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In Ezra, 4:8, a person called Shimshai is mentioned:

רְחוּם בְּעֵל-טְעֵם, וְשִׁמְשַׁי סָפְרָא, כְּתַבוּ אִגְּרָה חֲדָה, עַל-יְרוּשְׁלֶם--לְאַרְתַּחְשַׁשְׂתְּא מַלְכָּא, כְּנֵמָא.

translation:

Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort

Rashi says that Shimshai is noone else but Haman's son:

ושמשי ספרא - ושמשי היה סופר הוא שמשי בנו של המן

Where is Shimshai mentioned as Haman's son? He isn't mentioned among עשרת בני המן the ten sons of Haman that were hanged... So how does Rashi know that?

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Are you asking for a midrash/gemara/etc. as a source or for a source in Tanach itself? – b a Feb 20 at 1:13
preferrably Tanach, if exists. Otherwise, it's probably messora and Tanaim or Emoraim is fine. – yair Feb 20 at 2:38
It's an important detail, since saying that Shimshai is related to Haman, shows that Haman has a longer negtive history than described in Megilat Esther. Also, I read somewhere that the Igeret Shimshai has written was the reason for Mordechai to be in Shushan in the first place - Mordechai tried to deny it in front of Achashverosh. – yair Feb 20 at 2:42

1 Answer

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The Yalkut Shimoni mentions that he is Hamans son in עמוס 545.

The Maharsha (Megilla 16a) quotes this in the name of the Targum. The Hagaas Vehaaros there from Oz Vehadar write that although it is implied there (9:14) it does not seem to be written there explicitly.

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I thought it was in TSh as well, but haven't found it yet. – Double AA♦ Feb 20 at 7:15
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Also, Rashi might predate the Yalkut Shimoni. – Double AA♦ Feb 20 at 7:18
I think it is perek 3 in beginning.On the second point yea I know its debatable since Rashi does not quote it. – sam Feb 20 at 7:29
The word son is in brackets in the Yalkut hebrewbooks.org/… – Double AA♦ Feb 20 at 7:30
@DoubleAA ,And... – sam Feb 20 at 17:29
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