OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE - R
A B C D E G H I J K L M N O P R S T U V-X Z
RAB-SHAKEH
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Rab-shakeh, the loudmouth.
A. He was a chief officer of the Assyrian army under King Sennacherib, whose soldiers had surrounded the city of Jerusalem in the days of Judean King Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:13, 17).
B. He loudly and arrogantly demanded the surrender of the city (2 Kgs 18:19–25).
1. He refuted the hope that Egypt would help the Jews.
2. He ridiculed the hope that God would help the Jews.
C. He added insult to injury by spouting all his demands in the Hebrew language so that those on the wall of Jerusalem could understand (2 Kgs 18:26–28).
II. Rab-shakeh, the liar.
A. He even claimed that the Lord himself had instructed him to destroy Jerusalem (2 Kgs 18:25).
B. He called Hezekiah a liar for promising the people divine deliverance (2 Kgs 18:29–35).
C. He promised the Jews a good life in a new land if they would surrender (Isa 36:16–18).
D. He warned them, however, if they refused, they would be reduced to eating their own filth and drinking their own urine (2 Kgs 18:27).
STATISTICS
First mention: 2 Kings 18:17
Final mention: Isaiah 37:8
Meaning of his name: “Chief officer”
Referred to: 16 times
Biblical books mentioning him: Two books (2 Kings, Isaiah)
Occupation: A chief officer of the Assyrian army (2 Kgs 18:13, 17)
Important fact about his life: He was one of Sennacherib’s chief officers when the Assyrians surrounded Jerusalem (2 Kgs 18:17).
RACHEL
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Her husband.
A. She was the younger daughter of Laban, brother of Rebekah (Gen 29:5–6, 16).
B. She worked as a shepherdess and was a beautiful girl (Gen 29:9, 17).
C. Jacob worked a total of 14 years for her hand in marriage (Gen 29:18–20, 26–30).
II. Her handmaid.
A. Laban presented her with Bilhah to serve as her handmaid (Gen 29:29).
B. Rachel was barren for a number of years (Gen 29:31).
C. Rachel then presented Bilhah to Jacob, hoping that she could bear children to Jacob through her handmaid (Gen 30:1–3).
III. Her sister.
A. She became jealous of her sister’s fruitful womb and demanded that Jacob give her children, lest she die (Gen 30:1).
B. She even ate some mandrake plants in hope that this would help her bear children (Gen 30:14–16).
C. She, along with her sister Leah, encouraged Jacob to leave his father–in–law (and their father) Laban and return to Canaan (Gen 31:14–16).
IV. Her father.
A. Rachel stole her father’s household gods before they left for Canaan (Gen 31:19).
B. She hid them inside her camel’s saddle, and lied about taking them, thus preventing Laban from finding them when he caught up with Jacob in the wilderness (Gen 31:34–35).
V. Her sons.
A. She gave birth to Joseph in Haran (Gen 30:23–24).
B. She gave birth to Benjamin near Bethlehem (Gen 35:16–20).
1. Realizing she was dying in childbirth, Rachel named him Ben-oni, meaning “son of my trouble.”
2. However, Jacob called him Benjamin, meaning “son of my right hand.”
3. A special pillar was made by Jacob and placed over her grave (Gen 35:20).
THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Years later a doubtful Saul was told by Samuel he would meet two men by Rachel’s tomb with a reassuring message concerning his role as Israel’s first king (1 Sam 10:2).
II. Because of Rachel’s hard life, she would become a symbol for future Israelite mothers who wept over their children. Two historical events illustrated this.
A. When Jewish mothers wept at Ramah over the deaths of their babies killed by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 31:15).
B. When Jewish mothers wept at Bethlehem over the deaths of their babies killed by Herod (Matt 2:18).
STATISTICS
Father: Laban (Gen 29:16)
Spouse: Jacob (Gen 29:18, 30)
Sons: Joseph and Benjamin (Gen 30:23–24; 35:16–20)
Sister: Leah (Gen 29:16)
First mention: Genesis 29:6
Final mention: Matthew 2:18
Meaning of her name: “Lamb”
Referred to: 47 times
Biblical books mentioning her: Five books (Genesis, Ruth, 1 Samuel, Jeremiah, Matthew)
Place of death: Bethlehem (Gen 35:16–20)
Circumstances of death: She died in childbirth (Gen 35:16–20).
Important fact about her life: She was the beloved wife of Jacob and mother of both Joseph and Benjamin (Gen 29:18; 30:23–24; 35:16–20).
RAHAB
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Her assistance to Israel’s spies.
