NAAMAN ○
נעמן – "Pleasant"
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Contracted leprosy; his wife's servant was an Israelite and told him about the prophet Elisha, but Jehoram of Israel rent his clothes; Elisha told the king he could heal him and sent Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times; he was healed (2 Kgs. 5)
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NADAB II ♦
נדב – "Willing"
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Wicked king
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Killed by Baasha along with all the kindred of Jeroboam (1 Kgs. 15:27–30)
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NAHASH ♦
נחש – "Serpent"
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Attacked Jabesh-Gilead (Gadites and Reubenites) and threatened to gouge all their eyes out; they sought help from Saul who defeated him (1 Sam. 11)
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Showed kindness to David (1 Chr. 19:2)
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Wikipedia
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NAHOR II †
נחור – "Scorched"
Patriarch
≈ 1900 BC
Syrian / Born in Ur of Chaldees / Lived in Haran
Family Tree / Son of Terah / Brother of Abraham and Haran / Husband of Milcah and Reumah / Father of Bethuel and eleven others (Gen. 22:20–22) / Ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:34)
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Left Ur of Chaldees with family to move to Haran (Gen. 11:26–29)
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NAHUM Ω
נחום – "Consolation"
.
+ NAOMI (MARA)
נעמי – "Delight" / מרא (Mara) "Bitterness"
Matriarch
≈ 1140 BC
Israelite: Judahite: Ephrathite / From Bethlehem
Family Tree / Wife of Elimelech (Ruth 1:2) / Mother of Mahlon & Chilion / Mother-in-law of Ruth & Orpah (Ruth 1)
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NAPHTALI
נפתלי – "My Wrestlings"
NAPHTALITES (TRIBE OF NAPHTALI)
נפתלי – "My Wrestlings"
≈ 1744 BC
Israelite: Naphtalite / Born in Haran / Lived in Canaan / Died in Egypt
Family Tree / Son of Jacob & Bilhah (Gen. 30:8) / Father of Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, Shillem / Ancestor of Naphtalites
One of the Twelve Tribes
Israelite: Naphtalite / Territory was located west and north of the Sea of Galilee (see map)
Family Tree / Descendants of Naphtali / Famous people include Barak and Pekah
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Blessed by Jacob that he "is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words" (Gen. 49:21) and by Moses that he is "satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south" (Deu. 33:23)
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Fought with Deborah II and Barak (Judg. 4)
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Helped Gideon defeat the Midianites (Judg. 6:35–8:21)
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Joined the Northern Kingdom of Israel
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Majority carried away captive by Assyrians in 722 BC; one of the "Lost 10 tribes" (2 Kgs. 17)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures
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NATHAN Ω
נתן – "Given"
NATHAN II †
נתן – "Given"
≈ 992 BC
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Prophet during David's reign
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Told David the parable of the rich and poor man after David had Uriah the Hittite killed; prophesied that David's son with Bathsheba would die (2 Sam. 12)
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David and Bathsheba seemed to name a son after him
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Worked with Bathsheba to have Solomon anointed king instead of Adonijah; anointed Solomon king with Zadok at the Gihon Spring in the City of David (1 Kgs. 1:32–40)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary-2 / Guide to Scriptures
Prince of Israel
≈ 960 BC
Israelite: Judahite / Born in Jerusalem
Family Tree / Son of David & Bathsheba (2 Sam. 5:14) / Ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:31)
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NEBUCHADNEZZAR II ♦
נבוכדנצר / 𒀭𒀝𒃻𒁺 সৌমিত্র – "Nabu Protects My Heir"
≈ b. 642 – d. 562 BC (reigned 605 – 562 BC)
Babylonian / From Babylon
Family Tree / Son of Nabopolassar / Husband of Amytis / Father of Amel-Marduk and others
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Conquered Jerusalem; carried Jehoiakim captive to Babylon; ransacked the Temple; removed Jeconiah as well and made Zedekiah king
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In 587 BC, destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple of Solomon; took Jews captive to Babylon
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Threw Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego in fiery furnace for not worshipping his idol (Dan. 3)
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NECHO II ♦
נכו / 𓈖𓂓𓅱 – "Reed"
Egyptian
Family Tree / Son of Psamtik I & Mehtenweskhet / Husband of Khedebneithirbinet / Father of Psamtik II
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Killed Josiah of Judah at the Battle of Megiddo (2 Kgs. 23:29); brought Southern Kingdom under Egyptian rule
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Removed Jehoahaz III as Judah's king and replaced with Jehoiakim
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Defeated by Nebuchadnezzar II in Battle of Carchemish
