ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE (9)

1. Important people in the Old Testament

a) Joseph

i) Favorite son of Jacob. Mother is Rachel. Received coat of many colors from Jacob (Genesis 37). Sold as slave by his brothers. Was prisoner in Egypt. Interprets dreams of Pharaoh and made overseer of Egypt (Genesis 41). Has two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Saves entire family by having them move to Egypt to avoid famine. Joseph is also name of Mary's (Jesus' mother) husband.

b) Joshua

i) Led children of Israel into promised land after death of Moses. Led battles to conquer land given by God. Divided land among the tribes. Served 18 years as Israel's first judge.

c) Josiah

i) One of the best Kings of Judah. Reigned 31 years. Helped restore true worship of God to Judah. Fatally wounded in battle by random arrow.

d) Judah

i) Jacob's fourth son by Leah. Interceded to stop other brothers from killing Joseph (Genesis 37). Had incest with daughter-in-law (Genesis 38). Tribe of Judah led conquest of promised land (Judges 1).

e) Keturah

i) Referred to in the Bible as Abraham's concubine. She likely married him after the death of Sarah. Keturah bore Abraham six children: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.

f) Laban

i) Brother of Abraham whose sister was the wife of Isaac. Did not keep agreement with Jacob who promised to work for him 7 years in order to marry Rachel (Genesis 29).

g) Leah

i) Was the eldest daughter of Laban. Although Jacob wanted to marry Rachel, Laban deceived him into taking Leah as his first wife (Genesis 29). Leah bore Jacob six boys and a girl: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Isaachar, Zebulun and Dinah.