Nine out of Ten: General Bible Trivia -- #2 Quiz

Answer: Shaphat

Shaphat is the correct answer. However, not much is known about him as he is mentioned in passing reference. 1 Kings 19:16 states he was from Abel Meholah. The Website Presciousseed.org states Shaphat means 'judge'. The same Website states Elisha means 'my God is salvation', indicating Shaphat was loyal to God and did not worship Baal like many of the Israelites during the reign of King Ahab.

Answer: Historian

Over the years, Luke has won praise for his historical accounts in the book of Acts.

For example, Wikipedia quotes archaeologist Sir William Ramsay as saying, "Luke is a historian of the first rank; not merely are his statements of fact trustworthy... [he] should be placed along with the very greatest of historians." Ramsay also praises Luke for his accurate description of towns, cities and islands, as well as correctly naming various official titles.

E.M. Blaiklock, professor of Classics at Auckland University, also has high praise for Luke. "For accuracy of detail, and for evocation of atmosphere, Luke stands, in fact, with Thucydides," Blaiklock is quoted as saying by Wikipedia. "The Acts of the Apostles is not a shoddy product of pious imagining, but a trustworthy record... it was the spadework of archaeology which first revealed the truth."

Scholars are also impressed by Luke's command on the language. In addition to Acts, he is also credited with writing the Gospel of Luke. The two books were written in Greek and contain tell-tale signs he was an educated man, various Websites report.

Answer: Interpreting dreams

Interpreting dreams, without question, was Joseph's special God-given talent.

It is well known Joseph interpreted dreams for the Pharaoh and for this reason he was released from prison and promoted to the second most powerful position in Egypt. However, before Joseph was released from prison, Scripture tells of him interpreting the dreams for two prisoners. According to Genesis 40, Joseph successfully interpreted the dreams for the Pharaoh's butler and baker, two men who were imprisoned with Joseph. (In the NIV, they are described as the cupbearer and the baker.)

The chief butler's dream is told in Genesis 40:9-11. Here's how he describes his dream in the NKJV: "'Behold, in my dream a vine was before me, and in the vine were three branches; it was as though it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. Then Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and placed the cup in Pharaoh's hand.'"

Meanwhile, Genesis 40:16-17, quotes the chief baker telling of his dream: "'I also was in my dream, and there were three white baskets on my head. In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.'"

Joseph told the chief butler his dream meant he would be set free by the Pharaoh within three days and the chief baker was told his dream meant be would be beheaded and his body impaled on a pole.

And sure enough, both events came to pass, according to Genesis 40:20-23.

Answer: Patmos

Revelation 1:9 states: "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus." What follows this verse is Scripture that has captivated and perplexed Christians for centuries. Patmos is in the Aegean Sea and is part of Greece.

Tradition holds that the writer of Revelation was John, one of the original Twelve Disciples. A number of modern day theologians, however, dispute that belief.

Answer: Wise

Abigail was "intelligent and beautiful" according to 1 Samuel 25:3 in the NIV Bible. (In the NKJV, she is described as being a woman of "good understanding and beautiful appearance.") The same passage, in the NIV, states her husband Nabal was "surly and mean".

Nabal would be later struck dead by the LORD, as per 1 Samuel 25:38. The chapter ends with Abigail becoming David's wife.

Answer: Rebekah

Rebekah is the correct answer. The account of her giving birth to twin boys (Esau and Jacob) is found in the 25th chapter of Genesis. According to Scripture, Esau became a skillful hunter while Jacob was content to stay at home among the tents.

According to Genesis 25:26, Isaac favored Esau while Rebekah favored Jacob.

Answer: Elimelech

Naomi's husband was Elimelech. However, not much is known about him as he is only mentioned in passing reference in Scripture. According to 1 Ruth, Elimelech died, leaving Naomi a widow. The two sons of Elimelech and Naomi also died, leaving Oraph and Ruth as widows as well. The sons were named Mahlon and Chilmion, according to Ruth 1:2. Scripture states Orpah opted to return to Moab, her homeland, while Ruth stayed with Naomi.

Ruth 4:13-21 states Ruth married Boaz and they became parents of Obed, who was the grandfather of King David.

Answer: Cana

It was at a wedding feast in Cana that Jesus turned water into wine. It was His first miracle according to the Gospel of John. The miracle was performed after the hosts of the feast ran out of wine.

Verses 7 and 8 in the second chapter of John tell of Jesus instructing people to fill a number of jars with water and then to draw some out and give a sample to the master of the banquet. After tasting the liquid, the master expresses surprise at how fine the wine is.

In Verse 10, the master compliments the bridegroom, stating, "everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now."

According to the Thompson Chain-Reference Study Bible, Cana was west of the Sea of Galilee and about ten miles north of Nazareth.

Answer: Keturah

Abraham and Keturah were the parents of six sons -- Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shua, according to Genesis 25:2. Little is known about Keturah as she is mentioned in passing reference. However, Genesis 25:3-4, in the NIV Bible, states this about two of her sons: "Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan; the descendants of Dedan were the Ashurites, the Letushites and the Leummites.

The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah. All these were descendants of Keturah."

Answer: shipwreck

Shipwreck is the correct answer. According to 2 Corinthians 11:25, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was involved in three different shipwrecks and spent "a night and a day in the open sea."

However, details are given in Scripture about only one of his shipwrecks. Acts 27 tells of a ship carrying Paul and two hundred and seventy-five other people being battered during a severe storm on the Mediterranean Sea. Eventually, the ship became grounded off the coast of Malta and all the passengers and crew were able to make it safely to land, Scripture reports.

While on Malta, Paul used the occasion to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and miraculously heal a number of people of their ailments, as documented in Acts 28.