(time period)

The Patriarchs

(time period)

The exodus

(time period)

Period of the Judges

(time period)

Reign of Saul

(time period)

Reign of David

(time period)

Reign of Solomon

(time period)

Division of the Kingdom

(time period)

Fall of the Northern Kingdom

(time period)

Discovery of the law book in the Temple

(time period)

Fall of Jerusalem

(time period)

Return from Exile

(time period)

Paul's First Missionary Journey

A.D. 46-48

(Acts 13:2-14:28)

(time period)

Paul's Second Missionary Journey

A.D. 49-52

(Acts 15:40-18:23)

(time period)

Pauls Third Missionary Journey

A.D. 53-57

(Acts 18:23-21:17)

(time period)

Pauls Fourth Missionary Journey

A.D. 62-67

(Titus 1:5)

(time period)

The Jerusalem Council

(time period)

The Roman destruction of Jerusalem

(time period)

The last book of the Bible written

A.D. 95

(Johannine Letters and/or Revelation)

The first man.

Husband of Eve.

God charged Adam and Eve with caring for the garden and with filling the earth and subduing it. However they rebelled against him and, as a result, were exiled from Eden and from the presence of God.

Genesis

The first woman.

Wife of Adam.

God charged Adam and Eve with caring for the garden and with filling the earth with offspring and subduing it. However, they rebelled against him and, as a result, were exiled from Eden and from the presence of God.

Genesis 

Son of Adam and Eve.

Farmer.

Murdered his brother Abel.

Genesis

Son of Adam and Eve.

Shepherd.

Murdered by his brother Cain.

Genesis

Son of Adam and Eve

Genesis

Descendant of Seth.

The only righeous person of his time (Genesis 6:8).

At God's instruction, he built an ark for his family and for two of every kind of animal.

After the flood, Noah received the covenant with God which God promised never again to destory the earth with a flood.

Genesis

Son of Noah

Genesis

Son of Noah

Genesis

Son of Noah.

Genesis

Husband of Sarai/Sarah.

Received the promise that his descendants would become a great nation and would inherit the land of Canaan (Genesis 12).

God later covenanted with Abram that this promise would come true (Gen. 15, 17).

"Abram believed the Lord and he credited it to hom as righteousness" (Gen. 15:6).

Genesis

Wife of Abram/Abraham.

Sarai was barren, and so she gave her Egyptian servant to Abram to ber children for her.

Later in her old age, Sarah gave birth to Isaac.

Genesis

Nephew of Abraham.

Lot lived along the Jordan River near Sodom.

Lot was taken captive when four Mesopotamian kings invaded the region, but Abram came to his rescue.

Abram resued Lot a second time when he pleaded with the Lord not to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. The Lord did destroy those cities, but two angels escorted Lot and his family to safety.

Genesis

King of Salem and priest of God Most High.

A mysterious figure who blessed Abram after his battle against the four invading Mesopotamian kings.

Genesis

Servant of Sarai/Sarah.

Sarai gave her to Abram, and Hagar conceived.

When Sarai mistreated her, Hagar fled into the desert.

After being visited by an angel, Hagar returned and gave birth to Ishael.

Later, Abraham and Sarah sent Hagar and Ishmael away, and they lived in the desert.

Genesis

Son of Abram and Hagar.

Grew up in the Desert of Paran.

God promised to "make him into a great nation" (Gen. 21:18).

Genesis

Son of Abraham and Sarah.

Husband of Rebekah.

Offered as a sacrifice to God by his father Abraham.

Genesis

Wife of Isaac.

Mother of Esau and Jacob.

Rebekah deceived Isaac so that her favored son, Jacob, could receive Isaac's blessing.

Genesis

Brother of Rebekah.

After Jacob deceived Esau, Jacob fled to Laban, his uncle.

He worked for Laban a total of fourteen years so that he could marry Laban's daughters Leah and Rachel.

Genesis

Son of Isaac and Rebekah.

Twin brother of Esau.

Husband of Leah and Rachel.

Father of twelve sons.

Jacob was Rebekah's favored son, and together they deceived Isaac so that he blessed Jacob instead of his older brother Esau.

Near the end of his life, Jacob and his family moved to Egypt where his son Joseph was in a position of high authority.

Genesis

Son of Isaac and Rebekah. Twin brother of Jacob.

Genesis

First wife of Jacob.

Mother of reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

Genesis

Younger daughter of Laban.

Second wife of Jacob.

Mother of Joseph and Benjamin.

Genesis

First son of Jacob.

Son of Leah.

Slept with Bilhah, servant of Rachel.

Genesis

Second son of Jacob.

Son of Leah.

Along with Levi, Simeon attacked the Shechemites as revenge for raping their sister Dinah.

Genesis

Third son of Jacob.

Son of Leah.

