Narcopath is a term in popular psychology, but it is a useful term because it refers to a person who displays not only the typical symptoms of a narcissist but also two or more symptoms of antisocial personality disorder. When one reads the Book of Esther, the full impact of Haman’s drugged tendencies reveals itself. But before we look at the long list of Haman’s character flaws, it’s helpful to understand him on a more metaphorical level in the Book of Esther.
Haman was an Agagite. This means that he is a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites, the tribe that God commanded King Saul to completely exterminate. The Edomites descended from Esau, and eventually became the Amalekites, relatives and yet enemies of the Hebrews. A deeper look into the Bible shows us that the Amalekites were a vicious nomadic tribe, universally hated by many of the surrounding nations because of their regular prey on travellers.
Giants first appear in the Bible when they attacked the Hebrews while they were tired from a long journey in the wilderness. narcopath You will remember Moses’ companions raising Moses’ arms during the Battle of Rephidim; The Hebrews won the fight only while his arms were raised. The Amalekites took turns helping Israel’s enemies, from the Moabites to the Philistines. Rabbis associate them with the same spirit of anti-Semitism, seeing them as forerunners of the Nazis, Stalin, and now modern-day radical Islam.
So it should come as no surprise that Haman should so clearly symbolize that hatred for Jews that we associate with Hitler. So when I read and re-read Esther, my first thought was that he was just another evil narcissist. But upon reflection, I began to realize that he embodies the cruel and anti-social tendencies that drug addicts exhibit.
1: The drug patient feels that he deserves honor without achievement.
Haman ascends to grace without mentioning any accomplishments. The story in Esther is sparse, but the king suddenly exalted Haman. We read in Esther 3:1, “King Xerxes honored Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and exalted him and gave him a throne of glory, higher than all the nobles.” I find it strange that no explanation was given. After all, Mordecai saves King Xerxes’ life and doesn’t get the credit until years later.
But the sudden rise of a drug sissy to a position of power is not uncommon. I think of Epstein, the man in the news recently, who was hired as a teacher despite not having a college degree. He then became a prominent financial advisor despite his lack of experience or accomplishment. Look familiar? Drug addicts can often charm, lie, and enter into close relationships with powerful people. This is what they do best.
2: The drug patient expects absolute compliance with his expectations.
Haman becomes angry when Mordecai, the Jew, refuses to bow down to him. Mordecai did not bow down because, as a Jew, he was only allowed to worship God. Mordecai’s actions were not about Haman, but about his devotion to the Lord. It takes very little to earn the enmity of a drug addict. Mordecai had no idea how disrespectful Haman was, but for drug addicts, the whole world should revolve around them. Any slight to their dignity, whether real or imagined, deserves severe punishment.
3: Antisocial personality disorder comes with an absolute lack of sense of right and wrong.
Haman’s response to Mordecai’s imagined insult was to plan to kill all the Jews, men, women, and children. In other words, genocide. Because one man did not acknowledge him as God in front of others, Haman’s response was to kill millions of people. This response is intermittent. It also indicates long-standing cultural hatred. Haman clearly remembered his ancestors’ hatred of the Israelites. The Giants have long declared that their ultimate goal is to eliminate Israel.
4: The drug patient is very arrogant.
When King Haman asked how he should best honor someone, Haman’s first thought was, “It must be me!” His idea of honor included dressing up as a king and walking around for all to see. His displeasure when he discovers that he must bestow upon Mordecai this honor that he has imagined for himself is laughable.
It is equally funny to me that Mordecai, a fundamentally humble man, did not like that such a big deal was being made. After all, Mordecai would have been reminded in the king’s mind that he had saved the king from assassination through Esther. But Mordecai was not arrogant and haughty like Haman. Instead, God arranged for King Xerxes to spend a sleepless night and find out in history.
5: Sociopaths manipulate without hesitation.
Haman tells the story of a people who defy the king by refusing to bow to him. He asks the king to let him deal with the rebels. I doubt whether King Xerxes really understood the whole matter before him. It seemed as if Haman was jealous of the king’s dignity. However, in Esther 3 we see, “Messages were sent by couriers into all the king’s provinces to destroy, kill, and exterminate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—in one day, the thirteenth day of the month Esther. The twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.”
The Nazis did not invent the genocide of Jews. They were better at it. This section of Esther reminds me of my visit to the Holocaust Museum in Israel. Piles of shoes, gold teeth, and spectacles, all plundered from men, women, and children, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
6: A drug patient surrounds himself with helpers.
9 So Haman went out that day rejoicing and in good spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and saw that he did not stand up or fear before him, he was filled with anger against Mordecai. 10 But Haman composed himself and went home. So Haman called his friends and Zeresh his wife, 11 and Haman bragged before them about his great wealth and the number of his sons, and about everything that the king had honored him with, and that he had exalted him above the rest of the nobles and governors. 12 Haman added: “And that is not all.” “I am the only person whom Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she hosted. She has invited me with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this will not please me as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate. Esther 3:9-13
In this part of the Book of Esther, we see how shallow Haman really is. He wants everyone to know how great he is and how much honor he deserves. Notice in verse 9 that Haman becomes angry that Mordecai is not afraid. Nothing irritates a drug addict more than not having the upper hand.
7: Sociopaths enjoy cruelty and intimidation.
Imagine, if you will, setting up an electric chair outside your home. What could serve as a better warning to your neighbors to leave you alone? What kind of sadistic pleasure could one get from having an execution site on their front steps? However, that is what Haman did. Some translations say he built a gallows, but it was actually a huge pole on which he intended to impale Mordecai.
This is serial killer territory, to be honest. He thoroughly enjoys the idea of seeing Mordecai’s lifeless body on his front lawn. I have no words for this, except that Haman is a murderer at worst.
8: The drug patient is impulsive, even if it is to his own detriment.
Once the jig is up and Esther bravely walks Haman out to the king, he throws himself onto Esther’s couch. I don’t consider this a regret. But given the extremely conservative customs of ancient Persia, throwing oneself onto the queen’s couch would be extremely foolish. I think Haman might have been able to find his way out of the whole deal if he had been more careful. After all, the king didn’t want to look foolish. Haman’s reaction was just an excuse to get rid of him.
I sometimes wonder if it’s possible for a whole group of people to become drug addicts. History can certainly provide some compelling cases of such an event, from evil slave owners to various genocides in history. The murder began with a brother killing his brother, and I believe in God, all murders remain that way. We are all created in the image of God, but some of our hearts become irreparably dark.
If you have someone in your life who you suspect is a drug addict, please know that there is currently no cure. The only safe connection is no connection. Paul advised Christians not to deal with these men as he described them in 1 Timothy 3. In fact, we should heed his advice.
