People of Judges

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.

Gideon

Judge who defeated the Midianites with only three hundred men

A reluctant judge and military leader of Israel who defeated the Midianites with a small band of three hundred men after seeking divine signs.

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.

Samson

Judge of Israel who possessed supernatural strength and fought the Philistines

A judge of Israel endowed with supernatural strength by the LORD to initiate the deliverance of his people from Philistine oppression.

Abimelech, Son of Gideon

Son of Gideon who murdered his seventy brothers to become king

A son of Gideon who usurped power as a king in Shechem after murdering his brothers, only to die in battle when a woman dropped a millstone on his head.

The Levite's Concubine

Woman whose abuse and death in Gibeah led to a civil war among the tribes of Israel

A woman from Bethlehem whose tragic mistreatment and death in Gibeah sparked a catastrophic civil war between the tribes of Israel.

Samson's Timnite Wife

Philistine woman whose marriage to Samson led to his first major conflict with the Philistines

A Philistine woman from Timnah whose marriage to Samson sparked a cycle of violence between Israel and the Philistines during the Period of the Judges.

Jephthah

Judge of Israel who defeated the Ammonites and made a tragic vow involving his daughter

A Gileadite judge and warrior who led Israel against the Ammonites after being exiled by his family, known for his tragic vow and military success.

Samson's Mother

Mother of Samson who received the divine promise of his birth and Nazirite calling

The wife of Manoah and mother of Samson, she was an unnamed woman chosen by the Angel of the LORD to bear a child dedicated as a Nazirite for the deliverance of Israel.

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.

Judah, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who received the blessing of the scepter and whose lineage produced King David and Jesus Christ

The fourth son of Jacob and Leah, ancestor of the Tribe of Judah and the Davidic line, known for his leadership and pivotal role in the preservation of his family.

Micah of Ephraim

Man whose private idols and priest were stolen by the tribe of Dan

A man from the hill country of Ephraim whose private shrine and Levite priest were seized by the tribe of Dan during the period of the Judges.

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.

Manoah

father of the judge Samson who received a divine visitation

A man of the tribe of Dan and the father of Samson, who received a divine visitation announcing the birth of a son who would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

Gideon's Three Hundred

Elite group of warriors who defeated the Midianite army using torches and trumpets

A select band of 300 Israelite warriors chosen by God through a unique water-drinking test to defeat the Midianite army during the Period of the Judges.

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.

Amorite

Son of Canaan and ancestral head of the powerful Amorite nation

A son of Canaan and a grandson of Ham, the patriarch whose descendants became a powerful mountain-dwelling nation in the Levant during the Patriarchal Period.

Levi, Son of Jacob

Patriarch of the priestly tribe and participant in the massacre at Shechem

The third son of Jacob and Leah, a patriarch whose descendants were set apart as the priestly and ministerial class for the nation of Israel.

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.

Gaal

Rebel leader who led the men of Shechem in an unsuccessful revolt against Abimelech

An anti-monarchical leader who incited a rebellion in Shechem against the rule of Abimelech during the era of the Judges.

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.

Joash, Father of Gideon

Patriarch who defended his son Gideon against a mob seeking to kill him for destroying an altar of Baal

Joash was an Abiezrite patriarch and father of the judge Gideon, best known for his clever defense of his son against the devotees of Baal.

Zalmunna

King of Midian who was defeated and executed by Gideon

Zalmunna was one of the two kings of Midian captured and executed by Gideon during the period of the Judges, marking the end of Midianite oppression in Israel.

Zebah

King of Midian captured and executed by Gideon after the murder of Gideon's brothers

One of the two kings of Midian during the era of the Judges who led a massive invasion of Israel before being captured and executed by Gideon.

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.

Jephthah's Daughter

Young woman who was the subject of her father's rash vow after the victory over Ammon

The only child of the judge Jephthah, she became the subject of her father's tragic vow after he led Israel to victory over the Ammonites during the era of the Conquest.

Caleb son of Jephunneh

Spy who gave a faithful report of Canaan and later conquered Hebron

One of the twelve spies sent by Moses to Canaan, distinguished by his wholehearted faith and courage in claiming his inheritance at Hebron.

Joshua, Son of Nun

Successor of Moses who led the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan

The successor to Moses and commander of the Israelites who led the conquest of Canaan and divided the Promised Land among the twelve tribes.

Manasseh, Son of Joseph

Firstborn son of Joseph whose grandfather Jacob crossed his hands to give the younger brother the primary blessing

The firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, Manasseh became the progenitor of one of the largest and most strategically positioned tribes of Israel.

