BBB Bible Series: 1 Samuel Trivia Quiz

Answer: Endor

The Israelites were about to go to war against the Philistines. King Saul wanted to know the outcome, so he consulted a medium who lived in Endor. She called up Samuel's spirit, who informed Saul that he and his sons would die in battle the very next day. You can find this in 1 Samuel 28:7 (NIV).

Answer: Merab

Saul promised to give David his daughter Merab in marriage if David would serve him in fighting the battles of the Lord. Saul was hoping that David would be killed by the Philistines, but when the time came for Merab to be given to David in marriage, she was given to Adriel of Meholah instead. (1 Samuel 18:17-19, NIV.)

Answer: His parents

"David went to Mizpah in Moab and said to the king of Moab, 'Would you let my father and mother come and stay with you until I learn what God will do for me?' So he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him as long as David was in the stronghold." - 1 Samuel 22:3-4 (NIV).

Answer: Abner

Abner was the commander of Saul's army but after the death of Saul, Ish-Bosheth (Saul's son) made an accusation against Abner, so Abner went over to Davids army. Later, David's army commander Joab murdered Abner. (1 Samuel 14:50, NIV.)

Answer: Doeg

Doeg was the snitch who told King Saul that David had been to see Ahimelech at Nob, and Ahimelech had assisted David in giving him food and weapons. 1 Samuel 22:18 of the New International Version tells us, "The king then ordered Doeg, 'You turn and strike down the priests.' So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck them down. That day he killed eighty five men who wore the linen ephod."

Answer: Engedi

When King Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines he was told that David and his men were at Engedi, so he chose three thousand men and set out after him. He came to the cave at Engedi where David was hiding and went into the entrance to relieve himself. 1 Samuel 24:4 (NIV) tells us, "Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul's robe." This was done to prove to Saul that David was not after his life.

Answer: Ahinoam

1 Samuel 14:50-51 of the New International Version give us Saul's genealogy. "Saul's sons were Jonathan, Ishui and Malki-Shua. The name of his older daughter was Merab, and that of the younger was Michal; and the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam..." There's not much mentioned of Ahinoam in the Bible, but she must have had the patience of a saint!

Answer: Nabal

While David and his men camped in Nabal's field they watched over Nabal's sheep, making sure that nothing happened to them. When they sent messengers to Nabal asking that he send supplies, Nabal refused. However, his wife Abigail took food out to David and his men, thus preventing David from executing a bloody revenge. You can find the full account of this in 1 Samuel 25:2-3 (NIV)

Answer: The Amalekites

God commanded Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites but he failed to do so by keeping Agag, the Amalekite, king alive. He also spared "The best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs-everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed." (1 Samuel 15:7-9, NIV.)

Answer: Seven months

When the Philistines defeated the Israelites at Ebenezer, they slaughtered thirty thousand soldiers and captured the ark of the Lord, and put it into the temple of their God, Dagon. Therefore God devastated the Philistines with tumours. When the ark of the Lord had been with them for seven months, they plotted with their priests and diviners about how to get it back to the Israelites.

The full account can be found in 1 Samuel 6:1 (NIV).