In order to give me a chance of remembering each 'man of the Bible,' I decided to write a few words about each. Otherwise, I suspect they will all run together because, after all, these are 'lesser-known characters.' Each minister tells the story of a lesser-known man of the Bible and why he's significant. Some of these writers are quite eloquent and interesting. I'm so glad someone teased out some of the minor actors of the Bible; they were worthy of examination.
This book was originally published in 1904; it is in the Public Domain (out-of-copyright). There are twenty separate stories. Keep the year of publication in mind as you are reading; the language is a bit more verbose and flowery than we are used to hearing. Overall, these writers tried to explain why each man was included in the Bible and tried to show the lesson we can learn from each. I found the essays by J G Greenhough to be the most preachy. He was writing for a different age and perhaps they would be more interesting to that reader.
Most of the men highlighted were from the Old Testament, which was wonderful. I think less attention is paid to that portion of the Bible and deserves more interest and study.
ENOCH, THE DEATHLESS (Rev. W J Townsend, DD) --
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are part of the Patriarchal Age, which was the earliest relationship between man and God. Enoch was part of the Patriarchal Epoch; a devout man, fearless teacher of right, and 'the only mano of his dispensation who did not see death.' He was part of the period before the Great Flood.
ELDAD AND MEDAD (Rev. Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
These men are only mentioned in Numbers 11. They were Israelite elders traveling with God's people from Egypt (where they had been slaves) to the Promised Land. Seventy of the elders rushed to the Tabernacle to receive the Spirit of God. Eldad and Medad did not because they did not want the limelight. However, God gave them the spirit (also) and they began prophesying. God was teaching that just because the men weren't with the regularly ordained, they still received powers because they were worthy.
BARZILLAI (George Milligan, DD) --
Barzillai is described as a wealthy, elderly man from Rogelim in Gilead who lived during the time of King David (2 Samuel 17:27). He is best known for his loyal service to David when he (David) was forced to flee Jerusalem during a revolt by David's son Absalom. David won, but at the cost of killing his own son. David wanted to reward Barzillai, but the man was aged and content and suggested David take Barzillai's son instead.
ADONIJAH (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Adonijah was the fourth son of King David. His mother was Haggith as recorded in the book of 2 Samuel 3:4. Adonijah was born at Hebron during the long conflict between David and the House of Saul. Adonijah was the natural choice for the next king, as his older brothers had died. However, David's favorite wife, Bathsheba, organized an intrigue in favor of her son Solomon. It was already written that Solomon would follow David to the throne, but Adonijah sinned by deciding (against the prophecy) that he should rule.
HIRAM, THE INSPIRED ARTIFICER (Rev. W J Townsend, DD) --
Hiram was a skilled craftsman sent by King Hiram (of Tyre) to Solomon to help him build his palace and the Temple. His father was a Gentile native of Tyre craftsmen, but his mother was of the tribe of Naphtali (an Israelitish woman); she was of the daughters of Dan. He was skilled in working with all sorts of materialsâgold and silver, copper and iron, wood, and clothâand was a fine engraver.
Among the important metal parts of the Temple and its furnishings that Hiram made were the two bronze pillars, called Jachin and Boaz, the elaborate capitals on the pillars, the molten sea, and the twelve oxen on which it rested, ten bases of bronze, ten basins of bronze, and the pots, shovels, and tossing-bowls used in the Temple.
JEROBOAM (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Jeroboam was a servant, raised up by Solomon for his excellent work. Eventually, Jeroboam became the first king of the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Hebrew Bible describes the reign of Jeroboam to have commenced following a revolt of the ten northern Israelite tribes against (Solomon's son) Rehoboam that put an end to the United Monarchy. Instead of following God's word, Jeroboam had the country and priests worship idols. For that, God punished Jeroboam.
ASA (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Asa was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the third king of the Kingdom of Judah and the fifth king of the House of David (5 kings: David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Ahijah, and Asa). The Hebrew Bible gives the period of his reign as 41 years. King Asa was the first king of Judah characterized as a man of integrity. He brought about a marked revival in the worship of God and the removal of paganism and its associated evils.
AHAZIAH (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Ahaziah of Israel was king from 853â852 BC. He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, who were among the most wicked rulers Israel ever had. Ahaziah's parents brought Baal worship into the land and turned God's people away from Him; although Ahaziah reigned for only two years, he was just as evil as his parents.
GEHAZI (J Morgan Gibbon) --
Gehazi, Geichazi, or Giezi, is a figure found in the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible. A servant of the prophet Elisha, Gehazi enjoyed a position of power but was ultimately corrupt, misusing his authority to cheat Naaman the Syrian, a general afflicted with leprosy.
