The tree's the thing

OK, it's not the only thing, but it is the thing that just struck me today.  We're all familiar with the connection of Haman's name to the Forbidden tree as recounted in Chulin 139b:

המן מן התורה מנין (בראשית ג, יא) המן העץ

From where in the Torah can one find an allusion to Haman? The verse states after Adam ate from the tree of knowledge: “Have you eaten of the tree, about which I commanded you that you should not eat?”

Ever since I first learned this decades ago, I connected the importance of the name with the Forbidden Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge and the first sin. But it struck me today that it's not just about that tree but the tree, that is the gallows, upon which Haman was hanged.  It's always referred to as the, from the time he makes it 5:14 וַיַּ֥עַשׂ הָעֵֽץ 

to the time of his own sentence and execution in chapter 7:9-10

 ט וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חַ֠רְבוֹנָ֠ה אֶחָ֨ד מִן־הַסָּֽרִיסִ֜ים לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ גַּ֣ם הִנֵּֽה־הָעֵ֣ץ אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂ֪ה הָמָן לְֽמָרְדֳּכַ֞י אֲשֶׁ֧ר דִּבֶּר־ט֣וֹב עַל־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ עֹמֵד֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הָמָ֔ן גָּבֹ֖הַּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּ֑ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ תְּלֻ֥הוּ עָלָֽיו:

. יוַיִּתְלוּ֙ אֶת־הָמָ֔ן עַל־הָעֵ֖ץ אֲשֶׁר־הֵכִ֣ין לְמָרְדֳּכָ֑י :

So the allusion to Haman is not just about his association with falling into sin, as was the case for the Jews who sinned, according to Chazal, in enjoying the king's feast, but also tells of his ultimate end.

It was inevitable that he would end up on the gallows he had set out.

Some further insight into this cited by Rabbi Willig appear here:
https://www.torahweb.org/torah/2015/moadim/rwil_purim.html  Among his insights is the following:

The Mishnas R' Aharon (Kotler, volume 1, page 103) explains. Haman tells his wife and friends about the glory of his wealth, his many sons, and his promotion by the king over all of his officers and servants, "Yet all this means nothing to me whenever I see Mordechai the Jew sitting" (Esther 5:11, 13) and not bowing to Haman as the king had commanded (3:2). Haman had everything, but was not satisfied because one Jew did not bow down before him. So, too, Hashem told Adam "From every tree of the garden you may eat, but from the tree of knowledge you may not eat" (Breishis 2:16, 17). Adam had everything, but was not satisfied because one tree was forbidden. Hence the connection between Haman and Adam's sin.
The lesson for us is to be satisfied with what we have. Many people have great success but are unsatisfied because of one unfulfilled wish. The pursuit of that elusive wish often leads to death, as befell Adam and Haman. It always prevents the happiness available to one who is satisfied with his portion (see Happy with our Portion, Purim 2014). When we make noise to wipe out the name of Haman, we eliminate envy and dissatisfaction from our midst.

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