An 'Alex Trebek' Old Testament Quiz -- #4

Answer: Who is Jochebed?

Jochebed was the wife of Amram and the mother of Moses, Aaron and Miriam, as per Numbers 26:59. Moses, Aaron and Miriam would all play a pivotal role in leading the Israelites on a forty-year-long journey from Egypt to Canaan, known as the Promised Land. Little is known about Jochebed as she is largely mentioned in passing reference.

Answer: Who is Barzillai?

While David was on the run during a bloody coup attempt, Barzillai, an 80-year-old Gileadite, became a good friend and a key ally. Absalom, David's rebellious son, was holding the upper hand during the coup attempt and David had no choice but to flee with his supporters to Mahanaim. 2 Samuel 17:27-29 tells of Barzillai giving David and his supporters a large amount of essential items, everything from beds and basins to barley and flour. Shobi and Ammon, two other friends of Barzillai, were also generous donators to David's cause.

Later, Absalom would be killed in battle by Joab and the civil war would come to an abrupt end, with David reigning once again as the undisputed king.

Answer: Who is Esau?

According to Genesis 25:24-26, Esau was red and "like a hairy garment all over" when he was born. As a result, he was named Esau by his parents Isaac and Rebekah. According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Esau means hairy. Afterward, Rebekah would give birth to Jacob, with Scripture stating he took hold of Esau's heel. The name Jacob translates as one who takes the heel, as per the NKJV Study notes.

Esau and Jacob are the first set of documented twins in Scripture.

Answer: Who is Boaz?

Boaz, the husband of Ruth, was the great grandfather of David, the famous king of Israel. Ruth 4:21-22 tells of Boaz and Ruth being the parents of Obed and Obed being the father of Jesse. David was the son of Jesse. In other words, Boaz was David's great grandfather and Obed was his grandfather. Boaz was a wealthy Jewish landowner while Ruth was a Gentile woman who was a widow before she married Boaz.

Answer: Who is Jemimah?

According to Job 42:13-15, Job had three daughters later in life with Jemimah being the oldest. The two other daughters were Kenziah and Keren-Happuch, the youngest. Verse 15 in the NKJV states: "In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers."

Originally, Job had seven sons and three daughters but they were killed when a windstorm toppled the house they were in. No names are given for the ten children. On top of this, Job ended up in poor health and lost his immense wealth, but he refused to point an accusing finger at God. Scripture tells of God blessing Job immensely in his later years, with him becoming the father once again of seven sons and three daughters and enjoying good health. On top of this, he ended up with twice as much wealth as before.

Answer: Who is Japheth?

Japheth was the youngest son of Noah as per Genesis 5:32. In addition to Japheth, Noah had two other sons -- Shem and Ham. Genesis 10:2 states Japheth was the father of seven sons. They were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Answer: What is Exodus?

Exodus is one of five books that are part of the Pentateuch. In addition to Exodus, the books of the Pentateuch are Genesis, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. In other words, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament of the Christian Bible form the Pentateuch. Tradition holds the books were written by Moses but some modern day scholars dispute this belief.

Answer: Who is Zeresh?

Zeresh was the wife of Haman, the highly vindictive man who wanted to kill all the Jews in the Persian empire ruled at the time by King Ahasueres. Zeresh, it seems, was an excellent match for Haman as she was just as evil. Esther 5:9-14 tells of Zeresh advising her husband to construct a gallows seventy-five feet high on which to hang his Jewish adversary Mordecai. It seems Zeresh wanted the gallows to be extremely high so Haman's body could be seen from far and wide.

However, the plan would backfire, with Haman ended up being hanged on the very gallows he had constructed for the purpose of killing Mordecai.

(In the NIV, Ahasueres is known as Xerxes.)

Answer: Who is Reuel?

Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, was also known as Reuel, as per Exodus 2:18. In other references, he is known as Jethro. Moses and Zipporah were the parents of two sons, Gershom and Eliezer. Jethro/Reuel, the priest of Midian, was the father of seven daughters, including Zipporah, Moses's wife.

Answer: Who is Zipporah?

Zipporah was the daughter of Jethro and the wife of Moses. While Moses is front and centre in the Old Testament, little in the way of details are provided about Zipporah. According to Scripture she had six sisters, but they are not named. Moses and Zipporah were the parents of two sons, Gershom and Eliezer.