Biblical History Key Figures, Peoples, and Concepts Study Guide

Abraham

Patriarch; received covenant of land, descendants, and blessing.

Isaac

Son of Abraham; father of Jacob and Esau.

Jacob (Israel)

Renamed 'Israel'; father of the 12 tribes.

Esau

Brother of Jacob; ancestor of Edomites.

12 Tribes/Sons of Jacob

Tribal ancestors; central to Israel's identity.

Moses

Leader of the Exodus; giver of the Law.

Deborah

Judge and prophetess; led Israel in battle.

Saul

First king of Israel.

David

Second king; founded the House of David, united tribes, established Jerusalem as capital.

Solomon

Son of David; built the Temple; known for wisdom.

Ahab

Northern king; Omride dynasty; conflict with prophets (esp. Elijah).

Hazael

Aramean king, opponent of Israel.

Jehu

Overthrew Omride dynasty; remembered for brutality.

Sennacherib

Assyrian king; besieged Jerusalem under Hezekiah.

Hezekiah

Judahite king; religious reforms; resisted Assyria.

Manasseh

Judahite king; remembered for idolatry.

Nebuchadnezzar

Babylonian king; destroyed Jerusalem (586 BCE).

Cyrus

Persian king; allowed exiles to return (538 BCE).

Ezra

Priest/scribe; led post-exilic religious reforms.

Alexander the Great

Conquered the Near East (332 BCE); spread Hellenism.

Israelites

Descendants of Jacob; covenant people.

Canaanites

Indigenous inhabitants of the land.

Arameans

Neighbors to the north; frequent enemies.

Moabites & Ammonites

Related peoples east of the Jordan; sometimes hostile.

Philistines

Coastal enemies of Israel during Judges and early monarchy.

Assyrians

Empire that conquered Northern Kingdom (722 BCE).

Babylonians

Empire that destroyed Jerusalem (586 BCE).

Persians

Empire under Cyrus that allowed return from exile.

Greeks

Under Alexander, spread Hellenistic culture.

722 BCE

Fall of Northern Kingdom (Israel) to Assyria.

586 BCE

Fall of Southern Kingdom (Judah) to Babylon; destruction of Temple.

538 BCE

Cyrus allows return from exile.

332 BCE

Alexander the Great conquers region.

Judges

Charismatic leaders before kingship.

House of David

Royal dynasty in Judah.

United Monarchy

Saul, David, Solomon (all tribes united).

Northern Kingdom (Israel)

Split kingdom; destroyed 722 BCE.

Southern Kingdom (Judah)

Survived longer; destroyed 586 BCE.

Israel vs. Judah

Political split after Solomon.

House of Omri/Ahab

Northern dynasty; remembered for power and conflict with prophets.

Exodus

Deliverance from Egypt under Moses.

Conquest

Settlement of Canaan.

Fall of Northern Kingdom

722 BCE to Assyria.

Fall of Southern Kingdom

586 BCE to Babylon.

Exile

Judah's captivity in Babylon.

Return

Restoration under Cyrus and Persian rule.

Land of Canaan

Promised land.

Reed (Red) Sea

Crossing in Exodus.

Zion

Hill in Jerusalem; symbol of God's presence.

Jerusalem

Capital; site of Temple.

YHWH and the Midianite Hypothesis

Possible southern origins of YHWH worship.

Hyksos

Semitic rulers in Egypt; possible link to Exodus traditions.

Merneptah Stele

Earliest mention of 'Israel' (c. 1208 BCE).

Destruction layers

Archaeological traces of conquest/conflict.

Mesha Stele

Moabite account of conflicts with Israel.

Megiddo

Important biblical city; excavation site.

Cyrus Cylinder

Records Cyrus's policy of returning exiles.

Promise of land

Central covenant theme.

Covenant

Binding agreement with God.

Circumcision

Sign of covenant with Abraham.

Anointment

Ritual marking kings/priests.

Passover

Festival commemorating Exodus.

Matzah

Unleavened bread for Passover.

'Holy seed'

Post-exilic idea of purity of Israel.

Subsistence agriculture

Basic farming economy.

Patrimonial inheritance

Land passed through male line.

'House of the Father'

Kinship-based social structure.

Endogamy

Marriage within kin/tribe.

Tribal muster

Military mobilization of tribes.

Intermarriage

Tension in post-exilic reforms.

Foundational myth

Story explaining a people's origin/identity.

Historicity

Question of whether events happened as described.

Kinship

Family-based social ties.

Etiology

Story explaining origins of a practice/place.

Lament

Prayer expressing grief.

Apocalypticism

Belief in God's dramatic future intervention.