Along with Simeon, Levi attacked the Shechemites as revenge for raping their sister Dinah.

Genesis

Fourth son of Jacob.

Son of Leah.

Offered himself as a slave to Joseph in Benjamin's place (Gen. 44).

Genesis

Fifth son of Jacob.

Son of Rachel's servant Bilhah.

Dan's descendants had difficulty conquering the land that was allotted to them, so they scouted out a new city in the north of Israel called Laish, conquered it, and renamed it "Dan" (Josh. 19, Judges 18).

Genesis

Sixth son of Jacob.

Son of Rachel's servant Bilhah.

Genesis

Seventh son of Jacob.

Son of Leah's servant Zilpah.

Genesis

Eighth son of Jacob.

Son of Leah's servant Zilpah.

Genesis

Ninth son of Jacob.

Son of Leah.

Genesis

Tenth son of Jacob.

Son of Leah.

Genesis

Eleventh son of Jacob.

Son of Rachel.

Joseph's brothers sold him as a slave to Egypt, but because the Lord made him prosper, Joseph became powerful in Egypt.

Pharaoh allowed Joseph's family to livei n Goshen, which was the best of the land.

Genesis

Twelfth son of Jacob.

Son of Rachel.

Genesis

Son of Joseph.

Both Manasseh and Ephraim received a portion of the land.

Genesis

Son of Joseph.

Both Manasseh and Ephraim received a portion of the land.

Genesis

During the time when Pharaoh was killing all the Hebrew baby boys, Moses' mother floated him in the Nile in a basked of reeds.

He was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter and grew up in Pharaoh's household.

When he murdered an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew, Moses fled to Midian.

There he married Zipporah.

The Lord appeard in a burning bush and instructed Moses to retun to Egypt in order to bring the Israelites out from Egypt.

Through Moses, the Lord sent ten plagues on Egypt.

When Pharaoh finally let them go, Moses led the Israelites through the wilderness, where they received the law from God at Mount Sinai.

Exodus

Brother of Moses and Miriam.

Aong with Moses, Aaron was a leader in the Exodus events.

He helped the people build the Golden Calf (Ex. 32), opposed Moses (Num. 12), and was the first high priest.

While all Levites served as priests, Aaron's descendants were the only Levites who served as high priests (i.e., they were anointed with oil and wore the priestly clothing (Ex. 28-29)). 

Exodus

Sister of Moses and Aaron.

Opposed Moses (Numbers 12)

Exodus

-Descendants of Amalek, grandson of Esau.

-During Israel's wilderness journey, the Amalekites attacked them (Ex. 17).

-Because of this, God instructed Israel wo wipe out the Amalekites (Deut. 25:19), but the Israelites did not do so.

-Amalekites reappear in the book of Judges (Ju. 6:33) and attack Israel.

-Later, King Saul attacks the Amalekites but leaves their king, Agag, alive.

-As a result, the Lord rejects Saul as king (1 Sam. 15).

Exodus

-Grandson of Aaron.

-Phinehas was zealous for God and killed and Israelite man and Midianite woman who were worshipping the Baal of Peor by having sex.

-As a result, the Lord made "a covenant of lasting priesthood" (Nu. 25:12) with Phinehas and his descendants.

Numbers

-The chief of the LEvite clan of Kohath.

-Korah led a revolt against Moses and Aaron because he resented the high pristhood Aaon and his descendants were given.

-After Korah and his cohorts were swallowed by the earth, the Lord caused Aaron's staff to bud as a sign that he and his descendants were appointed as high priests and not other Levite clans (Nu. 16-17)

Numbers

-When Israel was moving toward the land, conquering nations that stood in her way, the king of Moab, Balak, became afraid that his people would be next.

-So he summoned a non-Israelite prophet named Balaam to curse Israel.

-When Balaam was on his way to meet Balak, an angel blocked his way.

-Afrain, Balaam's donkey refused to move forward. When Balaam beat his donkey, it spoke to him, explaining why it would not move.

-Then the angel spoke, instructing Balaam to "speak only what I tell you" (Nu. 22:35).

-Instead of cursing Israel, Balaam ended up blessing her.

Numbers

One of the twelve men who spied out the Promised Land.

Caleb, along with Joshua, were the only spies who brought back a positive report.

Numbers

Successor to Moses, leader of the conquest of Canaan, and overseer of the alotment of land.

Joshua

The prostitute who lived in Jericho and who protected the two Israelite spies. She and her family were spared when Israel conquered Jericho.

Joshua

A female judge and prophet.

Judges

Deborah's general.

Judges

The Canaanite whose forces Deborah and Barak defeated.

Judges

A Kenite (non-Israelite) woman who offered the fleeing Sisera refuge in her tent. When he fell asleep, she drove a tent peg through his temple.

Judges

A judge who fought against the Midianites.

