Allusions in rabbinic literature to the Biblical character of Haman, the anti-Jewish villain of the Book of Esther, contain various expansions, elaborations and inferences beyond what is presented in the text of the Bible itself.
Having attempted to exterminate the Jews of Persia, and rendering himself thereby their worst enemy, Haman naturally became the center of many Talmudic legends.
[5] Haman was also an astrologer, and when he was about to fix the time for the massacre of the Jews he first cast lots to ascertain which was the most auspicious day of the week for that purpose.
She especially induced Haman to build a gallows for Mordecai, assuring him that this was the only way in which he would be able to prevail over his enemy, for hitherto the just had always been rescued from every other kind of death.
[7] Haman selected a thorn-tree in the king's garden, and, singing and rejoicing, set it up before his door, and said to himself, "Tomorrow, in the morning, at the time of the reading of the Shema, I shall hang Mordecai."
He then went to the Beth midrash, where he found Mordecai surrounded by his 22,000 pupils, all with dust on their heads and clad in sack-cloth.
[9] At the time of leading Mordecai through the streets of Shushan, Haman performed the duties of four different callings: barber, bath attendant, groom, and public crier.
[4] It is also said that when King Ahasuerus rose from the banquet in anger and went into his garden he saw angels in the form of men felling the trees, who said that they were ordered to do so by Haman.
According to the ancient rabbis, the beggars were seventy in number; according to Rami bar Abi, there were altogether two hundred and eight.