Welcome, dear reader!

Remember the great tale of the book of Esther? Well, this mini-series recounts the story through the eyes of the main villain. This should be another good biblical adaptation to sink our teeth into. Let’s go!!

Oh, the joys of living in absolute luxury and greatness!

It was evening, and as always, I returned from the palace of the great King Ahasuerus, back to the opulent confines of my home, where it was time to hold court with my loyal wife and confidante Zeresh and a coterie of friends, as I usually did. A chance to remind myself and them how great Haman, son of Hammedatha, is.

As usual, they were all sitting in the lair, waiting for me. Once I arrived, it was time to begin.

Within minutes, the air was thick with the heady fragrance of exotic incenses while fine wines flowed freely as we reveled in the splendors of my prestigious lair, with me gesturing proudly at the tapestries that adorned the walls of my private room that spoke volumes of my great acquisitions.

“Philetus! Moshe! My faithful companions!” I proclaimed, raising a goblet of the finest vintage, “look upon the treasures that grace these halls. You see the wealth I have amassed, don’t you? Believe me, I tell you no lies when I say the power I wield in this kingdom is unmatched. Even the king himself acknowledges my worth.”

Zeresh, ever devoted, nodded in agreement, her eyes full of admiration for me. “It’s true,” she confirmed. “My husband is that powerful. He holds a position above all the princes that are with him. Only King Ahasuerus is greater than him.”

“Astounding!”

“Tell us more, O great Haman!”

Philetus, Moshe and the other friends present gathered around us and listened intently, eager to hear more about my powers in the kingdom.

“Ah, my esteemed friends,” I began with a smug smile, “let me regale you with the tale of the time I stood before King Ahasuerus, and with but a word, I swayed his decisions to align with my desires. The courtiers trembled as they witnessed the king’s favor bestowed upon me, his most trusted advisor.”

As my friends exchanged knowing glances once I gave them the details of the tale, I could almost taste their admiration and envy. And oh, how that pleased my heart!

“I possess the gift of persuasion,” I continued, “a skill that has elevated me to unparalleled heights within the kingdom in no time flat. The king quickly recognized my unique intellect and wisdom and granted me unprecedented access to the inner sanctuary of his court. No decree is passed without my counsel, and no judgment is rendered without my influence.”

“And that is not all. The king, in his infinite wisdom, has showered me with favors beyond imagination. Palatial estates, vast lands, and treasures that rival the wealth of entire nations – he’s bestowed all these upon me as tokens of his appreciation for my unwavering loyalty to him.”

I leaned back in my ornate chair, savoring the moment as my friends marveled at the abundance of favour that engulfed me.

“In fact, let me share with you a secret known to very few people,” I whispered, looking around before continuing. “It was I who guided the king’s hand in the selection of his queen, the exquisite Esther. Her beauty is unmatched, and it was my influence that ensured that she ascended to the throne. Yes, she is but a puppet in the grand theater of my machinations.”

Gasps of astonishment filled the room as my companions absorbed the gravity of my revelation. There was no disputing the fact that my tales of having such sway over the king’s court painted a picture of a man whose influence knew no bounds. This was undoubtedly a great man they were talking to.

In fact, the very definition of greatness!

As they continued to gasp and marvel at my greatness, however, a recent memory came to mind, instantly souring the moment.

I frowned and sat back, shaking my head.

Yes, I might have had it all. I may have had everything a man could desire. But the taste of power and the grandeur of my station were overshadowed by that one thorn that refused to be plucked. That infuriating thorn that wounded my ego time after time.

Mordecai’s refusal to bow before me.

That disrespectful little imbecile! That wretched fool at the gates!

Zeresh noticed my change in mood and immediately asked, “What is wrong, my lord? Why the sudden change in disposition?”

“The impudence of that Mordecai!” I immediately spat, my voice dripping with disdain. “Despite all I possess and who I am, the sight of him at the king’s gate continues to vex me. No matter how high I rise, he remains a thorn in my side by refusing to bow before my superiority.”