After destorying his father's altar to Baal as well as the Asherah poel beside it, Gideon built and altar to the Lord in its place.

Later, Gideon fought against the Midianites with only three hundred men. After asking for the Lord to give him two signs (the dew-covered fleece blanket and the dry fleece blanket), Gideon attacked the Midianites at night using trupets and empty jars with torches inside.

When the surprise attack caused the Midianites to flee, Gideon and his men pursued and killed them.

Gideon righteoulsy refused to be crowned king, although he did fashion and ephod from the spoils of war, which the people the worshiped.

Judges

A people group living east of the Gulf of Aqaba (northwest Arabia) and possibly on the eastern side of the Sinai peninsula.

Moses fled from Egypt to Midian.

Together with the Moabites, the Midianites hired Balaam to curse Israel (Nu 22). Later, the Midianites joined forces with the Amalekites to raid Israel, but they were defeated by Gideon.

Judges

A judge.

Son of Gilead and a prostitute.

Fought against Ammonites who invaded the territory of Dilead. Jephthah vowed to the Lord that, if he was successful, he would sacrifice whatever came out of his house first. His daughter, and only child, emerged first. After she wandered for four months in the hills to grieve, he "did to her as he had vowed" (Judges 11:39).

Later, Jephthah defended himself against the Ephraimites, who were offended he had not sent for them fo fight the Ammonites.

Jephthah won the battle by requiring a password, shibboleth, for those fording the Jordan. Because the Ephraimites mispronounced the word, saying sibboleth, the Gileadites were able to identify them as Ephraimites and killed them.

Judges

A people who lived east of the Jordan river in the modern-day area of Jordan. Their capital was Rabbah (modern day Amman). With the Philistines, the Ammonites attacked Israel but were defeated by Jephthah and his army.

Judges

A judge and a Nazirite.

Fought against the Philistines.

Although he was a Nazirite, he ate unclean food (honey from the dead lion), drank wine, and cut his hair. Samson als had weakness for Philistine women.

Samson married a Philistine woman, and at their wedding feast he told a riddle to the bridegrooms.

Samson's feasts include lighting foxes tails on fire and releasing them in Philistine fields, killing many Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey, carrying away the doors of the city gate of a Philistine city, and destorying the temple of the Philistine god Dagon.

Judges

Philistine woman who persuade Samson to divulge the secret of his strength, which was his long hair.

When she cut his hair, he lost his strength.

the Philistines made him blind and forced him to work. When the Philistines brougt out Samson for entertainment in the tempel of Dagon, Samson pushed the two central pillars of the temple outward, causing it to collapse with him and all the Philistine rulers inside.

Judges

Sea people with whom the Isralites clashed on numerous occasions.

Judges or 1 & 2 Samuel

Moabite woman who married an Israelite husband. When her husband died, Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law Naomi, returning with her to Bethlehem.

Ruth later married Naomi's relative Boaz, who served as her kinsman-redeemer. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Ruth was the great-grandmother of King David.

Ruth

Mother-in-law of Ruth.

Ruth

Naomi's relative and Ruth's kinsman-redeemer.

Ruth

Priest in Shiloh (location of the Ark during the period of the Judges). Eli blessed Hannah who was praying for a child. When Hannah gave birth to Samuel, she dedicated him the Lord, and he later succeeded Eli and priest.

Eli's own sons did not succeed him because they were wicked. When Eli learned that his two sons had been killed and the Ark lost, he fell backward off his chair, breaking his neck and dying.

1 Samuel

Mother of Samuel. Prayed a song of praise in 1 Samuel 2

1 Samuel

Son of Hannah. Successor of Eli.

Although Samuel was brought up under the instruction of the priest Eli, Samuel's calling was as a prophet. He anointed the first two kings of Israel, Saul and David.

1 Samuel

First king of the United Monarchy.

From the tribe of Benjamin.

When Saul disobeyed the Lord by not killing Agag, king of the Amalekites, the Lord rejected him as king.

The Lord soon appointed David to be the next king. Saul's fear and suspicion of David caused him to chase David into the Desert. Saul finally died by falling on his own sword.

1 Samuel

Son of Saul. Friend of David.

Fought against the Philistines.

1 Samuel 

Giant Philistine man that David defeated with a slingshot.

1 Samuel

Second king of the United Monarchy.

Youngest son of Jesse.

In his youth, David killed the Philistine giant Goliath with a singshot. He went on to become a great warrior.

When Samuel anointed him as the next king of Israel, Saul became jealous and chased David into the desert.

After the death of Saul and his son Ish-Bosheth, David became king of all Israel.

During his kingship, David enlarge the territory of Israel. When David conquered Jerusalem, he made it the capital and also moved the Ark there. During his kingship David also committed adultery with Bathsheba.

2 Samuel

Saul's fourth son. 

