25 Details About the Life of Abraham - A to Z Quiz

Answer: Abram

Abraham was previously known as Abram. Notes in the New King James Version Study Bible state the name change is "significant" as Abram means 'Exalted Father' and Abraham means 'Father of Many'. According to Genesis 17:1, Abraham was nine-nine years old when the LORD appeared before him and announced his new name. Study notes in the NKJV Bible state this was the fourth time the LORD appeared before Abraham.

Answer: Where he built an altar to the LORD

Bethel is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament with Genesis 12:8 telling of Abraham building an altar to call upon the name of the LORD.

This marked only the second time in Scripture an altar had been built to the LORD. The first occasion was when Noah built an altar after surviving a massive flood that engulfed the world, as per Genesis 8:28.

Scripture tells of Abraham setting up his tent in Bethel after the LORD promised him he would become a "great nation." Genesis 12:1-3 in the NKJV, quotes the LORD as saying:
"'Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father's house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed'."

Bethel, as stated in the question, is where Jacob had a vision of angels of God ascending and descending on a ladder from heaven, as per Genesis 28:10-19.

Answer: Make a great nation out of him and allocate land for his people.

It's a bit of a long story, but basically God promised Abraham, who was known as Abram at the time, that He would make a great nation out of him with Genesis 15:5 stating his descendents would be as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Scripture states the LORD also said He would bless Abram and the families of the earth through him and He also promised Abram his people would live in a certain geographical area.

In Genesis 12:2-3, in the NKJV, the LORD tells Abram: "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Genesis 15:18-21 goes on to state: "On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: 'To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates -- the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

Answer: True

Yes, twice they used the same deception.

Sarah, who was known as Sarai at the time, told people in Egypt Abraham was her brother and not her husband. (See Genesis 12:11-20). The ruse took place while they were forced to move to Egypt due to a famine and she took such action to prevent Abraham from being killed.

According to Genesis 12:11, Sarah was extremely beautiful and as per the custom of the day, the Pharaoh would want to add her to his harem. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state "if Pharaoh were to add Sarai to his harem while knowing she was Abram's wife, he would have to kill Abram first."

According to Scripture, reports of Sarah's beauty had reached the Pharaoh.

Here's how Genesis 12:10-20 explains the situation in the NKJV:

"Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land. And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, 'Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.'

"So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the woman, that she was very beautiful. The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house. He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

"But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. And Pharaoh called Abram and said, 'What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way.' So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent him away, with his wife and all that he had."

Abraham and Sarah would pull off the same ruse in Genesis 20 to deceive Abimelech, king of Gerar, into thinking they were brother and sister. And once again, the deception was designed to save Abraham's life.

It's interesting to note Isaac and Rebekkah pulled off the same deception, pretending to be brothers and sisters, in Genesis 26:7. Again, such action was taken to prevent Isaac from being killed.

Answer: Eliezer

Eliezer came from Damascus, as per Genesis 15:2. Many theologians believe Eliezer was the unnamed senior servant who found a wife for Isaac. In Genesis 24, the unnamed servant is requested by Abraham to go to the land of his relatives to get a wife for his son.

Genesis 24:12-14 tells of the servant praying in this matter. The passage, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Then he said, 'O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink' -- let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."

Verse 15 goes on to state that before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. The rest, as they say, is history.

Answer: An Angel of the LORD told her to return.

The sixteenth chapter of Genesis tells of Hagar fleeing after her mistress Sarai dealt harshly with her. Scripture also tells of an Angel of the LORD finding Hagar by a "spring of water in the wilderness," as per Verse 7 of the NKJV. (In the NIV, it states she was found near "a spring in the desert.")

Genesis 16:9-10, in the NKJV, states: "The Angel of the LORD said to her, 'Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.' Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, 'I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.'"

The chapter goes on to tell of Hagar returning to Sarah and her husband Abraham. Genesis 16:15 states Hagar bore Abraham a son who was called Ishmael.

Answer: True

Abraham is where the genealogy of Christ begins in Matthew 1. Meanwhile, Christ's genealogy in Luke 3 goes all the way back to Adam, and includes Abraham. Incidentally, the name Abraham appears more than eighty times in the New Testament with fourteen occurrences in the Gospel of Luke alone.

