Saul, First King of Israel Trivia Quiz

Answer: Looking for lost donkeys

During that time in Israel, wealth could be measured by the number of donkeys a person owned. Thus, rounding up lost donkeys would have been an important task. The Lord would later use the analogy of a shepherd for the sheep of Israel in promoting David to the throne.

Here, God might have been making a subtle dig at the people by selecting a donkey wrangler. When Samuel met Saul, he assured the young man that the donkeys had been found. Saul was an odd choice, coming from "the humblest of all the clans in the tribe of Benjamin" (1 Samuel 9:21).

At the end of the book of Judges, Israel went to war with the tribe of Benjamin, nearly wiping it out. Therefore, Benjamin became the smallest of the Israel tribes. When Saul was proclaimed king, he was hiding among the baggage.

Answer: Ammonites

The Ammonites were led by Nahash. The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, who was Abraham's nephew. The Israelites were descendants of Abraham through Isaac. The people of Jabesh attempted to sign a treaty to serve Nahash, but Nahash stated he would agree only if he could "gouge out all your right eyes" (1 Samuel 11:2). Buying seven days from Nahash, the besieged city sent out messengers. When Saul heard the news, he cut up the oxen he had been using and sent it as pieces throughout the land with the threat that those who failed to fight would lose their oxen in a similar manner.

However, the people were also roused by the Spirit of God to come fight and successfully routed the Ammonites. Saul's leadership as king was reaffirmed at Gilgal after this campaign.

Answer: Gave an unlawful sacrifice

Saul went out to meet the long time enemy of Israel, the Philistines. The battle seemingly was against Israel and the soldiers were afraid. Saul waited for Samuel to arrive at Gilgal, but he grew impatient and offered the sacrifices. When Samuel arrived, he chastised Saul's actions as Saul had failed to trust in the Lord. Samuel prophesied that, instead, the kingdom would go to a man who sought after the Lord's heart.

In chapter fifteen, the Lord reiterated his regret that Saul was king, as Saul did not keep the Lord's commandments.

Answer: As a musician

David would serve as a soldier in Saul's army and marry his daughter, but he first arrived as a musician. According to this passage, Saul was tormented by a harmful spirit. He commanded his servants to find a skillful lyre player to soothe him. David made such a hit with Saul that he also became his armor-bearer. David's playing refreshed Saul, "and the harmful spirit departed from him." (1 Samuel 16:23)
David is more well known for the next chapter, which tells of his fight with Goliath. Saul's actions in the tale of Goliath also indicated his loss of faith in the Lord.

Answer: Jonathan

Jonathan had previously shown great courage in fighting the Philistines, including a secret attack with his armor-bearer. David's and Jonathan's friendship began following David's success against Goliath. David grew suspicious of Saul's jealousy when Saul threw a spear at him. Jonathan was instrumental in ascertaining his father's true feelings and secretly signaled to David that his life was in danger. Saul was less than pleased with Jonathan's loyalty, telling him, "You have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame" (1 Samuel 20:30). Saul recognized David as a threat to the throne and could not understand how Jonathan would throw away his own chance to be king.

Answer: She pretended that he was sick in bed.

Saul first promised his elder daughter, Merab, but she was then married to Adriel. Michal actually fell in love with David, and Saul decided to use it as a trap. He told David that he needed to bring Saul a hundred foreskins of the Philistines to become the king's son-in-law. David went and killed two hundred and paid the bride-price.
When it became apparent that Saul intended to kill David, she helped him out a window. She used an idol to form his shape in the bed with goat's hair at the head. Later, Michal claimed that she had helped him because David had threatened her.

Answer: He killed the priests.

The priests were unaware that Saul was after David. Previously, David had been one of Saul's chief soldiers. When Saul heard how the priests at Nob helped him, he sent for them all and accused them of conspiring against them. He ruled that they were now his enemies and ordered them killed. No one would obey the order except Doeg the Edomite. Eight-five people were killed that day. One man, Abiathar, managed to escape and joined David.

The story is told in chapters 21 and 22 of 1 Samuel.

Answer: A corner of Saul's robe

Engedi was an oasis by the cliffs of the western shore of the Salt Sea. David and his men hid from Saul's pursuit in a cave. As it so happens, Saul chose that cave to relieve himself. One of David's men alerted David and pushed him to take the chance and kill Saul. Yet David refused, acknowledging that Saul was the Lord's anointed and chosen king.

When David proved to Saul that he could have killed Saul but did not, Saul went back home. David spared Saul's life a second time when the Lord put the army into a deep sleep.

He took a jar of water and a spear near the sleeping king to again show that he was no threat to Saul. This story is from chapter 24 of 1 Samuel.

Answer: The Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines.

Some translations refer to the medium as a witch. Consulting with spirits in this manner was against the Israelite law, which Saul knew as he had vigorously attempted to expel the mediums from Israel. He and his army were facing the Philistines again, and he was nervous.

The Lord was not answering his questions through the usual methods of dreams, prophets, and the Urim. Saul had his men find a medium and asked her to bring up Samuel, who had passed away.

Answer: He fell on his own sword.

Saul was badly wounded by the Philistine archers and knew that his army would be overrun. As king he worried about how he would be treated and asked his armor-bearer to kill him, but the man refused. So Saul had to fall on his own sword. The Philistines later beheaded his already dead body.

They set Saul's body and the bodies of his sons up as victory trophies. They were later recovered by the people of Jabesh-gilead, whom Saul had previously rescued. They later purified the bones by fire.