After Saul's death, Abner, commander of Saul's army, declared Ish-Bosheth king over Saul's kingdom, though the tribe of Judah was loyal to David.

Ish-Bosheth and David were at war for seveal years before Ish-Bosheth was deserted by Abner and murdered by two of his own men. It was at this time that David became king over all Israel.

2 Samuel

Cousin of Saul. Commander of Saul's army.

After Saul's death, Abner declared Ish-Bosheth king over Saul's kingdom, though the tribe of Judah was loyal to David.

After Abner Ish-Bosheth, he was killed by Joab, commander of David's army.

2 Samuel

David's nephew. Commander of Davids army.

When David was about to die, Joab supported Adonijah rather than Solomon as the next king.

When Solomon became king, he had Joab executed along with Adonijah.

2 Samuel

Prophet during the time of Davids reign.

Nathan affirmed David's wish to build a temple for the Ark, but he specified that David's son would have to build it.

When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, Nathan confronted him by telling the parable of a poor man's ewe lamb. Nathan also convinced David to crown Solomon as king.

2 Samuel

The woman with whom David committed adultery. David married Bathsheba, and she became the mother of Solomon.

2 Samuel

Daughter of David. Tamar was raped by Amnon, her half-brother. When she ran to her brother Absalom, he had Amnon killed.

2 Samuel

Son of David. Half-brother of Absalom and Tamar.

Amnon tricked Tamar into thinking he was ill, and when she came to attend to him, he raped her.

When Tamar ran to her brother Absalom, he had Amnon killed.

2 Samuel

King David's third son.

Brother of Tamar and half-brother of Amnon.

When Tamar told Absalom that Amnon had raped her, Absalom had Amnon killed, contrary to the wishes of David. This caused a divide between David and Absalom.

Furious, Absalom organised a revolt, and David fled.

David soon returned with his army and defeated Absalom.

Although David had ordered his men not to kill Absalom, Joab, commander of David's army, found Absalom in an oak tree and killed him.

2 Samuel

Son of David. Heir to the throne after Absalom's death; however, Solomon was secretly anointed king and Adonijah was eventually executed by Solomon.

2 Samuel

A priest during the reigns of David and Solomon. When David was about to die, Zadok anointed Solomon as king.

2 Samuel

Son of David and Bathsheba.

Third king of the United Monarcy.

During his reign, Solomon secured trade routes by rebuilding fortified cities along the routes; this brought Solomon great wealth.

He also built a palace, a Temple for the ark, and store cities. He had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines, many of whom were foreign women who led him away from worshipping the Lord.

Solomon wsa also known for his wisdom, and parts of the book of Proverbs as well as the book of Ecclesiastes are attributed to him.

1 Kings

Son of Solomon. Last king of United Monarchy and first king of Judah during the Divided Monarchy.

At his coronation, he was advised to lighten the load of service and taxes which has been required by his father Solomon; instead, he took a hard line and quickly lost the favor of the people.

As a result, Jeroboam became king of the ten tribes of Israel, while Rehoboam was relegated to rule over only Judah and Benjamin (southern kingom).

1 Kings

First king of the northern kingdom during the Divied Monarchy. An Ephraimite.

Jeroboam instituted religious reform, setting up golden bulls, changing the festival calendar, appointing non-Levites as priests, and building high places.

1 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Third king of southern kingdom. Asa ruled for forty years.

When the king of the northern kingdom blockaded Asa's kingdom, Asa employed the help of Damascus and secured his territory again.

1 Kings or 2 Chronicles

King of the northern kingdom. Husband of Jezebel.

Ahab supported Baal worship. Elijah challenged this by facing off against the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18). Ahab defended Israel against the Aramean kingdom.

1 Kings

Wife of Ahab. A Phoenician. Worshipper of Baal.

Jezebel prompted Baal worship in Israel. One of Jezebel's chief adversaries was Elijah.

1 Kings

Prophet to the northern kingdom during the reigns of Ahab and Ahaziah. Elijah first confronted Ahab and Jezebel and the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel. Elijah challenged the prophets to a contest to see whether Baal or Yahweh was the true living God. Yahweh proved himself by sending fire from heaven to brun up the sacrifice on the altar (1 Kings 18). Elijah later confronted Ahab after Ahab arranged for the killing of Naboth in order to acquire Naboth's vineyard. During Ahaziah's reign, Elijah prophesied that Ahaziah would die.

1 Kings

Prophet to the northern kingdom during the reigns of Joram, Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Jehosah (Joash). Successor to Elijah.

2 Kings

Fourth king of the southern kingdom. Jehoshaphat sent priests and Levites throughout the kingdom to instruct citizens in Torah. He also forged and alliance with Ahab by giving his son in marriage to Ahab's daughter. 

This alliance was condemned by the prophet Jehu, and Jehosephat repented.