She was a converted prostitute living in Jericho who protected the two Israelite spies from being killed by the king of Jericho (Josh 2:1–7).
II. Her assurance from the Israelite spies.
A. She asked and received assurance from the two men that she and her entire family would be spared when the Israelite army defeated Jericho (Josh 2:8–21).
B. Upon the defeat of the city, she and her loved ones were spared (Josh 6:17, 23, 25).
C. She later married a man from the tribe of Judah named Salmon and bore him a son called Boaz (Matt 1:5).
D. This made her the second mother–in–law to Ruth.
E. She would later become the great-great-grandmother of King David (Matt 1:5–6).
F. Her name is mentioned in the genealogy leading to Christ himself (Matt 1:1–16).
THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. The New Testament refers to Rahab on two occasions, mentioning both the fact of her faith and the proof of her faith.
II. The fact of her faith is found in Hebrews 11:31.
III. The proof of her faith is found in James 2:25.
STATISTICS
Spouse: Salmon (Matt 1:5)
Son: Boaz (Matt 1:5)
Significant descendant: David (Matt 1:5–6)
First mention: Joshua 2:1
Final mention: James 2:25
Meaning of her name: “Breadth”
Referred to: Eight times
Biblical books mentioning her: Four books (Joshua, Matthew, Hebrews, James)
Occupation: Former prostitute (Josh 2:1)
Place of birth: Jericho
Important fact about her life: She was Boaz’s mother and the ex-prostitute who saved the lives of the two Israelite spies in Jericho (Josh 2:6; Matt 1:5).
REBEKAH
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. The diligence of Rebekah.
A. She was the grand-niece of Abraham (Gen 24:15).
B. She grew up in Nahor, a town located in northwest Mesopotamia (Gen 24:10).
C. She was a very beautiful girl (Gen 24:16).
D. Abraham sent his servant to Nahor that he might find a bride for Isaac (Gen 24:1–4).
E. Outside the city, the servant prayed to be shown the girl he should select. God immediately answered, even before he had finished his prayer (Gen 24:10–21).
1. Rebekah was the first girl to approach him beside a wall.
2. She volunteered to give him a drink and also to draw water for his camels, thus fulfilling the two signs the servant had asked of God.
II. The decision of Rebekah.
She agreed to go with Abraham’s servant and marry Isaac (Gen 24:58–67).
III. The dilemma of Rebekah.
After Rebekah remained barren for 20 years, God answered Isaac’s prayer, and she conceived (Gen 25:21).
A. Her question (Gen 25:22).
B. Her answer (Gen 25:23).
IV. The deference of Rebekah.
A. The twins were born and named—Esau, the firstborn, and Jacob (Gen 25:24–26).
B. Rebekah unwisely preferred Jacob over Esau as the boys were growing up (Gen 25:28).
V. The distress of Rebekah.
A. She was compromised by Isaac (Gen 26:6–11).
1. In time of famine Isaac took Rebekah to the land of the Philistines and lied about her (as Abraham had once done to Sarah in Egypt), saying she was his sister.
2. Isaac was fearful he would be killed so that the Philistine ruler might marry Rebekah.
3. The lie was discovered, however, when the king saw them caressing each other.
B. She was concerned over Esau.
His marriage to two pagan Hittite girls brought grief to Rebekah (Gen 26:34–35).
VI. The deception of Rebekah.
A. She overheard Isaac’s plan to give Esau the blessing (Gen 27:1–5).
B. She then instructed Jacob to pretend to be Esau and thus receive the blessing (Gen 27:5–17).
C. Upon learning of Esau’s plan to kill Jacob for cheating him, Rebekah sent her beloved son to her brother Laban in northwest Mesopotamia (Gen 27:42–46).
VII. The death of Rebekah.
She died and was buried along with Abraham and Sarah in the cave of Machpelah (Gen 49:30–31).
THEOLOGICAL SUMMARY
In the New Testament, Paul referred to the birth of Rebekah’s twin sons as an example of God’s sovereign activities in human affairs (Rom 9:10–13).
STATISTICS
Father: Bethuel (Gen 22:23)
Spouse: Isaac (Gen 24:67)
Sons: Esau and Jacob (Gen 25:21–26)
Brother: Laban (Gen 24:29)
First mention: Genesis 22:23
Final mention: Romans 9:10
Meaning of her name: “Flattering”
Referred to: 29 times
Biblical books mentioning her: Two books (Genesis, Romans)
Place of birth: Nahor (Gen 24:10)
Place of death: Hebron
Important fact about her life: She was Isaac’s wife and Jacob’s mother (Gen 24:67; 25:26).
