A Look at Suicide in the Bible Quiz

Answer: Rebekah

The correct answer is Rebekah, the mother of Jacob and Esau.

There's no mistaking the fact Rebekah was depressed after Esau married women she did not like. According to Genesis 26:34, Esau married two Hittite women, Judith and Basemath, when he was 40 years old. Verse 35 goes on to state the women were a "source of grief" to Isaac and Rebekah, but no details are given.

Answer: Rachel

Rachel was highly distraught over the fact she was unable to conceive while her sister Leah, who was also married to her husband Jacob, bore a number of children. She didn't commit suicide, but it's apparent she was deeply depressed. Genesis 30:1, in the NIV Bible, states: "When Rachel saw that she was not bearing Jacob any children, she became jealous of her sister. So she said to Jacob, 'Give me children, or I'll die'!"

Later, Rachel would be able to conceive due to divine intervention, according to Genesis 30:22. She gave birth to two boys, Joseph and Benjamin. However, she died giving birth to Benjamin, as per Genesis 35:18. In other words, her statement 'give me children, or I'll die' became prophetic.

Answer: Ahithophel

The correct answer is Ahithophel. He was a traitor in David's camp, even though his son was Eliam, one of the mighty warriors in David's army. Ahithophel threw his support behind Absalom in his quest to dethrone David as king. It appears Ahithopel was more of a hindrance than a help for Absalom, however. According to 2 Samuel 15:31, when David learned Ahithophel had joined Absalom's camp, David prayed the "LORD would turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness". Ahithophel's advice would prove to be useless and after Absalom stopped listening to him, Scripture reports Ahithophel committed suicide. 2 Samuel 17:23, in the NIV Bible, states: "When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown.

He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb."

Answer: Abimelek

Abimelek was one of the most wicked men in the Bible. In fact, according to Judges 9:56, he even killed 70 of his brothers as part of his insatiable desire for power. Scripture states Ambimelek's downfall happened when he went to Thebez and attempted to overtake a tower in which a number of men and women had taken refuge. Abimelek decided to set the tower on fire and while he was approaching the structure, Scripture states an unnamed woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull. Judges 9:54-55 states Abimelek requested that his armor-bearer draw his sword and kill him so that no one could claim he was killed by a woman.

The servant obliged and Abimelek, who had ruled Israel for three years, died on the battlefield. According to Judges 9:24, his death was divine retribution.

Answer: Samson

The story of Samson is one of the most colorful ones in the Old Testament. According to Scripture, his long hair was the secret to his strength and when his locks were cut by Delilah, he lost his power. However, with his hair partially grown back, Samson had his final hurrah in the 16th chapter of Judges as 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 in the NIV Bible 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."

Answer: Zimri

Zimri is the correct answer. According to 1 Kings 16:15, Zimri reigned for seven turbulent days. In his quest for power, he killed Elah, the reigning king, as well as his entire family and his friends. (1 Kings 16:10-11)

1 Kings 16:16-18 in the NIV Bible has this to say about his downfall and his eventual suicide: "When the Israelites in the camp heard that Zimri had plotted against the king and murdered him, they proclaimed Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel that very day there in the camp. Then Omri and all the Israelites with him withdrew from Gibbethon and laid siege to Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the citadel of the royal palace and set the palace on fire around him. So he died."

Answer: Saul

Saul was the first king of Israel and although his reign started smoothly, it ended in chaos with much time devoted to trying to kill David. This, even though David basically wanted to live in peace with Saul! According to the 31st chapter of 1 Samuel, Saul was critically injured in battle with the Philistines and pleaded with his armor bearer to kill him with a sword. 1 Samuel 31:4, in the NIV Bible, states: "But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it." Just prior to this incident, Saul's three sons -- Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua -- were killed in battle.

Answer: Yes

Yes, King Saul's armor bearer also committed suicide. According to 1 Samuel 31:4, the king had asked the armor bearer to kill him. However, when the armor bearer refused to take such action, Scripture states King Saul "took his own sword and fell on it."

Verse 5 goes to to state: "When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him."

Answer: Yes

True, according to details in the eighth chapter of John, some of the people apparently thought Jesus was talking about suicide.

John 8:21-22, in the NKJV, states: "Then Jesus said to them again, 'I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.' So the Jews said, 'Will He kill Himself, because He says, 'Where I go you cannot come'?"

Notes in the NKJV Study Bible state Jewish belief at the time placed suicide on the same level as murder.

Verses 23-30 help put the statement by Jesus in context: "And He said to them, 'You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.' Then they said to Him, 'Who are You?' And Jesus said to them, 'Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.' They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. Then Jesus said to them, 'When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.' As He spoke these words, many believed in Him."

Answer: Judas

Judas, also known as Judas Iscariot, is the correct answer. His death is perhaps the best-known suicide in the Bible. According to Matthew 26:15, Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. After betraying Christ, Scripture states Judas was seized with remorse and hanged himself. His suicide is reported in Matthew 27:1-5.