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.

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.

Delilah

Woman in the Valley of Sorek who discovered the secret of Samson's strength

A woman from the Valley of Sorek who entered a relationship with Samson and ultimately discovered the secret of his strength for the Philistine lords.

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.

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.

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.

Abiezer, Son of Gilead

Patriarch of the Abiezrite clan and ancestor of the judge Gideon

Abiezer was a descendant of Manasseh and the ancestral founder of the Abiezrite clan, notably producing the judge Gideon during the period of the Judges.

Ebed, Father of Gaal

Patriarch whose son Gaal led a rebellion against Abimelech in Shechem

The father of Gaal, whose family lineage was central to the insurrection against Abimelech in the city of Shechem during the Period of the Judges.

Zebul

Governor of Shechem who remained loyal to Abimelech and outmaneuvered the rebel Gaal

Zebul was the loyal governor of Shechem who managed the city's internal defenses and political loyalty during the turbulent period of the Judges.

The Woman of Thebez

Heroine who killed the tyrant Abimelech with a millstone

An unnamed heroine of Thebez whose quick actions during a siege led to the death of the usurper king Abimelech, ending a period of civil strife.

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.

Eglon

King of Moab who oppressed Israel for eighteen years

The King of Moab who oppressed Israel for eighteen years during the period of the Judges before being assassinated by Ehud.

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.

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.

Jotham, Son of Gideon

Youngest son of Gideon who escaped Abimelech's massacre and delivered the Parable of the Bramble from Mount Gerizim

The youngest of Gideon's seventy sons and the sole survivor of Abimelech's massacre, known for his prophetic parable against the leaders of Shechem.

Adoni-bezek

Canaanite king who acknowledged divine justice after being mutilated

A Canaanite king defeated by the tribes of Judah and Simeon who acknowledged divine justice after being mutilated in the same manner he had treated seventy other kings.

Jebusites

Patriarchal son of Canaan whose descendants founded the city of Jerusalem

A son of Canaan and the patriarchal founder of the Jebusite nation, whose descendants inhabited the hill country and the city of Jerusalem until the reign of King David.

Joseph, Son of Jacob

Patriarch who was sold into slavery and rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt

The favored son of Jacob who, after being sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become the Grand Vizier of Egypt and preserved the lineage of Israel during a regional famine.

Kenaz, Brother of Caleb

Brother of Caleb and father of Othniel the first judge of Israel

A prominent figure of the Exodus and Conquest era, Kenaz was the younger brother of Caleb and the father of Othniel, Israel’s first judge.

Othniel

First Judge of Israel who defeated the king of Mesopotamia

The first of the biblical Judges and a heroic warrior from the clan of Kenaz who delivered Israel from Mesopotamian oppression.

Perizzites

Nation of people who lived in the hill country of Canaan and were displaced by the Israelites

An ancient tribe inhabiting the land of Canaan from the time of Abraham to the post-exilic era, often listed among the nations to be displaced by the Israelites.

Sihon

King of the Amorites who was defeated by Moses at the Battle of Jahaz

The Amorite king of Heshbon who was defeated by the Israelites after refusing them passage through his territory during the Exodus journey.

Achsah, Daughter of Caleb

Daughter of Caleb who requested and received springs of water from her father

Achsah was the daughter of the prominent leader Caleb and the wife of Othniel, the first Judge of Israel.

Heth

Patriarch who was the son of Canaan and ancestor of the Hittite people

Heth was the son of Canaan and the eponymous patriarch of the Hittites, a significant nation in the land of Canaan during the era of the Patriarchs.

Simeon, Son of Jacob

Patriarch of Israel known for his role in the massacre at Shechem and being held hostage by Joseph in Egypt

Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah, a founding patriarch of Israel known for his volatile temperament and the eventual dispersal of his tribe within Judah.

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.

Cushan-rishathaim

King of Aram-naharaim who was the first to oppress Israel in the period of the Judges

The first oppressor of Israel during the period of the Judges, a king of Aram-naharaim who enslaved the Israelites for eight years.

Hivites

Patriarchal nation descending from Canaan who inhabited the Promised Land

The Hivites were one of the seven primary nations residing in Canaan, descending from Canaan the son of Ham.

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.

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.

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.

Oreb

Midianite prince captured and executed at a rock that was subsequently named after him

A high-ranking prince of Midian who was defeated and executed by the Ephraimites during the judgeship of Gideon.

Purah

Servant of Gideon who accompanied him to spy on the Midianite camp

The personal servant of the judge Gideon who accompanied him on a stealth mission to scout the Midianite camp.

