25 Details About the Life of Samuel - 'A' to 'Z' Quiz

Answer: Abijah

Abijah is the correct answer. He was Samuel's youngest son with Joel being the oldest. However, the two boys did not live up to the high standards of their father, according to Scripture. 1 Samuel 8:1-3, in the NKJV, states: "Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice."

Answer: Philistines

The correct answer is the Philistines. Samuel, according to the 7th chapter of 1 Samuel, called upon the Israelites to return to the LORD with "all their hearts" and to gather at Mizpah for a major battle against the Philistines. Providing they put away all their foreign gods and followed the LORD, Samuel told them victory was imminent. The Israelites followed Samuel's instructions and just as he predicted, they soundly defeated the Philistines. What's more, Scripture says there was peace between the two adversaries.

Here's how the account is told in 1 Samuel 7:3-14, in the NKJV"

"Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, 'If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.' So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

"And Samuel said, 'Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.' So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, 'We have sinned against the LORD.' And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

"Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. So the children of Israel said to Samuel, 'Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.'

"And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the LORD has helped us.'

"So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites."

Answer: corrupt

Unlike Samuel, his two sons were corrupt. Other 'C' words that could possibly be used to describe Joel and Abijah would be 'cold', 'crass', 'conniving' and 'criminal'. Scripture states an elderly Samuel appointed his two sons as his replacements as judge, but the move riled the the people. 1 Samuel 8:3 states his two sons participated in dishonest gain, taking bribes, and perverting justice.

Verse 4 goes on to tell of the Israelites demanding the end of being represented by judges and the installation of a monarchy "like all the nations".

Answer: Eli

The correct answer is Eli, who was convinced Hannah was drunk while praying to the LORD to be able to conceive. Her prayer was so fervent 1 Samuel 1:10 states she was in "bitterness of soul" and "wept in anguish" while praying. Her prayer paid off, however.

Here's how 1 Samuel 1:12-18 tells of the interaction between Eli and Hannah:

"And it happened, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli watched her mouth. Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. So Eli said to her, 'How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!'

"But Hannah answered and said, 'No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.'

"Then Eli answered and said, 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.'

"And she said, 'Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.' So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."

Verses 19 to 28 go on to tell of Samuel's birth and his dedication.

Answer: Elkanah

The correct answer is Elkanah. According to 1 Samuel 1:1 he was the son of of Jeroham and lived in Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim. Verse 2 states Elkanah had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. For the longest time, Hannah was unable to conceive while 1 Samuel 1:4 states Peniniah was the mother of sons and daughters.

Elkanah was devout as Scripture tells of him going annually to "worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts in Shiloh."

Answer: Fear

Make no mistake about it. The people were filled with fear, according to Scripture. In fact, 1 Samuel 12:18 says they "greatly feared" the LORD and Samuel. Scripture states Samuel, while at the coronation of Saul as king, called upon the LORD to enact a display of lightning and thunder to make the people aware of the error of their ways in wanting a king to rule over them.

Here's how 1 Samuel 12:16-19, in the NKJV, tells of Samuel addressing the people and what happened:

"'Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the LORD will do before your eyes: Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the LORD, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking a king for yourselves.'

"So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.

"And all the people said to Samuel, 'Pray for your servants to the LORD your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.'"

The coronation of Saul as king was seen as an evil step as it was doing away with God ruling over the people, through a judge. Rather than God ruling over the people, the king, or queen, would be doing so in the future, Samuel warned.

Answer: Ramah

According to 1 Samuel 25:1, Samuel was buried at Ramah, the same community in which he was born (1 Samuel 1:19) and the community where he spent most of his life. 1 Samuel 7:15-17 in the NKJV states: "And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD."

It should be noted that Samuel in his younger years, lived in Shiloh. According to Scripture, after Samuel was weaned he was taken to Shiloh where he lived with Eli who was both the high priest and the judge of Israel. (See 1 Samuel 1:24-28 for details about Samuel being taken to Shiloh.)

According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Ramah was also known as Ramathhaim Zophim and was a village about five miles (about eight kilometers) north of Jerusalem.

Answer: Hannah

The correct answer is Hannah. Similar to a number of other women in the Hebrew Bible and the English Bible, Hannah was barren for the longest time before being able to miraculously conceive. (Some of the other women who were in similar circumstances were Sarah, Rebekah and Rachel in the Old Testament and Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, in the New Testament.)

Making things stressful for Hannah was the fact her husband Elkanah was married to another woman, Peninnah, who was the mother of an unstated number of sons and daughters. On top of this, Peninnah seemed to take delight in making Hannah feel small. In fact, 1 Samuel 1:6 states Peninnah provoked Hannah "severely, to make her miserable". (Reminds one of Hagar and Sarah.)

Answer: Saul

The correct answer is Saul. Scripture is clear Samuel was strongly opposed to having a king rule over Israel but the people made it clear they wanted a monarchy. What's more, Scripture states Saul didn't want the job, but it was basically forced upon him.

