AFRICANS IN THE BIBLE Due to the dominance of white racism in western culture, the presence of Black Africans in the

Bible has been ignored or discounted. This listing of the appearance of Africans and persons specifically identified as black throughout the Bible is designed to correct that oversight. Some persons hold that anyone who is a descendant of Ham (progenitor of African peoples) is African. That list is found in Genesis 10 and can be traced further. However, most scholars hold that the Table of Nations in Genesis 10 is really a listing of families, a general attempt to explain the origins of different peoples. Some of these became African nations, some did not (for example, the Canaanites who were in fact original inhabitants of much of the Holy Land.) This topic will follow a more narrow line, listing those directly identified as black or African. African nations specifically mentioned in the Bible are: Cush, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Put. So called curse of Ham purported to be aimed at Africans, actually aimed at Canaanites GENESIS 9:18-27 Ham, son of Noah, is progenitor of African peoples GENESIS 10:1-32 Hagar, an Egyptian, bears Abrahams first son GENESIS 16:1-16 Hagars son, Ishmael, is blessed GENESIS 17:20 Sarah dismisses Hagar out of jealousy GENESIS 21:8-21 Phinehas (meaning the Nubian, or the Egyptian) son of Eleazar, grandson of Aaron EXODUS 6:25 Moses marries Cushite, Miriam complains, is stricken then healed NUMBERS 12:1-16 Phinehas saves Hebrews from a plague, is given covenant of perpetual priesthood NUMBERS 25:6-13 PSALM 106:30-31 Phinehas is one of leaders in war against Midian NUMBERS 31:6-7 Phinehas leads protest against rebellious altar, resolves conflict peacefully JOSHUA 22:13-32 Phinehas rules over Korahites 1 CHRONICLES 9:20 Egyptian helps David locate Amalekite army 1 SAMUEL 30:11-16 Cushite serves in Israeli army

2 SAMUEL 18:21-32 Cushi, grandfather of Jehudi JEREMIAH 36:14 Cushi, father of the prophet Zephaniah ZEPHANIAH 1:1 Queen of Sheba and Solomon make alliance 1 KINGS 10:1-13 2 CHRONICLES 9:1-12 Tirhakah, King of Ethiopia 2 KINGS 19:9 ISAIAH 37:9 The bride of the Song of Songs Song of Solomon 1:5-6 Ebedmelech, Ethiopian eunuch, saves Jeremiah from cistern JEREMIAH 38:7-13 Ebedmelech saved because of his faithful action JEREMIAH 39:15-18 Queen of Sheba will rise up in last days MATTHEW 12:42 LUKE 11:31 Simon of Cyrene (a city in northern Africa) carried Jesus cross MATTHEW 21:32 MARK 15:21 LUKE 22:26 Alexander and Rufus, Simon of Cyrenes sons MARK 15:21 African nations among those represented at Pentecost ACTS 2:7-11 Candace, Queen of Ethiopia ACTS 8:27 Ethiopian eunuch asks Philip to explain scriptures; Philip does, then baptizes the eunuch as one of the early believers ACTS 8:26-39 Simeon called Niger was a leader in the Antioch church ACTS 13:1 Lucius of Cyrene was a leader in the Antioch church ACTS 13:1