HAZAEL (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Hazael was a high court official who later became a king. God instructed the prophet, Elijah, to anoint Hazael as ruler of Syria. Many years later the Syrian king Hadadezer became very sick and Hazael suffocated him and seized the throne. It was under Hazael's dominion that Aram-Damascus became a mighty empire that took control over large parts of Syria and Palestine. The Assyrians soon after his accession to the throne came against him and defeated him with very great loss, and three years later invaded Syria, but on this occasion, Hazael submitted to them. He then turned his arms against Israel and ravaged "all the land of Gilead," etc.
MANASSEH (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Manasseh was the fourteenth king of the Kingdom of Judah. He was the oldest of the sons of Hezekiah and his mother Hephzibah. He became king at the age of 12 and reigned for 55 years. Manasseh is a tragic figure in Scripture. Although he repented of his sin, he was unable to undo the damage he had done to the nation or to his own son who followed him. Manasseh demonstrates that, while any sin may be forgiven when we repent, forgiveness does not necessarily remove the natural consequences that flow from disobedience.
AMAZIAH (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Amaziah of Judah was the ninth king of Judah. His father was Joash and his son was Uzziah. He took the throne at the age of 25, after the assassination of his father, and reigned for 29 years. He hired 100,000 Israelites when he was about to face the Edomites. However, a prophet came to him and told him to send the Israelites back (because they were a godless group, not consecrated to God). Amaziah did not want to lose the money and he did not want to lose the war. However, the problem was of his own making. He knew the men were godless but he wanted to win, so he put himself into a position to be challenged by a prophet to remind him of his duty.
JABEZ (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Jabez is only minimally mentioned in the Bible, but when we look at him, we'll see that he actually brings us lessons we should learn and apply in our lives. Although his mother bore him in sorrow (of an unnamed variety), Jabez grew to be a good man. "God sends us some of our best joys in the guise of sorrows." (p. 1121)
SIMEON (H Elvet Lewis) --
Simeon at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:25â35, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth at the presentation of Jesus at the Temple
PONTIUS PILATE (Principal Walter F Adenly, DD) --
Pontius Pilate was a Roman procurator (essentially, he was a tax collector) under the emperor of Tiberius in the 1st century. He is best known as the judge of Jesus' trial. Secular historians have left a scathing evaluation of Pilate, but Christian historians are more equitable in their rating. They evaluate Pilate as being a weak man who allowed Jesus to suffer because he did not have the strength to stand against those accusing an innocent man. He tries to end the punishment with a severe lashing but the crowds will not be satisfied. Thus, he orders the crucifixion.
BARABBAS (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Barabbas is a figure mentioned in the New Testament, in which he is an insurrectionary (held by the Roman governor at the same time as Jesus), and whom Pontius Pilate freed at the Passover feast in Jerusalem while keeping Jesus as a prisoner. The crowds were glorifying the wrong man because their shouting increased their passion. The minister makes the point that people/crowds often rally around the wrong person (the famous, athletic, etc.) instead of around the best person (saving others, doing the right thing, etc.).
JOSEPH OF ARIMANTHEA (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Sanhedrin, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. The usual policy was to take the bodies down and throw them into a dishonorable grave. Joseph of Arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. It was an act of bravery because Pilate was cruel and he could have killed Joseph merely for asking about the body. He is considered to be a saint in many religions.
PHILIP, THE EVANGELIST (George Milligan, DD) --
Philip the Evangelist appears several times in the Acts of the Apostles. He was one of the Seven chosen to care for the poor of the Christian community in Jerusalem (distribute alms and food to widows, etc.). He preached and reportedly performed miracles in Samaria, and met and baptized an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, traditionally marking the start of the Ethiopian Church.
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (George Milligan, DD) --
In the early Christian church in Jerusalem, the believers were so close they sold their excess land or possessions and donated the money so no one would go hungry. This sharing of resources was not a formal requirement of the church, but those who participated were looked upon favorably. Ananias and Sapphira sold their land and gave a part of it to the community (instead of the full amount), saying that is what they had received. God smote them down for their lies.
DEMAS (Principal Walter F Adenly, DD) --
Demas had at one time been one of Paul's "fellow workers" in the gospel ministry along with Mark, Luke, and others. During Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, Demas was also in Rome. There is also biblical evidence that Demas was with Paul during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome, at least for a while. Through trials as a fellow worker with the other Christians, his faith weakened and he decided to leave them behind. He was seeing the dreadful fate that the apostles found and he did not want to be part of it. Since the Bible is quiet about his end, it is assumed that he did not return to the fold of Christianity.
