Was “Haman” an Egyptian name in the time of Moses? Did the Qur’an confuse the Egyptian Haman with the Persian Haman in the Bible?

Was “Haman” an Egyptian name in the time of Moses? Did the Qur’an confuse the Egyptian Haman with the Persian Haman in the Bible?

28:38 And Pharaoh said, "O chiefs, I do not know of a god for you other than me. So kindle upon the clay for me, O Haman, and make for me a lofty tower so that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I think he is of the liars."

(It is a fact that the title “first servant of the god Amon/Amun” (“hem netjer en tepy en Amun” or “hm nTr tp n imn”) has been recorded in Egypt, in tombs, statues, etc. The word “Haman” comes from that title. The word Haman is not a proper name, but a title of Egyptian origin, a contraction of Ham-Amon, meaning “servant of Amon”)(Note: hm/hem = servant; netjer/ntr = god; tepy/ta’pij = first; imn = Amon/Amun)(“First” indicates the ranking (there is also “second”, “third”, etc.), and “god” refers to “Amon”. So, the usual and obvious abbreviation for that title is “Haman (servant of Amon)”, while the title “first servant of the god Amon” is more specific, official or complete, for a recording, rather than used in a normal conversation)(According to the article “Bakenkhonsu” in wikipedia, the high priest “Bakenkhonsu was responsible for several building projects for the king” (Ramesses II); according to the Qur’an, likewise, Haman was also involved in building projects (40:36); so Bakenkhonsu and Haman might be the same person. So, it also proves that “Haman” in the Qur’an is not “Haman” in the Bible. It could be objected that Ramesses II might not be the Pharaoh of the Exodus, an answer to this is that other candidates to be the Pharaoh of the Exodus had a “Haman” involved in building projects, so, it suggests that High Priests are also architect, or, at least, oversee building projects. For example, Hapuseneb was the High Priest of Amun during the reign of Hatshepsut (Thutmose II’s wife), and he had several titles, one of them is “Overseer of all the works of the King”. A few monuments of Hapuseneb have survived)(Another point is that a name or title containing “Amon” was typically Egyptian: e.g. “Tutankhamun” (living image of Amun); “Amenhotep” (Amun is pleased); “Meryamun” (beloved of Amun); “Setepenamun” (chosen of Amun); “Akhenamun” (helpful to Amun); “Tentamun” (she of Amun); “Siamun” (son of Amun))(And another point is that there is no “e” or “o” vowel sounds or phonemes in standard Arabic, so “Haman” (and not “Hamon”) is the proper name in Arabic, also because the Messengers were sent in the language of their people (14:4)(Arabic in the case of Muhammad). But another point is that the original letters in the Egyptian hieroglyphs have no vowels (no “a”, “o” or “u”), so it leads to having different spellings of “Amon”, while it refers to the same matter: “Haman” refers to “Ham-Amon”)(See also the article “High Priests of Amun” in wikipedia)(Allah knows best)

28:6 And establish them in the land and show Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts through them that which they were fearing.

(Another point is that there are many different persons living in different periods bearing the same name. There are also many examples in the Bible of different characters having the same or similar name, and no one makes any objection about it, for example, Adna who took foreign wives vs. Adna the priest; Gemariah son of Shaphan vs. Gemariah son of Hilkiah; Hananiah son of Zerubbabel vs. Hananiah son of Azoor, etc.)(The Haman mentioned in the Qur’an has nothing to do with the Haman mentioned in the Old Testament. Several etymologies have been proposed for “Haman” in the Bible: “illustrious” (from Persian word “Hamayun”, “magnificent”, “good thoughts” (from Persian name “Vohuman”) or the idol “humban”; so it is not related to the Egyptian “Haman” in the Qur’an at all, because the root of the word “Haman” in Arabic is “ha-Miim-Nun“, and it means “to put a thing in a purse or girdle. The title of a high priest, head of an organization, in charge of treasury / soldiers / granary / craftsmen”. So, the Persian word and the Arabic / Egyptian one have different roots, so it is not the same word, despite it is similarly spelled)(Another point is that the Egyptian inscriptions of the high priest “Haman” are older than the mention of “Haman the Agagite” in the Hebrew Bible, so, indirectly, “Haman” in the Qur’an is an older name, older than “Haman” in the Bible. So, if it were a matter of confusing two Haman, then the Jews were the ones who confused it (if it were the case, but it is not a case of confusion, but they are just two different characters). “Haman” in the Qur’an is an older character, and his “name”/title is supported by older inscriptions, and his architectonic work is supported/evidenced by his surviving constructions)(Allah knows best)

40:36 And Pharaoh said, "O Haman, construct for me a tower that I may reach the ways,

(Verse 40:36 confirms that Haman made constructions. It is a fact that the high priests were involved in building projects)(Allah knows best)

28:8 Then the family of Pharaoh picked him up so that he might become an enemy and a grief for them. Indeed, Pharaoh and Haman and their hosts were sinners.

29:39 And Qarun, and Pharaoh and Haman. And certainly, Moses came to them with clear evidences, but they were arrogant in the earth, and they could not outstrip Us.

40:23 And certainly, We sent Moses with Our Signs and a clear authority, 40:24 To Pharaoh, Haman and Qarun, but they said, "A magician, a liar."

14:4 And We did not sent any Messenger except in the language of his people so that he might make clear for them. Then Allah lets go astray whom He wills and guides whom He wills. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

18:13 We narrate to you their story in truth. Indeed, they were youths who believed in their Lord, and We increased them in guidance.

34:48 Say, "Indeed, my Lord projects the truth, the All-Knower of the unseen."

3:99 Say, "O People of the Book, why do you hinder those who believe from the way of Allah, seeking to make it (seem) crooked, while you are witnesses? And Allah is not unaware of what you do.

5:103 Allah has not made Bahirah, Saibah, Wasilah, and Hami. But those who disbelieved, they invent a lie against Allah, and most of them do not use reason.

See also: Is there any contradiction in the Qur'an? (15) (Miscellaneous)

http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2017/03/refutation-of-so-called-external.html

See also: Is there any contradiction in the Qur'an? (0) (Index)

https://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2017/03/refutation-of-so-called-internal.html

See also: Who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus?

http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2017/01/was-pharaoh-drowned-or-saved-when.html

See also: “Jesus the Messiah” vs. “Jesus Barabbas”

https://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2018/03/why-is-jesus-called-son-of-mary-so-many.html