ABOUT OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE (2)

1. Important people in the Old Testament

a) Balaam

i) Prophet asked by Balak, the king of the Moabites, to curse Israel as they camped in the wilderness. God warned Balaam not to curse Israel by miraculously having a horse talk and the Angel of the Lord appear ready to kill him (Numbers 22-23). Taught Balak how to corrupt the Israelites and bring God's judgment down upon themselves (Numbers 31).

b) Baruch

i) Was from the tribe of Judah. Secretary for the prophet Jeremiah who wrote all his prophecies then read them to the people.

c) Bathsheba

i) Wife of Uriah the Hittite. King David committed adultery with her then set up Uriah to be killed in battle. Child born out of adultery dies. Marries David and become mother of Solomon and Nathan.

d) Belshazzar

i) Last king of Babylonian empire. Saw miraculous "handwriting on wall" which Daniel revealed was God's judgment on him and Babylon - and was killed that night. Darius the Mede, with consent of Persia's Cyrus the Great, takes Babylon.

e) Benjamin

i) Born to Jacob and Rachel. Was Jacob's youngest of 12 sons.

f) Bilhah

i) Was Rachel's handmaid given to her by her father Laban. Rachel, who was barren, gave Bilhah to Jacob so that she could have children through her (Genesis 30). Gave birth to two sons of Jacob: Dan and Naphtali.

g) Boaz

i) Married Ruth (who authored the Bible book of Ruth) and was the great-grandfather of King David.