This book was originally published in 1904; it is in the Public Domain (out-of-copyright). There are twenty separate stories. Keep the year of publication in mind as you are reading; the language is a bit more verbose and flowery than we are used to hearing. Overall, these writers tried to explain why each man was included in the Bible and tried to show the lesson we can learn from each. I found the essays by J G Greenhough to be the most preachy. He was writing for a different age and perhaps they would be more interesting to that reader.
Most of the men highlighted were from the Old Testament, which was wonderful. I think less attention is paid to that portion of the Bible and deserves more interest and study.
ENOCH, THE DEATHLESS (Rev. W J Townsend, DD) --
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are part of the Patriarchal Age, which was the earliest relationship between man and God. Enoch was part of the Patriarchal Epoch; a devout man, fearless teacher of right, and 'the only mano of his dispensation who did not see death.' He was part of the period before the Great Flood.
ELDAD AND MEDAD (Rev. Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
These men are only mentioned in Numbers 11. They were Israelite elders traveling with God's people from Egypt (where they had been slaves) to the Promised Land. Seventy of the elders rushed to the Tabernacle to receive the Spirit of God. Eldad and Medad did not because they did not want the limelight. However, God gave them the spirit (also) and they began prophesying. God was teaching that just because the men weren't with the regularly ordained, they still received powers because they were worthy.
BARZILLAI (George Milligan, DD) --
Barzillai is described as a wealthy, elderly man from Rogelim in Gilead who lived during the time of King David (2 Samuel 17:27). He is best known for his loyal service to David when he (David) was forced to flee Jerusalem during a revolt by David's son Absalom. David won, but at the cost of killing his own son. David wanted to reward Barzillai, but the man was aged and content and suggested David take Barzillai's son instead.
ADONIJAH (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Adonijah was the fourth son of King David. His mother was Haggith as recorded in the book of 2 Samuel 3:4. Adonijah was born at Hebron during the long conflict between David and the House of Saul. Adonijah was the natural choice for the next king, as his older brothers had died. However, David's favorite wife, Bathsheba, organized an intrigue in favor of her son Solomon. It was already written that Solomon would follow David to the throne, but Adonijah sinned by deciding (against the prophecy) that he should rule.
HIRAM, THE INSPIRED ARTIFICER (Rev. W J Townsend, DD) --
Hiram was a skilled craftsman sent by King Hiram (of Tyre) to Solomon to help him build his palace and the Temple. His father was a Gentile native of Tyre craftsmen, but his mother was of the tribe of Naphtali (an Israelitish woman); she was of the daughters of Dan. He was skilled in working with all sorts of materialsâgold and silver, copper and iron, wood, and clothâand was a fine engraver.
Among the important metal parts of the Temple and its furnishings that Hiram made were the two bronze pillars, called Jachin and Boaz, the elaborate capitals on the pillars, the molten sea, and the twelve oxen on which it rested, ten bases of bronze, ten basins of bronze, and the pots, shovels, and tossing-bowls used in the Temple.
JEROBOAM (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Jeroboam was a servant, raised up by Solomon for his excellent work. Eventually, Jeroboam became the first king of the northern Kingdom of Israel. The Hebrew Bible describes the reign of Jeroboam to have commenced following a revolt of the ten northern Israelite tribes against (Solomon's son) Rehoboam that put an end to the United Monarchy. Instead of following God's word, Jeroboam had the country and priests worship idols. For that, God punished Jeroboam.
ASA (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Asa was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the third king of the Kingdom of Judah and the fifth king of the House of David (5 kings: David, Solomon, Rehoboam, Ahijah, and Asa). The Hebrew Bible gives the period of his reign as 41 years. King Asa was the first king of Judah characterized as a man of integrity. He brought about a marked revival in the worship of God and the removal of paganism and its associated evils.
AHAZIAH (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Ahaziah of Israel was king from 853â852 BC. He was the son of Ahab and Jezebel, who were among the most wicked rulers Israel ever had. Ahaziah's parents brought Baal worship into the land and turned God's people away from Him; although Ahaziah reigned for only two years, he was just as evil as his parents.
GEHAZI (J Morgan Gibbon) --
Gehazi, Geichazi, or Giezi, is a figure found in the Books of Kings in the Hebrew Bible. A servant of the prophet Elisha, Gehazi enjoyed a position of power but was ultimately corrupt, misusing his authority to cheat Naaman the Syrian, a general afflicted with leprosy.