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NEHEMIAH ○
נחמיה – "The Lord Comforts"
Governor of Judea
Israelite: Judahite? / From Susa-Shushan / Rebuilt Jerusalem
Family Tree / Son of Hachaliah
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Cupbearer for Artaxerxes
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Commissioned to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
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Book of Nehemiah is a continuation of the book of Ezra
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NEPHI Ω
נפי – "Goodly"
NEPHI II Ω
נפי – "Goodly"
Prophet
Israelite: Manassite: Nephite / From Jerusalem
Family Tree / Son of Lehi & Sariah (1 Ne. 1:1) / Husband of unnamed daughter of Ishmael II's / Father of unnamed children / Ancestor of Nephites
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Left Jerusalem with family but returned for brass plates and Ishmael II's family
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Saw vision of tree of life, Jesus' life and future events (1 Ne. 10–15)
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Built ship to travel to the Promised Land (1 Ne. 17–18)
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Wikipedia / Guide to Scriptures
Prophet & Chief Judge
≈ 39 BC
Israelite: Manassite: Nephite
Family Tree / Son of Helaman III (Hel. 3:21) / Direct descendant of Nephi / Brother of Lehi II / Father of Nephi III & Timothy II
NEPHI III Ω
נפי – "Goodly"
NEPHITES
נפי – "Goodly"
.
≈ 1 BC
Israelite: Manassite: Nephite
Family Tree / Son of Nephi II (3 Ne. 1:2) / Father of Amos II
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Prayed for the signs of Christ's birth so his people would be saved (3 Ne. 1)
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Cast out devils; raised brother Timothy II from the dead
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Chosen by Jesus to be an apostle
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Wikipedia / Guide to Scriptures
Tribe/group in the Americas
≈ 580 BC
Family Tree / Descendants of Nephi & others (2 Ne. 5:14) / Famous people include Nephi, Benjamin II, Mosiah II, Alma I & II, Helaman II, Mormon II, and Moroni II
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Often at war with the Lamanites
NICODEMUS
נקדימון / Νικοδημος – "Victory of the People"
.
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Visited Jesus at night and learned about being born again (John 3)
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Helped with Jesus' burial (John 19:39–40)
NOAH †Ω
נח – "Rest"
NOAH II ♦
נח – "Rest"
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Family Tree / Son of Lamech (Gen. 5:28) / Father of Shem, Ham, & Japheth / Ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:36)
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Ordained at ten years old by Methuselah (D&C 107:52)
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Preached repentance (Moses 8:20)
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Built an ark; saved family and animals from the flood (Gen. 6–9)
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Visited Daniel, Mary, Zacharias II, and others as the Angel Gabriel (article)
King of Nephites
Family Tree / Son of Zeniff (Mosiah 11:1) / Husband of many / Father of Limhi
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Led his people to wickedness and idolatry; had many wives and concubines (Mosiah 11)
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Killed Abinadi (Mosiah 17:11–20)
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Killed by his own priests (Mosiah 19:20)
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Wikipedia / Guide to Scriptures
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OBADIAH II Ω
עבדיה – "Servant of Jehovah"
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Prophesied of the destruction of Edom and Jesus would stand on Mt. Zion (Obad. 1:21)
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OLIVER COWDERY Ω
"Olive Tree"
One of Three Witnesses & Apostle
American / From Wells, VT
Son of William & Rebecca Cowdery
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One of Three Witnesses & Apostle from = 1829 – 1838 AD
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Ordained to Aaronic Priesthood by John the Baptist and the Melchizedek Priesthood by Peter, James, and John
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Second elder of the Church
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Scribe for the Book of Mormon
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Wikipedia / Guide to Scriptures
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OMNI
עמני
OMRI †♦
עמרי – "Bound"
≈ 323 BC
Family Tree / Son of Jarom / Father of Amaron & Chemish
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Called himself a wicked man (Omni 1:2)
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Wikipedia / Guide to Scriptures
King of Israel
Israelite: Ephraimite
Family Tree / Father of Ahab
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Captain of the Host; made king by the people (1 Kgs. 16:16)
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Built Samaria (1 Kgs. 16:24)
Archeology: The Mesha Stele describes how Mesha of Moab's god Chemosh helped him throw off the yoke of bondage to the Kingdom of Israel and the "House of Omri"; contains one of the earliest extrabiblical references to the Israelite God Jehovah/Yahweh.
Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary-1
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ONIAS III ■
חוניו – "God is Gracious"
Family Tree / Son of Simon II (2 Macc. 3:1) / Brother of Jason & Menelaus
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Opposed the Hellenization of Judea
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Forced out of position as High Priest for Jason
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Wikipedia
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OSORKON IV (SO) ♦
סוֹא
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Hoshea II of Israel sent messengers to him (2 Kgs. 17:4)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary
OTHNIEL ○
עתניאל – "God is Force"
.
≈ 1360 BC
Family Tree / Son of Kenaz / Husband of Achsah (Judg. 1:13) and son-in-law (and nephew) of Caleb II
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Conquered Kiriath-sepher and Chushanrishathaim of Mesopotamia (Judg. 3:10)
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Early judge of Israel
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Wikipedia
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PATRIARCH
אבות – "Fathers"
Father/Ruler of family / Ordained office in priesthood (evangelist)
≈ 4000 BC – Present
Famous people include Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
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Acts 2:29
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PAUL (SAUL II) Ω
Παυλος – "Extraordinary"
Israelite: Benjamite (Philip. 3:5) / From Tarsus
Family Tree / Brother of unnamed sister / Uncle of unnamed nephew (Acts 23:16)
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Roman citizen
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Opposed early Christians; assisted in the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:58)
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Pharisee taught by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3)
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Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus; he was converted (Acts 9)
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Went on several missionary journeys, spreading the gospel around the Mediterranean Sea
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Arrested and testified before Herod Agrippa II (Acts 21–28)
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Authored much of the New Testament
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Tradition states he was martyred in Rome around 64 AD
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures / Bible Maps
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PEKAH ♦
פקח – "Open-eyed"
PEKAHIAH ♦
פקחיה – "Jehovah Opens Eyes"
Israelite: Naphtalite
Family Tree / Son of Remaliah
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Royal officer
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Killed Pekahiah of Israel and took the throne (2 Kgs. 15:25–32)
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Attacked Ahaz of Judah and besieged Jerusalem with Rezin of Syria (2 Kgs. 15:37; 16:5); killed 120,000 Judahites, and deported another 200,000 to Samaria (1 Chr. 28:6, 8)
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Tiglath-Pileser III started assault against Israel during his reign (2 Kgs. 15:29)
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Hoshea II, his advisor, assassinated him during battle and Tiglath-Pileser III installed Hoshea as king
Archeology: In the Calah Inscription, Tiglath-Pileser III mentions the death of Pekah
Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary
Family Tree / Son of Menahem of Israel
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Wicked king; worshipped idols
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Assassinated by his royal officer Pekah and fifty men from Gilead (2 Kgs. 15:25)
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Wikipedia
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PELEG (PHALEC) †
פלג – "Division"
Patriarch
≈ 2250 – 2000 BC
Son of Eber (Gen. 10:25) / Brother of Joktan / Ancestor of Jesus (Luke 3:35)
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Earth was divided in his lifetime
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures
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PERSIANS
פרס / 𐎱𐎠𐎼𐎿 – "From the Land of Horses"
Tribe/group from Mesopotamia
Famous people include Cyrus the Great, Darius, Ahasuerus, Xerxes, and Artaxerxes
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Fulfilled God's promise about Israel's return from exile
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Conquered by Alexander the Great in 331 BC
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Bible Maps
PETER (SIMON) Ω
Πετρος – "Rock"
Chief Apostle
Israelite: Jewish / From Bethsaida (John 1:44) / Lived at Capernaum
Family Tree / Son of Jona (John 1:40) / Brother of Andrew / Husband of unnamed wife
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Fisherman; called by Jesus to follow Him ; became one of the first disciples of Jesus
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Ordained as one of the original 12 apostles (Mark 3:14–19)
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One of the inner three leaders with James and John privileged to be at the Transfiguration, Gethsemane, and other important events (Matt. 17:1–13; Mark 14:33)
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Mother-in-law was healed by Jesus (Mark 1:29–31)
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Walked on water (Matt. 14:22–36)
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Given the keys of the kingdom (Matt. 16:13–19)
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Witnessed the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1–9)
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Cut off ear of Caiaphas' servant Malchus (John 18:10)
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Denied Jesus 3 times before; asked by Jesus to feed His sheep 3 times
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Mary Magdalene told him and John of the empty tomb and they ran to see (John 20:2–8)
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Chief apostle and leader of the early Church after the Resurrection (Acts 1–5); healed and taught with John, was arrested and miraculously released
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Had vision of the gospel to the Gentiles; baptized Cornelius and household (Acts 10–11)
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Wrote 2 epistles (1 & 2 Pet.)