1 Samuel 10:20-22 tells of the people coming together for the coronation of the new king and at the key moment he couldn't be found. According to Verse 22, the LORD advised Saul could be found hidden among the equipment. Rather than use the word 'equipment', the NIV uses 'supplies'. (The Amplified Bible uses the word 'baggage'.)

Saul, of course, was found and he would rule over Israel. His reign started relatively smoothly but ended in chaos with the king committing suicide on the battlefield, as per 1 Samuel 31:4.

Answer: Joel

Joel was the oldest of Samuel's two sons with Abijah being the youngest. As stated in the answer to Question No. 1, the two boys did not measure up to the lofty standards of their father. In fact, they took bribes and perverted justice. 1 Samuel 8:1-3, in the NKJV, states: "Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.

The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beersheba. But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice."

Answer: True

True. Hannah had more children after the miraculous birth of Samuel. 1 Samuel 2:21 states, "...the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters."

Taking everything at face value, she had five children. However, some theologians believe she actually had six children as the three sons and two daughters mentioned in Verse 21 are in addition to Samuel.

Answer: True

Samuel was basically the last judge of Israel, although he appointed his two sons Joel and Abiah to the position. It seems they didn't last long as Scripture tells of the two perverting justice.

Not counting Samuel's two sons, Israel was ruled by fifteen judges. They are:
1.) Othniel, Judges 1:11-13; 3:7-11
2.) Ehud, Judges 3:12-30
3.) Shamgar, Judges 3:31;5:6
4.) Deborah, Judges 4-5
5.) Gideon, Judges 6-8
6.) Abimelech, Judges 8:33-9:57
7.) Tola, Judges 10:1-2
8.) Jair, Judges 10:3-5
9.) Jephthah, Judges 11:1-12:7
10.) Ibzan, Judges 12:8-10
11.) Elon, Judges 12:11-12
12.) Abdon, Judges 12:13-15
13.) Samson, Judges 13-16
14.) Eli, 1 Samuel 1:1-4:1
15.) Samuel, 1 Samuel 4:1-7:17.

After Samuel, Israel was ruled by kings with the first king being Saul.

Answer: How to successfully wage an upcoming battle with the Philistines.

King Saul consulted with a medium to find out if his army would win a looming battle with the the Philistine army at Shunem. According to Scripture, Saul was deeply distressed because his inquiries of the LORD went unheeded while the Philistine army "gathered together" and was massive.

1 Samuel 28:14 reports the female medium in En Dor was successful in bringing up Samuel for Saul, but from there on it was bad news for the king.

1 Samuel 28:15-20 tells of the conversation between Samuel and Saul:

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

"And Saul answered, 'I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me and does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.'

"Then Samuel said: 'So why do you ask me, seeing the LORD has departed from you and has become your enemy? And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the LORD nor execute His fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore the LORD has done this thing to you this day. Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines. And tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The LORD will also deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.'

"Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night."

True to what Samuel had predicted, Chapter 31 of 1 Samuel tells of the defeat of the Israelites and the deaths of Saul and his sons.

Answer: Yes

Samuel's name appears three times in New Testament of the New King James Version Bible. It can be found in Acts 3:24 and Acts 13:20 as well as Hebrews 11:32. It pales in comparison to the likes of Moses, however, whose name is mentioned seventy-nine times in the New Testament and Abraham whose name is mentioned seventy-three times while Jacob's name is mentioned twenty-five times.

Answer: A proposal to have a king rule over Israel.

Samuel was strongly opposed to having a monarchy rule over Israel as the king, or queen, of the day would be essentially replacing God. Israel had been ruled by judges who were basically ambassadors of God, but the people demanded a change, especially when Samuel's two sons, Joel and Abijah, became judges and they were corrupt.

In 1 Samuel 8:10-17, Samuel warns the people of the consequences of having a monarchy, after conferring with the LORD. The verses in the NKJV state: "So Samuel told all the words of the LORD to the people who asked him for a king. And he said, 'This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day'."

The people, however, were not swayed by Samuel's words. They still insisted they wanted "a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations."

Verses 21 and 22 go on to state: "And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. So the LORD said to Samuel, 'Heed their voice, and make them a king'."

Answer: Peninnah

The correct answer is Peninnah, who was the mother of an unstated number of sons and daughters. As stated in the answer to Question No. 8, Peninnah seemed to take delight in making Hannah feel small. In fact, 1 Samuel 1:6 states Peninnah provoked Hannah "severely, to make her miserable".

Apart from being mean spirited and one of two wives of Elkanah, not much is known about Peninnah as she is mentioned in only the first seven verses of the first chapter of 1 Samuel.

Answer: Appoint his two sons as judges.

Just before he quit as a judge, Samuel appointed his two sons judges. It would be a crucial mistake as Joel and Abijah were so corrupt the people demanded the end of rule by judges and to be ruled over by a monarchy like the other nations. Samuel strongly opposed a monarchy for Israel, but the people were overwhelmingly against him and he eventually ended up anointing Saul as king.

