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30 Samuel Trivia Questions, Answers, and Fun Facts

How much do you know about Samuel? This category is for trivia questions and answers related to Samuel (Religion). Each one is filled with fun facts and interesting information.
Related Questions & Answers:   Samuel (I and II)   
1 Samuel grew up in the tabernacle. What two men of the priestly line were stealing the sacrifices and lying with women at the door of the tabernacle during this time?
Answer: Phinehas and Hophni

According to I Samuel 1, it was Hophni and Phinehas, the sons of Eli, who was the high priest at the time. Usually Hophni's name comes first when the men are mentioned together, but I switched the order in hopes of making the question a little harder.
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
2 How was Samuel told to show dedication to the Lord?
Answer: To never cut his hair

1 Samuel 1:11 "And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.""


Men and women would show dedication to God by becoming a Nazirite. Nazirites were forbidden to cut their hair.

Hannah, the mother of Samuel, was the one who vowed that if she had a child, the child would become a Nazirite.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
3 Who were Samuel's parents?
Answer: Hannah and Elkanah

Hannah and Peninnah were the two wives of Elkanah. Peninnah could have children, but Hannah could not.
  From Quiz: The Story of Samuel
4 What special thing did the Lord do for Samuel as he grew up?
Answer: Let none of his words fall to the ground (everything he said happened)

According to Samuel 3:19-21, God established Samuel to be a prophet and "let none of his words fall to the ground." The fact that his prophecies always came true gave proof to the nation of Israel that God had indeed spoken to Samuel.
    Your options: [ Let no serpent crush the sole of his foot (no beast could hurt him) ] [ Let none of his words fall to the ground (everything he said happened) ] [ Allowed him to fly in the spirit throughout all Israel ] [ Gave him great physical strength above other men ]
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
5 How many times did God call Samuel before Samuel realized that he wasn't being called by Eli?
Answer: Three

1 Samuel 3:4-9
"Then the LORD called Samuel.

Samuel answered, "Here I am." And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.

Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

"My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD : The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me."

Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, 'Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place."

Eli was a priest who took care of Samuel. He did not know that Samuel was going to be a prophet, he was Samuel's father figure.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
6 Samuel judged Israel and traveled in a circuit to do so. At what town did his circuit end? (Hint: his house was there.)
Answer: Ramah

The end of Samuel's circuit was at Ramah, according to I Samuel 6:17. His house was also in the same city.
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
7 How did Samuel stop the Philistines from invading Israel?
Answer: Placed a stone on the ground

1 Samuel 7:12-13 "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again."


Although it seemed like an unlikely thing to do, this is the method Samuel used. It shows the dedication that Samuel had in God.

Some translations named this stone the "Stone of Help."
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
8 Samuel was chosen by God to anoint Saul king of Israel. What special part of meat did Samuel tell the cook to save for Saul?
Answer: The shoulder

It was actually the shoulder (I Samuel 9:23-24). Samuel had told the cook beforehand to save that piece for Saul, and the cook did it! The exact significance of the shoulder is somewhat controversial, but obviously it was a section of meat that showed honor to Saul and his coming position as king of Israel.
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
9 Where did Samuel build an altar?
Answer: Ramah

1 Samuel 7:17 "But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also judged Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD."


This act also shows Samuel's strong dedication to God. Samuel's sons became judges as well, however they took bribes and brought shame to their father.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
10 How many times did the Lord call Samuel while he was a child?
Answer: 4

Samuel thought Eli was calling him and Eli told him the next time he heard the voice to respond, "Speak, for thy servant heareth". The Lord told Samuel that Eli's two sons would die.
  From Quiz: The Story of Samuel
11 Samuel called Israel together to what place to proclaim Saul king?
Answer: Mizpeh

It was Mizpeh. The Israelites had also gathered together at Mizpeh in the time of the Judges to go to war against Benjamin. Evidently it was a prominent meeting place for the nation. (I Samuel 10:17)
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
12 According to God, who did the people of Israel reject as their king?
Answer: God