The Gospel of John, Acts and Hebrews each contain ten references. Romans and Galatians each contain nine references.

Answer: Egypt

Hagar, according to Scripture, was from Egypt. After Abraham's wife Sarah had been unable to conceive for a number of year, she granted permission to him to sleep with Hagar, as per Genesis 16:3. According to Genesis 16:1, Hagar was a servant of Sarah.

The union resulted in the birth of a son who was named Ishmael. He would become the forefather of a great nation, according to Genesis 17:20. Traditionally, Ishmael is regarded as the father of the Arab nation.

Answer: Sodom

According to Scripture, Abraham made a solemn request to God for Sodom to be spared from destruction if ten righteous souls could be found in the city. Abraham's prayer was issued in a lengthy and direct conversation with the LORD. Sodom, along with Gomorrah, would later be destroyed by brimstone and fire. Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state the destruction took place because ten righteous people could not be found.

The study notes state one of the reasons for Abraham's concern about Sodom is the fact his nephew Lot and his family lived in the city. Although Sodom and Gomorrah were both destroyed, Lot and his family were spared.

However, Genesis 19:26 reports Lot's wife defied the LORD'S command not to look back on Sodom as they were fleeing and she was turned into a pillar of salt.

Extensive study notes about prayer in Scripture, cite the lengthy conversation involving Abraham and God as one of 80 examples of prayer in the Old Testament and the New Testament of the English Bible.

Here's how Genesis 18:16-33 in the NKJV records the lengthy conversation:
"Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. And the LORD said, 'Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.' And the LORD said, 'Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."

"Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the LORD. And Abraham came near and said, 'Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

"So the LORD said, 'If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.'

"Then Abraham answered and said, 'Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the LORD: Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?'

"So He said, 'If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.'

"And he spoke to Him yet again and said, 'Suppose there should be forty found there?'

"So He said, 'I will not do it for the sake of forty.'

"Then he said, 'Let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?'

"So He said, 'I will not do it if I find thirty there.'

"And he said, 'Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the LORD: Suppose twenty should be found there?'

"So He said, 'I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.'

"Then he said, 'Let not the LORD be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?'

"And He said, 'I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.' So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place."

Answer: True

Paul uses the case of Abraham, and also David, to make the argument a person is justified by their faith in God, not by their works. Here's how Romans 4:1-12 reads in the NKJV:

"What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.' Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,
And whose sins are covered;
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin'.

"Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised."

Notes in the New King James Version Study Bible offer this explanation: "Paul quotes Genesis 15:6 ['Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.'] to prove that Abraham was not justified by works. God made a promise to Abraham, and Abraham trusted God to fulfill it. Because of Abraham's faith, God credited Abraham with righteousness. In gaining this righteousness from God, Abraham did not obey some law or perform some ritual like circumcision, he simply believed God."

The book of Romans was written by Paul to members of the early church who lived in Rome. Paul is credited with writing thirteen books in the New Testament and in the order they appear, Romans is the first. It is found after the book of Acts and before 1 Corinthians.

Answer: Keturah

Keturah is the correct answer. According to Genesis 25:2, Keturah became Abraham's wife (presumably after the death of Sarah) and she was the mother of six sons. Their names were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. According to Verses 5 and 6, Abraham "left all he had" to Isaac, but while he was still living he gave gifts to the sons of Keturah and other concubines.

Then he "sent the sons eastward, away from Isaac his son," Scripture states.

Answer: Sarah and Hagar

Sarah and Hagar is the correct answer. Going by Scripture, they seldom got along and were bitter adversaries.

Their dislike for each other ultimately resulted in Abraham making a decision to abandon Hagar and her son Ishmael. The problems apparently started shortly after Sarah gave permission to her husband Abraham to sleep with Hagar to produce a child. Sarah was barren at the time.

According to Scripture, Hagar started to despise Sarah for whatever reason. I suppose she felt superior because she could produce a child for Abraham while Sarah was unable. So she made a point of constantly trying to make Sarah feel small and insignificant.

