Haman’s murderous scheme was thwarted by God’s providence, and the casting of “Pur” that was intended for evil ultimately brought about the Jewish feast of Purim, which annually commemorates their deliverance.
Haman appears in the story of Esther as a high-ranking official serving under King Ahasuerus (commonly identified with Xerxes I, who ruled Persia from 486—465 BC) in the Persian capital of Susa. Esther 9:24 highlights that Haman was plotting the destruction of the Jewish people living under Persian rule. In the verse, the scripture describes “For Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and destroy them” (v.24). By mentioning that Haman cast Pur (or “lots”), the passage explains the origins of the festival name “Purim,” which would later celebrate the Jews’ deliverance from this plot.
The inclusion of Haman’s ancestry as an Agagite suggests he was a descendant of King Agag of the Amalekites, an ancient people frequently hostile to Israel (1 Samuel 15:8-9). Historically, the Amalekites were long-time enemies of the Jews, so Haman’s lineage underscores his continuing hostility toward God’s chosen people. The verse makes clear that Haman’s goal was the total destruction of the Jewish community, demonstrating both the depth of his hatred and the desperate peril faced by Esther and her people.
Susa (also called Shushan), located in modern-day Iran, served as the administrative capital of the Persian Empire. Haman’s plan could have impacted the entire vast empire stretching from India to Ethiopia, a territory that included many Jewish exiles. Esther’s courage in appealing to the king at risk of her own life, and the faithful support of her cousin Mordecai, led to the dramatic reversal of Haman’s plan, turning a crisis into a celebratory memorial for subsequent generations.
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Esther 9:24 meaning
Haman appears in the story of Esther as a high-ranking official serving under King Ahasuerus (commonly identified with Xerxes I, who ruled Persia from 486—465 BC) in the Persian capital of Susa. Esther 9:24 highlights that Haman was plotting the destruction of the Jewish people living under Persian rule. In the verse, the scripture describes “For Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the adversary of all the Jews, had schemed against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that is the lot, to disturb them and destroy them” (v.24). By mentioning that Haman cast Pur (or “lots”), the passage explains the origins of the festival name “Purim,” which would later celebrate the Jews’ deliverance from this plot.
The inclusion of Haman’s ancestry as an Agagite suggests he was a descendant of King Agag of the Amalekites, an ancient people frequently hostile to Israel (1 Samuel 15:8-9). Historically, the Amalekites were long-time enemies of the Jews, so Haman’s lineage underscores his continuing hostility toward God’s chosen people. The verse makes clear that Haman’s goal was the total destruction of the Jewish community, demonstrating both the depth of his hatred and the desperate peril faced by Esther and her people.
Susa (also called Shushan), located in modern-day Iran, served as the administrative capital of the Persian Empire. Haman’s plan could have impacted the entire vast empire stretching from India to Ethiopia, a territory that included many Jewish exiles. Esther’s courage in appealing to the king at risk of her own life, and the faithful support of her cousin Mordecai, led to the dramatic reversal of Haman’s plan, turning a crisis into a celebratory memorial for subsequent generations.