The Bible’s people were related, neighbours, partners and rivals far more often than a first reading shows. Each circle below maps those links. Every connection says how firm it is, from stated in the text to hypothesis, cites where the text shows it, and lays out other readings, so you can weigh it yourself.
Saul, David, Solomon and the divided monarchy: the royal courts, commanders, priests and prophets whose rivalries and alliances run through 1 Samuel to 2 Kings.
Last kings of Judah and the prophets of the exile · 21 people · 20 connectionsJosiah to Zedekiah, Jeremiah and his circle, and the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel in Babylon.
Persian era: Esther and the return · 17 people · 15 connectionsCyrus's decree, Zerubbabel and the temple, Esther and Mordecai, Ezra and Nehemiah.
The royal line: Judah to David to Jesus · 14 people · 6 connectionsKey links in the Davidic genealogy as given by Ruth 4, 1 Chronicles 3, Matthew 1 and Luke 3.
Paul's Circle · 45 people · 44 connectionsThe network of co-workers, teachers, opponents and officials around Paul, from Gamaliel to Nero.
The Herods · 26 people · 18 connectionsHow the Herodian dynasty ties the birth narratives, John the Baptist, Jesus' trial and Paul's last hearings together.
John the Baptist's Circle · 13 people · 10 connectionsZechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, and the disciples who moved from John to Jesus.
Bethany and the Women Around Jesus · 28 people · 14 connectionsThe family at Bethany, the Galilean women, and the councillors who buried Jesus.
The Jerusalem Church · 36 people · 19 connectionsJames, Peter, John, the Seven and their households in the early Jerusalem church.
The High-Priestly Family · 14 people · 8 connectionsAnnas, Caiaphas and the priestly clan behind the trials of Jesus and the apostles.
Roman Officials · 20 people · 11 connectionsGovernors, centurions and emperors who meet Jesus and Paul.
The patriarchal families · 30 people · 27 connectionsThe households of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: how rivalry, displacement and reconciliation among kin shape the line through which the promise travels (Genesis 11-50).
Moses and his circle · 20 people · 13 connectionsMoses, his Levite kin, his Midianite in-laws and his successors: a web of family and mentorship from Exodus to Joshua.
Judges era and the road to David · 24 people · 11 connectionsRuth and Boaz, Samuel and Eli, Samson: people of the period of the judges who connect Israel to the monarchy and to David.
The Twelve Apostles · 16 people · 34 connectionsWho the twelve were, how they were connected to one another through family, trade and town, and which of these links the text states, which tradition supplies and which are still inferences.
Jesus and His Family Circle · 17 people · 24 connectionsMary, Joseph, the "brothers" of Jesus, Mary of Clopas, Salome, Zebedee and the family of John the Baptist, with the three main traditional readings of the brothers.