Deborah and Barak

Abinoam

Father of the Israelite commander Barak

Abinoam was a man from Kedesh in Naphtali and the father of the Israelite military leader Barak during the era of the Judges.

Anath

Parent of Shamgar the judge

Anath was a figure from the era of the Judges, identified in the biblical text exclusively as the parent of Shamgar, a judge who delivered Israel from the Philistines.

Asher

Patriarch who founded one of the twelve tribes of Israel and was noted for the fertility of his land

Asher was the eighth son of Jacob, the second born to Zilpah, and the ancestral patriarch of the Tribe of Asher, known for the fertile lands and prosperity promised in his father's blessing.

Barak

Commander who defeated the Canaanite army under Sisera at Mount Tabor

A military commander of ancient Israel who led the forces of Naphtali and Zebulun against the Canaanites during the era of the Judges.

Benjamin, Son of Jacob

Youngest son of Jacob and the full brother of Joseph whose presence in Egypt led to his family's reconciliation

The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, Benjamin was the beloved patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel and a central figure in the narrative of Joseph's rise in Egypt.

Deborah, Prophetess and Judge of Israel

Prophetess and judge who directed the victory over the Canaanite general Sisera

A charismatic prophetess and the only female judge of Israel, who rallied the tribes to defeat the Canaanite forces of Sisera under the Palm of Deborah.

Ehud, Son of Gera

Judge who assassinated King Eglon with a concealed sword to deliver Israel

A left-handed Benjamite judge and patriarch who delivered Israel from eighteen years of Moabite oppression by assassinating King Eglon.

Ephraim

Son of Joseph who received the firstborn blessing from Jacob

The second son of Joseph and Asenath, Ephraim was adopted by his grandfather Jacob and received the primary blessing of the firstborn, becoming the progenitor of a dominant tribe in Israel.

Heber the Kenite

Husband of Jael whose tent became the site of Sisera's death

Heber the Kenite was a descendant of Hobab, Moses' father-in-law, who established a separate nomadic camp and inadvertently facilitated the defeat of the Canaanite general Sisera.

Hobab

Brother-in-law of Moses who served as a wilderness guide for the Israelites

A Midianite and son of Reuel who served as a guide and ally to the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings.

Israel

Patriarch who wrestled with God and fathered the twelve tribes

The third patriarch of the covenant, formerly known as Jacob, who received his name after wrestling with God and became the father of the twelve tribes.

Issachar, Ninth Son of Jacob

Ninth son of Jacob and the progenitor of the Tribe of Issachar

The ninth son of Jacob and the fifth born to Leah, Issachar was a patriarch whose descendants formed one of the prominent twelve tribes of Israel.

Jabin, King of Canaan

King of Canaan who oppressed Israel with nine hundred iron chariots

Jabin was a powerful Canaanite king who ruled from Hazor and oppressed the Israelites for twenty years before his forces were defeated by Deborah and Barak.

Jael

Heroine who killed the Canaanite general Sisera with a tent peg

A Kenite woman and wife of Heber who delivered Israel by slaying the Canaanite general Sisera in her tent.

Kenites

Ancient nomadic tribe and allies of Israel who descended from Moses' father-in-law

A semi-nomadic group of smiths and craftsmen who maintained a long-standing alliance with Israel from the Patriarchal period through the early Monarchy.

Lappidoth

Woman living before Israel's Monarchy

Machir, Son of Manasseh

Patriarch of the Machirite clan who conquered Gilead

The firstborn son of Manasseh and grandson of Joseph, Machir was a formidable warrior whose descendants conquered and settled the region of Gilead.

Moses

Prophet who led the Israelites out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments

The preeminent prophet and lawgiver of Israel who led the Hebrews out of Egyptian bondage and mediated the Covenant at Mount Sinai.

Naphtali

Patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel and sixth son of Jacob

The sixth son of Jacob and second son of Bilhah, whose descendants formed one of the twelve tribes of Israel in the fertile northern Galilee region.

Reuben

Firstborn son of Jacob who lost his birthright for defiling his father's bed

Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah, the founding patriarch of the Tribe of Reuben, and a complex figure known for both his attempts to save Joseph and his loss of the birthright.

Shamgar

Judge who killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad

A judge of Israel who delivered the nation by slaying six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad during a period of severe oppression.

Sisera, Commander of Hazor

Canaanite general defeated by Barak and killed by Jael with a tent peg

The commander of King Jabin's Canaanite army who led nine hundred iron chariots against Israel and was defeated by Barak and Jael.

Zebulun

Tenth son of Jacob and founder of the tribe associated with maritime commerce and the region of Galilee

Zebulun was the tenth son of Jacob and the sixth and final son born to Leah, serving as the eponymous patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.