Hammedatha
Hammedatha was the father of Haman, the Persian official who plotted to destroy the Jews in the book of Esther.
Biography
Hammedatha was a Persian official identified throughout the book of Esther exclusively as the father of Haman the Agagite (Esther 3:1, 10; 8:5; 9:10, 24). His Agagite designation connects his family to the royal line of Agag, king of the Amalekites, the nation that had been the inveterate enemy of Israel since the Exodus (Exodus 17:8–16; 1 Samuel 15). Although Hammedatha himself receives no direct narrative attention, his son Haman rose to become the most powerful official in the Persian empire under Ahasuerus. The repeated formula "Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite" serves as a deliberate genealogical marker in Esther, emphasizing the deep historical roots of the conflict between Haman and the Jewish people, particularly the Benjamite Mordecai, himself a descendant of King Saul.
Significance
Hammedatha's importance is entirely paternal and genealogical: by fathering Haman, he set in motion one of the most dramatic confrontations in biblical history. The Agagite lineage he passed on gave Haman's hatred of the Jews a hereditary and theological dimension, linking the Esther narrative to centuries of hostility between Amalek and Israel. His repeated mention in the text serves a literary function, reminding readers that the events of Esther are not isolated episodes but part of a long-running pattern of divine preservation of God's covenant people against enemies who seek their destruction.
Verse Appearances (5)
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]