M

OSES

Moses is a prophet in
Abrahamic religions. He was
a former Egyptian prince
who later in life became a
religious leader and
lawgiver, to whom the
authorship of the Torah is
traditionally attributed. Moses was born in a time
when his people, the Israelites, an enslaved
minority, were increasing in numbers and the
Egyptian Pharaoh was worried that they might ally
with Egypt's enemies. Moses' Hebrew mother,
Jochebed, secretly hid him when the Pharaoh
ordered all newborn Hebrew boys to be killed in
order to reduce the population of the Israelites.
Through the Pharaoh's daughter, the child was
adopted as a foundling from the Nile river and grew
up with the Egyptian royal family. After killing an
Egyptian slavemaster, Moses fled across the Red
Sea to Midian, where he encountered the God of
Israel speaking to him from within a "burning bush
which was not consumed by the fire" on Mount
Horeb. God sent Moses back to Egypt to demand
the release of the Israelites from slavery. Moses
said that he could not speak with assurance or
eloquence, so God allowed Aaron, his brother, to
become his spokesperson. After the Ten Plagues,
Moses led the Exodus of the Israelites out of Egypt
and across the Red Sea, after which they based
themselves at Mount Sinai, where Moses received

the Ten Commandments. After 40 years of

wandering in the desert, Moses died within sight of
the Promised Land.

SAIAH

Hebrew Religious
Leader, Lawgiver, Prophet

Nationality:

Isaiah was a prophet

Egyptian
documented by the Biblical
Book of Isaiah to have lived
Religion: Judaism
around the time of 8thBorn: 1391 BC
century BC Kingdom of
Judah. Isaiah prophesied
Died at Age: 119
when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz,
Hezekiah and the Kings of
Born in: Land of Goshen
Judah were in power. Being
one of the most political
Died on: 1272 BC
prophets, Isaiah is known to
Place of Death:
be a witness to one of the
Mount Nebo
most unstable periods in
Jerusalem's history, from
Father: Amram
both political and religious
point of view. He enjoyed a
Mother: Jochebed
good relationship with the
Siblings: Aaron, Miriam
royal members and had free
access to the palace.
Spouse: Zipporah
Claiming himself to be one
of the Jerusalem
Children: Gershom,
aristocracies, Isaiah took an
active part in events and guided people of the
higher authority. However, this position did not
deter him from being outspoken. He is known to
have verbally attacked the ruling classes, in

defense of common folk, against the corruption

that the latter faced. When Ahaz was in power, the
kings of Israel and Damascus had called war
against Judah. Isaiah had advised Ahaz to face the
enemies and believe in God for support. Though
the latter defeated his
Judean Prophet
enemy, in contrast to
Isaiah's counsel, he turned
Nationality: Greek
to Assyrians under King
Religion: Christian
Tiglath Pileser for support.
Displeased by the alliance,
Born:
8th Century BC
Isaiah prophesied the
oppression of Judah by the
Born in: Kingdom of Judah
Assyrians. The prophecy
came true and Judah
Father: Amoz
chafed under bondage to
Spouse: Prophetess
Assyrians. Hezekiah, much
against the willingness of
Children: Shear-Jashub,
Isaiah, formed an alliance
Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz
with the Egyptians. Isaiah
had advised the king only
to turn to Jehovah for assistance. Hezekiah planned
a revolt against the oppressors only to face
disastrous consequences. As a result, the Kingdom
of Judah was almost destroyed. When the people
turned to God begging Him for help, Isaiah said
that they could find a respite only by mending their
evil ways.

OHN THE

BAPTIST
John the Baptist is regarded as
the precursor of Jesus Christ. A
very well-known preacher, he
gave sermons about the
proximity of God's Final
Judgment. He asked people to
repent for their sins and
baptized those who apologized
in self-preparation for the Lord
to come. It was John only who
recognized Jesus and decreed
Him as the Messiah of the people. The birth of John
was prophesied to his father Zachariah, by the angel
Gabriel, while the former was performing his functions
as a priest, in the temple of Jerusalem. The Gospel
recounts that Mother Mary came to inform Elizabeth
about her pregnancy. At that time, Elizabeth was in
her sixth month of pregnancy and her unborn baby
'jumped for joy' in the womb only. At the age of thirty,
John started to preach on the banks of the river
Jordan. He preached against the evils of the time and
attracted men to penance and baptism. His only
message to people was to repent, as the Lord was
coming. He baptized many people and, thus, was
named John the Baptist. According to the Holy
Scriptures, Christ also turned to John to attain
baptism. The incident took place when John the
Baptist's ministry was at its close. John instantly
recognized the Lord and proclaimed Him to be the
Messiah. John baptized Jesus, marking the beginning
of Jesus' ministry. In turn, John inspired his followers to
follow Christ. After the baptism, Jesus is believed to
have left to preach in Galilee, while John continued
preaching in the Jordan valley. John's growing
popularity and immense power created fright and fear

in the minds of Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Perea and

Galilee. Following John's denunciation of his
adulterous and incestuous wife Herodias of his half,
Antipas had him arrested and
Jewish Preacher
imprisoned at Machaerus
Nationality:
Fortress, on the Dead Sea. On
Israeli
the other hand, Salome, the
daughter of Herodias,
Religion: Roman
impressed Antipas with a dance
Catholic
performance. Delighted by the
girl's act, he vowed to grant her
Born in: Jerusalem
any wish. Salome, at the
instigation of her mother,
Place of Death:
demanded the head of John the
Machaerus
Baptist.

Father:

Zachariah