Cases of Brother Against Brother Quiz

Answer: Cain

According to Scripture, Cain killed his brother Abel out of a severe case of anger and jealousy, as Abel's offerings were more pleasing to the LORD. The two brothers were both sons of Adam and Eve. After Abel's death, Genesis 4:25 reports Eve gave birth to another son, Seth.

Scripture states Cain was a tiller of the ground and Abel was a keeper of sheep. Details about Cain killing Abel can be found in Genesis 4:1-15. The same chapter goes on to tell of another murder. The second murder involved Lamech. However, the name of the murder victim is not given. Details about the second murder can be found in Genesis 4:19-24.

In other words, the world's first two murders are documented in the same chapter of Genesis.

Answer: Esau

Esau was so livid with his slightly younger twin brother Jacob that he had even planned to kill him, as per Genesis 27:41. Esau's furor erupted after Jacob tricked their father Isaac into blessing him over Esau, as per Chapter 27 of Genesis. The chapter concludes with Rebekah learning of Esau's plans to kill Jacob and advising him to flee to his uncle Laban in Haran, a city in Padan Aram, also known as Mesopotamia. A number of years later, Esau and Jacob would meet up again and the two would put their hostilities aside.

According to Scripture, Isaac favored Esau and Rebekah favored Jacob.

Answer: Aaron

When Moses came back down from Mount Sinai after meeting with God, he was infuriated to see the children of Israel dancing around a gold calf created by his brother Aaron. Exodus 32:20 in the NKJV states Moses was so furious he "took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder; and he scattered it on the water and made the children of Israel drink it."

There is no mention in Scripture of the conversation Moses had with Aaron but one can only imagine.

Answer: Abimelech

Abimelech, the son of Gideon and his father's unnamed concubine, is the correct answer. Details about Abimelech killing his seventy brothers can be found in Judges 9:1-6. (In the passage, Gideon is referred to as Jerubbaal, an alternate name for him in Scripture.)

Scripture states Abimelech "hired worthless and reckless men" and they killed the men on one stone, with only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon/Jerubbaal surviving "because he hid himself".

Answer: Joseph

Joseph, the son of Jacob and Rachel, was sold into slavery by his brothers. In a nutshell, they were highly jealous of Joseph and even discussed plans to kill him. Scripture tells of Joseph being sold to a group of Midianite traders who took him to Egypt where he was sold into slavery.

He would end up being falsely accused of attempted rape and tossed into a prison and then miraculously end up becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt. Only the Pharaoh would have more power than Joseph.

Answer: Eliab

David is well known for being the young shepherd boy who slayed Goliath in a decisive battle for the Israelites. However, 1 Samuel 28 states David's brother Eliab despised him and was convinced David wouldn't stand a chance in battle against a normal man, let alone Goliath. The verse, in the NKJV, tells of Eliab chastising David, stating: "'Why have you come down here? And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is; you came down only to watch the battle'."

There is no indication in Scripture of Eliab's emotions after David's spectacular victory over Goliath.

Answer: Adonijah

Adonijah might have been Solomon's half brother, but it didn't make any difference when he stated he wanted to marry Abishag as Solomon responded by ordering his execution.

Adonijah had unsuccessfully attempted to become king when David was elderly and frail and when Solomon became king, he spared Adonijah's life. However, when Adonijah sought permission from Solomon to marry Abishag, a beautiful young maiden who had been assigned to take care of David in his latter years, Solomon took decisive action. And Adonijah ended up paying with his life. See 1 Kings 2:13-25 for details.

Adonijah's request to marry Abishag came with serious ramifications, state notes in the NKJV Study Bible.. "Taking a member of the king's harem would normally be interpreted as a claim to the throne," the notes state.

According to Scripture, Solomon was the son of Bathsheba and Adonijah was the son of Haggith. Their father was David, of course.

Answer: Absalom

2 Samuel 13:12-23 provides an account of Absalom killing his half brother Amnon. According to Scripture, Amnon, the son of David and Ahinoam, raped Absalom's full sister, Tamar. (David and Maacah were the parents of Absalom and Tamar.)

The account of Amnon raping Tamar appears in 2 Samuel 13:1-18. Scripture states Amnon pretended to be sick in bed when he orchestrated things so Tamar would serve him food. While Tamar was serving Amnon, he forced himself upon her.

Answer: Brother of the Prodigal Son

The correct answer is the brother of the Prodigal Son. The parable of Jesus tells of the man learning of the return of his younger brother and complaining to his father about a gala feast being held to welcome his brother home. In Luke 15:29, the younger brother complains, "these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends."

His father pacified him by saying, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

According to Scripture, the Prodigal Son moved to a foreign land and squandered his money on a wild lifestyle. When he became destitute, he opted to return home, thinking he would be better off serving as a hired hand for his father than suffering in severe poverty. However, his father welcomed him home with open arms, this even though his brother was not impressed at all with the situation.

Answer: John

According to John 7:5, the brothers of Jesus did not believe in Him. There is no mention in any other Gospel of such being the case. Going by Matthew 13:55, Jesus had four brothers -- James, Joses, Simon and Judas.

It must be stressed others interpret Matthew 13:55 differently. They believe Jesus did not have brothers or sisters and state the word 'adelphos' does not necessarily mean 'brother' as we use the word in English. Instead, they see the word as being similar to 'brethren' or 'comrade'.