haman expected this worship from everyone. "The pride of life" (1 John 2:16) overpowered his passions. Fear of the true God never enters his mind (Proverbs 8:13).
Pride always seeks preeminence. It feeds on the flattery of others (Proverbs 26:28). But one man does not succumb to Haman's sacrilege — Mordecai. Mordecai's reason for not bowing and worshiping Haman was the fact that he was a Hebrew. The Jews did bow down to kings and authority in respect but not when it involved reverence as a god. The true God alone was to be given the honor and glory of worship (Exodus 20:3).
Haman could have immediately destroyed Mordecai for his refusal of reverence, but he decided that all Jews might have this notion of disobedience toward his position of honor and glory. Therefore, Haman seeks to destroy all the Jews with the king's permission. Note his cleverness in using two arguments against the Jews: "their laws are diverse from all the people" and "neither keep they the king's laws" (Esther 3:8).
Pride always seeks its own way. Permission is granted. Haman now resorts to superstition in his attempt to rid himself of the Jewish nation. Haman utilizes the lot (Pur) for guidance — a tool of Astrology which seeks to find the "best" day and month to accomplish a task.
Pride never has mercy toward its victim. Even when Haman is "joyful" and has a "glad heart" (Esther 5:9), the sight of Mordecai causes his emotions to have a "roller coaster" effect. Haman shows how pride has captured his character "as a chain" (Psalm 73:6) when one man such as Mordecai can cause so much ruckus, as well as such reactions of revenge.
A proud man always must be noticed. Haman quickly expresses his exceptional favor and "fortune" to his wife and friends. His wise men (probably astrologers) and his wife encourage him to build a gallows (impalement spike) to eliminate his irritation. The gallows were "fifty cubits" which would equal
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