David descended from the Tribe of Judah. His father, Jesse, settled in Bethlehem. As a young adolescent, David shepherded his family’s sheep, and while away from home, he spent his time alone playing the lyre and praising Adonai. After Adonai removed His Spirit from King Saul, he was tormented by an evil spirit that only the David’s music on the lyre could calm the king (1 Samuel 16:14).1 Samuel 16:14).
Hannah, A Prophet’s Mother
As the time of the Judges were ending, a man named Elkanah (God Has Purchased) lived in the hill country of Ephraim. He had married two women: Penniah (Pearl) and Hannah (Favor). Penniah had several children while Hannah remained barren. Every year Elkanah went to the house of Adonai in Shiloh where he worshipped the Elohim of Isra’el.
Manoah, the Father of a Judge
During the 40 years when the Philistines oppressed Isra’el (again) lived a man from the Tribe of Dan named Manoah. One day his wife came to him saying that an angel of Adonai had appeared to her. The angel told her that she would conceive and give birth to a son. The child would be a Nazirite from the womb until his death. The angel told her not to drink wine or strong drink or eat anything ritually unclean. She was also not to allow a razor to touch his head –– cut his hair. Her son would begin to deliver Isra’el from the Philistines.
Moshe, The Intercessor
Even before Moshe was called to deliver Adonai’s people from Egypt, he had the desire to intercede for his Hebrew brothers and sisters. Unfortunately, he didn’t intercede in a righteous way and he had to flee Egypt fearing for his life (Exodus 2:11-15). When he returned 40 years later after an encounter with Adonai in a burning bush, he had a new vision and purpose –– he embraced the plans of Adonai to deliver the Hebrews.