Table of Contents
Introduction
The Bible is a holy religious book inspired by God and its content encompasses all aspects of our lives including messages about faith and morality and historical accounts. Today, we look at the historical accounts regarding betrayal, the victims thereof, and the perpetrators thereof.
Joseph’s brothers betray him
Joseph’s brothers, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, and Zebulun, were traitors who sold Joseph. Joseph was the 11th and the most loved child of his father Jacob. He was envied by his brothers for being the beloved son. Their envy heightened to hatred when Joseph told them two of his dreams, which depicted that he would be the greatest among his brothers. One day, Jacob sent Joseph to Dothan to his brothers who were grazing the flock. When he got there, his brother, full of evil intent, seized and threw him into a cistern. Later, when they saw some Ishmaelite traders, they sold him to them. And the traders took him to Egypt. (Genesis 37:12-36)
Moses betrays Egypt
Moses was a traitor in the eyes of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. Moses was rescued from the river by an Egyptian princess who cared for him as his own. He grew up in Pharaoh’s palace and was regarded as Pharaoh’s grandson. But Moses knew he was no Egyptian but an Israelite. This he might have learned due to his physiques for the Egyptians and the Israelites certainly did not look alike. One day, when Moses went to where the Israelites were working, he saw an Egyptian beating an Israelite, and he fell on him, killed him, and hid his body in the sand. Days later, the news came out. To Pharaoh, the royal family, and the Egyptians, Moses was a traitor for they loved and accepted him and extended to him the privileges of an Egyptian prince; yet he killed an Egyptian in defense of an Israelite. Moses fled Egypt to Midian because Pharaoh wanted to kill him for this betrayal. (Exodus 2)
Rahab betrays Jericho
Rahab was a traitor to Jericho. While Joshua was in a place called Shittim in the land of Canaan, he sent two spies to Jericho. These men while in Jericho sought shelter in the house of a prostitute called Rahab. When the king of Jericho learned that Israeli spies had entered the city and had gone to Rahab, he sent to Rahab, demanding that she bring the spies. However, she did not do it; rather, She concealed them on her rooftop, covering them with stalks of flax, and she told a lie that they had long left her house. The spies returned safely to Joshua with vital information about Jericho. Eventually, Jericho was destroyed. Though Rahab was a savior to the spies, she was also a traitor to her own city and people. (Joshua 2:1-21)
Delilah betrays Samson
Delilah was a traitor who delivered Samson to his Philistine enemies for money. Samson, the strongest man, fell in love with Delilah, a woman from the Valley of Sorek. While they were cohabiting, the Philistine lords came to promise Delilah 1100 pieces of silver each if she could betray Samson to them. Delilah accepted their offer and from that time, she did everything possible to know the secret of Samson’s strength. When she learned of it, she made Samson fall asleep and hired someone to shave Samson’s hair. And Samson lost his great strength. Then the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes, brought him to Gaza, and bound him with bronze shackles. (Judges 16:4-21)
Baanah and Rechab betray Ishbosheth
Rechab and Baanah were traitors to Ishbosheth. Saul’s son Ishbosheth had two Benjaminite army captains, Baanah and Rechab, who were working for him. After the death of Abner, the commander of the Israeli army, Rechab and Baanah conspired against their master Ishbosheth. They came to Ishbosheth’s home at the hottest time of the day. Ishbosheth was taking his midday nap in his bedroom. when they came into the house as though they were going to get some flour. Instead, they stabbed Ishbosheth in the belly, killed him, and cut off his head. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah escaped. They took his head, traveled all night, and brought it to David at Hebron, thinking David would be pleased. However, David had them executed. (2 Samuel 4)
Absolom betrays David
Absalom was a traitor who betrayed David his father. Absolom was the third son of David. He and Tamar were of one mother, Maacah, who was the princess of Geshur. Two years after Amnon, David’s eldest son, raped Tamar, Absolom killed him to avenge his sister. Then he fled to his grandfather Talmai, king of Geshur. Three years later, David forgave him and brought him back to Israel. With time, Absolom won the support of some of his father’s confidants and counselors and, with them, he conspired against his father David. David, his family, and his loyal soldiers fled from Jerusalem because of Absolom. Absolom and his army took Jerusalem. To show how much he despised his father, he slept with ten of his father’s concubines. To secure the throne, he sought to kill David. So there was a war between Absalom and David. Eventually, Absalom was defeated and was killed by David’s men. (2 Samuel 13-14)
Amnon betrays Tamar
Amnon was a traitor to Tamar. Amnon, the eldest son of David, was obsessed with the thought of having an affair with his half-sister Tamar. Listening to his friend Jonadab’s advice, he pretended to be sick. When his father came to visit him, he asked his father to send Tamar to his house so that she would prepare some food for him. His father granted his request. So Tamar went to Amnon’s house. She took some dough to make bread. Amnon, having sent out everyone from the room, requested that she bring the bread to his bedroom. Because of how much she trusted Amnon, she went without hesitation. But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and raped her. And when he was done, he threw her out of her house. (2 Samuel 13:1-22)
Zimri betrays King Elah
Zimri was a traitor to King Elah. King Elah, the son of King Baasha, left his palace and went into the house of his palace administrator who was called Arza. There King Elah was entertained, such as was befitting a king, and he drank alcohol in excess. While drunk, at such an opportune time, Zimri, one of the army captains of Israel, attacked him and killed him. Zimri also proceeded to kill all the relatives of King Elah and the entire family of King Baasha. And he usurped the throne and reigned but for seven days. (1 Kings 16:8-10)
Jozacar and Jehozabad betray King Joash
Jozacar or Zabad and Jehozabad were traitors to King Joash of Judah. King Joash started well as a good king. But after the death of Jehoiada, he was corrupted and did evil in the sight of God. Getting to the later part of his reign, he fell out of favor with the people. He went to war with the Syrians and he lost and was severely wounded. While the king was in the house of one Millo, two of his servants, Jozacar and Jehozabad, conspired and killed him on his bed. These servants did that to avenge the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest. (2 Kings 12:19-21; 2 Chronicles 24:23-27)
Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus
Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He was the treasurer of Jesus’ ministry. Unfortunately, he had greed for his weakness and was living up to his weakness by stealing from Jesus’ ministry. Over time, as if stealing from the ministry was not enough, he saw betraying Jesus as an opportunity to make more money. Influenced by the devil, Judas went to the chief priests who were desperately seeking out a way to kill Jesus. And he said to them “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver to get the job done. Some days later, Judas Iscariot led armed guards to the Garden of Gethsemane by night. There, he identified Jesus to them by kissing Him. Then Jesus was arrested for interrogation and later, crucifixion. (Luke 22:1-6; Luke 22:47-53)