It seems things snowballed with Sarah attempting to get even by being unduly harsh on Hagar. In fact, she was so harsh Hagar, even before Ishmael was born, fled from Abraham and Sarah. However, as pointed out in the answer to Question 6, an angel of the LORD requested she go back to Abraham and Sarah and produce a child.

But things wouldn't work out. A number of years later, Abraham opted to abandon Hagar and Ishmael, sending them off with some food and water into the desert. (It appears the breaking point was Ishmael's 'scoffing', as per Genesis 21:9) With the two women separated, the turmoil between them would finally come to an end.

Answer: Melchizedek

According to Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek was the king of Salem and the priest of God Most High who blessed Abraham, who was known as Abram at the time.

In his blessing, Melchizedek is quoted as saying:
"Blessed be Abram of God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
And blessed be God Most High,
Who has delivered your enemies into your hand."

Scripture goes on to tell of Abraham giving "a tithe of all."

Although Melchizedek is largely a character connected with Genesis, his name also appears no less than nine times in the Book of Hebrews -- 5:6, 10, 6:20, 7:1, 10, 11 15, 17, 21.

The name can be also found in Psalm 110:4, which states in the NKJV Bible: "The LORD has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek'."

In a nutshell, the writer of Hebrews makes a comparison between Melchizedek and Jesus and states Christ is far greater. Hebrews 7:20-23, in the NKJV, states: "And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:
'The LORD has sworn
And will not relent,
You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek,'
by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant. Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Answer: Israel and the Arab world

The two nations, of course, are Israel and the Arab world. The Israelites descended from Abraham while the Arabs descended from Ishmael.

In Genesis 12:2-3, in the NKJV, the LORD tells Abram: "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

Meanwhile in Genesis 17:20, the LORD is quoted in the NKJV as saying: "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation."

Answer: Isaac

The story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac is one of the best known stories in the Old Testament. Scripture reports God commanded Abraham to take his son Isaac to a mountain in the region of Moriah and to sacrifice him as a burnt offering.

Just as Abraham was preparing to sacrifice Isaac, Scripture reports an angel of the LORD called out and told him to spare his son because it was evident Abraham feared God. After the angel called out, Abraham spotted a ram in the thicket and used it as his sacrificial offering.

The story is told in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. Many Christians compare this episode to God's sacrifice of His own son, Jesus in the New Testament.

Answer: The Rich Man and Lazarus

Abraham as well as Moses is mentioned by Jesus in the parable 'The Rich Man and Lazarus'. Out of thirty-nine parables told by Jesus, the parable of 'The Rich Man and Lazarus' is the only one that contains specific names. In addition to the mention of Abraham and Moses, there is mention of Lazarus, a poor, helpless man who lived outside the gate of an extremely wealthy man.

The parable tells of Lazarus dying and being at Abraham's bosom in heaven. The parable goes to tell of Abraham communicating with the extremely wealthy man who had died and was in immense torment in 'Hades'.

Here's how the parable appears in its entirety in the NKJV:

"'There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

"'Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'

"'Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.' Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

Answer: She laughed at the statement.

Rather than showing faith and acceptance in what the LORD had told her, Sarah laughed at the claim she would give birth to a son, largely because she was ninety years old and Abraham was one hundred. (Genesis 17:17)

When the LORD accused Sarah of laughing, and not showing faith, she lied and insisted she didn't laugh.

Here's how the story is told in Genesis 18:1-15 in the NKJV:

"Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, and said, 'My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.'

"They said, 'Do as you have said.'

"So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, 'Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.' And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.

"Then they said to him, 'Where is Sarah your wife?'

"So he said, 'Here, in the tent.'

"And He said, 'I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.'

"(Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, 'After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?'

"And the LORD said to Abraham, 'Why did Sarah laugh, saying, 'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.'

"But Sarah denied it, saying, 'I did not laugh,' for she was afraid.

"And He said, 'No, but you did laugh!'"

Scripture goes on to tell of Sarah giving birth to Isaac. Isaac would marry Rebekkah and they would have two children -- Jacob and Esau.

