Atlas Biblica

    person

    Naphtali

    נַפְתָּלִיΝεφθαλείμ

    Naphtali, the sixth son of Jacob and second son of Bilhah, was the founder of the Israelite tribe that bore his name.

    IllustrationJudges 6Naphtali joins the Israelites summoned by Gideon after he sounds the trumpet.
    verses
    50
    first named
    Genesis 30:8
    last named
    Revelation 7:6
    period
    the Patriarchs
    tribe
    Naphtali

    Description

    Who was Naphtali?

    In the words of STEPBible TIPNR:

    Naphtali was the sixth son of Israel (or 'Jacob') and the second son of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant (Gen.30.8; 35.25). His birth was celebrated by Rachel, who had been struggling with infertility. She named him Naphtali, saying, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed" (Gen.30.8).

    As one of the twelve tribes of Israel, Naphtali played a significant role in the history of God's chosen people. During the Exodus, the tribe of Naphtali was led by Ahira son of Enan (Num.1.15) and was counted among the Israelite tribes in the wilderness (Num.1.42-43; 26.48-50).

    In the arrangement of the Israelite camp, Naphtali was positioned on the north side, along with the tribes of Dan and Asher (Num.2.29). The tribe also had representatives among the twelve spies sent to explore Canaan (Num.13.14) and had a designated leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud, during the allocation of the Promised Land (Num.34.28).

    The territory allotted to the tribe of Naphtali was in the northern part of Canaan, bordering Asher, Zebulun, and Issachar (Jos.19.32-39). The region was known for its fertile lands and abundant resources, as reflected in Jacob's blessing: "Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns" (Gen.49.21) and Moses' blessing: "Naphtali is abounding with the favor of the Lord and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake" (Deu.33.23).

    Throughout Israel's history, the tribe of Naphtali played various roles. They participated in the battles against Sisera (Jdg.4.6, 10; 5.18) and the Midianites (Jdg.6.35; 7.23). The tribe also provided skilled warriors to support David (1Ch.12.34, 40) and was known for its wise and articulate people (Jdg.5.18; Psalm Jdg.68.27).

    In the New Testament, Naphtali is mentioned in connection with Jesus' ministry in the region of Galilee (Mat.4.13, 15), fulfilling the prophecy of Isa.9.1. The tribe is also listed among the twelve tribes of Israel sealed by God in the book of Revelation (Rev.7.6).

    Relations

    Direct connections

    Every entity the graph places in a stated relation with this one, grouped by the kind of link. Each relation is authored once and its inverse derived, so both ends always agree. Rows marked “registry” come from the identity spine rather than from a verse, and a row marked “which bearer is the source’s decision” is one where the name could have meant more than one person. The last group is not a relation at all — it counts the events two entities stand in together.

    How the graph connects Naphtali10 of 24 entities the graph connects to Naphtali, in 2 groups: kinship 9, events 1. Kinship, company and ground are stated relations; events counts the acts two entities stand in together and is not a relation. Each mark is sized by how many verses name that entity and labelled with the link and the count, so the grouping and the size are both readable without colour. Distance from the centre carries nothing.IsraelChild of · 2 events · 2,578 versesJudahSibling of · 2 events · 1,023 versesLeviSibling of · 2 events · 329 versesJosephSibling of · 2 events · 197 versesBenjaminSibling of · 2 events · 166 versesReubenSibling of · 3 events · 86 versesGadSibling of · 4 events · 71 versesZebulunSibling of · 7 events · 48 versesAsherSibling of · 7 events · 46 versesKinshipManasseh6 events · 112 versesEventsNaphtali

    The 10 best-attested of 24 are drawn. All 24 are listed below.

    Associated with

    Child of

    Contains

    Father of

    Sibling of

    Took part in

    Stands in the same events as

    and 34 more, ordered by how many events they share.

    Places

    Where this happens

    The places the claims about this person reach, drawn where the gazetteer locates them. A point is where a row puts them and never where tradition does; no line joins two points, because the rows state where and not in what order.

    Where the story of Naphtali happensAll 4 places the claims about Naphtali reach, on a map of the world the text moves through, framed to them: Bashan, Canaan, Jerusalem, Kedesh. Each dot is a coordinate from the gazetteer, sized by how many rows put Naphtali there. The coastline is a modern one, simplified; no border, road or settlement of any period is drawn, and no line joins two points, because the rows state where and not in what order.BashanCanaanJerusalemKedesh
    the PatriarchsAll 4 places the claims about Naphtali reach

    Read it

    Where to read it

    Every verse of the text carried here that names this entity — 50, across 15 books. The name is written 53 times in them.

    1. Genesis4 verses

      30:835:2546:2449:21

    2. Exodus1 verse

      1:4

    3. Numbers10 verses

      1:151:421:432:297:7810:2713:1426:4826:5034:28

    4. Deuteronomy3 verses

      27:1333:2334:2

    5. Joshua5 verses

      19:3219:3920:721:621:32

    6. Judges6 verses

      1:334:64:105:186:357:23

    7. 1 Kings3 verses

      4:157:1415:20

    8. 2 Kings1 verse

      15:29

    9. 1 Chronicles7 verses

      2:26:626:767:1312:3412:4027:19

    10. 2 Chronicles2 verses

      16:434:6

    11. Psalms1 verse

      68:27

    12. Isaiah1 verse

      9:1

    13. Ezekiel3 verses

      48:348:448:34

    14. Matthew2 verses

      4:134:15

    15. Revelation1 verse

      7:6

    Onward

    Where this page goes

    Not the direct relations above — these are one hop further out, ranked so that a rare shared connection outweighs a common one. Descriptions by STEPBible TIPNR.

    via Dinah and Israel, and 6 moreLeahWife of Jacob; mother of six sons and Dinahvia Benjamin and Israel, and 4 moreMoses and Issachar’s blessing of Israel, Substance, Work, Benjamin, and Joseph LandMoses and Issachar’s blessing of Israel, Substance, Work, Benjamin, and Joseph Land is an event attested across 12 verses, connecting 11 pageable entities.via Receiving of Golan, Ashtaroth, Levite Pasturelands, Kishion, Daberath, Gershonite Cities, and Gershonite Pasturelands and Josiah’s cleansing of High Place, Asherah, Carved Idol, Cast Image, Baal Altars, Incense Altars, Asherah Poles, Carved Idols, Cast Images, Judah, Jerusalem, and Abomination, and 2 moreManassehFirstborn son of Joseph, blessed by Jacob.via Asher and Gad, and 3 moreIsraelite CampingIsraelite Camping is an event attested across 11 verses, connecting 5 pageable entities.via AhiraEnanFather of Ahira, a leader of the tribe of Naphtali.via Benjamin and Israel, and 2 moreIsrael’s assignment of Hebron Surrounding Pasturelands, Hebron, Libnah, Jattir, and EshtemoaIsrael’s assignment of Hebron Surrounding Pasturelands, Hebron, Libnah, Jattir, and Eshtemoa is an event attested across 7 verses, connecting 14 pageable entities.via Gad and Reuben, and 1 moreReceiving of Merarite CitiesReceiving of Merarite Cities is an event attested across 6 verses, connecting 12 pageable entities.via Asher and Judah, and 1 moreNaphtali BorderNaphtali Border is an event attested across 2 verses, connecting 11 pageable entities.via Bilhah and IsraelBilhah Bearing ChildrenBilhah Bearing Children is an event attested across 3 verses, connecting 3 pageable entities.

    Where they appear

    Chapter by chapter

    Atlas's reading of each chapter this person appears in, in canonical order. One line per chapter, and each leads to the whole of it.

    Sources

    What this rests on