The People Mentioned In The Bible, And Archeology
From 599 BC to 100 AD
Compiled By: Dr. Johnson C. Philip
There is so much archeological data now available, but is so scattered around in museusms, private collections, and the information about them is so scattered in books and journal articles published in several countries over a period of one century or more, that it is well nigh impossible for any single writer or student of archeology to know about these. Nor has any book, it seems, except a few dictionaries or archeology, ever tried to collect all such data into a centralize place.
- BiblicalArcheology.Net will keep trying to become this kind of a central dipository of comprehensive information, and as part of this vision, available information is tabulated below. This list deals only with “persons” mentioned in the Bible. This list is in Chronological order, according to date the person lived, or ruled.
- Very soon we will add links to related archeological discoveries. Any information you send is appreciated, and will be acknowledged.
- Similar lists about places, things, and other biblical lists will also be available on this site. All these lists keep growing as we discover information from various sources. Some of the most important sources are listed at the end of this document. Students interested in this information are advised to check this site occassionally for additional information/updates. The date given below will help you to check if new information has been added.
Correction, Additions, Errors May Kindly Be Pointed Out To: Webmaster BiblicalArcheology.Net
| Person Mentioned The In Bible ——————- | Date [Approx Date Of Interest] ——– | Place Where Mentioned in Bible .————– | Related Archeological Discovery ———————————— |
| Eliakim | ca. 598 B.C. | 2 Kings 18:18 – Steward (palace administration) of King Jehoiachin; son of Hilkiah | Seal impression on jar handles found at Tell Beit Mirsim reading ABelonging to Eliakim, steward of Yaukin (Jehoiachin). |
| Elishama | ca. 598 B.C. | Jer. 36:12 – Scribe | Seal impression on bulla from Jerusalem hoard that reads “Elishama, servant of the King.” |
| Jehoiachin | ca. 597 B.C. | 2 Kings 24:6 – also called Coniah; 19th ruler of Judah | 1. 4 pottery handles stamped with a seal that reads “Belonging to Eliakim, steward of Jehoiachin.” 2. Cuneiform tablets found in Babylon record rations given to “Jehoiachin, King of Judah.” |
| Gemariah | ca. 593 B.C. | Jer. 29:3 – Emissary from Zedekiah to Nebuchadnezzar; Son of Hilkiah | Lachish Ostracon I mentions a “Gemariah son of Hissilyahn.” |
| Hophra | r. 588-564 B.C. | Jer. 44:30 – Pharaoh of Egypt; 4th King of 26th Dynasty; also called Wahibpre or Apries | 1. Stele records defeat of Apries by Amasis (in Cairo Museum) 2. Palace found at Memphis 3. Vase has a painting of Apries head and name in hieroglyphics 4. Stele depicts him making offering to gods. |
| Baalis | ca. 586 B.C. | Jer. 40:14 – King of the Ammonites | A seal impression found in 1984 at Tel el-Umeiri by the Andrews University excavation team. |
| Gedaliah | ca. 586 B.C. | 2 Kings 25:22 – Governor of Judah appointed by Nebuchadnezzar; murdered by Jewish royal relatives | Seal impression (bulla) found at Lachish reads “Belonging to Gedaliah, who is over the house” (Administrator of palace) |
| Evil – Merodach | r. 562-560 B.C. | 2 Kings 25:27-30 – King of Babylon; son of Nebuchadnezzar; also called Amel-Marduk | 1. Cuneiform tablet about the family of Nabonidus 2. Cuneiform tablet listing kings |
| Nergalsharezer | Ca. 559-556 B.C. | Jer. 39:3 – Called a prince in Babylon; son-in-law of Nebuchadnezzar; ruled Babylon after Evil-Merodach. | 1. Cuneiform tablets of contracts. 2. Tablets tell that he rebuilt temples. 3. Cuneiform text tells of military campaign into Cilicia. |
| Cyrus II or Cyrus the Great | Ruled. ca. 550-529 B.C. | 2 Chr. 36:22 – Persian King who founded empire; defeated Babylonians; allowed Jew to go home from captivity. | 1. Inscription from Pasargadae saying, “I am Cyrus…” 2. Nabonidus Chronicle – cuneiform inscription 3. Cyrus cylinder 4. Historical records by Herodotus and Aeschylus 5. Tomb at Pasargadue in SW Iran |
| Belshazzar | ca. 536 B.C. | Daniel 5 – King of Babylon | Cuneiform tablet – Yale Babylonian collection |
| Darius I Hystaspes or Darius the Great | r. 522-486 B.C. | Ezra 4:5 – King of Persia | 1. Behistun Rock inscription celebrating his victories over contenders to the throne 2. Copy of Behistun inscription found on papyrus at Elephantine 3. Palace & Audience Hall at Persepolis with numerous reliefs and inscriptions portraying Darius 4. Numerous cuneiform tablets 5. Other papyri found at Elephantine |