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Tradition says he was crucified upside down in Rome around 64 AD
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Appeared with James and John to confer the Melchizedek Priesthood on Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
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PHARAOH ♦
פרעה – "Great House"
King of Egypt
Family Tree / Original Pharaoh was the son of Egyptus II (Abr. 1:25) / Grandson of Ham and Egyptus I / Later denoted kings of Egypt / Famous people include Apries-Hophra, Shishak-Shoshenq, and Necho II
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Pharaohs are mentioned often in the Old Testament, but unfortunately many are unnamed, leaving it up to speculation
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A pharaoh treated Abraham and Sarah well; probably gave Sarah Hagar (Gen. 12:15–20)
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Joseph interpreted the dream of and later served in the royal court as second in command of a Pharaoh (Gen. 39–50)
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Moses was raised in the royal court by the daughter of Pharaoh; Moses later warned a Pharaoh to free the Israelites; Pharaoh only agreed after 10 plagues, including the last one which killed his first-born son; freed the Israelite slaves but soon chased the Israelites; lost his army in the Red Sea (Ex.)
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Solomon made an alliance with and married Pharaoh's (Siamun's?) daughter, but Pharaoh Shishak-Shoshenq allied with Jeroboam and sacked Jerusalem (1 Kgs. 3:1; 9:16; 1 Kgs. 11:40)
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Necho II conquered and killed Josiah of Judah, bringing the Kingdom of Judah under Egyptian rule until Nebuchadnezzar II (2 Kgs. 23)
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Apries-Hophra sent an army to assist Zedekiah against Babylon (Jer. 37)
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PHARISEES
פרושים – "Expounders"
Religious Political Party
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Prided themselves on strict observance of the Law of Moses
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Sat on the Sanhedrin with the the Sadducees with whom they had much conflict
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Often quarreled with Jesus over observances of the law, usually sabbath day observance or His spending time with "sinners"
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Jesus condemned their behavior and pride (Matt. 23)
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After the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70 AD, their beliefs became the foundation for Rabbinic Judaism
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures
PHILEMON
Φιλημων – "Affectionate"
.
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Wealthy Christian; converted by Paul
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The church in the area met in his home (Philem. 1:2)
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PHILIP ○
פיליפ / Φιλιππος – "Lover of Horses"
Tetrarch of Iturea & Trachonitis
≈ b. 26 BC – d. 34 AD (Tetrarch from 4 BC – 33 AD)
Herodian
Family Tree / Son of Herod the Great & Cleopatra of Jerusalem (Luke 3:1) / Husband of Salome III
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Founder of Caesarea Philippi
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary-4
PHILIP II Ω
פיליפ / Φιλιππος – "Lover of Horses"
PHILIP III
פיליפ / Φιλιππος – "Lover of Horses"
.
