
- Archeologists have uncovered an inscription which indicates that Agag was also the name of a province in the Persian Empire. This probably explains why Haman was called an Agagite.—Bible Knowledge Commentary
- Some commentators say that he was a descendant of the Amalekite king Agag. (1 Samuel 15:8 "He also took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.")
- If Haman was an Amalekite you can understand his hatred for the Jews. The Amalekites were longtime enemies of the Jews. This hatred goes back to Esau's hatred of Jacob (Genesis 27:41), for the Amalekites were descendants of Esau (Genesis 36:12). Any attack of the Jews by the Amalekites was simply a continuation of the great conflict between Jacob and Esau.
Proverbs 6:16-19 "These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren." ~ We can see these characteristics in Haman throughout the book of Esther.
Now, knowing a little bit about Haman and his background we can see how he is a dangerous man. Not only does he have an extreme hatred for the Jews, but now he is promoted by King Ahasuerus to be prime minister of the Persian Empire. (As prime minister, Haman was the second highest-ranking official in the government, second only to the king himself)
Can you imagine, a person with this much hatred and anger towards the Jews, and now he is put into a position of influence and authority. This kind of person in a position of leadership can only spell disaster; but we will see how God thwarts his plans as we continue our study.
No comments:
Post a Comment