Zeresh, always rustled whenever I was in a bad mood, attempted to soothe my wounded pride. “My lord, do not let the actions of one man tarnish the brilliance of your achievements. Mordecai is but an insignificant speck in the grand tapestry of all your triumphs.”

“Zeresh,” I growled, my voice dripping with disgust, “how can you not comprehend the depth of my frustration? Despite all I have achieved, despite the kingdom at my feet, Mordecai continues to defy me, to mock me with his insolent disregard for my authority.”

Zeresh, shaking her head, continued to try and calm me down. “But my lord, you have already secured a day for the execution of Mordecai and his people. Your vengeance is assured. Why let the actions of one man diminish the splendors of your triumphs?”

I shot her a withering glance, the flames of fury dancing in my eyes. “Zeresh, it appears you greatly underestimate the festering wound that is Mordecai. His refusal to bow to me as he ought to, gnaws at the core of my being. No matter how high I rise, he remains an affront to my honor, a stain on the canvas of my accomplishments.”

As my friends exchanged puzzled glances, I continued to vent my frustration. “But, my lord,” Moshe ventured cautiously, “if you have already obtained the king’s decree to annihilate Mordecai and his people, is that not enough?”

“Enough?” I scoffed, unimpressed by the suggestion. “No, it is not enough! It is not! Mordecai’s demise must be separate from that! His must be a spectacle, a testament to the consequence of defying me. I want him humiliated, broken, and hanging from the highest gallows for all to see! So all will know the sheer folly of defying me!”

My furious declaration lingered in the air, as Zeresh and my friends exchanged hesitant glances, obviously unsure of what to say.

I know they could not understand, but the reality was that it was a matter of principle. I demanded respect, and Mordecai’s defiance of that seriously undermined everything I had ever worked for. I could not let that go! I just could not!

It was only after a minute or two of silence that one of them, Jehiel, seemingly emboldened by intrigue, spoke up.

“My lord, perhaps it is time to take matters into your own hands? Build the gallows as you have suggested yourself, a tall and imposing one, and petition the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it immediately. That way, you can let all and sundry witness the gravity of opposing you, and Mordecai’s fate will serve as a chilling warning to all who would even think of trying to dare challenge your authority.”

The idea hung in the air for a while, as I deliberated over it. A minute or two later, and a twisted smile formed on my lips.

A fabulous idea it was! The prospect of a towering gallows, which would remain a monument to my wrath, sounded magnificent to me. 

“Yes,” I declared, nodding my head excitedly, “a gallows sounds perfect. Let it be built, and let the king decree Mordecai’s fate upon it. The world shall witness the consequences of defying Haman.”

I immediately gestured at my servant by the door. “Fetch the artisans,” I commanded. “They are  to prepare a gallows, high and mighty, this very night! It shall serve as a symbol of the fate that awaits those who dare defy Haman, the king’s great chief advisor. Tomorrow, I shall petition Ahasuerus to have Mordecai hanged upon it. And all shall see what befalls those who dare to undermine me and who I am.”

A collective murmur of approval resonated through the room, with everyone nodding in agreement. As the servant obediently made his way out of the lair to do my bidding, I sat back in my chair, my smug smile back on my face.

The prospect of a lifeless Mordecai swinging from the gallows ignited a great feeling of satisfaction within me. And as the king’s great chief advisor, a rejection of such a suggestion would be nigh-on impossible. This was going to be executed with absolutely no interferences.

Yes, as the night carried on, I carried joy in my heart, for the next morning would bring me the desires of my heart. The next morning promised a crescendo of retribution, and a symphony of my triumph over an insubordinate fool.

Hmmm, so Haman’s got plans for Mordecai. Gee, I wonder how that’s gonna go. And we know his claim about Esther is not true, don’t we?