1 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Tenth king of the northern kingdom. Jehu murdered Kings Joram and Zhaziah, Ahab and Jezebel's family, and anyone who worshiped Baal. He became a vassal ruler to the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III in order to secure help against the Arameans.

2 Kings

Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Mother of King Ahaziah and grandmother of Joash. After the death of her son Ahaziah, Athaliah had all his children killed. However, Joash was only and infant and was hidden in the Temple for six years.

Athaliah was then killed and Joash was made king by the wife of the chief priest.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Eighth king of the southern kingdom. When his father, King Ahaziah, died, his grandmother Athaliah had all of Ahaziah's children killed. However, Joash was only and infant and was hidden in the Temple for six years. Athaliah was then killed and Joash was made king by the wife of the chief priest.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Tenth king of the southern kingdom. Uzziah was known for making agricultural improvements in Israel and strengthening the army. During his rule, there was a severe earthquake.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Eleventh king of southern kingdom. Ahaz sacrificed his son and worshipped at high places. During his reign, the Assyrian Empire was spreading west so that Ahaz was forced to fight against Assyria or to submit to Assyrian rule. The king of the northern kingdom (Pekah) and the king of Syria (Rezin) wanted to join an alliance with Ahaz against the Assyrians, but Ahaz refused.

As a result, the northern kingdom and kingdom of Syria attacked. Ahaz appealed to the Assyrian king (Tiglath-Pilesar III) for help in exchange for silver and gold from the Lords Temple.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Last king of the northern kingdom. Hoshea was a vallal ruler under the Assyrian kings Tiglath-Pilesar III and later Shalmaneser V. When Hoshea failed to pay tribued to Salmaneser V in favor of seeking aid from the Egyptian pharaoh, Assyria attacked. After three years, Saragon II (co-regent with Shalmaneser V), conquered Samaria and sent its inhabitants into exile in Assyria (722 BC).

2 Kings

Thirtheenth king of the southern kingdom.

Hezekiah was a righteous king who purged the kingdom of high places and outlawed sacred pillars and trees. Like his father Ahaz, Hezekiah was a vallal ruler of Assyria.

When Hezekiah formed a colation with nearby kingdoms to fight against Assyria, Sennacherib conquered each of the nearby kingdoms and began conquering the southern kingdom. He sent a message to Hezekiah in Jerusalem telling him to surrender. When Isaiah advised him not to surrender, the angel of the Lord put to death many of the Assyrian soldiers during the night. Sennacherib then when him to Assyria.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Son of Sargon II. Assyrian king. When Hezekiah formed a coalition with nearby kingdoms to fight against Assyria, Sennacherib conquered each of the nearby kingdoms and began conquering the southern kingdom. He sent a message to Hezekiah in Jerusalem telling him to surrender.

When Isaiah advised Hezekiah not to surrender, the angel of the Lord put to death many of the Assyrian soldiers during the night. Sennacherib then went home to Assyria.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Fourteenth king of the southern kingdom. Reigned fifty-five yeras. Manesseh reintroduced foreign gods, and his sin was so great that he is charged with being the reason that the southern kingdom went into exile (2 Kings 21:12-15; 22:16-17).

2 Kings

Sixteenth king of the southern kingdom. Known for instituting religious reforms as a result of the book of the law (Deuteronomy?) which was discovered in the Temple.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Eighteenth king of the southern kingdom.Set up as king by Pharaoh Neco II (ally of Assyria). Jeremiah's prophecies about Babylonian invasion were rejected by Jehoiakim, but Jehoiakim became a vassal of Babylon for a period, though hew as later able to regain independence.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Nineteenth king of the southern kingdom. During Jehoiachin's rule, the southern kingdom was taken captive by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and the Temple was plundered.

2 Kings or 2 Chronicles

Babylonian king who took the southern kingdom into exile (587 B.C.) and who destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple (586 B.C.).

2 Kings or Daniel

Last king of the southern kingdom. After Nebuchadnezzar conquered the southern kingdom for the frist time (597 B.C.), he set up Zedekiah as a vassal ruler. When Zedekiah rebelled, Nebuchadnezzar conquered the southern kingdom completely, taking Zedekiah and the inhabitants of the southern kingdom into exile in Babylon (587 BC) and destroying the Temple (586 BC).

2 Kings

King of Persia. Conquered Media, Lydia and Babylonia. Cyrus practiced tolerance toward his subjects. He approved the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem and the return of the frist group of exiles.

2 Chronciesl or Ezra

Priest and scribe. Exra led the second group of exiles to return to the land. Their return came during the reign of the Persian king Artaxerxes. Extra prompted torah obedience and required those who had married foreign wives to get rid of them for the sake of purity.

Ezra

Persian king during whose rule Ezra and later Nehemiah returned to Israel.

