King David's Friends and Family Quiz

Answer: Abigail and Zeruiah

David had two sisters (Zeruiah and Abigail), as is recorded in I Chronicles 2:16. The Bible does not have much to say about them, but David later complained that Zeruiah's sons were "too hard" for him! Note: this Abigail was not the same one as the wife of Nabal, whom David later married and who had the same name.

Answer: Eliab

David's oldest brother Eliab was the one who rebuked David, accusing him of simply coming to see the battle (I Samuel 17:28). This same brother later came to help David when he fled from Saul, so there must not have been too many hard feelings.

Answer: Jonadab

Jonadab is famous for having convinced David's son Amnon to rape David's daughter Tamar. He also knew that Absalom, Tamar's full brother, was going to murder Amnon at a party, but he said nothing about it till the king's sons came fleeing to Jerusalom. Then he reassured King David that "only Amnon" had died! (See II Samuel 13 for the whole story.)

Answer: Nathan and Solomon

Both Nathan and Solomon were sons of Bathsheba, whom David had an affair with and then later married. The Bible does not say, but perhaps Nathan was named after the prophet Nathan who confronted David about his sin. See Matthew 1 and Luke 3 for the genealogies of Christ.

Answer: Zarah

Zarah was the twin brother of David's ancestor Pharez (Genesis 38; Ruth 4:18-22). The midwife had thought Zarah would be born first and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, but Pharez was born first--hence his name Pharez, which means "breaking forth."

Answer: Moab

David went and spoke to the king of Moab to ensure the safekeeping of his mother and father in I Samuel 22:3. David's ancestor Ruth was from Moab as well (see the book of Ruth).

Answer: Michal, King Saul's daughter

King Saul had originally offered his oldest daughter to David in marriage, but his youngest daughter Michal was in love with David (I Samuel 18:19-20), and the servants told King Saul about it. Saul offered her to David in hopes that the Philistines would kill David in battle before the marriage could take place (I Samuel 18:25).

When David came back alive, however, Saul honored his promise, and Michal married David (I Samuel 18:27).

Answer: Amnon, who raped Tamar

Amnon was actually David's firstborn (II Samuel 3:2), but he was murdered by his brother Absalom (II Samuel 13). Solomon was promised the kingdom by his father David, though he was actually one of David's younger sons (I Kings 1).

Answer: He was the heir to the throne after his father King Saul

Jonathan the son of Saul loved David and accepted the fact that David would be king after Saul instead of him (I Samuel 18:1-4). He helped protect David from King Saul as did his sister Michal (I Samuel 19). Prince Jonathan died alongside his father and brothers in a battle against the Philistines, and David deeply mourned his death (II Samuel 1).

Answer: Abner

Abner was King Saul's commander (I Samuel 14:50). He later joined David after Saul's death and a falling out with Saul's son, but Joab killed him against David's wishes (II Samuel 3). Joab and Abishai were the sons of David's sister Zeruiah, and Amasa was the son of David's sister Abigail.