Match These Old Testament Characters -- #7 Quiz

Answer: Deposed Vashti

King Ahasuerus (known as King Xerxes in the NIV) is the one who deposed Queen Vashti and replaced her with Esther. Vashti fell out of favor very quickly after she spurned the king's request to put on her crown and appear before a gathering of people and nobles so they could see her immense beauty. According to Esther 1:1, Ahasuerus ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush.

The dumping of Vashti took place during the third year of his reign, as per Esther 1:3. It would put things in motion for Esther to become queen and play a pivotal role in preventing the extermination of Jews in the immense area ruled by Ahasuerus.

Answer: Addressed by donkey

According to Scripture, Balaam was addressed by a donkey. Scripture states that after the donkey spoke, Balaam saw an angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. Prior to the donkey speaking, Balaam had beaten the donkey for disobedience as the animal refused to proceed when it saw the angel. Balaam, at the time, did not see the angel and took his anger out on the helpless donkey. In fact, Scripture states he struck the animal three times.

Numbers 22:28-31 in the NKJV tells of the exchange between Balaam and the donkey:

"Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, 'What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?'

"And Balaam said to the donkey, 'Because you have abused me. I wish there were a sword in my hand, for now I would kill you!'

"So the donkey said to Balaam, 'Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?'

"And he said, 'No.'

"Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the Angel of the LORD standing in the way with His drawn sword in His hand; and he bowed his head and fell flat on his face."

Answer: King of Persia

Cyrus was king of Persia. In the 36th chapter of 2 Chronicles, it states Cyrus' heart was moved by the LORD to allow the Israelites taken into exile to return to Jerusalem to build a temple. Verse 23 in the NKJV Bible states Cyrus credited "the LORD, the God of heaven" for giving him "all the kingdoms of the earth." Cyrus goes on to state the LORD had "commanded" him to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem in Judah.

The empire of King Cyrus stretched from India in the east to Turkey in the west, according to information from various Websites. Cyrus' name is mentioned nineteen times in the Old Testament of the NKJV Bible, showing he played a key role in the scheme of things.

Answer: Naomi's daughter-in-law

Orpah was a daughter-in-law of Naomi and a sister-in-law of Ruth. Orpah and Ruth had been married to Naomi's sons, Mahlon and Chilion. (In the NKJV, the second son is known as Chilion, but in the NIV he's known as Kilion.) However, the two sons died about ten years after their marriages and their mother Naomi was a widow as her husband Elimelek had died. (Ruth 1:1-5) Orpah opted to return home to her homeland but Ruth proved to be extremely loyal to Naomi even though Naomi suggested it would be best for Ruth to leave her and go to her homeland as well. Ruth 1:16-17, in the NIV Bible, states: "But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.'"

Answer: Defiled by Shechem

Dinah, according to Scripture, was defiled by Shechem. She was the lone daughter of Jacob and Leah. After she was defiled, a bloody massacre took place with Dinah's brothers killing every male in Shechem's hometown. Every woman and child was taken captive and every house plundered, Scripture states.

The massacre took place after Dinah's brothers convinced the males in Shechem's city they should circumcise themselves. Genesis 34:25, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Now it came to pass on the third day, when they were in pain, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, each took his sword and came boldly upon the city and killed all the males."

Answer: Mother of Joseph

Rachel was the mother of Joseph. She and her sister Leah were both married to Jacob. However, Rachel was largely depressed during her marriage because she couldn't conceive a child while Leah was bearing children. According to Scripture, things changed for Rachel later in her life. Genesis 30:22-24, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived and bore a son, and said, 'God has taken away my reproach.' So she called his name Joseph, and said, 'The LORD shall add to me another son.'"

Later she would die giving birth to Benjamin.

Answer: Son of Noah

Ham was one of three sons of Noah, according to Scripture. One of the more bizarre stories in the Bible involves Ham seeing his father Noah sleeping naked after Noah had become intoxicated with wine. According to Genesis 9:22-23, Ham told his brothers Shem and Japheth about their father's nakedness and they responded by going into his tent backwards and covering his body. Genesis 9:24-27, in the NIV Bible, states: "When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said, 'Cursed be Canaan! the lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.' He also said, 'Praise be to the LORD, the God of Shem! May Canaan be the slave of Shem. May God extend Japheth's territory; may Japheth live in the tents of Shem, and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.'"

Answer: Moses' older brother

Aaron, according to Scripture, was the older brother of Moses. The two brothers formed a dynamic duo and Scripture reports they were used by the LORD to lead the Isrealites out of Egypt. They were also assisted by their sister Miriam. According to Exodus 7:7, Aaron was 83 and Moses was 80 when they requested permission from the Pharaoh to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.

After ten vicious plagues -- everything from the Nile River turning into blood to the deaths of the country's firstborn -- the brothers finally received the Pharaoh's permission to leave Egypt and to head to the Promised Land.

Answer: Fleece of wool

Gideon was a judge of Israel and his story appears in chapters 6 through 8 in Judges. When the LORD told Gideon he would be used to save the people of Israel, Scripture indicates he was filled with doubt. So to make sure what he had been told to him was true, Gideon told the LORD to confirm the fact by giving him a sign. To this end, Gideon announced he would put a wool fleece on the threshing floor and if there was dew only on the fleece and all the ground was dry, he would know that he would indeed be able to save the people of Israel. Scripture reports Gideon rose early the next day and he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew -- a bowlful of water.

But this wasn't enough for him. Much like a doubting Thomas, he demanded yet another sign.

Then Gideon said he would conduct one more test with the fleece, "but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew." Scripture reports Gideon found the fleece was dry and all the ground was covered with dew.

Answer: Cured of leprosy

Naaman's story is found in the 5th chapter of 2 Kings. After coming down with leprosy, Naaman followed the advice of a Jewish slave girl who served his wife. In 2 Kings 5:23, she told him to see the "prophet in Samaria." The end result is this: Elisha the prophet told Naaman to bathe himself seven times in the Jordan River.

Afterward, he was cleansed of the dread disease. 2 Kings 5:15, in the NIV Bible, states: "Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'" Elisha, however, refused to accept any gift.