Ezra or Nehemiah

Persian king. The first group of exiles had returned during the reign of Cyrus and has set about rebuilding the Temple; however, Samaritan opposition brought the project to a halt. Darius ahthorized Zerubbabel and Jeshua to restart the building project.

Ezra

Cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes. Lamented that Jerusaelm was in disrepair, so Artaxerxes gave him permission to retun and rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Nehemiah did so, then dedicated the walls and read the law aloud to all the people.

Nehemiah

Esther's cousin who raised her after her parents died. When Morecai refused to bow to Haman, Haman set out to annihilate the Jews. Mordecai then urged Esther to appeal to her husband for the lives of all Jews.

Esther

Jewish girl who became queen of Persia and saved the Jews from annihilation.

Esther

Right-hand man of King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) who set out to annihilate the Jews. Although Haman built a gallows where he planned to hang Mordecai, Ahasuerus had Haman hanged there.

Esther

King of Persia. Husband of Esther.

Esther

Righteous Israelite who was tested by Satan. Satan believed that Job only served God because of his prosperity. Job lost his posessions, his family and his health but he did not curse God. He did, however, plead for an explanation. The Lord spoke at the end of the book, correcting Job for asking to understand what only God can understand. The Lord then restored Job's belongings and health and gave him a new family.

Job

Prophet to seveal kings of the southern kingdom before the exile. (Note: Isaiah is also prominent in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles)

Isaiah

Prophet to the southern kingdom leading up to the exile. Jeremiah prophesied beginning during the reign of King Josiah and continued prophesying up through the exile of the southern kingdom and destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Jeremiah

Scribe of Jeremiah

Jeremiah

Priest and prophet who was taken along with the exiles from the southern kingdom to Babylon (587 BC). There Ezekiel prophesied to the exiles about the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (586 BC). 

Ezekiel

Jew who lived in Babylon during the exile. Daniel had the gift of interpreting dreams, and he served Nebuchadnezzar with this gift. Daniel was also a devout follow of the Lord, and when he refused to pray to the Persian king (after the Persian empire conquered Babylon), he was thrown into a den of lions; however the Lord shut the mouths of the lions and Daniel lived.

Daniel

One of three prophets who prophesied to the northern kingdom (Hosea, Amos, and Jonah) rather than the southern kingdom. The Lord called Hosea to live out his prophecy by marrying an adulterous woman, Gomer, and by giving their three children symbolic names relating to the coming judgement. Although Gommer committed adultery, Hosea eventually took her back. The message was that the Lord would punish Israel for a time but would later receive her again.

Hosea

Wife of Hosea. Gome was unfaithful to Hosea just as Israel was unfaithful to the Lord.

Hosea

Prophet to the southern kingdom who described a plague of locusts. Joel interpreted the plgue as indicator of the judgement of the Lord.

Joel

One of only three prophets who prophesied to the northern kingdom (Hosea, Amos, Jonah) rather thant he southern kingdom. Amos was originally a caretaker of sycamore-fig trees. His prophecies show a particular concern for issues of social justice.

Amos

Prophet to the southern kingdom. Obadiah prophesied the punishement of Edom because they failed to defend Israel when she was being attacked.

Obadiah

Prophet to Nineveh (Assyria) and the northern kingdom. Although Jonah at first disobeyed the Lord by fleeing by boat away from Nineveh (an act which landed him in the belly of a great fish for three days and three nights), Jonah prophesied to Nineveh, and she repented.

Jonah

Prophet to the southern kingdom. Micah spoke especially to wealthy landowners who enabled the pollitical and religious leaders in the kingdom. He also predicted the fall of the northern kingdom.

Micah

Prophecy to Ninevah and to the southern kingdom. Nahum prophesied the fall of Ninevah (Assyria), which came in 612 BC

Nahum

Prophet to the southern kingdom. Because the Babylonians were coming to destory the southern kingdom, Habbakkuk argued that God's ways were unfathomable and perhaps even unjust. The Lord replied, and Habbakkuk responded with a confession of faith.

Habbakkuk

Prophet to the southern kingdom. Zephaniah was of royal descent, and he prophesied to the court circles and dealt with political issues.

Zephaniah

One of three prhoets whose messages were addressed to post-exilic Jews (Haggai, Zachariah, and Malachi). Together with Zechariah, Haggai encouraged Zerubbabel and Jeshua to rebuild the Temple during the reign of the Persian King Darius. That building has been stopped because of Samaritan opposition.

Haggai

One of three prophets whose messages were addressed to post-exilic Jews (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachai). Together with Haggai, Zechariah encouraged Zerubbabel and Jeshua to rebuild the Temple during the reign of the Persian King Darius. The building had been stopped because of Samaritan opposition. Zechariah's prophecies are apocalyptic and have many messianic allusions.

Zechariah

The most significant player in the rebuilding of the Temple after the exile.

