Biblical Deaths -- How Deadly Accurate Are You? Quiz

Answer: Rachel

Rachel is the correct answer. She and her sister Leah were both married to Jacob. Their father was Laban. Rachel was unable to bear children for a number of years but God heard her pleas and enabled her to conceive, as per Genesis 30:22. Sometime later, she gave birth to Benjamin but died during childbirth, according to Genesis 35:17-18. According to verse 19, Rachel was buried on the way to Bethlehem.

Answer: Joseph

Joseph made arrangements to have his bones carried up out of Egypt, as per Genesis 50:25. Scripture states he was 110 years old when he died. According to Genesis 50:26, Joseph's body was embalmed after he died and he was placed in a coffin. Joshua 24:32 states "Joseph's bones, which the Israelites had brought up from Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the tract of land that Jacob bought for a hundred pieces of silver from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem."

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 31:5-6, 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.

When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him." Just prior to this incident, Saul's three sons -- Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua -- were killed in battle.

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: Jezebel

Jezebel has earned a reputation as the most evil woman in the Bible. According to Scripture, Jezebel was instrumental in the persecution of the prophets of God and encouraged the people to worship false gods. Her husband was Ahab, the king. The death of Jezebel is recorded in 2 Kings 9:30-37. Scripture states that after she painted her eyes, Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, saw her peering down from a balcony.

He commanded her aides to throw her down and it appears they were only too happy to oblige. 2 Kings 9:33, in the NIV Bible, states: "So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot."

Answer: Elijah

Elijah's sudden departure is recorded in 2 Kings 2:11-13, while he was walking along with the prophet Elisha. The NIV Bible records Elijah being taken up to heaven in this way: "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, 'My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!' And Elisha saw him no more.

Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart." Elijah is well known for many things, but perhaps the best known story involving him is his duel with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, as recorded in the 18th chapter of 1 Kings.

Answer: Stephen

Stephen is the correct answer. Acts 7:59-60, in the NIV Bible, states "while they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.' Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep." The statement "do not hold this sin against them" echoes closely what Jesus said when he was being crucified. Luke 23:34 quotes Jesus as saying "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."

Answer: Judas

Judas, also known as Judas Iscariot, is the correct answer. Scripture reports he was paid 30 pieces of silver to betray Jesus. However, after receiving his money, Judas was overcome with tremendous guilt and returned the money and then hanged himself. (Matthew 27:1-10)

Answer: James

James was the first of the Twelve Disciples to die. In fact, he is the only disciple to have his death reported in Scripture. James was the brother of John and the son of Zebedee. Many theologians believe his mother's name was Salome. Notes in the NIV Study Bible state James was put to death about 10 years after Jesus' death and resurrection. NIV notes also state the term 'put to death with the sword' means to be beheaded, the same fate as that of John the Baptist.

In Matthew 20:23, Jesus warned his disciples of their coming suffering, the notes also state.

Answer: Eutychus

Eutychus is the one to die the unusual death. There's a happy ending to the story, however. According to Acts 20:9-12, Paul was able to raise Eutychus from the dead. The unusual event took place in Troas. According to the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible, Troas was a city 10 miles southwest of the ancient city of Troy in what is now present day Turkey.

The ruins of Troas are known today as Eski Stamboul.