Biblical allusion

Absolom

A son who brings heartache to his father; from the third son of David, King of Israel. Exiled for three years before he was allowed to return to the court or see his royal father, he plotted to cause a rebellion against his father to overtake the kingdom because he heard Solomon was to succeed David. When he was killed in battle, King David grieved for his son in spite of his treachery against him.

Eye of the Needle

A very difficult task; from famous narrow gateway called "the needle". In the NT, Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through it than for a rich man to enter heaven.

Cain

A brother who kills a brother; from the story of Adam and Eve; who killed his brother Abel out of jealousy.

Goliath

A large person; from the giant from the Philistine city of Gath, slain by David, when he was a shepherd boy.

Jacob

Grandson of Abraham, son of Isaac and Rebekah, brother of Esau, and thr traditional ancestor of Israelities. His name was changed to Israel, and his 12 sons became the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Filthy Lucre

Money or profits; from a story in the NT of Jesus casting moneylenders out of the Temple.

Daniel

One known for wisdom and accurate judgement; from a wise leader in the Old Testament who was able to read the handwriting on the wall.

Ishmael

One who is cast out as being unworthy; the son of Abraham and his handmaiden Hagar, he was cast out into the desert when his wife Sarah had their son Isaac; therefore said to be the ancestor of the nomadic desert tribes of Arabs.

David and Bathsheba

Represents a big sin; from King David's affair with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. After they had an affair and she became pregnant, David had her husband Uriah put on the front lines of battle so he would die. Prior to this, he had prospered greatly, but afterward, his personal fortunes were greatly diminished. Nathan the prophet confronted David after he took Bathsheba for his wife and trapped him into admitting his own guilt.

Good Samaritan

Someone who helps another person, perhaps someone of a different race or background; from a NT parable about a traditional enemy of the Hebrews, who stopped to help a Jewish man who had been beaten and left for dead at the side of the road.

Job

Suffers a great deal but remains faithful; from an OT character whose faith in God was tested by Satan; though he lost his family and belongings, he remained patient and faithful.

Alpha and Omega

The beginning and the end, from a quote in Revelations in the New Testament.

Handwriting on the wall

What the future holds; from the OT story of Daniel, who was able to accurately predict some mysterious writing that appeared on a wall (translated, it predicted the imminent death of the king)