Ezra

One of three prophets whose messages were addressed to post-exilic Jews (Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachai). Malachai's message was addressed to those living after the rebuilding of the Temple. He was primarily concerned with the corruption of worship practices and with intermarriage with foreigners (which was occuring even though Ezra hand brought reform in this area just two generations earlier). The book ends with an announcement that "the messenger of the covenant" (3:1) would come to prepare the Jews for the eschaton.

Malachi

Disciple of Jesus and author of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew was a tax collector before he became one of Jesus' disciples.

Matthew

Mother of Jesus

Gospels

Father of Herod Antipas, grandfather of Herod Agrippa I, and great grandfather of Herod Agrippa II. Idumean (the descendants of Edom had become the kingdom of Idumea by the time of Jesus). The Romans set Herod up as King of the Jews at the time of Jesus' birth (ruled 40-4 BC). During his reign, Herod engaged in aggressive building projects, including the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem, which became known as Herod's Temple (constructed 20 BC-AD 62).

Matthew

Prophet who prepared the way for Jesus. Relative of Jesus. John the Baptist wore a cloak made of camel hair and belt of leather and ate locusts and wild honey. He was imprisoned and later beheaded by Herod Antipas.

Gospels

One of Jesus' twelve disciples. Prior to that, Peter was a fisherman. He was the brother of Andrew. Peter delcared that Jesus is the Messiah (Matt. 16:16-17), opposed the idea that Jesus would be a suffering Messiah (16:22-23), denied Jesus three times while Jesus was on trial (Matt. 26:69-75), and was reinstated by Jesus (John 21:15-25).

Gospels or Acts

One of Jesus' twelve disciples. Prior to that, Andrew was a fisherman. He was the brother of Simon Peter.

Mark or John

Son of Zebedee. Brother of John. One of Jesus' twelve disciples. Prior to that, James was a fisherman. James and John's mother requested that they be seated by Jesus in the messianic kingdom. Together with John and Simon Peter, James was in the inner circle of Jesus' disciples, as they were the only ones present at the raising of Jairus's daughter, the transfiguration, and Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane.

Gospels

Son of Zebedee. Brother of James. One of Jesus' twelve disciples. Prior to that, John was a fisherman. James and John's mother requested that they be seated by Jesus in the messianic kingdom. Together with James and Simon Peter, John was in the inner circle of disciples, as they were the only ones present at such events as the raising of Jairus's daughter, the transfiguration, and Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane. John is traditionally viewed as the author of the Gospel of John, 1-3 John, and Revelation.

Gospels or Acts

One of four sects among Jews during the time of Jesus. During the period of the exile, scribes interpreted Torah and passed on the oral law. This is the origin of the Pharisees, who existed from the 2nd century BC through the 1st century AD. They believed in the ressurrection of the dead, angels, providence, and the importance of the oral Torah. Other sects include the Sadducees, Essenes, and Zealots. These sects arose because of the power vacuum left by the end of the monarchy in Israel.

Gospels or Acts

One of four sects among Jews during the time of Jesus. The Sadducees existed from the 2nd century BC to the frist century AD. They were Hellenized, aristocratic priests who did not believe in the resurrection, angels, or providence. Contrary to the Pharisees, they did not believe the oral Torah was authoritative; they held that only the written Torah was scripture.

Matthew, Mark, or Acts

One of Jesus' twelve disciples. Philip brought Nathaniel to Jesus, and Nathaniel became a disciple as well.

John or Acts

One of the twelve disciples of Jesus. Thomas is known for doubting Jesus' resurrection until he was able to touch Jesus' wounds.

John

One of Jesus twelve disciples. Judas Iscariot was the treasurer for Jesus' disciples. He betrayed Jesus in Gethsemane, giving him over to be killed.

Gospels

High priest at the time of the trail of Jesus.

Gospels

Roman official who goverend Judea during the life and death of Jesus. Pilate played an important role in the trial and crucifixion of Jesus.

Gospels

An early Christian. The Jerusalem Christians met at the home of John Mark's mother. John Mark later accompanied Paul and Barnabas on a missionary journey, but John Mark left before the journey was over. Later when Barnabas proposed to bring John Mark along on another missionary journey, Paul refused. John Mark is considered the author of the Gospel of Mark.

Acts

Son of Herod the Great. When the Gospel writers refre to "Herod," this is the man most often intended. Herod Antipas was ruler over Galilee during the time of John the Baptist's and Jesus' ministries. Herod married Herodias, his ciece and wife of his half-brother Herod, an act which John the Baptist criticized. It was because of this criticism that John the Baptist was executed. Along with Pontius Pilate, Herod played a role in the trial of Jesus.

Matthew or Luke

Companion of Paul on his missionary journeys. A doctor. Author of Luke and Acts.