1 Samuel 8:7 "And the LORD told him: "Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.""


God eventually told Samuel to retrieve a man named Saul to become the first official king of Israel.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
13 What were the names of Eli's two sons that the Lord told Samuel would be killed?
Answer: Hophni and Phinehas

Hophni and Phinehas were killed when the Philistines took the ark of the covenant. Shortly after his death, Phinehas' wife gave birth to a son she named Ichabod before she died.
  From Quiz: The Story of Samuel
14 What did Samuel use to anoint Saul as a ruler of Israel?
Answer: A flask of oil

1 Samuel 10:1 "Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?"


Some translations have worded this differently, however most include a form of oil.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
15 David fled to Samuel when Saul tried to kill him. What happened when messengers from Saul came to Samuel to take David?
Answer: The messengers prophesied

Actually Saul went himself as well, and he too helplessly prophesied instead of being able to capture David! The full story is in I Samuel 19:18-24.
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
16 After what war did Samuel tell Saul he would be rejected as king?
Answer: The war against the Amalekites

1 Samuel 15:20-23 ""But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."

But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king.""


As mentioned, Saul invaded the Amalekites as God commanded. However, he did not destroy everything, such as the livestock that he sacrificed to God. However, God was dishonoured that Saul did not follow his command and rejected Saul as king.

Saul begged for forgiveness and asked Samuel to follow him to devote a sacrifice to God.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
17 How many sons did Samuel have?
Answer: Two

Samuel had two sons, Abiah and Joel, who became judges in Beersheba.
  From Quiz: The Story of Samuel
18 Samuel died, and the people mourned him. Where does the Bible say they buried him?
Answer: In his house

Surprisingly, it was in his house, according to I Samuel 25:1! The people of Israel buried him in Ramah, which was the end of his judging circuit.
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
19 What part of clothing did Samuel use to represent Saul and Israel?
Answer: His robe

1 Samuel 15:27-29 "As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbours-to one better than you. He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.""


Although this translation is not clear on the representation in this translation, Samuel turned to leave and Saul grabbed him by the robe (some translation refer to a cloak) which tore. Samuel then used this rip to represent the action of God tearing away Saul from ruling Israel.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
20 What was the name of the king Samuel killed?
Answer: Agag

1 Samuel 15:32-33 "Then Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites."
Agag came to him confidently, thinking, "Surely the bitterness of death is past."

But Samuel said,
"As your sword has made women childless,
so will your mother be childless among women."
And Samuel put Agag to death before the LORD at Gilgal."


These are very powerful words that remain nearly the same in most translations. After the death of King Agag, Saul was rejected as king and Samuel mourned. Samuel eventually died and was buried at his home in Ramah.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
21 Samuel's last prophecy was fulfilled just like all the others. What was the last prophecy that the prophet Samuel is recorded as giving?
Answer: Israel would be defeated by the Philistines

This prophecy was given to King Saul, and Samuel prophesied King Saul himself and his sons would die in the doomed battle. He said that the next day Saul and his sons would be "with me." Quite the interesting prophecy! The next day it came true. (I Samuel 31 records the battle and Saul's defeat.)
  From Quiz: Samuel the Seer
22 What happened to Samuel after he died?
Answer: He was spoken to in spirit form

1 Samuel 28:13-20

"The king said to her, "Don't be afraid. What do you see?"

The woman said, "I see a spirit coming up out of the ground."

"What does he look like?" he asked.

"An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said.

Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?"

"I am in great distress," Saul said. "The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do."

Samuel said, "Why do you consult me, now that the LORD has turned away from you and become your enemy? The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbours-to David. Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites, the LORD has done this to you today. The LORD will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also hand over the army of Israel to the Philistines."

Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel's words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night."

After this event, Israel went to war against the Philistines. Saul was hit by an arrow and refused to be killed by a Philistine, so he asked a solider from Israel to kill him. The solider could not do it, so Saul killed himself. Then David became the ruler of Israel.
  From Quiz: Bible Stories - Samuel
23 Where was Samuel buried?
Answer: Ramah

After Samuel's death, he was buried in Ramah where he grew up with Hannah and Elkanah before going to Eli.
  From Quiz: The Story of Samuel
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