Israelite: Jewish / From Bethsaida (John 1:44)
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Ordained as one of the original 12 apostles (Mark 3:14–19)
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Jesus asked him where to buy bread before feeding the 5,000 (John 6:5–7)
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Greeks asked him for an audience with Jesus (John 12:20–22)
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Asks Jesus to show them the Father (John 14:8–9)
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Tradition says he was martyred either in 54 or 80 AD in Asia
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary-1 / Guide to Scriptures
One of the seven leaders
≈ 34 AD
Israelite: Jewish / Lived in Caesarea
Father of four unnamed daughters (Acts 21:9)
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Chosen to help the apostles with seven others - Evangelist (Acts 6:5)
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Preached and baptized in Samaria (Acts 8:5–13)
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Taught and baptized a eunuch of Candace of Ethiopia (Acts 8:26–40)
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Visited by Paul; four daughters prophesied (Acts 21:8-9)
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PHILISTINES
פלשי – "Griever"
Tribe/group in the Levant
Canaanite: Philistine
Family Tree / Descendants of Casluhim (Gen. 10:14) / Famous people include Goliath, Achish, Abimelech, and Delilah
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Lived along the Mediterranean Sea; five main cities were Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, Ekron
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Tiglath-Pileser III conquered them in 734 BC
-
The Greeks later called the land Palestine, although many modern Palestinians are descendants of Abraham and not the Philistines
.
PHINEHAS ■
פינחס – "Bronze-colored"
PHINEHAS II
פינחס – "Bronze-colored"
≈ 1350 BC
Israelite: Levite: Kohanim
Family Tree / Son of Eleazar and unnamed daughter of Putiel (Ex. 6:25) / Father of Abishua
-
Stayed the plague on the Israelites with Baal-peor, killing Zimri and Cozbi (Num. 25)
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Given a hill in Mt. Ephraim to live (Josh. 24:33)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary-1
Priest
≈ 1050 BC
Israelite: Levite / From Shiloh
Family Tree / Son of Eli / Husband of unnamed wife / Father of Ahitub & Ichabod
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He and brother Hophni were wicked; slept with women by the door to the Tabernacle; a man of God prophesied that they would be killed on the same day (1 Sam. 2); Philistines stole the ark of the covenant and killed the two brothers; when their father Eli heard, he fell and died; Phinehas' wife also died that day giving birth to Ichabod (1 Sam. 4)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary-2
PHOENICIANS (SIDONIANS, TYRIANS)
פיניקים / Φοινικη – "Palm Land"
.
Tribe/group on the Mediterranean Sea
Canaanite: Phoenician / From Phoenicia, including Tyre & Sidon
Descendants of Ham and Canaan / Referred to selves as Canaanites / Major sea-faring people, facilitating trade between Egypt and Babylon and to the farthest parts of the Mediterranean Sea / Partially conquered by the Assyrians and later Alexander the Great / Famous people include Hiram, Ithobaal, and Jezebel
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Mentioned in early narratives (Deu. 3:9; Josh. 13:6; Judg. 3:3)
-
Helped with the supplies for Solomon's Temple (1 Kgs. 5–7)
-
Jesus healed daughter of Syrophenician (Mark 7:24–30)
PONTIUS PILATE ○
Ποντιος Πιλατος – "Freedman"
.
Prefect/Governor of Judea
Husband of unnamed wife
-
Oversaw trial and crucifixion of Jesus; washed his hands of guilt (Matt. 27:11–31)
-
He and Herod Antipas became friends after the trial of Jesus (Luke 23:12)
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Wrote a sign for over Jesus' cross which read "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews" in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin; Chief Priests wanted him to change it but he refused (John 19:19–22)
-
Leaders asked him for permission to break the legs of those on the cross to kill them before the Sabbath; when they came to Jesus, He was already dead (John 19:31–37)
-
Joseph of Arimathea asked him for permission to bury Jesus' body; Pharisees asked for the tomb to be sealed and guarded (Matt. 27:57–66)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures
PROPHET (NABI) Ω
נביא – "Spokesperson"
.
