Holy Waters! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Euphrates

The Garden of Eden is the paradise created by God on earth for man to inhabit. It is here that God created Adam and Eve. The book of Genesis describes four major rivers flowing through the garden - Pishon, Gihon, Hiddekel (the Tigris), and Phirat (the Euphrates).

The Euphrates and Tigris are names of major rivers in modern day Iraq. Some followers believe these to be the same as the rivers noted in the Bible.

Answer: River Jabbok

Jacob wrestling with the angel (believed by some to be God) is an important milestone not only in his personal life, but the history of the Israelites. Jacob was resting by the river Jabbok when the angel appeared to him. Jacob and the angel wrestled through the night and in the morning Jacob refused to let the angel leave unless he blessed him.

It was here that Jacob was renamed Israel - meaning one who has wrestled with God.

Answer: River Nile

Moses was born to an Israelite family at the time the Israelites were slaves in Egypt. By a decree from Pharaoh, mid-wives were ordered to kill all Israelite baby boys at birth. Moses' mother managed to keep him hidden and later placed him in a basket and set it afloat on the Nile. The basket was found by Pharaoh's daughter who raised the child as her own.

Answer: Red Sea

When God sent Moses to demand that Pharaoh release the Israelites, the task was not easily accomplished. It was only after ten plagues had been wrought upon the Egyptians, with the last being the killing of the first born male child of each household by the Angel of Death, that Pharaoh agreed to release them.

However, he soon changed his mind and sent the Egyptian army after them. The Israelites found themselves trapped between the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian army pursuing them from the rear.

It was then that God parted the Red Sea making a way for the Israelites to cross to safety.

Answer: River Chorath

Due to King Ahab's wickedness and worship of Baal, God declared that no rain would fall over the kingdom for three years. During this time, He directed the prophet Elijah to hide on the banks of the Chorath River (also known as Cherith or Kerith). Elijah drank from the waters of the brook and was fed by ravens while he hid in this region.

Answer: Wadi Kishon

The kingdom had faced three years of drought when God told Elijah to go and meet King Ahab. Elijah challenged the King to get his prophets of Baal to bring down rain. The prophets tried all their ways but were unsuccessful. Elijah then built an altar to God on Mount Carmel and prayed for rain.

The heavens opened up as God promised. With God granting Elijah victory against the prophets of Baal, the prophets were sentenced to death. Elijah had them executed near the river Kishon which is also known as Wadi Kishon.

Answer: Ulai Canal

The Ulai Canal or River finds mention only in the Book of Daniel. In Chapter 8, Daniel is taken to the banks of the Ulai in a vision. There he was shown the defeat of the Medo-Persian Empire at the hands of Alexander the Great. Later the angel Gabriel is commanded to help Daniel understand the vision and its implications.

Answer: River Jordan

Before Jesus began his earthly ministry, he approached John the Baptist to baptize him. John was hesitant at first, as he was aware that Jesus was the Messiah. According to the gospels, when Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River a dove descended upon him.

The dove is regarded as the symbol of the Holy Spirit. At the same time, God spoke saying "This is my Son, with whom I am well pleased". It is the only event during Jesus' earthly life that is described as having all three members of the Holy Trinity being present.

Answer: Pool of Shiloam

The Bible records many miracles performed by Jesus during the three years of his earthly ministry. One such account is of him healing a man who was blind since birth. The Pool of Siloam is recorded in the Old Testament as having been built by King Hezekiah with the pool being fed by the waters of the Gishon Spring.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus heals a blind man by putting a paste of saliva and mud on his eyes and asking him to wash it out in the Pool of Shiloam.

Answer: Sea of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee was the site of many wondrous events in Jesus' life. The incident of the calming of the storm is recorded in all gospels except for John. According to the narrative, Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee when they were caught in a severe storm. Jesus was fast asleep but his disciples panicked and woke him up.

He then rebuked the storm causing it to subside.