Little Known Bible Characters: Harbonah the Eunuch

By Elizabeth Prata After two essays about characters from the Old Testament and two essays on characters from the New Testament (linked below), I return to the Old Testament to discover more about a man named Harbonah. Harbonah (or Harbona) was the third of the seven eunuchs or chamberlains who served Ahasuerus, king of Persia… Continue reading Little Known Bible Characters: Harbonah the Eunuch

Who was Haman the Agagite in the Bible?

Haman is introduced in Esther 3:5–6 as an enemy of Mordecai and the Jewish people: “When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews,… Continue reading Who was Haman the Agagite in the Bible?

Who was Rebekah in the Bible?

Full title: Rebecca at the Well.Artist: Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini.Date made: 1708-13.Source: http://www.nationalgalleryimages.co.uk/.Contact: picture.library@nationalgallery.co.uk..Copyright © The National Gallery, London

Rebekah (rḗ – bek´a, רבקה, ribhḳāh; Septuagint and New Testament Ῥεβέκκα, Rhébekka, the usual English spelling Rebecca) was wife of Isaac, mother of Esau and Jacob. She was the daughter of Bethuel, granddaughter of Milcah and Nahor, the brother of Abraham. Becomes Isaac’s wife The well-known story of the facts leading up to the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah is told in Genesis 24:1-67, and gives valuable information as… Continue reading Who was Rebekah in the Bible?

Who was Jael in the Bible?

Jael or Yael ( יעל , ya‛ēl , “a wild or mountain goat,” as in Psalm 104:18) was a heroic woman mentioned in the Book of Judges Judges 4:17-22, 5:2-31. She is known for killing Sisera, the general of Canaanite King Jabin’s army. Jael was the wife of Heber the Kenite  ( Judges 4:11, 4:17 ). The Kenites were on friendly terms both with the Israelites ( Judges 1:16 )… Continue reading Who was Jael in the Bible?

Who was Onesimus in the Bible?

Onesimus (Greek: Ὀνήσιμος, Onēsimos, meaning “useful”, “profitable”, “helpful”) was a slave who belonged to Philemon, a Christian leader and friend of the apostle Paul. With Paul in Rome Onesimus was a slave ( Philemon 1:16 ) belonging to Philemon who was a wealthy citizen of Colosse, and a prominent member of the church there. Onesimus was still a heathen when… Continue reading Who was Onesimus in the Bible?

Who was Miriam in the Bible?

Miriam (Hebrew: מִרְיָם Mīryām,  ‘Rebellion’) is the older sister of Moses and Aaron, and daughter of Amram and Jochebed, of the tribe of Levi ( Numbers 26:59; comp.  Micah 6:4). Most likely Miriam was the sister who watches over baby Moses among the bulrushes on the banks of the Nile. Their mother had hidden Moses in a basket on the river bank to protect him from Pharaoh’s decree to… Continue reading Who was Miriam in the Bible?

Who was Eunice in the Bible?

Eunice (Εὐνίκη, Eunı́kē, “conquering well”) was the mother of Timothy and and daughter of Lois. She was a Jewess though her husband was a Greek, Acts 16:1 2, Timothy 1:5. She transmitted to her son the lessons of truth she herself had received from a pious mother; and Paul, on his arrival at Lystra, found them rooted and grounded in the truth… Continue reading Who was Eunice in the Bible?