God's messenger on earth
Israelite
Famous people include Noah, Abraham, Jacob/Israel, Joseph, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Nephi, John the Baptist, and Joseph Smith / Prophetesses include Miriam, Huldah, Deborah II, and Anna (see BD)
-
Preacher of righteousness / Seer
-
Moses wished that all the Lord's people would be prophets (Num. 11:29)
-
The Lord preached repentance to the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah through His prophets (2 Kgs. 17:13; Luke 1:70)
-
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7)
-
Christ's church is built on the foundation of prophets and apostles (Eph. 4:11)
-
A section of the Old Testament is called "The Prophets" and included the books from Isaiah to Malachi (Matt. 5:17; Matt. 22:40; Acts 13:15)
PUBLICANS
τελώνης – "Public Revenue"
.
Tax collectors for Rome
Famous people include Matthew and Zacchaeus
-
Collected taxes for the Romans; considered traitors and hated by the Jews because they often charged more than required and kept the excess; became wealthy from using intimidation or corruption; many were considered ritually unclean "sinners" from their frequent contact with Gentiles; often excluded from synagogue
-
Some were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 3:12)
-
Jesus called Matthew to follow Him; Matthew immediately left his "receipt of custom" and held a feast with other publicans and sinners for Jesus and His disciples; when the Pharisees questioned why Jesus was with sinners, He said that "they that be whole need not a physician" (Matt. 9:9–17)
-
Jesus taught the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:1–14)
-
A chief publican, Zacchaeus, sought to see Jesus and climbed a tree; hosted Jesus (Luke 19:1–10)
-
Jesus told the Chief Priests and Elders that publicans and harlots would go into the kingdom of heaven before them (Matt. 21:23–32)
.
QUIRINIUS (CYRENIUS) ○
Κυρηνιος – "Of Cyrene"
Son of Publius Sulpicius Quirinius
RABSHAKEH ○
רבשקה / 𒃲𒁉𒈜𒈨𒌍
.
-
Sent by Sennacherib; laid siege to Jerusalem; taunted Hezekiah and the Jews in Hebrew so they could understand; 185,000 of his soldiers were killed in one night after Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed for deliverance (2 Kgs. 18:27–19:35)
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Wikipedia
+ RACHEL
רחל – "Ewe"
.
Israelite / Born in Haran / Lived in Canaan / Died in Bethlehem
Family Tree / Daughter of Laban / Second wife of Jacob / Mother of Joseph & Benjamin
-
Second daughter of Laban; watched the sheep; Jacob watered the sheep for her; she ran and told her father that Jacob had come
-
Jacob loved her (Gen. 29:18–20); she was beautiful; he worked 7 years to marry her, but Laban tricked him into marrying Leah first; he worked another 7 years to marry Rachel (Gen. 29:6)
-
Barren; gave her handmaid Bilhah to Jacob to have children
-
Finally gave birth to Joseph (Gen. 30:22–24)
-
Fled from her father with Jacob and family to Canaan; father chased them; she hid the images-idols she took from him
-
Died giving birth to Benjamin in Bethlehem; after her death, Reuben slept with Bilhah and lost the birthright which passed to her son Joseph (Gen. 35:16–22)
-
Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures
+ RAHAB (RACHAB) †
רחב – "Spacious"
.
Harlot of Jericho
≈ 1400 BC
Family Tree / Wife of Salmon? / Ancestor of Jesus? (Matt. 1:5)
-
Assisted Israelite spies; protected with family when Jericho was conquered; lived with Israelites thereafter (Josh 2, 6)
-
Various traditions say she either married Joshua or Salmon; "Rachab" is listed as the wife of Salmon in the ancestry of Jesus and is assumed here to be the same person (Matt. 1:5)
-
Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary
+ REBEKAH †
רבקה – "Secured"
.