REHOBOAM
(See also Chaotic Kingdom)
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. The anointing of Rehoboam.
A. He was the first king of Judah.
B. He ruled for 17 years (1 Kgs 14:21).
C. He came to Shechem following the death of his father Solomon, to be anointed as Israel’s fourth king (1 Kgs 12:1).
D. He was 41 at the time (1 Kgs 14:21).
II. The arrogance of Rehoboam.
A. Receiving a sensible request.
1. He was approached by some Israelite leaders representing the 10 northern tribes, requesting that he lighten the terrible tax load his father Solomon had imposed upon them (1 Kgs 12:3–4).
2. Rehoboam asked for a three–day period in which to make his decision. He then sought counsel from two groups of individuals (1 Kgs 12:5–11).
a. The elders who had once served Solomon.
They advised him to grant Israel’s request and make life easier for the people.
b. The young men who had grown up with Rehoboam.
These immature and inexperienced individuals urged him to give the following answer: “My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions” (1 Kgs 12:10–11).
B. Returning a senseless reply.
1. Rehoboam foolishly followed the advice of the young men and delivered the harsh and hateful decision to the elders (1 Kgs 12:12–14).
2. This stupid action resulted in a civil war, for 10 of Israel’s 12 tribes revolted against Rehoboam and proclaimed Jeroboam, a former official under Solomon, as their new king (1 Kgs 12:16, 20).
3. To show their contempt for Rehoboam, the 10 tribes stoned to death Adoniram, the official in charge of forced labor (1 Kgs 12:18).
III. The army of Rehoboam.
A. Arriving back in Jerusalem, Rehoboam gathered an army of 180,000 men to crush the revolt, but was forbidden by God to fight against the 10 tribes (1 Kgs 12:21–24).
B. In spite of God’s command, there was continuous warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam (1 Kgs 14:30).
C. To protect himself he fortified various towns in Judah, including Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Hebron (2 Chr 11:5–10).
IV. The apostasy of Rehoboam.
A. The perversions involved (2 Chr 12:1).
1. The people built pagan shrines under every green tree and upon every high hill (1 Kgs 14:23).
2. There was an increase of sodomy and other vile sexual activities (1 Kgs 14:24).
3. Rehoboam practiced polygamy, marrying 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chr 11:21).
4. From these wives were born 28 sons and 60 daughters (2 Chr 11:21).
B. The punishment involved.
1. God allowed Shishak, the king of Egypt, to attack Jerusalem and carry off immense amounts of riches (1 Kgs 14:22–28), including:
a. The treasures of the Temple.
b. The treasures of the royal palace.
c. The gold shields Solomon had made.
To save face at this point, Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them.
2. Rehoboam did (temporarily) humble himself, and thus God did not totally destroy Judah at this time (2 Chr 12:12).
STATISTICS
Father: Solomon (1 Kgs 11:43)
Mother: Naamah (1 Kgs 14:21)
Spouses: Mahalath, Abihail, and Maachah are named among 18 wives and 60 concubines (2 Chr 11:18–21).
Sons: Jeush, Shemariah, Zaham, Abijam, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith are named among 28 sons and 60 daughters (1 Kgs 14:31; 2 Chr 11:19–21).
First mention: 1 Kings 11:43
Final mention: Matthew 1:7
Meaning of his name: “Freer of the people”
Referred to: 50 times
Biblical books mentioning him: Four books (1 Kings, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles, Matthew)
Occupation: King of Judah (1 Kgs 14:21)
Place of birth: Jerusalem
Important fact about his life: He was Solomon’s son and the first king over the southern kingdom of Judah (1 Kgs 11:43–12:24).
REUBEN
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Reuben and Leah.
A. He was the first son of Jacob through Leah (Gen 29:32).
B. He brought some mandrake plants to his mother, hoping this would help her to bear more children (Gen 30:14).
II. Reuben and Bilhah.
A. He committed adultery with Bilhah, one of his father Jacob’s concubines (Gen 35:22).
B. On his deathbed, Jacob reminded Reuben of, and rebuked him for, this immoral act (Gen 49:3–4).
C. By this act Reuben forfeited his right as the firstborn son (1 Chr 5:1).
III. Reuben and his brothers.
A. The event at Dothan (Gen 37:19–30).
1. He secretly attempted to prevent his nine brothers from killing Joseph, planning to bring the lad back to his father.
2. He succeeded in the first goal (Joseph was not killed), but failed to accomplish the second (Joseph was sold into slavery).
B. The event in Egypt.
When he and the nine brothers ran into trouble years later at the hands of Joseph (whom they had not yet recognized), Reuben warned them it was due to their past sin against their younger half brother (Gen 42:22).
