The only daughter of Jacob, raised among her father's flocks in a community of women. She grows up learning spinning and herbal lore, deeply influenced by the domestic practices of the red tent. Her curiosity about the broader world contrasts with the sheltered environment of her childhood.

Jacob's sturdy and hardworking first wife. She has striking heterochromatic eyes, one blue and one green. She manages the household's weaving, baking, and brewing. She serves as a practical provider for the family and holds a grounded perspective on domestic life.

Jacob's beautiful and initially favored wife. She possesses an arresting presence and learns the trade of midwifery from a local village woman. She is youthful and sometimes demanding when she first marries, but she matures as she takes on responsibilities caring for her nieces and nephews.

The patriarch of the family, a wealthy herder who works for his father-in-law Laban before striking out on his own. He is devoted to a single god, El, which sets him apart from the polytheistic beliefs of his wives. He focuses on amassing property and raising sons.

The beautiful firstborn son of King Hamor. He represents the wealth and culture of the city of Shechem and quickly forms a passionate connection with Dinah when she visits the royal household.

One of Jacob's wives and sister to Leah, Rachel, and Bilhah. She is deeply spiritual and devoted to the goddess Asherah. She lacks interest in Jacob romantically but desires to participate in motherhood alongside her sisters.

The youngest of the four sisters who marry Jacob. She is gentle and offers to bear a child for Rachel when Rachel struggles with fertility. She passes down legends and practical skills to the younger generation.

The son of Rachel and Jacob. As a child, he is innocent, imaginative, and close in age to Dinah. He frequently plays with her in the busy encampment, separated from the rougher games of their older brothers.

The father of Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah. He is a lazy overseer who mistreats his workers and family members. He places great faith in his household gods, the teraphim, and uses his daughters to acquire labor.

A local village midwife who uses traditional methods, such as birthing bricks, to help women deliver. She travels with Jacob's family for protection after facing threats in her own village following a difficult birth.

An impoverished enslaved woman in Laban's household. She suffers greatly under Laban's cruelty and seeks the sisters' help to manage her difficult circumstances.

Jacob's father, now old and blind. He dotes on his grandsons and represents the older generation of patriarchs in Canaan, mourning his physical decline while honoring his family line.

Jacob's mother and a powerful oracle who serves the goddess Inanna at Mamre. She is fierce, joyless, and rigid about religious traditions. She operates entirely outside the domestic norms of her family.

Jacob's twin brother, who lives in Canaan. Despite a history of betrayal regarding their father's blessing, he greets Jacob warmly and introduces his large family peacefully.

Esau's daughter and Dinah's cousin. She is close in age to Dinah but has completely different aspirations, hoping to become a consecrated priestess rather than marrying.

A charismatic messenger and storyteller who travels on behalf of the oracle Rebecca. She enchants the women of Jacob's camp with songs and creation stories.

The king of Shechem. He is pragmatic and seeks to build alliances with wealthy herders like Jacob through land deals and marriage arrangements.

The queen of Shechem and Shalem's mother. She is observant and proactive, using her royal influence to arrange meetings in the city and manage household affairs.

One of Dinah's older brothers, born to Leah. He is harsh and prone to violence, frequently holding grudges and seeking ways to expand his own wealth without regard for others.

Another of Leah's older sons. He closely follows Simon's aggressive lead and harbors a deep resentment against the people of Shechem, viewing outsiders as rivals rather than allies.

A skilled half-Egyptian, half-Nubian midwife living in Thebes. She possesses a stately presence and a lighthearted attitude, handling the challenges of her profession with expertise.

A gentle carpenter with a soft voice and gnarled hands. He is a widower who works near the Valley of the Kings, offering a quiet, steady presence.

A boy raised as an Egyptian prince in Thebes. He is given tools to become a scribe early in life and is sent to an academy in Memphis to train for a prestigious future.

A royal scribe in Egypt. He maintains a large, well-appointed household with gardens and servants, representing the stability of Egyptian bureaucratic life.