Nimrod

Role: leader · First appears: Nimrod

When Nimrod reached his twentieth year, his father Cush gave him garments made of skins. After defeating the descendants of Japheth with a handful of warriors, he was appointed king and chose Shinar as his capital; by cunning and force he extended his rule until he claimed dominion over the whole world. He fashioned and worshipped idols, led his subjects into evil ways with his son Mardon, and set himself up as a god before whom nations paid divine homage. In Shinar, he agreed to his counsellors’ plan for a tower, built by six hundred thousand men.

During the events surrounding Abraham’s birth, Nimrod ordered newborn boys slain throughout his kingdom. Terah, a high official at his court, reported what had happened with his wife and son, and Nimrod sent an armed host to bring Abraham to him. When Abraham proclaimed his faith before the king, the idols fell and Nimrod lay lifeless for two and a half hours. He then acknowledged Abraham’s God as “the King of all kings” and ordered Terah to take Abraham away and return to his city. Later, Nimrod sent servants to seize and kill Abraham; Terah instead brought him a child borne by his handmaid, whom Nimrod killed, believing the child was Abraham.

At Elam, Nimrod suffered a disastrous defeat, and Mardon was among the slain. His feud with Esau, who also hunted, ended when Esau killed Nimrod and two companions and took Nimrod’s garments.