People of the Bible – Page 6 – The Israel Bible

People of the Bible

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Bible Basic

Joshua

Joshua was Moses’ aide and successor. He was one of the twelve spies sent to scout the Land of Israel and one of only two who returned with a positive and empowering report, thus revealing his complete faith in God (Numbers 13-14). Joshua led the nation of Israel from the wilderness into Israel, conquering the land and settling the nation. He is not only remembered for his role in war, but for his spiritual leadership as well.

Joshua was Moses’ loyal assistant. He was entrusted to lead the Children of Israel in a successful war against the tribe of Amalek. Moses changed his name from Hosea to Joshua before he set out on the mission of the spies in order to infuse him with extra spiritual power. Joshua ultimately led the Children of Israel in the conquering of the Land of Israel from the Canaanite tribes. He also supervised the apportioning of the Land of Israel to the 12 Tribes. He married Rahab after she converted.

Bible Basic

Judah

Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. His tribe, whose symbol is the lion, was rewarded with the kingship, and Judah became the ancestor of the Davidic dynasty and, ultimately, the Messiah.

Judah was responsible for selling Joseph down to Egypt. He also took responsibility in the situation with his daughter-in-law Tamar (Genesis 38). Later, his leadership and courage gave him the strength to stand in defense of his younger brother, Benjamin.

Bible Basic

Leah

Leah, one of the four matriarchs, was the elder daughter of Laban, sister of Rachel and wife of Jacob.

Leah mothered seven children; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun and Dina. The names she chose for each of her children reflect different stages in her relationship with her husband, herself and God. Her six sons became the heads of six of the tribes of Israel.

Bible Basic

Malachi

He was the last of the Prophets who lived at the beginning of the Second Temple period.

Malachi was part of the Great Assembly which was the religious leadership in the first half of the Second Temple period. The Book of Malachi marks the end of several centuries of Biblical-era prophecy. Its main message is that God’s love for His people has never waned. Malachi’s reason for rebuking the people is to motivate them to get back on the straight path and make themselves worthy of experiencing God’s love again.

Bible Basic

Manasseh (son of Joseph)

Menasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, and became the patriarch of one of the 12 tribes.

Menasseh was Joseph’s firstborn son who assisted his father in running Egypt. His younger brother Ephraim received “his” firstborn blessing from their grandfather Jacob. Because of Menasseh’s great humility, this did not bother him at all. He was given tribal status, and his tribe later settled in the Samaria region of the Land of Israel as well as the Bashan (the modern-day Golan and parts of north-western Jordan). The other famous Manasseh in the Bible is the evil King Manasseh (son of Hezekiah) from Judea.

Bible Basic

Micah

He was a prophet during the First Temple period, from the southwestern Judean village of Moreshet-Gat.

A contemporary of the prophets Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea, Micah lived in the second half of the eighth century BCE, a time which saw the Assyrians become a superpower in the Middle East. Micah’s prophecies brought messages of the destruction of Samaria and Jerusalem due to the people’s dishonesty, corruption, and idolatry. Micah also prophesied about the rebuilding of a more glorious Jerusalem and of universal peace.

Bible Basic

Michal

Michal was the daughter of King Saul and the wife of King David (I Samuel 18:27).

What does the Bible say about Michal? What did Michal do in the Bible? Caught between the two men she loved, Michal heroically saved David from her father, Saul, by letting him down through a window while pretending he was sick in bed (I Samuel 19:11-17). She later criticized David for dancing in front of the Ark when it was being transferred to Jerusalem (II Samuel 6:16-23).

Bible Basic

Miriam

Miriam was the sister of Moses and Aaron and one of the seven prophetesses.

Miriam stood on the side to watch after her baby brother Moses was put in a basket and placed in the River Nile (Exodus 2:4), and she led the women in song and dance after the splitting of the Reed Sea (Exodus 15:20-21). The miraculous well that provided the Israelites with water during their forty year sojourn in the desert was provided in Miriam’s merit. According to the sages, Miriam was the midwife Puah who disobeyed Pharaoh’s command to kill the Jewish male babies as they were born.

Bible Basic

Mordecai

Mordechai was a leader of the Jewish people in Persia and one of the heroes of the Book of Esther.

Mordechai stood strong in his beliefs and, together with his cousin, Esther, helped save the Jewish people from extermination even at great personal risk. With solid faith in the Almighty, he defeated his nemesis Haman and rose to the rank of second to the king.

Bible Basic

Moses

Moses was the most famous leader and teacher of the Jewish people.

With God’s help, Moses saved the Israelites from Egyptian bondage and led them throughout the forty years in the desert. He had an unparalleled relationship with God in which they communicated face-to-face, and he was known for being extremely humble (Numbers 12). Moshe’s piety and humility made him beloved by his people and a role model for all future generations.

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