Biblical Persons

Amos was a farmer from Tekoa in the Southern Kingdom of Judah. He appeared as a prophet in the Northern Kingdom of Israel in the time of King Jeroboam II, around 750 BC.
The book of the prophet Amos, one of the twelve “minor prophets”, is named after him.

Archelaus is one of the sons of Herod the Great. After the death of his father, Archelaus is given the authority over Judea, Samaria and Idumea. Archelaus is ruler over these territories from 4 BC to AD 6.

Barak is the army commander at the time when the prophetess Deborah is a judge over Israel. She orders him to fight the Canaanites. Barak defeats the army of the Canaanites and their commander flees. He hides in a tent, but is killed by a woman. After the battle is over, Barak and Deborah sing a victory song that is known as “The Song of Deborah and Barak” (Judges 5:1).

Bathsheba is one of the wives of King David and the mother of his successor Solomon. David misuses his power as king in a shameful way in order to marry her. As queen mother, Bathsheba has a lot of political influence.

Bilhah and Zilpah are concubines of Jacob. Rachel gives her servant Bilhah to Jacob as his wife, to bear children for her. Leah does the same with her servant, Zilpah.

David is the second king of Israel. The story of his fight with the Philistine Goliath is one of the best-known sections of the Bible (1 Samuel 17). The house of David sits on the throne in Jerusalem from the tenth to the sixth century before Christ. God promises David that he will be king for ever.

Deborah is the only female judge in the book of Judges. She is also called a prophetess. Under the leadership of Deborah and Barak, the army of Israel defeats the army of the Canaanites (Judges 4). This victory is also celebrated in the Song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5.

Elimelech is the husband of Naomi and comes from Bethlehem. During a time of famine, he takes his family away to live temporarily in the land of Moab. While they are there, Elimelech and both his sons die.

Ephraim is the younger son of Joseph and his Egyptian wife Asenath, with an older brother called Manasseh. Their grandfather Jacob considers them as important as his own sons, so at the end of his life, he specially blesses them.

Ezra is a priest and a legal expert who explains to the Judean exiles how to be faithful to the Law of God.
The book of Ezra is named after him. This book concerns the situation of the Jews in the Persian province of Judah in the first centuries after the Babylonian exile.

Hagar is an Egyptian servant in Abraham’s household. She is the mother of Abraham’s eldest son Ishmael, the forefather of the Arab people (Genesis 25:12-18).
In Paul’s letter to the Galatians, the servant Hagar embodies the old covenant with Moses, while Abraham’s wife Sarah symbolises the new covenant that has become possible through Christ.

Haggai is a prophet who begins his ministry around 520 BC in the Persian province of Judah. He calls on the people to rebuild the Temple of God.
The book of Haggai is named after him.

Herod Agrippa I is the grandson of Herod the Great. Thanks to a good relationship with the Roman emperors between AD 37 and 44, he is given control over the entire region that his grandfather had ruled. The book of Acts mentions Herod Agrippa in connection with the persecution of the first Christians.

Herod the Great was king of the Roman province of Judea from 37 to 4 BC. He was a clever governor who carried out major building projects. However, he was also violent and vengeful.
According to Matthew 2:1-22, Herod had all the new-born boys in Bethlehem murdered, for fear of the new king that was supposed to have been born there.

Huram was a metal worker who made many bronze objects for the Temple of Solomon.