HAZAEL (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Hazael was a high court official who later became a king. God instructed the prophet, Elijah, to anoint Hazael as ruler of Syria. Many years later the Syrian king Hadadezer became very sick and Hazael suffocated him and seized the throne. It was under Hazael's dominion that Aram-Damascus became a mighty empire that took control over large parts of Syria and Palestine. The Assyrians soon after his accession to the throne came against him and defeated him with very great loss, and three years later invaded Syria, but on this occasion, Hazael submitted to them. He then turned his arms against Israel and ravaged "all the land of Gilead," etc.
MANASSEH (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Manasseh was the fourteenth king of the Kingdom of Judah. He was the oldest of the sons of Hezekiah and his mother Hephzibah. He became king at the age of 12 and reigned for 55 years. Manasseh is a tragic figure in Scripture. Although he repented of his sin, he was unable to undo the damage he had done to the nation or to his own son who followed him. Manasseh demonstrates that, while any sin may be forgiven when we repent, forgiveness does not necessarily remove the natural consequences that flow from disobedience.
AMAZIAH (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Amaziah of Judah was the ninth king of Judah. His father was Joash and his son was Uzziah. He took the throne at the age of 25, after the assassination of his father, and reigned for 29 years. He hired 100,000 Israelites when he was about to face the Edomites. However, a prophet came to him and told him to send the Israelites back (because they were a godless group, not consecrated to God). Amaziah did not want to lose the money and he did not want to lose the war. However, the problem was of his own making. He knew the men were godless but he wanted to win, so he put himself into a position to be challenged by a prophet to remind him of his duty.
JABEZ (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Jabez is only minimally mentioned in the Bible, but when we look at him, we'll see that he actually brings us lessons we should learn and apply in our lives. Although his mother bore him in sorrow (of an unnamed variety), Jabez grew to be a good man. "God sends us some of our best joys in the guise of sorrows." (p. 1121)
SIMEON (H Elvet Lewis) --
Simeon at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:25â35, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth at the presentation of Jesus at the Temple
PONTIUS PILATE (Principal Walter F Adenly, DD) --
Pontius Pilate was a Roman procurator (essentially, he was a tax collector) under the emperor of Tiberius in the 1st century. He is best known as the judge of Jesus' trial. Secular historians have left a scathing evaluation of Pilate, but Christian historians are more equitable in their rating. They evaluate Pilate as being a weak man who allowed Jesus to suffer because he did not have the strength to stand against those accusing an innocent man. He tries to end the punishment with a severe lashing but the crowds will not be satisfied. Thus, he orders the crucifixion.
BARABBAS (J G Greenhough, MA) --
Barabbas is a figure mentioned in the New Testament, in which he is an insurrectionary (held by the Roman governor at the same time as Jesus), and whom Pontius Pilate freed at the Passover feast in Jerusalem while keeping Jesus as a prisoner. The crowds were glorifying the wrong man because their shouting increased their passion. The minister makes the point that people/crowds often rally around the wrong person (the famous, athletic, etc.) instead of around the best person (saving others, doing the right thing, etc.).
JOSEPH OF ARIMANTHEA (Alfred Rowland, DD, LLB) --
Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Sanhedrin, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. The usual policy was to take the bodies down and throw them into a dishonorable grave. Joseph of Arimathea was, according to all four canonical gospels, the man who assumed responsibility for the burial of Jesus after his crucifixion. It was an act of bravery because Pilate was cruel and he could have killed Joseph merely for asking about the body. He is considered to be a saint in many religions.
PHILIP, THE EVANGELIST (George Milligan, DD) --
Philip the Evangelist appears several times in the Acts of the Apostles. He was one of the Seven chosen to care for the poor of the Christian community in Jerusalem (distribute alms and food to widows, etc.). He preached and reportedly performed miracles in Samaria, and met and baptized an Ethiopian man, a eunuch, on the road from Jerusalem to Gaza, traditionally marking the start of the Ethiopian Church.
ANANIAS AND SAPPHIRA (George Milligan, DD) --
In the early Christian church in Jerusalem, the believers were so close they sold their excess land or possessions and donated the money so no one would go hungry. This sharing of resources was not a formal requirement of the church, but those who participated were looked upon favorably. Ananias and Sapphira sold their land and gave a part of it to the community (instead of the full amount), saying that is what they had received. God smote them down for their lies.
DEMAS (Principal Walter F Adenly, DD) --
Demas had at one time been one of Paul's "fellow workers" in the gospel ministry along with Mark, Luke, and others. During Paul's first imprisonment in Rome, Demas was also in Rome. There is also biblical evidence that Demas was with Paul during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome, at least for a while. Through trials as a fellow worker with the other Christians, his faith weakened and he decided to leave them behind. He was seeing the dreadful fate that the apostles found and he did not want to be part of it. Since the Bible is quiet about his end, it is assumed that he did not return to the fold of Christianity.