≈ 1800 BC
Family Tree / Daughter of Bethuel and sister of Laban (Gen. 22:23) / Wife of Isaac; willingly followed Abraham's servant to marry him (Gen. 24) / Ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:2)
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Abraham sent Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac; at a well, she offered him water and watered his camels; he gave her earrings and bracelets; Bethuel and Laban agreed to send her back but wanted her to stay a few days; when they asked her, she said she would go; Deborah went with her (Gen. 24)
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Isaac loved her (Gen. 24:67)
-
Barren until she became pregnant with twins; felt the children struggle within her and she went to inquire of the Lord; He told her that two nations were in her womb and the elder should serve the younger (Gen. 25:20–23)
-
Mother of twins Jacob & Esau; she favored Jacob, Isaac favored Esau (Gen. 25:24–28)
-
Abimelech of Philistine saw Isaac "sporting" with her and knew she was not his sister; Abimelech protected them (Gen. 26:6–11)
-
Grieved when Esau married Canaanite: Hittite women (Gen. 26:34–35)
-
Helped Jacob receive birthright blessing from Isaac, "Upon me be thy curse"; Esau hated Jacob for it and wanted to kill him; she told Jacob to flee to Laban in Haran (Gen. 27)
-
Buried in the Cave of Machpelah with the other patriarchs/matriarchs (Gen. 49:31)
REHOBOAM (ROBOAM) † ♦
רחבעם – "People of Width"
.
Israelite: Judahite / From Jerusalem
Family Tree / Son of Solomon & Naamah the Ammonitess / Husband of 78 wives/concubines / Father of Abijam and others / Ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:7)
-
Reigned at 41yo for 17 years
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Overtaxed the Israelites; the northern tribes split off to form the Kingdom of Israel and made Jeroboam their king (1 Kgs. 12)
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Reigned in wickedness (1 Kgs. 14)
REUBEN
ראובן – "Behold a Son"
REUBENITES (TRIBE OF REUBEN)
ראובן – "Behold a Son"
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≈ 1748 BC
Israelite: Reubenite / Born in Haran / Lived in Canaan / Died in Egypt
Family Tree / Eldest son of Jacob & Leah / Father of Reubenites
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Rachel wanted his mandrakes; gave Leah a night with Jacob in payment in which she conceived Issachar (Gen. 30:14–18)
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Slept with Bilhah after Rachel's death which lost him the birthright (Gen. 35:22; 1 Chr. 5:1–2)
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Saved Joseph from his brothers killing him (Gen. 37:21–22, 29; 42:22)
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Offered his two sons if he and his brothers couldn't return Benjamin from Egypt safely (Gen. 42:37)
One of the Twelve Tribes
Israelite: Reubenite / Territory was east of the Dead Sea and included Mt. Nebo (see map)
Family Tree / Descendants of Reuben / Famous people include Dathan & Abriam, and Jehu II of Israel and descendants
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Blessed by Jacob: "thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch" (Gen. 49:3–4) and by Moses that "Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few" (Deu. 33:6)
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Majority carried away captive by Assyrians in 722 BC; one of the "Lost 10 tribes" (2 Kgs. 17)
REZIN ♦
רצין – "Firm"
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Aligned with Pekah of Israel against the Ahaz of Judah; besieged Jerusalem (2 Kgs. 15:37; 16:5); killed 120,000 Judahites, and deported another 200,000 to Samaria (1 Chr. 28:6, 8)
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Tributary to Assyria; rebelled against Tiglath-Pileser III; in 732 BC Tiglath-Pileser conquered Damascus, carried the people captive to Assyria, and killed Rezin, ending the kingdom of Aram-Damascus
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary
ROMANS
Ῥωμαῖο – "Collective Strength"
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People from the Roman Empire
Famous people include Augustus, Cornelius, Felix, Festus, Pontius Pilate, and Tiberius
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Pompey conquered Jerusalem in 63 BC and Judea became a tributary state
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At the time of Jesus, the Roman Empire stretched across Africa, Asia, and Europe
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Capital punishment, which the Jews insisted on for Jesus, required the authorization from the Roman Governor; the Jews took Jesus to Pontius Pilate to be crucified (John 18:29–32)
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Emperor Claudius expelled the Jews from Rome around 45 AD (Acts 18:2)
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Paul had his Roman citizenship and appealed to Caesar during his trial; knew he would witness the gospel to the Romans (Acts 19:21)
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Wikipedia / Bible Dictionary / Guide to Scriptures / Bible Maps
+ RUTH †
רות – "Friend"
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Matriarch
≈ 1150 BC
Moabite / From Moab and later Bethlehem
Family Tree / Wife of Mahlon (Ruth 1:4) & Boaz (Ruth 4:13) / Daughter-in-law of Naomi / Great-grandmother of David (Ruth 4:22) / Ancestor of Jesus (Matt. 1:5)