Answer: To have a king rule over them.

Scripture states The LORD told Samuel He was being rejected by the people of Israel in their quest to have a king rule over them. Previously, Israel had been ruled by judges who were basically ambassadors of the LORD. However, after Samuel appointed his two sons -- Joel and Abijah -- as judges, the people were infuriated because the two were corrupt, unlike their father. As a result, they demanded Samuel appoint as king to rule over them.

Scripture states Samuel was strongly opposed to having a monarchy and took the matter before the LORD. 1 Samuel 8:7, in the NKJV, states: "And the LORD said to Samuel, 'Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them'." The story ends with Samuel anointing Saul as the first king of Israel.

Answer: Worship and sacrifice to the LORD.

According to 1 Samuel 1:3, Elkanah, Samuel's father, would take his two wives (Hannah and Peninnah) to Shiloh on an annual basis to "worship and sacrifice to the LORD of hosts".

Going by what would happen at Shiloh, it's clear Hannah was Elkanah's favorite, even though Peninnah was the mother of an unstated number of sons and daughters. 1 Samuel 1:4, in the NKJV, states: "And whenever the time came for Elkanah to make an offering, he would give portions to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah."

Answer: God

The correct answer is God. According to Scripture, Samuel heard a voice call out his name four times one evening and the child was perplexed. In the first three instances his name was called out, Samuel thought it was Eli, the high priest and judge of Israel was calling him. The fourth time, Samuel realized it was the LORD who was calling him. According to Scripture, the LORD told Samuel about his disgust for the corrupt practices of Eli's sons and announced there would be divine retribution. Scripture doesn't say how old Samuel was at the time, but Wikipedia states Jewish historian Josephus recorded the child was about twelve years old.

Here's how 1 Samuel 3:3-14 tells of the incident:

"...before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, 'Here I am!' So he ran to Eli and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.'

"And he said, 'I did not call; lie down again.' And he went and lay down.

"Then the LORD called yet again, 'Samuel!'

"So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, 'Here I am, for you called me.' He answered, 'I did not call, my son; lie down again.' (Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, nor was the word of the LORD yet revealed to him.)

"And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, 'Here I am, for you did call me.'

"Then Eli perceived that the LORD had called the boy. herefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

"Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!'
And Samuel answered, 'Speak, for Your servant hears.'

"Then the LORD said to Samuel: 'Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever'."

The chapter concludes by stating Samuel grew and "the LORD was with him" and "all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the LORD."

Answer: His kingdom would be coming to an end.

The 13th chapter of 1 Samuel tells of Samuel proclaiming the end of King Saul's kingdom because of his unlawful sacrifice. In a nutshell, Saul conducted a burnt offering by himself, which according to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, was in contravention with the law of Moses as well as the instructions of God's prophet.

Here's how 1 Samuel 13:11-14 tells of Saul's actions as well as Samuel's declaration:

"And Samuel said, 'What have you done?' Saul said, 'When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, 'The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.' Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.'

"And Samuel said to Saul, 'You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you'."

It would be only a matter of time before Saul would end up committing suicide in battle and David, "a man after God's heart", would become king.

Answer: Give the child to the LORD and no razor shall come upon his head.

Hannah made a vow to the LORD that if she bore a son, she would give the child to the LORD and ensure he never shaved. Hannah's vow is recorded in 1 Samuel 1:11. The verse in the NKJV states: "Then she made a vow and said, 'O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

By the time you get to Verse 20, details are given about the birth of Hannah's miracle baby who was called Samuel.

Answer: No name is given in Scripture

No name is given for Samuel's wife in Scripture. It is known Samuel was married because 1 Samuel 8:1-3 states he had two sons -- Joel and Abijah. However, apart from the names of his two sons, there are no details about Samuel's family life after he became an adult.

Answer: less than five years old

Going strictly by Scripture, Samuel was less than five years old, possibly about three, when he was taken to Eli who was both the high priest and judge of Israel. 1 Samuel 1:24 states Samuel was taken to the House of the LORD in Shiloh after he was weaned. According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, weaning often didn't end until a child was three years old in Biblical times.

As stated in the answer to Question No. 22, Hannah, who was barren at one time, made a vow that if she gave birth to a boy she would give him to the LORD "all the days of his life."

Here's how 1 Samuel 24-27 in the NKJV tells of Hannah taking Samuel to live with Eli: "Now when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, one ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD in Shiloh. And the child was young. Then they slaughtered a bull, and brought the child to Eli. And she said, 'O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord.' So they worshiped the LORD there."

Answer: Zuph

The correct answer is Zuph, who was Samuel's great-great grandfather. Not much is known about Zuph, apart from the fact he was an Ephramite. 1 Samuel 1:1 in the NKJV gives an outline of Samuel's lineage: "Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the mountains of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite."