This is one of the most chilling and fascinating “mysteries” in history, where the past of Persia shakes hands with the 20th century in a way that defies all logic. To understand it, we must look at the original text of the Megillah (the Scroll of Esther).
When the names of the ten sons of Haman who were executed are listed, the scribe organized them in a very peculiar way: in a vertical column, with a blank space to the left of each name. But the true secret lies in the size of certain letters.
The Code of the Small Letters
In Hebrew tradition, letters are also numbers. In the list of the ten sons of Haman, there are three letters that are always written smaller than normal: a Tav (ת), a Shin (ש), and a Zayin (ז).
If we add their numerical values ($400 + 300 + 7$), we get 707. For centuries, sages wondered what this number meant, until the year 5707 of the Hebrew calendar arrived (which corresponds to 1946 in our calendar).
The three small letters and the large vav in the ten sons of Haman, with the Nuremberg trials as a backdrop.
The Nuremberg Trial: An Echo of Purim
This is where the skin crawls. After World War II, the Nuremberg Trials were held against Nazi leaders (who, like Haman, sought the total extermination of the Jewish people). Although many Nazis were tried, ten of them were sentenced to die by hanging—exactly the same number and the same method of execution as the sons of Haman.
There was an eleventh convict, Hermann Göring, but he committed suicide in his cell before the execution, leaving—just as in the text of the Megillah—ten men to climb the scaffold.
The Last Words of Julius Streicher
On October 16, 1946 (which curiously fell on the last day of the festival of Sukkot, the annual “Judgment Day”), as Julius Streicher climbed the gallows, he looked at the witnesses and shouted: “Purimfest 1946!” (Purim Festival 1946!).
No one knows why he said it; he was not a scholar of the Torah, but a persecutor of those who studied it. However, his words confirmed to the world that the pattern of Purim was repeating itself. The attempt at extermination in ancient Persia and the attempt again in the modern era ended with the same “turn” of events.
What Does This Teach Us Today?
This mystery reveals to us that the names of the sons of Haman are not just a dead genealogical list; they are a reminder that Yehováh is in control of time.
Today, when we hear threats coming from the same geographical region (Iran/Persia), these small letters in the ancient text tell us: “Do not fear, history is already written.” Yeshúa the Mesías himself taught us that not one Yud of the Torah would pass away without being fulfilled, and as recorded in the Gospel according to Yojanan (John 8:32), the Truth is what sets us free from that fear.
Thus we are taught that, although evil may seem sophisticated and modern, the outcome follows an unbreakable spiritual rule: he who sows hatred against the people of the Covenant ends up facing his own judgment.
A Final Reflection: The Invisible Thread of Justice
Looking back, from the halls of the palace in Susa to the cold cells of Nuremberg, we discover that history is not a series of chaotic accidents, but a tapestry woven by the sovereignty of Yehováh. The “mystery” of Purim reveals that, although evil may design perfect plans and build inescapable gallows, there is a higher justice that always has the last word.
The news arriving today from the same region of ancient Persia (Iran) may generate concern, but the teaching of the names of Haman’s sons gives us a powerful reason for calm: He who keeps His people does not slumber. If the small letters of an ancient scroll could predict with mathematical precision a trial thousands of years later, we can be sure that the present is not outside of divine control.
Our Anchor in the Storm
Our trust does not rest on military strategy or human diplomacy, but on the faithfulness of the One who reverses the decrees of destruction. As Yeshúa the Mesías taught us, the peace He leaves us is not like what the world gives; it is a peace based on the victory that has already been won over darkness.
Today, just as in the days of Yojanan, we are invited to walk not by what we see on screens, but by the light of the truth. Purim is not just a memory of the past; it is a promise for the future: evil has an expiration date, but the goodness and the covenant of Yehováh remain forever.
This mystery reveals to us that the names of Haman’s sons are not just a dead genealogical list; they are a reminder that Yehováh is in control of time.