A Quick Look: Old Testament People & Their Towns Quiz

Answer: Bethlehem

David was from Bethlehem, known as the City of David. 1 Samuel 17:12 in the NKJV states: "Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse, and who had eight sons. And the man was old, advanced in years, in the days of Saul."

Christians believe Old Testament prophecy tells of the Messiah being born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2, for example, in the NKJV, states:
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel
Whose goings forth are from of old
From everlasting."

Luke 2:4 tells of Joseph and Mary traveling from Nazareth to "the City of David" to take part in the census. Shortly after their arrival, Mary gave birth to Jesus, Scripture states.

Luke 2:8-14 tells of angels proclaiming the birth of Christ to shepherds who were tending their flocks: "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.'

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
'Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!'"

It must be noted that in a number of different places in the Old Testament, Jerusalem is also referred to as the City of David.

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: Jericho

Rahab, the famous prostitute of the Old Testament, was from Jericho. According to Scripture, she hid two Israelite spies who were sent by Moses to scout the land in and around Jericho previous to battle. As a reward, Joshua and the Israelites who invaded Jericho agreed to spare the life of Rahab, as well as her parents, bothers and sisters. (See second and sixth chapters of Joshua.)

Rahab's name also appears in the genealogy of Christ, as per Matthew 1:5. In Hebrews 11:31 she is commended for her faith.

Answer: Jerusalem

Solomon's father was King David who ruled over Israel from Jerusalem. And when Solomon became king, he ruled over the nation from the same city. It is in Jerusalem, Solomon built a temple of the LORD.

Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8 of 1 Kings tells of details involved in the construction of the temple as well as the gala dedication ceremony that marked its completion.

Solomon's mother was Bathsheba.

Answer: Mountains of Ephraim

Deborah was the dynamic woman who served as judge over Israel. According to Judges 4:5, Deborah rendered her judgments while sitting under a palm tree "between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim."

In addition to being a judge, Deborah is described as a prophetess, as per Judges 4:4.

Her husband was Lapidoth (known as Lappidoth in the NIV Bible), but little is known about him. It seems the only reason his name appears in Scripture is the fact he was the husband of Deborah.

Answer: Nahor, Mesopotamia

Rebekah was born in Nahor, Mesopotamia and lived there until she became the bride of Isaac. (In the NIV, it states she was from Nahor in Aram Naharaim.)

Rebekah and Isaac were the parents of twin boys -- Esau and Jacob. She was the brother of Laban, as per Genesis 24:29. Later, Laban's daughters Rachel and Leah would end up being the wives of Jacob.

Answer: Abel Meholah

According to 1 Kings 19:16, Elisha was from Abel Meholah and was the son of Shaphat.

Abel Meholah is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament. According to Wikipedia, it was near the Jordan River, south of Bethshean.

In 1 Kings 19:19, Elisha was plowing a field with twelve oxen when Elijah, his mentor, first spotted him. The fact Elisha was with twelve oxen gives credence to the view he came from a wealthy family.

Answer: Carmel

Nabal and his wife were from Carmal, according to Scripture.

1 Samuel 25:2-3 in the NKJV explains things this way about the couple: "Now there was a man in Maon whose business was in Carmel, and the man was very rich. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. And he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. The name of the man was Nabal, and the name of his wife Abigail. And she was a woman of good understanding and beautiful appearance; but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb."

Scripture goes on to tell of the death of Nabal, and David taking Abigail as his wife.

Answer: Shamir

Tola, according to Scripture, was from Shamir, in the mountains of Ephraim.

He was the seventh judge of Israel, replacing Ambimelech. After Tola's death, Jair became judge.

Tola was the son of Puah and grandsone of Dodo.

Judges 10:1 in the NKJV states: "After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim."

Answer: Zarepjath

No name is given for the widow or for her son. According to 1 Kings 17:8-24, she lived in Zarephath, a town which the LORD instructed Elijah to go to. The widow had a son who died, only to be raised from the dead by Elijah. Scripture tells of Elijah miraculously providing food for the widow and her child. After the account in the 17th Chapter of 1 Kings, there is no further mention of the widow in the Old Testament.

However, in Luke 4:26, Jesus makes passing reference of Elijah being sent to Zarephath to assist the widow.