IV. Reuben and Jacob.
Reuben and Judah finally convinced a reluctant Jacob that Benjamin, youngest and most-beloved remaining son of the old patriarch, be permitted to accompany the brothers on their second trip to Egypt for food, promising to assume full responsibility for his safety (Gen 42:37; 43:8–10).
V. Reuben and Joseph.
He later moved to Egypt along with Jacob and his brothers to live with Joseph (Gen 46:5–7; Exod 1:1–2).
STATISTICS
Father: Jacob (Gen 29:21–32)
Mother: Leah (Gen 29:32)
Sons: Hanoch, Phallu, Hezron, and Carmi (Gen 46:9)
Brothers: Full brothers: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun (Gen 35:23); half brothers: Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher (Gen 35:24–26)
First mention: Genesis 29:32
Final mention: 1 Chronicles 5:3
Meaning of his name: “Behold, a son”
Referred to: 26 times
Biblical books mentioning him: Six books (Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, 1 Chronicles)
Important fact about his life: He was Jacob’s first son (Gen 35:23).
RIZPAH
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Rizpah, the mistress.
A. She was the concubine of King Saul (2 Sam 3:7).
B. After Saul’s death his son Ish-bosheth, who briefly succeeded him, accused Abner, commander of Saul’s army, of sleeping with Rizpah (2 Sam 3:7).
II. Rizpah, the mother.
A. Later, her two sons were put to death by the Gibeonites and their bodies left exposed on a hill (2 Sam 21:9).
B. The grieving Rizpah then took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock (2 Sam 21:10).
C. From the beginning of the harvest until the coming of the rains, she remained there, not letting the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night (2 Sam 21:10).
STATISTICS
Father: Aiah (2 Sam 3:7)
Spouse: Saul (2 Sam 3:7)
Sons: Armoni and Mephibosheth (2 Sam 21:8)
First mention: 2 Samuel 3:7
Final mention: 2 Samuel 21:11
Meaning of her name: “Hot stone”
Referred to: Four times
Biblical books mentioning her: One book (2 Samuel)
Important fact about her life: She protected the dead bodies of her two sons (2 Sam 21:10).
RUTH
(See also Judges)
CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY
I. Ruth in a pagan land—Moab.
A. Her travail.
1. Ruth was a Moabite girl who married Mahlon, elder son of Elimelech and Naomi (Ruth 1:1–4; 4:10).
2. After about 10 years of marriage, Mahlon died (Ruth 1:5).
B. Her testimony (Ruth 1:11–17).
1. The decision of Ruth.
Refusing to stay in Moab, as Naomi had strongly advised her to do, Ruth decided to accompany her mother–in–law back to Bethlehem and live there.
2. The declaration of Ruth.
“Whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16).
II. Ruth in the Promised Land—Bethlehem.
A. Her missions for Naomi.
1. Reaping in a barley field.
a. Ruth met Boaz as she picked up the leftover grain in his field for Naomi and herself (Ruth 2:1–16).
(1) Boaz praised her for the kindness she had shown to Naomi (who was a close relative) after the death of Elimelech.
(2) He invited her to share his lunch.
(3) He then privately instructed the harvesters to leave extra grain behind, thus making her work easier.
b. Upon returning home Ruth told Naomi what had happened; Naomi immediately began planning for a wedding (Ruth 2:17–23).
2. Requesting by a barley floor.
a. Ruth was instructed by Naomi to approach Boaz by night and request that he exercise his responsibility as a kinsman redeemer (Ruth 3:1–4).
b. Ruth did this, but learned from Boaz that there was a closer kinsman than himself who first must agree concerning who would care for Naomi and Ruth (Ruth 3:5–16).
c. Ruth was reassured by Naomi of Boaz’s determination (Ruth 3:17–18).
B. Her marriage to Boaz (Ruth 4:1–22).
1. Boaz solved his legal problem and married Ruth.
2. She gave birth to a boy named Obed.
3. Ruth later became the great-grandmother of King David and occupied a place in the genealogy leading to Christ himself (Ruth 4:21–22; Matt 1:5, 16)
STATISTICS
Spouses: Mahlon and Boaz (Ruth 4:10–13)
Son: Obed (Ruth 4:13, 17)
Significant descendant: David (Ruth 4:21–22)
First mention: Ruth 1:4
Final mention: Matthew 1:5
Meaning of her name: “Friendship”
Referred to: 13 times
Biblical books mentioning her: Two books (Ruth, Matthew)
Important fact about her life: She was Boaz’s wife and David’s great-grandmother (Ruth 4:13, 21–22).
