Murder and Crime in the Bible Trivia Quiz

Answer:

Cain was the oldest son of Adam and Eve and worked as a farmer while his younger brother, Abel, was a shepherd. Genesis, chapter four, relates the story of Cain's anger when God preferred Abel's offering of a lamb to his offering from his crops. Cain killed his brother in a fit of rage, making him the first murderer in the Bible and forcing him into exile.

King David also becomes a murderer, by proxy, by successfully arranging the death of Bathsheba's husband in battle. The crime was committed to cover up his adultery with Bathsheba which had led to her pregnancy - her husband could not have been the father. The story appears in the Second Book of Samuel.

Simeon and Levi, two of the sons of Jacob, are joint murderers although they did have some cause. Genesis chapter 34 relates how their sister, Dinah, was raped (some versions suggest more of a seduction) by a man named Shechem, who then wanted to marry her. By trickery, Simeon and Levi killed not only Shechem but all the men of his tribe. Jacob saw that this had brought shame to him, and the brothers paid the price when Jacob withheld his blessing from them later on.

Joab, who appears in Samuel 2, was a rather nasty piece of work. He was related to King David and remained in the king's service despite his crimes. His first murder occurred when he killed Abner, who had earlier slain Joab's brother, Ashael, in self defence. Although the king was willing to agree peace with Abner, Joab used his position to arrange a meeting during which he stabbed Abner. Joab is also the commander who carried out the monarch's plot to kill Bathsheba's husband.

Another case of rape leading to murder is the story of Absalom, who killed his older half-brother Amnon for raping Tamar, a full sister to Absalom. Despite being King David's favourite son, Absalom was banished before being restored to favour. He eventually went too far by organising a rebellion against his father, who had removed him from the line of succession in favour of Solomon. Although David wanted him captured alive, Joab (yes, him again) killed him when Absalom became entangled by his hair in a tree. Joab received his just desserts when Solomon ordered his execution in the second chapter of the first Book of Kings.

Zimri turns up in I Kings, chapter 16, having briefly become the fifth king of Israel's northern kingdom. He seized the throne by murdering Elah, the previous king, while he was drunk. This was bad enough, but Zimri attempted to keep the throne by murdering all of Elah's family as well. His victory was short-lived with an army revolt leading him to commit suicide rather than face the certain death which awaited him. His villainy gave him only seven days of power.

The story of Jael appears in the Book of Judges, and is a murder which might be considered to be justified. Deborah, the only female judge of Israel, was facing an invasion of Canaanites and called on Barak to fight on behalf of the country. He was reluctant, agreeing only if Deborah accompanied him - her agreement came at a price, in that the honour of killing the Canaanite leader would fall to a woman. This is where Jael came in. Having welcomed Sisera, and offered him refuge, she waited until he was asleep before murdering the soldier by driving a tent peg through his skull.

Another story from the Book of Judges involves Ehud, an Israelite during the time when the Moabites had been in control of Israel for nearly twenty years. Ehud was allowed to be allowed with Eglon, the King of the Moabites, but had hidden a small sword, strapped to his right leg. The king felt safe, since Ehud's right hand was in view, but did not realise that his assailant was left handed. Ehud drew the sword and stabbed the king who was so fat that the sword could not be seen, allowing Ehud to make his escape before anyone realised that the king was dead. He gathered a force which massacred thousands of Moabites bringing peace to Israel for nearly a century.

Another equally culpable pair, Ahab and Jezebel appear in the First Book of Kings. Jezebel was a worshipper of Baal, and persuaded her husband, Ahab, to follow her beliefs. Many priests were killed at her command, and neither of the prophets, Elijah and Elisha, were able to turn her from her ways. The pair's crime, qualifying them for this quiz, was to desire the vineyard belonging to a near neighbour of theirs. When the owner refused to part with it, Jezebel falsely accused him of blasphemy and had him stoned to death. Elijah cursed both of them. Ahab died in battle, while Jezebel met her end, thanks to Elisha, at the hands of Jehu. Her body was eaten by dogs, as Elijah had prophesied.

Moses features in the early parts of the Old Testament, having been adopted by the Pharaoh's daughter in Egypt. Exodus, chapter 2 has this story before going on to relate that Moses committed murder by killing an Egyptian who was mistreating a Hebrew, one of Moses's own tribe. Rightly in fear for his own life, Moses fled from Egypt, an event which led him to Zipporah, who became his wife.

The other names listed are victims. Naboth was the vineyard owner killed on the instructions of Ahab and Jezebel and Uriah was Bathsheba's husband, sent to his death in battle. Elah was murdered by Zimri, Sisera by Jael, Amnon by Absalom and Eglon was killed by Ehud.