The hanging of Haman is a pivotal event in the Book of Esther, a narrative that underscores the providence of God and the deliverance of the Jewish people from annihilation. Haman, an Agagite and a high-ranking official in the Persian Empire under King Xerxes (Ahasuerus), is the antagonist in the account of Esther. His plot to destroy the Jews is thwarted, leading to his own demise.

Background and Plot Against the Jews

Haman's animosity towards the Jews, particularly Mordecai, a Jew who refused to bow to him, sets the stage for his downfall. In Esther 3:5-6 , it is written, "When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. And when he learned the identity of Mordecai’s people, he scorned the idea of laying hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the kingdom of Xerxes."

Haman manipulates King Xerxes into issuing a decree to annihilate the Jews, casting lots (Purim) to determine the date of their destruction (Esther 3:7-13). This edict causes great mourning among the Jews, and Mordecai seeks the help of his cousin, Queen Esther, to intercede with the king.

Esther's Intervention

Esther, after fasting and prayer, approaches the king, risking her life, as appearing before the king unsummoned could result in death (Esther 4:16). She invites the king and Haman to a banquet, where she plans to reveal her Jewish identity and Haman's plot.

During the second banquet, Esther exposes Haman's scheme to the king, saying, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman!" (Esther 7:6). The king, enraged, steps out into the palace garden, while Haman pleads for his life from Queen Esther.

The Execution of Haman

Upon returning, the king finds Haman falling on the couch where Esther is reclining, which further incenses him. Harbona, one of the king's eunuchs, informs the king of the gallows Haman had prepared for Mordecai, who had earlier saved the king from an assassination plot (Esther 2:21-23). In Esther 7:9-10 , it is recorded, "Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, 'Look, the gallows 50 cubits high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.' The king said, 'Hang him on it!' So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided."

Significance

The hanging of Haman is a dramatic reversal of fortune, illustrating the biblical principle that those who plot evil against God's people will ultimately face divine justice. Haman's execution on the very gallows he constructed for Mordecai serves as a powerful symbol of poetic justice and the protection of the Jewish people. This event is commemorated annually in the Jewish festival of Purim, celebrating the deliverance of the Jews from Haman's plot. The narrative highlights themes of courage, faith, and divine providence, as Esther and Mordecai's faithfulness leads to the salvation of their people.