| Mordecai | ca. 486 B.C. | Est. 2:5 – Gate official in reign of Ahasuerus at Sousa | Undated tablet found at Borsippa speaks of a Mordecai who served in Sousa during Xerxes reign. |
| Ahasuerus | Ruled 486-465 B.C. | Esther 1:1 – Ahasuerus is Greek for Xerxes; King in Esther story. | 1. Audience Hall at Persepolis has relief of Xerxes with father, Darius 2. Palace at Persepolis portrays Xerxes on door. 3. Clay tablet archives chronicle his life. 4. Seals found in Egypt are inscribed “Xerxes, the great king.” 5. Elephantine papyri dated by his reign. 6. Herodotus histories |
| Artaxerxes I, Longimanus | Ruled ca. 465-423 B.C. | Ezra 4:7 – King of Persia; allowed Jews to return to Israel | 1. Tomb of Artaxerxes known near Persepolis 2. Elephantine papyri use dates based on his reign. 3. Herodutus |
| Greshem the Arab | ca. 450 B.C. | Nehemiah 2:19 – Opposed Nehemiah and building of Jerusalem Temple | 1. Silver vessel from shrine at Tell el – Maskhuta with Aramaic inscription stating that it was presented by Cain, son of Geshem, King of Qedar. 2. Lihyanite inscription names Geshem along with the Persian governor of Dedan. |
| Sanballat | ca. 450 B.C. | Neh. 2:10 – governor of Samaria who opposed Nehemiah=s rebuilding projects | 1. Aramaic papyrus from Elephantine refers to Athe sons of Sanballat, governor of Samaria. 2. Scrolls found in Waid Daliyeh refer twice to a Ason of Sanballat … once in a sealing and once in an Aramaic test. |
| Darius the Persian | ca. 424-404 B.C. | Neh. 12:22 – King of Persia, Successor of Artaxerxes I | “The passover Papyrus” found at Elephantine |
| Jehohanan | ca. 407 B.C. | Ezra 10:6 – Son of Eliashib, the high priest | 1. Elephantine papyrus to Biguai, governor of Judah, mentions Johanan, the high priest of Jerusalem. |
| Aretas IV | 9 B.C. – A.D. 40 | 2 Cor. 11:32-33 – King at Damascus who arrested Paul | 1. Josephus 2. 20 inscriptions use his name & reign for dating. 3. Inscription at Khirbet et Tannur dates setting up of alter to his 2nd year. 4. Inscription at Madeba calls him “he who loves his people.” 5. Coins with his likeness |
| Archelaus | 4 B.C. – A.D. 6 | Mat 2:22 – Also called Herod Archelaus; son of Herod the great; ruler of Judea & Samaria during Jesus’ childhood | 1. Contemporary Histories – Dio Cassius 2. Josephus 3. Coins that have inscription “Ethrarch” or “Herod” or “Ethrarch Herod” |
| Antipas | C 4 B.C. – A.D. 39 | Luke 3:1 – Called Herod the Tetrarch in Bible | 1. Josephus 2. Coins carry inscription “Herod the Tetrarch” 3. Inscription on Bronze Coins, ´Herod the Tetrarch´, ´To Gaius Caesar Germanicus´, AD 43 |
| Augustus | ca. 27 B.C. – A.D. 14 | Luke 2:2 – Roman emperor during birth of Jesus; full name Gaius Octavius | 1. Full biography found in long Greek & Latin inscription in Ankara, Turkey 2. Inscription celebrating his birthday 3. Coins 4. Statuary 5. Contemporary histories |
| Annas | ca. A.D. 26 | Luke 3:2 – Jewish High Priest | Josephus |
| Caiaphas | A.D. 33 | Mt. 26:3 – High priest during time of Jesus | 1. Josephus tells us his name was Joseph Caiaphas 2. Ossuary found in Jerusalem in 1990 has Hebrew inscription that reads “Joseph, son of Caiaphas.” |
| Agrippa I or Herod Agrippa | AD 41-44 | Acts 12:1 – called Herod the King; grandson of Herod the Great; King of Judea; Persecuted Christians in Jerusalem | 1. Josephus 2. Contemporary Roman records 3. Coins with inscription “The Great King Agrippa, Friend of the Caesar” 4. Basalt fragment of a Nabatean inscription refers to “Agrippa, the King” (Could be either I or II) |
| Bernice | ca. A.D. 50 | Acts 25:13 – Oldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I; accompanied brother (lover) Agrippa II when Paul appeared before him. | 1. Roman records including Suetonius and Dio Cassius 2. Josephus 3. Monumental stone inscription found in Beirut mentions King Agrippa and Bernice. |
| Claudius | A.D. 51-54 | Acts 11:28; 18:2 – Roman Emperor; ordered Jews to leave Rome | 1. Roman historical records by Suetonias, Orosius, Tacitus and Dio Cassius 2. Coins with his name 3. Statuary |
| Agrippa II | A.D. 56-95 | Acts 25:13-26:32 – Son of Agrippa I; ruler of Northern areas of Palestine; Paul appeared before him before going to Rome; Married to Bernice | 1. Josephus 2. Contemporary Roman records 3. Coins with likeness & inscription “King Agrippa” 4. Basalt fragment (see Agrippa I above) 5. Monumental stone inscription found in Beirut mention’s Herod Agrippa and Bernice. |
| Ananias | C A.D. 58 | Acts 23:2 – Jewish High Priest who opposed Paul | Josephus |
Correction, Additions, Errors May Kindly Be Pointed Out To: Webmaster BiblicalArcheology.NetSources Of Information: www.SpiritRestoration.Org
