A Look at Hair-Raising People in the Bible Quiz

Answer: Esau

Esau, according to Scripture, was hairy while his twin brother was "smooth skinned."

Genesis 25:24-26, in the NKJV, tells of Rebekah giving birth to the two boys: "So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob."

In Genesis 27:11, Jacob describes his brother as "a hairy man" and himself as "a smooth-skinned man."

Answer: Samson

The story of Samson being betrayed by Delilah is one of the best known stories in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the English Bible.

According to Scripture, his long hair was the secret to his strength and when his locks were cut by Delilah, he lost his power.

Samson was born to the wife of Manoah after she was unable to conceive, according to Judges 13. No name is given for the woman.

Judges 13:3-5 tells of an Angel of the LORD informing the woman she would give birth to a baby boy and that his hair should never be cut: "And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.'"

Greed was the simple reason Delilah betrayed Samson. Judges 16:5, in the NKJV, states: "And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, 'Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.'"

Make no mistake about it. Delilah was bribed with a massive amount of money to betray Samson. It's as if no price was too high for the lords of the Philistines to bring him down.

It's worth noting the offer of eleven hundred shekels of silver each was multiplied by five. In other words, she was offered 5,500 pieces of silver from the five rulers.

Samson, however, would have his final hurrah after his hair was cut. With his hair partially grown back, the 16th chapter of Judges states he used his remaining strength to get revenge against the Philistines who had taken him captive. While the Philistine rulers were offering "a great sacrifice" to Dagon their god, it was decided to bring out Samson for "entertainment" purposes. A crucial mistake was made when Samson was placed by the pillars that supported the temple.

Judges 16:30 states: "Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines!' Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived."

According to Wikipedia, Delilah means "One who weakened or uprooted or impoverished."

Answer: Yes

Yes. It's true. The head-turning information is contained in Deuteronomy 21:10-14 which sets out the the rules for the Israelites for the treatment of captive women.

Here's how the passage reads in the NKJV: "When you go out to war against your enemies, and the LORD your God delivers them into your hand, and you take them captive, and you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and desire her and would take her for your wife, then you shall bring her home to your house, and she shall shave her head and trim her nails. She shall put off the clothes of her captivity, remain in your house, and mourn her father and her mother a full month; after that you may go in to her and be her husband, and she shall be your wife. And it shall be, if you have no delight in her, then you shall set her free, but you certainly shall not sell her for money; you shall not treat her brutally, because you have humbled her."

Answer: Nehemiah

Nehemiah is the correct answer. In Nehemiah 13:25-27, in the NKJV, the leader of the Israelites gives an explanation for his conduct: "So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, 'You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?'"

Not much is known about the personal life of Nehemiah, apart from the fact he had a brother called Hanani and their father was Hacaliah, as per Nehemiah 1:1-2. Facing gigantic odds, Nehemiah successfully rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. In Biblical times, walls around cities were a common feature as they were used to keep occupants safe from intruders.

Answer: Ezekiel

The correct answer is Ezekiel. In addition to scattering one-third of his hair into the wind, Scripture states Ezekiel was also told to burn one-third of the hair he removed from his hair and face and to strike a sword around the remaining one-third.

Here's how Ezekiel 5:1-4 reads in the NKJV: "And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber's razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire, and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel."

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible have this to say about the highly unusual passage: "Shaving the head was an act showing shame or disgrace in Hebrew culture. ....This message was telling the people that they were about to be humiliated and defiled."

The notes go on to state: "Each citizen of Jerusalem would suffer one of the three fates depicted by each of the three mounds of the equally measured shorn hair: 1) Some would be burned along with the city or would die from plague, famine or other siege conditions; 2) some would be murdered by the sword during the attack; 3) and some would be scattered in the wind -- referring to the Exile."

Answer: The Levites

The Levites received such instructions. Numbers 8:5-26 is basically all about the cleansing and the dedication of the Levites in their service for the LORD.

Numbers 8:5-7, in the NKJV, states: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Take the Levites from among the children of Israel and cleanse them ceremonially. Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purification on them, and let them shave all their body, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean."

Answer: Absalom

Yes, Absalom, the son of David and Maacah, is the one who died such an unusual death. In a nutshell, Absalom was attempting to overthrow his father as king when a heated battle erupted between forces loyal to the two men. According to 2 Samuel 18, 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: Yes

Yes, it's true. After being informed about the deaths of his children, Job 1:20-21 states: "Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
'Naked I came from my mother's womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.'"

According to Job 1:2, Job was the father of seven sons and three daughters. No names are given, however.

According to verses 18-19, his children were eating and drinking at their oldest brother's house when "suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people," killing all of them.

In addition to losing his children and a number of servants, Scripture states Job lost his immense wealth which was the result of ownership in large herds of livestock.

The book ends with Job's fortunes changing dramatically for the better. Job 42:12-13, in the NKJV, states: "Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters."

Answer: Paul

Acts 18:18 tells of Paul sailing for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila, but before he departed he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible sums up things this way: "Paul had his hair cut off as part of a Nazrite vow he had made (see Numbers 6). Such a vow had to be fulfilled in Jerusalem, where the hair would be presented to God. Vows were made in either gratitude for God's blessing (like Paul's safekeeping in Corinth) or as part of a petition for future blessing. The vow involved abstinence from drinking wine and a commitment not to cut one's hair for a period of time. At the end of this set period, the hair was cut and then burned along with other sacrifices as a symbol of offering oneself to God. Paul redirected his entire travel schedule because he wanted to get to Jerusalem in time to make this vow."

Answer: Paul

Paul once again is the correct answer. The identities of the four other men are not given in Scripture.

Acts 21:23-26, in the NKJV, tells of the church council giving instructions to Paul: "Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law."

The previous verses tell of Paul appearing before the council and telling the members about the growing number of Gentiles who were becoming believers in a resurrected Jesus Christ.

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible suggest Paul followed the advice of the council for the sake of showing his Jewish brethren that he had not forsaken the laws of Moses. "Reputation was an issue for Paul as it was for all believers," the notes state.

The notes go on to state: "Reports were circulating that Paul had been urging the Jews to abandon Mosaic traditions. However, Paul never derided his Jewish heritage. He only made it clear to everyone that the law could not function as a means of Salvation.... What Paul did resist was any attempt to force Gentiles to become Jews. Salvation was through faith alone."