Esther 3:1 - Exposition

After these things . Probably some years after—about b.c. 476 or 475. Haman, the son of Hammedatha . "Haman" is perhaps Umanish , the Persian equivalent of the Greek Eumenes. "Hammedatha" has been explained as " given by the moon" ( Mahadata ) , the initial h being regarded as the Hebrew article. But this mixture of languages is not probable. The Agagite . The Septuagint has βουγαῖος , "the Bugaean." Both terms are equally inexplicable, with our present knowledge; but most probably the term used was a local one, marking the place of Haman's birth or bringing up. A reference to descent from the Amalekite king Agag (Joseph; 'Ant. Jud.,' 11.6, § 5) is scarcely possible.