A Look at Hair-Raising People in the Bible -- #2 Quiz

Answer: Jacob

The correct answer is Jacob. It's a bit of a long story, but according to Scripture, Jacob made himself hairy so he could trick his father Isaac into giving him the blessing that had been intended for Esau. Genesis 27 tells of Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, being behind the ruse. According to Scripture, she highly favored Jacob while Isaac favored Esau.

Scripture states Rebekah prepared savory food for Jacob to give to Isaac and also took "the choice clothes of her elder son Esau" and put them of Jacob. Then to top things off, Rebekah "put the skins of the kids of the goats on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck."

Genesis 27:23 states Isaac did not recognize Jacob "because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau's hands; so he blessed him."

Answer: False

The answer is false. Yes, the Nazirites were not permitted to take a razor to their head during a vow to the LORD for a time of unusual commitment. However, there is no connection between the words Nazirite and Nazarene. A Nazarene is a resident of Nazareth, as per Matthew 2:23.

In addition to being forbidden from cutting their hair, Nazirites had to abide by other restrictions, outlined in Numbers 6:2-6 in the NKJV: "'When either a man or woman consecrates an offering to take the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD he shall separate himself from wine and similar drink; he shall drink neither vinegar made from wine nor vinegar made from similar drink; neither shall he drink any grape juice, nor eat fresh grapes or raisins. All the days of his separation he shall eat nothing that is produced by the grapevine, from seed to skin. All the days of the vow of his separation no razor shall come upon his head; until the days are fulfilled for which he separated himself to the Lord, he shall be holy. Then he shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. All the days that he separates himself to the Lord he shall not go near a dead body. He shall not make himself unclean even for his father or his mother, for his brother or his sister, when they die, because his separation to God is on his head. All the days of his separation he shall be holy to the LORD'"

Answer: Michal

Michal, the daughter of Saul, is the correct answer. According to Scripture, Saul at the time was the king of Israel and he dedicated the latter part of his life in a vain attempt to kill David, largely because of a severe and foolish case of jealousy.

1 Samuel 19:11-18 gives this account of Michal's deception: "Saul also sent messengers to David's house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David's wife, told him, saying, 'If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed.' So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped. And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats' hair for his head, and covered it with clothes. So when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, 'He is sick.' Then Saul sent the messengers back to see David, saying, 'Bring him up to me in the bed, that I may kill him.' And when the messengers had come in, there was the image in the bed, with a cover of goats' hair for his head. Then Saul said to Michal, 'Why have you deceived me like this, and sent my enemy away, so that he has escaped?' And Michal answered Saul, 'He said to me, 'Let me go! Why should I kill you?' So David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel at Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth."

It's an interesting story about how David and Michal became husband and wife. Saul, the father of Michal, ordered David to produce the foreskins from 100 Philistines to win his daughter's hand, as he firmly believed David would be killed in the process and he would no longer have to contend with him. According to the 18th chapter of 1 Samuel, David killed twice as many Philistines as needed and easily won Michal's hand, much to the consternation of Saul.

Answer: Absalom

The correct answer is Absalom, the son of David and Maacah. 2 Kings 14:25-26, gives this lofty description of Absalom: "Now in all Israel there was no one who was praised as much as Absalom for his good looks. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he cut the hair of his head -- at the end of every year he cut it because it was heavy on him -- when he cut it, he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels according to the king's standard."

According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, two hundred shekels "was a considerable weight, about five pounds." Meanwhile, notes in the NIV Study Bible state "for the people of that time, hair was apparently a sign of vigor. Kings and heroic figures were often portrayed with abundant locks, while baldness was a disgrace. See 2 Kings 2:23."

Absolom's hair would lead to his downfall, however. According to 2 Samuel 18:9-15, his long hair got caught in a tree branch while he was riding on a donkey. The donkey kept traveling forward and, when Absalom was left suspended, a military commander plunged three javelins into his heart. In a nutshell, Absalom, at the time of his death, was attempting to overthrow his father as king when a heated battle erupted between forces loyal to the two men. According to Scripture, the battle took place in the forest of Ephraim and 20,000 men were killed. After Absalom was left hanging in mid-air, Joab, one of David's three military commanders, killed him. Even though Absalom was attempting to overthrow David and kill him in the process, Scripture reports David was deeply shaken by the death.

Answer: True

While some people might not enjoy seeing their hair turning gray, Scripture indicates it is an honor.

The NIV gives this translation: "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness."

The book of Proverbs is one of the most popular in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the English Bible. In a nutshell, the book is packed with witty sayings and many Jews and Christians believe it offers good practical advice.

Most of the proverbs were written by Solomon. However, chapter 30 was written by Agur and Proverbs 31:1-9 was written by Lemuel.

Answer: Song of Solomon

The correct answer is the Song of Solomon with the description found in the first verse of the fourth chapter. (In the NIV, the book is called Song of Songs.) According to the NKJV, the fourth chapter of the Song of Solomon is sub-titled 'The Bridegroom Praises the Bride.'

To put the verse in contest, here's how the Song of Solomon 4:1-5 reads in the NKJV:
"Behold, you are fair, my love!
Behold, you are fair!
You have dove's eyes behind your veil.
Your hair is like a flock of goats,
Going down from Mount Gilead.
Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep
Which have come up from the washing,
Every one of which bears twins,
And none is barren among them.
Your lips are like a strand of scarlet,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples behind your veil
Are like a piece of pomegranate.
Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built for an armory,
On which hang a thousand bucklers,
All shields of mighty men.
Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle,
Which feed among the lilies."

Answer: Sermon on the Mount

The quote is part of the Sermon on the Mount with the sermon running from Matthew 5:1 through to 7:28. The verse in question is part of the same chapter that contains The Beatitudes.

To put the verse in context, here's how Matthew 5:33-37 reads in the NKJV: "'Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."

Answer: His disciples in the presence of a multitude of people

Jesus made the statement to His disciples in the presence of a multitude of people. In fact, according to Luke 12:1 there was an "innumerable multitude of people" who had gathered together "so that they trampled one another."

Luke 12:4-7 tells of Jesus talking to His disciples while in the presence of the people: "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Answer: Mary

The correct answer is Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha. John 12:1-3, in the NKJV, explains things this way: "Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil."

Scripture goes on to tell of Judas condemning the gesture, stating the expensive perfume should've been sold and the proceeds given to the poor.

John, the writer of the Gospel, strongly condemns Judas' suggestion in Verse 6: "This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it."

A short while later, Judas would betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver, Scripture states. The Gospel of John goes on to tell of Jesus being put on trial, humiliated, beaten, brutally tortured and crucified only to rise from the dead three days later.

Answer: Paul

Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, is the correct answer. He is credited with writing 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy, two books addressed to a young church worker. Scripture indicates Paul and Timothy enjoyed a special kinship, often referring to him as his son.

Incidentally, Peter, one of the original Twelve Disciples, who is credited with writing 1 Peter and 2 Peter, makes a similar statement about women and their hair. 1 Peter 3:3-4, in the NKJV, states: "Do not let your adornment be merely outward -- arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -- rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

Or as 1 Peter 3:3 states in the NIV: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes."