The 5 Most Hated Biblical Figures in Israel and Why

The 5 Most Hated Biblical Figures in Israel and Why

The Bible isn’t just a book of heroes. It’s filled with villains, scoundrels, and outright enemies of Israel. Some of these figures are remembered for their cruelty, betrayal, or sheer audacity to oppose God’s plan for His chosen people. In modern Israel, their stories still evoke anger and contempt. Here are five most hated biblical figures who are hated in Israel—and the reasons why.

(Ancient city of Antioch on the Orontes, currently known as Antakya, in Turkey. Vintage engraving, Shutterstock)

1. Balaam: The Prophet Who Sold Out

Balaam is a name that makes people cringe. Hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, Balaam agreed because of his greed. In Numbers 22–24, his journey on a donkey is remembered more for the donkey’s moral clarity than Balaam’s. The angel blocking the road wasn’t there to stop the animal—it was there to stop Balaam from completing his mission to harm Israel.

What sealed Balaam’s infamy was his later role in seducing the Israelites into idolatry and immorality. In Numbers 31:16, it’s revealed that he advised the Moabites to send women to lead the Israelite men astray. For Israelis, Balaam symbolizes treachery and the danger of those who serve money and power rather than truth and righteousness.

2. Pharaoh: The Ultimate Oppressor

Pharaoh, the unnamed king of Egypt in the Exodus story, is universally despised in Jewish history. As the ruler who enslaved the Israelites, ordered their male infants drowned in the Nile, and hardened his heart against God’s commands, Pharaoh represents everything Israel fights against: tyranny, cruelty, and the denial of freedom.

In Exodus 5–14, Pharaoh’s stubbornness leads to the Ten Plagues, which devastate Egypt. Even as his land is destroyed and his people suffer, he refuses to free the Israelites until the final plague takes his firstborn son. His hatred and arrogance are warnings against leaders who put their ego above their people.

In Israel, Pharaoh’s story is a reminder of the horrors of slavery and the resilience of the Jewish people. The Passover Seder each year celebrates his defeat and the liberation of the Israelites, making him a hated figure in the national memory.

3. Haman: The Villain of Purim

Haman is the embodiment of anti-Semitism. In the Book of Esther, this high-ranking official in the Persian Empire plots to annihilate the Jewish people simply because one man, Mordechai, refuses to bow to him. Haman’s hatred is so deep that he manipulates King Ahasuerus into signing a decree to exterminate all Jews.

Israelis remember Haman as a warning about unchecked power and bigotry. During the festival of Purim, his name is drowned out by noisemakers whenever it’s mentioned, symbolizing the erasure of his evil. His death on the gallows he built for Mordechai in Esther 7:10 is seen as poetic justice.

Haman isn’t just a biblical villain; he’s a stand-in for every enemy of the Jewish people throughout history. His hatred ensures he’ll never be forgiven or forgotten.

4. Ahitophel: The Traitor Who Betrayed King David

Ahitophel was once one of King David’s most trusted advisors, known for his wisdom and insight. But his betrayal during Absalom’s rebellion in 2 Samuel 15–17 makes him one of the most despised figures in the Bible. When David’s son Absalom attempted to usurp the throne, Ahitophel sided with the rebel prince, using his influence to advise Absalom on how to defeat David.

What makes Ahitophel so hated in Israel is the personal nature of his betrayal. His actions weren’t just political—they were deeply personal, undermining the king he had once loyally served. Even worse, Jewish tradition suggests Ahitophel’s grudge may have been fueled by revenge for David’s sins with Bathsheba, who was Ahitophel’s granddaughter.

Ahitophel’s story ends tragically: when Absalom ignores his advice, Ahitophel hangs himself in despair (2 Samuel 17:23). Israelis see him as the ultimate Judas figure—proof that even the wisest can fall to bitterness and betrayal.

(Ahithophel and Hushai the Archite advise Absalom on the plan of war against King David, Wikimedia)

5. Jezebel: The Queen of Corruption

Jezebel is a name that drips with disdain. Married to King Ahab, she introduced Baal worship into Israel, persecuted God’s prophets, and orchestrated the murder of Naboth to steal his vineyard. Her actions in 1 Kings 16–21 symbolize moral and spiritual decay.

Jezebel’s end is as infamous as her life. In 2 Kings 9:30–37, she’s thrown from a window, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs. Her gruesome death is remembered as divine punishment for her evil deeds.

Israelis hate Jezebel because she represents everything that threatens the nation’s identity: idolatry, corruption, and betrayal of God’s commandments. Her name has become a byword for wickedness and is often used to describe manipulative or immoral leaders.

What Does This Teach Us?

These biblical villains aren’t just characters in a story—they’re symbols of real threats to Israel’s survival and identity. Whether it’s Pharaoh’s oppression, Balaam’s greed, or Haman’s genocidal hatred, these figures remind us that Israel has faced enemies from within and without since its inception.

Yet, through every challenge, the Jewish people have endured. As Isaiah 41:11-12 promises:

“Behold, all those who are incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; they shall be as nothing, and those who strive with you shall perish.”

History has proven that those who rise against Israel inevitably fall. These villains serve as a warning—but also as a testament to the faithfulness of God and the resilience of His people.

Israel’s story is one of survival, justice, and hope. No matter how dark the enemy’s intentions, they are no match for the light of God’s promises.