The answer is: Zeresh

Esther 5:10

Haman’s wife, Zeresh, plays a captivating yet often overlooked role in the story of Esther. While Haman is infamous as the antagonist determined to annihilate the Jewish people, Zeresh provides a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of his character and decisions. When Haman first shared his woes, fretful about the honor Mordecai did not give him, Zeresh and his friends swiftly suggested a rather dark solution: build a gallows.

Did you know that while Zeresh sets this malicious plan in motion, biblical women often wield significant influence in their household and community? Like Bathsheba persuading King David, or Deborah inspiring Barak, we see how women can have a profound impact on the course of events, even from the background.

This dynamic showcases an often underestimated theme in the Esther narrative and reinforces how pivotal moments often hinge on unexpected counsel. Though she is nameless in the grand sweep of history, Zeresh acts as a reminder that manipulation and malice can breed disaster in families or societies.

Her story reverberates as a cautionary tale about the dangers of blind loyalty and heavy ambition. In stark contrast to the courageous Esther, whose advocacy saves her people, Zeresh merely exemplifies the consequences of complicity. So, perhaps reading Zeresh’s lack of scruples invites the urgent question: what role do we play in the betterment or detriment of those around us?