📜Biblical Figures - Old Testament

Archetypes

Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The prophet who survived the lion's den through faith, Daniel balanced Worldliness with Spirituality—serving pagan kings while maintaining Allegiance to his God. His Knowledge included dream interpretation and prophecy, the Magician's gifts serving the Guide's purpose.

Key Moments

• Interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: Reveals the statue vision—Knowledge serving Reverence, the Magician channeling divine truth.
• Refusing to Bow: Won't worship the golden image—Allegiance to the Flame over survival, Obedience to God alone.
• The Lion's Den: Survives through faith—Spirituality triumphant, the Seeker protected by what he sought.

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Character Arc

The dreamer sold into slavery who saved Egypt and his family, Joseph embodies the Visionary whose Progress served Conservation—storing grain against famine. His Generosity forgave the brothers who betrayed him, Receptivity accepting God's purpose in his suffering.

Key Moments

• The Coat and the Dreams: Receives his father's favor and prophetic visions—the Visionary marked and envied.
• Rise in Egypt: From prisoner to Pharaoh's right hand—Worldliness and Spirituality united, the Guide interpreting dreams.
• Forgiving His Brothers: What you meant for evil, God meant for good—Generosity and Acceptance, the Provider reconciling.

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Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The shepherd-king who slew Goliath and wrote psalms, David integrated more archetypes than almost any biblical figure. His Power embraced Vulnerability in worship; his Warrior Strength served Compassion. Yet his Passion for Bathsheba revealed the Addict shadow that brought tragedy to his house.

Key Moments

• Slaying Goliath: The shepherd boy defeats the giant—Strength through faith, Confidence from unexpected sources.
• Dancing Before the Ark: Worships with abandon, undignified—Authenticity over Performance, Vulnerability as Power.
• Bathsheba and Uriah: Adultery and murder—Passion without Presence, the Addict destroying to possess.

Archetypes

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Character Arc

The prophet of fire who confronted kings and called down heaven's flames, Elijah embodies the Challenger's Confrontation in service of Allegiance to the Flame. His contest on Mount Carmel showed divine power, yet his flight from Jezebel revealed the need for Acceptance of human limitation.

Key Moments

• Confronting Ahab: Declares drought as judgment—Confrontation of corrupt power, Allegiance to truth regardless of cost.
• Mount Carmel: Defeats the prophets of Baal with fire—the Challenger vindicated, faith proven through contest.
• Flight to Horeb: Runs from Jezebel in despair, hears God in stillness—Acceptance that power isn't always thunder.

Archetypes

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Character Arc

The liberator who led Israel from Egypt and received the Law, Moses balanced the Guide's Worldliness (raised in Pharaoh's court) with Spirituality (meeting God in the burning bush). His Power came through Vulnerability—the stammerer speaking for the Almighty.

Key Moments

• The Burning Bush: Encounters God and accepts the call despite his weakness—Vulnerability becoming Power, Allegiance to the Flame.
• Confronting Pharaoh: Demands freedom for Israel—Worldliness facing worldly power, the Guide as liberator.
• Striking the Rock: Disobeys in anger and loses Canaan—the shadow moment, Obedience forgotten in frustration.

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Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The father of nations who left everything familiar to follow God's call, Abraham embodies the Seeker's Allegiance to the Flame balanced with Obedience. His willingness to sacrifice Isaac showed faith pushed to extremity, while his hospitality to strangers revealed the Provider's Generosity.

Key Moments

• Leaving Ur: Abandons homeland for an unknown promise—Allegiance to the Flame, the Seeker answering the call.
• The Binding of Isaac: Prepares to sacrifice his son in Obedience—faith tested to breaking, Sovereignty surrendered to God.
• Hospitality to Angels: Welcomes strangers who prove divine—Generosity and Receptivity, the Provider open to blessing.

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Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

David's beautiful son who stole hearts and then the kingdom, Absalom represents Sovereignty without Responsibility—the Rebel who would tear down his father's house. His Charm became the Seducer shadow, winning Israel's love to fuel betrayal.

Key Moments

• Stealing Hearts at the Gate: Intercepts petitioners to undermine David—Charm as manipulation, the Seducer building a base.
• Declaring Himself King: Openly rebels and takes Jerusalem—the Rebel seizing Sovereignty through force and popularity.
• Death in the Oak: Caught by his famous hair and killed—the Hustler's vanity becoming his trap, pride preceding fall.

Archetypes

Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The ruler who hardened his heart against God and lost everything, Pharaoh embodies the Tyrant's trajectory—Power without Vulnerability becoming self-destruction. Each plague offered a chance to relent; each refusal deepened his doom until the firstborn died and the army drowned.

Key Moments

• Refusing Moses: Who is the Lord that I should obey?—Power denying any higher authority, the Tyrant's fatal arrogance.
• Hardening His Heart: Repeatedly refuses despite plagues—Power calcifying into self-destruction.
• The Red Sea: Pursues Israel to his army's doom—the Tyrant's obsession consuming itself.

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Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The Phoenician queen who brought Baal worship to Israel and persecuted God's prophets, Jezebel represents the Manipulator wielding Power through others. Her Charm controlled Ahab; her Knowledge served dark religion. The Tyrant shadow crushed all opposition until her prophesied end.

Key Moments

• Establishing Baal Worship: Imports foreign gods and priests—Knowledge of manipulation, corrupting Israel's faith.
• Naboth's Vineyard: Orchestrates murder for property—Manipulation and Power, the Tyrant taking what she wants.
• Death at Jezreel: Thrown from the window, eaten by dogs—the Manipulator's end, prophesied and fulfilled.

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The first murderer who killed his brother from jealousy, Cain embodies Confrontation without Acceptance—the Asshole who destroyed what he envied rather than examining himself. His Passion curdled into murderous rage when his offering was rejected, the Addict consuming his own family.

Key Moments

• The Rejected Offering: God favors Abel's sacrifice over his—the wound that festers into murder, unable to Accept.
• Killing Abel: Strikes down his brother in the field—Confrontation as annihilation, the Bully destroying the favored one.
• The Mark of Cain: Condemned to wander but protected—bearing consequence, the shadow unable to escape itself.

Archetypes

Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The Philistine champion who defied Israel's armies, Goliath embodies Strength without Compassion—the Bully who dominates through sheer physical power. His Confidence became the Hustler shadow, assuming size guaranteed victory, blind to the possibility of defeat by faith.

Key Moments

• The Challenge: Defies Israel for forty days—Confidence as intimidation, Strength demanding submission.
• Mocking David: Scorns the shepherd boy—the Bully underestimating what doesn't match his paradigm.
• Death by Stone: Felled by a sling—Strength without humility, the giant brought low by what he despised.

Archetypes

Pillar Virtues

Character Arc

The wisest king whose wisdom couldn't save him from his appetites, Solomon embodies the Magician-King whose Knowledge built the Temple but whose Passion became the Addict shadow. Seven hundred wives turned his heart from God—Presence lost in multiplicity.

Key Moments

• Asking for Wisdom: Chooses understanding over wealth or power—Knowledge and Reverence, the Magician's proper request.
• Building the Temple: Creates the house of God—Power and Knowledge united, the King's greatest achievement.
• Many Wives, Divided Heart: Foreign wives lead him to idolatry—Passion without Presence, the Addict multiplying what cannot satisfy.