Zeeb

Prince of Midian executed at a winepress during Gideon's campaign

Zeeb was a high-ranking prince of Midian who was defeated and executed by the forces of Gideon during the Period of the Judges.

Jair the Gileadite

Judge of Israel who had thirty sons riding thirty donkeys and controlled thirty towns in Gilead

A judge of Israel from the region of Gilead who led the nation for twenty-two years during the pre-monarchic period.

Gilead, Father of Jephthah

father of the judge Jephthah whose legitimate sons expelled their half-brother

A man living during the era of the Judges in Israel and the father of the judge Jephthah by a prostitute.

Abdon, Son of Hillel

Judge of Israel from Pirathon who had forty sons and thirty grandsons

A minor judge of Israel who presided for eight years and was noted for his large family and wealth during the pre-monarchic period.

Elon the Zebulunite

Judge from the tribe of Zebulun who led Israel for ten years

Elon the Zebulunite was the tenth judge of Israel, governing the nation for ten years during the period of the Judges.

Hillel

Father of the judge Abdon

A resident of Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim, Hillel is identified in the book of Judges as the father of Abdon, one of the minor judges of Israel.

Ibzan

Judge of Israel known for having thirty sons and thirty daughters

Ibzan of Bethlehem was a minor judge of Israel who led the nation for seven years during the period of the Judges.

Ahiman, son of Anak

Descendant of Anak who lived in Hebron and was encountered by the twelve spies

Ahiman was a descendant of Anak and a member of the fearsome Anakim who inhabited Hebron during the Israelite conquest of Canaan.

Anak

Patriarch of a race of giants known as the Anakim

Anak was a formidable patriarch of a race of giants in Canaan, whose physical stature terrified the Israelite spies during the Exodus.

Sheshai

Giant descendant of Anak who inhabited Hebron during the Israelite conquest

Sheshai was one of the three giant descendants of Anak who inhabited the ancient city of Hebron and were eventually defeated by the Israelites during the conquest of Canaan.

Talmai, son of Anak

Son of Anak and giant of Hebron who was defeated by Caleb

Talmai was a descendant of Anak and one of three giants dwelling in Hebron who were eventually driven out and defeated during the Israelite conquest of Canaan.

Nun

Father of Joshua, the successor to Moses

Nun was an Ephraimite who lived during the Egyptian sojourn and the Exodus, best known as the father of Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses.

Gera, Son of Benjamin

Son of Benjamin who migrated to Egypt and forefather of the Judge Ehud

Gera was a son of the patriarch Benjamin and a foundational member of the tribe of Benjamin during the migration to Egypt.

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.

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.

Ishmael, Son of Abraham

Firstborn son of Abraham and the father of twelve princes who became a great nation

Ishmael was the firstborn son of Abraham through Hagar, the forefather of the Ishmaelite tribes, and a patriarch whom God promised would father twelve princes.

Jether

Man living before Israel's Monarchy

Hamor

Hivite prince who sold land to Jacob and was later killed by Simeon and Levi

A Hivite prince and father of Shechem who negotiated with the patriarch Jacob and was ultimately killed by Jacob's sons.

Dodo

Man living before Israel's Monarchy

Puah

Man living before Israel's Monarchy

Tola

Judge living before Israel's Monarchy

Balak

King of Moab who hired Balaam to curse the Israelites during their wilderness wanderings

The King of Moab who attempted to protect his kingdom from the advancing Israelites by hiring the prophet Balaam to curse them.

Zippor

Father of King Balak of Moab

A Moabite leader during the Exodus era, primarily known as the father of King Balak, who sought to curse the Israelites.

Gershom, Son of Moses

Firstborn son of Moses who was born in Midian

Gershom was the firstborn son of the prophet Moses and Zipporah, born in Midian during Moses' exile from Egypt.

Jonathan

Levite living before Israel's Monarchy

Aaron

First High Priest of Israel who served as the spokesman for Moses during the Exodus

The first High Priest of Israel, elder brother of Moses, and primary spokesman for the Israelites during the Exodus from Egypt.

Eleazar, Son of Aaron

High Priest who succeeded Aaron and assisted Joshua in dividing the Promised Land

Eleazar was the third son of Aaron and his successor as the High Priest of Israel, serving as a key leader alongside Moses and Joshua during the wilderness wanderings and the conquest of Canaan.

Phinehas, Son of Eleazar

Priest who stayed a plague by executing an idolatrous couple and received a perpetual covenant of priesthood

Phinehas was a high-ranking priest known for his zeal for the holiness of God, famously halting a plague in Israel through an act of decisive judgment at Peor.