Aridai אֲרִידַי

Male H0742 1 book

Son of Haman, enemy of the Jews

Who is Aridai in the Bible?

Aridai was one of the ten sons of Haman, the chief antagonist of the book of Esther who plotted to destroy all the Jews in the Persian empire. When Haman's evil scheme was exposed by Queen Esther and thwarted by King Ahasuerus, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for the Jew Mordecai. Following Haman's execution, the king issued a decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves, and during the subsequent conflict in Susa, Aridai and his nine brothers were killed and hanged (Esther 9:9). The death of Haman's sons represents the complete reversal of his plans and the ultimate vindication of the Jewish people, demonstrating God's providence in preserving His people from destruction.

Biography

Aridai is mentioned in the book of Esther as one of the ten sons of Haman, the chief antagonist in the story. Haman, a high-ranking official in the Persian court, plotted to destroy all the Jews in the empire due to his hatred for Mordecai, a Jew who refused to bow down to him. However, Haman's plan was thwarted by Queen Esther, who revealed her Jewish identity to King Ahasuerus and exposed Haman's evil scheme.

As a result, Haman was hanged on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king issued a decree allowing the Jews to defend themselves against their enemies. On the appointed day, the Jews throughout the empire fought against those who sought to harm them. In Susa, the capital, they killed five hundred men and also killed Haman's ten sons, including Aridai (Est.9.9).

After this victory, Queen Esther requested that the bodies of Haman's sons be hanged on the gallows, further emphasizing the complete defeat of Haman and his family (Est.9.13-14). The mention of Aridai and his brothers' deaths serves to underscore the reversal of fortune and the triumph of the Jewish people over their enemies, as well as the downfall of those who sought to destroy them.

Family

In Scripture

1 biblical book ; 1 with study content
Esther 1 verse

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew אֲרִידַי
Encyclopedia Article

Aridai

ISBE 1915 (Public Domain)

ar-i-da'-tha, a-rid'-a-tha ('aridhatha'): A son of Haman (Es 9:8). It may be related to the Persian Hari-data, "given by Hari." The Septuagint reads Pharadatha.

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