Acts

Mother of John the Baptist and relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Luke

Friend and follwer of Jesus. Sister of Lazarus and Mary. Jesus comes to her home (Luke) and raises Lazarus from the dead (John).

Luke or John

Friend and follower of Jesus. Brother of Martha and Mary. Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.

John

Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin. Nicodemus came to Jesus at night to try to understand who Jesus was (John 3). Although he appears to have been only further confused by this encounter, Nicodemus later defended Jesus (John 7) and buried him (John 19).

John

After the Assyrians took the people of the northern kingdom into exile, they repopulated Samaria (in the territory of the former northern kingdom) with other settlers from Babylon and elsewhere. They married those Jews who had not been exiled, producing a people of mixed ethnicity known as the Samaritans.

The Samaritans continued to practice worship of the Lord, though for them the holy mountain is not Mt. Zion, but Mt. Gerizim.

Additionally, the Samaritans use only the first five books of the Bible, claiming that Jews corrupted the true faith after the priesthood of Eli (1 Samuel). Jesus engaged a Samaritan woman regarding the proper place of worship in John 4.

Luke or John

Follower of Jesus. Together with two other woman, Mary Magalene witnessed the death of Jesus and was the first to descover that Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark 16, ect).

Gospels

Tax-collector of small stature who climed a tree to see Jesus.

Luke

Great grandson of Herod the Great. Agrippa II ruled portions of Palestine after AD 50. It is before Agrippa II that Paul appears during his trial (Acts 25-26). Agrippa II used Roman forces to suppress the first Jewish revolt (AD 66) and later to destroy Jerusalem.

Acts

Early Christian in Jerusalem who sold his property and gave the money to the community of believers who were sharing everything in common.

He claimed to have given all the money; however, he withheld some for himself and for his wife. As a result, he fell dead immediately.

Acts

Wife of Ananias. Like her husband, Sapphira fell dead for her lie about giving all the proceeds of their property sale to the early Christian community.

Acts

First Christian martyr. After Stephen gave a speech to the Sanhedrin, he was stoned to death. As a result, the early Christians fled from Jerusalem and spread across the Roman Empire.

Acts

Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul was a Jew from Tarsus, a Roman citizen, and a Pharisee trained under Gamaliel. Prior to his encounter with Jesus, Paul persecuted the followes of the Way (of Jesus). While he was on his way to Damascus to round up Christians, Paul encountered Jesus and received his calling to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul's missionary journeys in Asia Minor, Greece and Rome led to the formation of many Christian churches. Later in his life, Paul begame a prisoner.

Acts

An early Christian in the Jerusalem church. Cousin of John Mark. Barnabas introduced Paul to the leaders of the Jerusalem church. Paul and Barnabas traveled on Paul's first missionary journey together.

Acts

An early Jewish Christian. A tentmaker. Because they shared the same profession, Paul stayed with Aquila and his wife Priscilla while he was in Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila later joined Paul in traveling to Ephesus, where they probably started a church. Appolos later came to Ephesus teaching about Jesus, and Priscilla and Aquila explained the way of God more fully to him. 

Acts

Early Jewish Christian. Gifted in Greek rhetoric. Apollos went to Ephesus and preached about Jesus. Because he only new the baptism of John, Priscilla and Aquila explained the way of God more fully. Apollos later went to the church in Corinth. Division in the Corinth church arose over whether Apollos or Paul was more authoritative.

Acts

Roman official who governed Judea when Paul was put on trial. Felix hoped for a bribe from Paul in exchange for letting Paul go, and when Paul did not provide the bribe, Felix left Paul in prison throughout the rest of his rule

(AD 52-59).

Acts

Roman official who governed Judea after Felix. When Festus was appointed to his position, the cheif priests and the Jewish leaders requested that Paul be transferred to Jerusalem, where no good would have come for Paul. So Paul appealed to Caesar, and Festus granted him permission. Paul was then sent to Rome.

Acts

Early Christian who was associated with Paul and his missionary work. Timothy's mother was Jewish and father was Gentile, so Paul circumcised Timothy before he brough him along on missionary journeys. Timothy was the leader to whom Paul addressed in 1-2 Timothy.

1 and 2 Timothy

Early Gentile Christian who was associate with Paul and his missionary work. Titus was involved in gathering the collection for the Jerusalem church. He was the leader to whom Paul addressed the letter of Titus.

Titus

Owner of Onesimus the slave. Onesimus converted to Christianity while Paul was in prision in Rome. Paul wrote the letter of Philemon to petition him to allow Onesimus to stay with Paul.

Philemon

Slave of Philemon who converted to Christianity while Paul was in prision in Rome. Paul wrote the letter of Philemon to petition him to allow Onesimus to stay with Paul.

Philemon

Probably the brother of Jesus and James. Author of the letter of Jude.

Jude