Discover the lesser-known characters of the Bible
1. Onan
We begin this tour of little-known Bible characters with Onan. His appearance in the holy book is very brief. He was the second son of Abraham’s grandson, Judah, who was patriarch of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
God killed his older brother named Er, because he had been bad in his eyes, but the reason is a mystery. Tradition said that if the woman was widowed, she should marry the next brother, to continue with the family lineage, this was known as “levirate”, so Tamar, who was the wife of Er, became the wife of Onan .
Onan did not want to give offspring to his brother, and every time he had sex with Tamar, he avoided getting her pregnant. Because of his selfishness, God killed him too. It is from her figure that a concept known as “onanism” appears. Onan developed coitus interruptus with Tamar, that is, he avoided ejaculating inside her so that the woman would not get pregnant. The Bible, following this context, warns that sex is for reproductive purposes and not for pleasure.
2. Naaman
Another little-known Bible character is a man named Naaman. The story goes that he was a great Syrian commander, who had fallen ill with leprosy. It was then that, At the suggestion of Naaman’s wife’s servant, he went to visit the prophet Elisha, seeking a cure. His story is that of healing and returning to the Lord.
3. Jabez
Jabez is another of the characters that hardly appear in the Bible. Nevertheless, Although it only sees the light in a few verses, the famous prayer of Jabez went down in history. In it, this character invokes the God of Israel, saying: “Oh, that you bless me and extend my border, and that your hand be with me, and that you keep me from all harm so that it does not bring me pain! And God granted what he asked for.
4. Josiah
Another of the little-known and most interesting characters in the Bible is Josiah, the boy King. He assumed the throne when he was just eight years old. Since then, he went on to become one of the greatest kings that ever ruled Israel.
Among the episodes in which he appears, is the one in which the High Priest finds the Book of the Law, which has been neglected and hidden. Then Josiah kneels and begs the Lord not to punish his people for disobeying the word, in an act of repentance and spiritual leadership.
5. og
This is one of the little-known characters in the Bible that is only mentioned twice. Og was a Nephilim, descended from a demon and a human woman, it is said that they lived in the world before the universal flood and fought against humans for power. They were also known as Raphaim.
Og was the most famous, king of Bashan. He was killed along with his entire army and his kingdom was plundered.. The most powerful line of Nephilim descendants was exterminated. It is said that some of them continued to battle with the Israelites, but gradually disappeared.
Goliath is thought to be the last of them. There is information that says that Og went on Noah’s ark, after convincing him to give him a space on the ark if he became his slave. Other versions say that he went to her side, hanging.
6. Mordecai
Mordecai is the next among the little-known Bible characters we want to talk to you about. He was the cousin and guardian of Esther, a foreigner who becomes queen of Persia. From his position, he excels in his actions to defend God’s downtrodden people, as well as foiling a plot to assassinate the king.
7. The Thief of the Cross
This is undoubtedly one of the underestimated characters in the Bible that most attracts our attention. Little is known about him. Just that he was a criminal who was tried and crucified together with Jesus. It is also said that after his death, he was brought to paradise. The symbology of the story is fantastic. It is about a man who always lived in contradiction with the principles of honesty and goodness, but who at the last moment of his life repented, received God in his heart, and was forgiven.
8. Ehud
Next among the little-known Bible characters is Ehud. His story is quite moving. At the time he lived, Israel was under the oppressive rule of Eglon, the king of Moab, and he cried out to the Lord for his deliverance.
Then, God decided to send Ehud, so that, armed with his one-cubit sword, he could assassinate the king and free the people of God. Ehud then arrived and told the king’s servants that he had a secret message for him. They were left alone, and then that one approached and gave him an accurate stab in the belly. When Ehud returned to the people of Israel, he led Israel in conquering their enemies; the Moabites.
9. Korah
Another little-known character from the Bible that we want to talk to you about is the controversial Korah. All the ones we saw before were characters with positive legacies, who left something good for the Lord’s people. But Korah is rather a dark figure…
In fact, his appearance in the Bible is marked when he raises a mob of Israelites to oppose the leadership of Moses, thus questioning the idea that he was the sole spokesman for God. God did not take very well to Korah and the rebels and caused the earth to swallow them up.
10. Cain’s Wife
Surely you know the story of Cain, the first human born and how he killed his younger brother Abel in a fit of rage. However, the rest of the story remains a mystery, and one of the little-known characters of the Bible is derived from it.
Cain settled in the land of Nod and had a wife. No one knows where she came from, when her family was supposed to be the only one in the world. For this reason, many think that there could have been another tribe of people or that Adam and Eve had many children to populate the earth. The Bible does not speak of her, but the Jubilees apocryphal says that Cain’s wife was his sister Awan, who gave birth to her son Enoch.
In short, the sacred book of Christianity concentrates an enormous flow of lessons, characters and experiences. This is the text on which one of the most comprehensive, widespread and powerful religions in the entire world is based entirely.
And you, Did you know these peculiar characters? Do you know of any others you would like us to investigate? If so, go ahead and leave us your opinions in a comment. We will be happy to read you. And in the meantime, we leave you with this selection of the most symbolic Bible phrases.