Answer: Lot

Lot is the correct answer. According to Genesis 11:27, he was the son of Abraham's brother Haran. He was taken captive and would've faced a bleak future had it not been for Abraham rushing to the rescue.

In a nutshell, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, as well as other allies attacked the cities of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Bela (also known as Zoar) and scored some decisive victories. Scripture tells of Chedorlaomer and his allies conquering Sodom and Gomorrah and taking "all their goods". They also took captives, which included Lot and his family.

Here's how Genesis 14:1-7 reads in the NKJV:

"And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations, that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar). All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea). Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled.

"In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is by the wilderness. Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon Tamar.

"And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in battle in the Valley of Siddim against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar -- four kings against five. Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains. Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their provisions, and went their way. They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

"Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of Aner; and they were allies with Abram. Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

"And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him."

Answer: Only as much food and water that Hagar could carry.

The abandonment of Hagar and her son Ishmael is one of the better known stories in Genesis. Genesis 21:14, in the NKJV, states: "So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy '[Ishameal] to Hagar, and sent her away. Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba."

At one point, Hagar was apparently afraid her son would die as Verse 16 tells of her sobbing. Then a miracle happened.

Genesis 21:17-20 states: "And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, 'What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation.' Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink. So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer."

Scripture states Sarah gave permission to her husband Abraham to sleep with Hagar to create a child. (Sarah was unable to conceive at the time.) Shortly after this decision was made, there appears to be a gigantic falling out between Hagar and Sarah.

Answer: Terah

Terah is the correct answer. According to Scripture, he was also the father of Nahor, and Haran. Haran was the father of Lot, a Bible character who figures prominently in the life of Abraham.

According to Genesis 11:31, Terah settled in the land of Canaan after living in Ur of the Chaldeans.

Answer: Unforgiving

It was definitely a relationship that was unforgiving. As mentioned in the answer to Question No. 12, the two women were bitter rivals with everything falling apart after Hagar gave birth to Ishmael. According to Scripture, Hagar made Sarah feel small because she couldn't conceive at the time and Sarah countered by being unduly harsh on Hagar.

There seemed to be no give in their relationship. It was all about take. And it appeared there was no forgiveness between the two. As a result, everything festered to the point where Hagar and Ishmael were abandoned.

Answer: False

The answer is false. There is no information in Scripture about Vashti's genealogy. What's more, Esther does not have eleven chapters. It ends at chapter ten.

There is one thing Hagar and Vashti had in common. They both apparently had an independent streak. Vashti refused to obey the orders of the king of Persia to appear before a banquet and ended up being deposed. Meanwhile, Hagar was unable to heal a rift between her and Sarah and ended up being abandoned by Abraham.

Answer: Egypt

The correct answer is Egypt. With Hagar being Egyptian, I suppose her decision only makes sense. However, little is known about Ishmael's wife as she isn't identified by name. Genesis 21:21 simply states she came from Egypt. To put things in context, here's how Genesis 21:20-22 reads in the NKJV: "So God was with the lad [Ishmael]; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.

He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for him from the land of Egypt."

Answer: Between 15 and 20 years

There is no way of knowing his exact age, but when Scripture is carefully studied, it appears Ishmael was older than fifteen years and younger than twenty.

It's a bit of long story on how people have come up with that age for Ishmael. So here goes the explanation: Ishmael was thirteen years old when he was circumcised, as per Genesis 17:25. He was fourteen years old at the birth of Isaac (Genesis 16:16, 21:5). Meanwhile, Genesis 21:8 tells of the departure of Hagar and Ishmael after Isaac was weaned. In Biblical times, weaning lasted for at least three years. (At least one Website states five years.) So going with a three-year weaning period, Ishmael would've been seventeen -- between fifteen and twenty years -- when he and his mother were forced by Abraham to depart.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible also state Ishmael was "perhaps seventeen" when he and Hagar departed. I opted to use "between 15 and 20 years" as the correct answer to prevent a slew of correction notices by using a specific age.

Answer: True

True. As explained in the answer to Question No. 8, Abraham married Keturah later in his life and according to Genesis 25:2, they had six sons. Their names were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Zimran's name appears in only Genesis 25:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:32 and as a result, little is known about him.