Nine out of Ten: Old Testament Trivia -- #3 Quiz

Answer: Zebulun

Zebulun is the correct answer. In the 49th chapter of Genesis, Jacob blesses his twelve sons. In Verse 13, in the NKJV, he has this to say about the youngest son of Leah: "Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships and his border shall adjoin Sidon." According to notes in the NIV Study Bible, Zebulun probably means honor.

Answer: Ezekiel

The prophet Ezekiel writes about his vision in the Old Testament book that bears his name. The vision, which is detailed and complex, appears in the first chapter of Ezekiel. Here's a taste of his vision, as per Ezekiel 1:19-21, in the NKJV Bible: "When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels."

Ezekiel concludes the chapter by writing: "Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD."

A famous folk song is called 'Ezekiel Saw the Wheel'. According to Wikipedia, the song has been covered by such artists as Woody Guthrie, Paul Robeson, John Lee Hooker, the Dixie Hummingbirds, the Fisk Jubilee Singers, and Gold City. The song, of course, is based on Ezekiel's divine vision.

Answer: Cain

Cain, the son of Adam and Eve, is the correct answer. He became the world's first murderer when he killed his brother Abel out of jealousy. The question "Am I my brother's keeper?" was asked by Cain in Genesis 4:9, when Scripture says God wanted to know the whereabouts of Abel. Cain's statement is often used to reflect the view no one should be responsible for the welfare of others.

However, the statement has also been turned around and has given birth to the term 'my brother's keeper'. The term 'my brother's keeper' has been incorporated into everything from the title of a movie to a Christian organization involved in helping the impoverished.

Answer: Hophni

The death of Hophni is told in the fourth chapter of First Samuel, which also tells of the deaths of Hophni's brother Phinehas, his father Eli and his unnamed sister-in-law. Hophni and Phinehas were killed in a battle with the Philistines at Ebenezer, where the enemy captured the Ark of God, according to Scripture.

1 Samuel 4:12-18 tells of Eli falling off his chair and breaking his neck before dying. According to Scripture, Eli fell off his chair after learning of the deaths of his two sons and the capture of the Ark of God. Meanwhile, the death of Phinehas' wife is told in 1 Samuel 4:18-22. Scripture states she died during childbirth. 1 Samuel 4:21-22, in the NKJV Bible, states: "Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel!' because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God has been captured'."

Answer: Adam

Adam is the correct answer. He is actually the third oldest man in the Bible, with Methuselah, at 969 years, and Jared, at 962 years, living longer. Adam, of course, was the first person created by God, according to Genesis. God also created a woman and Adam gave her the name Eve, which translates as "the mother of all living."

Answer: Reuben

Reuben was the founder of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He was the only one of Joseph's brothers who did not want to sell him into slavery. According to Genesis 37:21, he wanted his brothers to throw Joseph into a cistern so he could rescue him and take him back to his father.

It was all in vain, of course, as Joseph would end up being sold into slavery in Egypt. Reuben is also known for sleeping with his father's concubine Bilhah, as per Genesis 35:22.

Answer: Isaac

The story of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac is one of the best known stories in the Old Testament. Scripture reports God commanded Abraham to take his son Isaac to a mountain in the region of Moriah and to sacrifice him as a burnt offering. Just as Abraham was preparing to sacrifice Isaac, Scripture reports an angel of the LORD called out and told him to spare his son because it was evident Abraham feared God.

After the angel called out, Abraham spotted a ram in the thicket and used it as his sacrificial offering.

The story is told in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. Many Christians compare this episode to God's sacrifice of His own son, Jesus, in the New Testament.

Answer: Ahithophel

The correct answer is Ahithophel. Although he wasn't loyal to David, his son was Eliam, one of the mighty warriors in David's army. It appears Ahithopel was more of a hindrance than a help for Absalom, however. According to 2 Samuel 15:31, when David learned Ahithophel had joined Absalom's camp, David prayed the "LORD would turn Ahithophel's counsel into foolishness". Ahithophel's advice would prove to be useless and, after Absalom stopped listening to him, Scripture reports that Ahithophel put his house in order and hanged himself.

Answer: Habakkuk

The correct answer is Habakkuk with his book of prophecy appearing eighth of the 12 minor prophets. According to the Web site Christiananswers.net, Habakkuk means 'embrace'. However, the Web site reports little is known about Habakkuk's personal history.

Here's the order the books appear in the Twelve Prophets, or the Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi.

(According to Wikipedia, the Septuagint of the Eastern churches has this order: Hosea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Wikipedia goes on to state the Septuagint of the Eastern churches also puts the Minor Prophets before, instead of after, the 'Major Prophets'.)

Answer: Zechariah

Zechariah is the correct answer. He is traditionally considered to be the author of the book Zechariah in the Hebrew Bible and the Old Testament of the English Bible. In the English Bible, Zechariah appears eleventh in the twelve books that comprise the Minor Prophets. It follows Haggai and precedes Malachi. Zechariah consists of fourteen chapters.