Murdering babies was, and still is today, indeed a special kind of evil...
The King's chief minister was Haman, a man who hated the Jews. Esther's uncle would not bow down to Haman. Haman was so angry that he plotted to have all the Jews killed, and he drew lots to decide on the date. The Persian word for lot was Purim. Anyone who went to see the King without permission was put to death, but Esther was brave enough to tell her husband of her religion. The King forgave her and Haman was put to death. The full story is read aloud at the synagogue. Every time Haman's name is mentioned the children stamp their feet, boo, hiss and shake rattles in an attempt to drown out the sound of his name.
—BBC Bitesize Guide to Jewish Festivals
, on the custom of Jeering at the mention of Haman's name on Purim.
, on the custom of Jeering at the mention of Haman's name on Purim.Aside from the typical Values Dissonance associated with such an old work, The Bible boasts many characters that stand the tests of time as truly reprehensible.
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Old Testament
- Book of Genesis:
- The Inhabitants of Sodom propagate a culture of Greed, selfishness, and stinginess, having enacted laws prohibiting any acts of charity or hospitality. Upon learning that Lot has invited guests into his home, the hostile Sodomites demand that the men be brought out to be raped as punishment for daring to expect hospitality from them. When Lot attempts to convince the Sodomites to take his daughters instead, the Sodomites mob his house. Also, they attempt to break down the door, and, despite being struck blind, try in vain to attack Lot and his family before being eliminated in a storm of sulfur and flame. A sadistic, putrid populace, the Sodomites' disregard for others on a cultural level is often used as a cautionary tale on the importance of treating others with respect.
- Zuleikha was the unfaithful wife of Potiphar introduced in Genesis 39: 5-20. Upon seeing the young Joseph, she tried to force him to lie with her. She eventually falsely accused him of rape and manipulated her husband into throwing him into prison.
- Book of Numbers: Balaam was a prophet of God who was motivated by Greed. Upon getting tasked by the Moabite king Balak, Balaam tries to have God curse the Israelites. When God sends an angel to intervene, Balaam misinterprets his donkey's actions as disobedience and abuses her. In one last-ditch effort to curse the Israelites, Balaam suggests that Balak introduce the Israelites to pagan worship and idolatry.
- Book of Judges & Samson and Delilah: Delilah was the second lover of Samson, but in truth, she was deceitful. She accepted a bribe from Samson's enemies which stated she would receive payment for discovering the secret of his strength. Therefore, she stood by and watched her servant cut off Samson's hair in his sleep and getting blinded and carried away by the Philistines.
- Books of Samuel: Amnon was the eldest son of David, whom always got his way due to his lineage. Lusting after his half-sister Tamar, Amnon eventually rapes her and subsequently casts Tamar into the streets, refusing to make any apology as per the law note . Amnon’s continued lack of remorse and David’s reluctance to punish his son eventually resulted in Tamar’s brother Absalom’s Start of Darkness.
- Books of Kings:
- Jezebel was the manipulative wife of King Ahab who ordered the deaths of Yahweh's prophets. She became fierce enemies with Elijah when he, in turn, killed her prophets of Baal. Her worst deed, however, was orchestrating a Kangaroo Court by accusing Naboth of a crime. Also, she sentenced him to be stoned to death solely so her husband could acquire his vineyard.
- Athaliah was the presumed daughter of the aforementioned Queen Jezebel and King Ahab. She establishes her desire to rule by nearly killing all of David's lineage, including those in her own dynasty.
- Book of Esther: Haman the Agagite, the Emperor's vizier, possibly lays the groundwork for characters who are designed to be loathed as much as possible. Haman is selfish, arrogant, and anti-Semitic and forces citizens to bow to him. He's also suggested to have embroidered a graven image into his clothing, essentially forcing them to worship an Idol. When his fellow advisor, Mordecai the Judean, refuses to bow for this reason, Haman plots a genocide against the Jewish people. Additionally, he personally builds a gallows for Mordecai when the latter still refuses to bow. It is telling that a near-universal custom when reading Megillat Ester (the Hebrew name of the work) is to jeer at least when Haman's name is first and last mentioned, making him an odd religiously significant version of a character meant to draw ire from the audience.
New Testament
- The Four Gospels: Herod the Great is the unstable ruler of Judah who murdered his own two sons for their growing popularity. Also, he even murdered his favorite wife Miriam. In Matthew, upon learning of the birth of the Messiah, Herod sends his men to slaughter every baby boy two and under in Bethlehem in an event known as the Massacre of the Innocents (as provided by the page image above).
- The Pharisees were the interpreters of the law who manipulated the rules to their benefit. Making enmity with Jesus, the Pharisees try to ensnare him in several schemes like abducting a woman caught in the act of adultery or criticizing him for working on the Sabbath. In secret, the Pharisees manipulate Judas Iscariot into betraying Jesus with the promise of thirty pieces of silver. Years after Jesus's ascension, the Pharisees condemn Saint Stephen, stoning him to death in a rage.
