The Book of Isaiah Trivia Quiz

Answer: Uzziah

Uzziah was also called Azariah. He reigned from 792 to 740 BC. The details of his reign can be found in 2 Kings 15:1-7 and 2 Chronicles 26:1-23. 2 Chronicles in particular wrote about how he "did what was right in the eyes of the Lord" until his pride got the better of him.

He usurped the role of the priests by burning incense in the temple. He was punished with an immediate case of leprosy that he had for the rest of his life. His son, Jotham, took care of running the country during his illness. Isaiah 1:1 recorded that Isaiah prophesied under Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah.

These kings reigned from 792 to 686 BC all total.

Answer: Peoples from other nations would come to the mountain.

The 'mountain of the Lord' can also be read as Mount Zion. The last days may indicate after the arrival of the Messiah. However, the message implied that faith in the Lord would be not for Judah and Israel alone but for Gentiles as well. The passage went on to declare a time of peace in the last days as 'nation will not take up sword against nation'. (Isaiah 2:4)

Answer: Seraphs

This was the only mention of seraphs in the Bible. They were described as having six wings: "With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying." (Isaiah 6:2) Isaiah was shaken by the vision and immediately made aware of his 'unclean lips'. One of the seraphs purified the lips of Isaiah, preparing him for service.

Answer: War

King Ahaz of Judah found himself facing the forces of King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel. Judah and Israel had divided long ago, following the reign of Solomon. Ahaz was considered to be of the house of David. Rezin and Pekah were attempting to persuade Ahaz into an alliance against Assyria.

Many Christians see this as a sign of Mary's giving birth, as a virgin, to Jesus. Other scholars see the sign as a promise that in nine months their enemies would have given up. Immanuel means "God with us".

Answer: Jesse

Jesse was the father of David. The Messiah was promised to come from the house of David and by default of Jesse as well. Judah would later be destroyed and taken into exile. The dynasty was then effectively cut off from the throne. In verse 10 of the same chapter, it stated, "...the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples". Again, another possible prophetic message of the Messiah being open to all nations.

Answer: Rome

At the time Isaiah spoke, Rome was not even on the international map. Babylon would be the ones to take Judah into exile. Babylon's prophecy can be found in chapters 13 and 14. The prophecy told of Babylon's destruction: the oppressor has come to an end! (Isaiah 14:4) Damascus was the capital of Aram, and Isaiah's prophecy against it was recorded in chapter 17.

The end of the prophecy attributed Damascus' defeat to its abuse of Judah. The prophecy about Egypt was in chapter 19. Verse two prophesied a civil war within Egypt.

Answer: Sennacherib

Sennacherib was the king of Assyria and reigned from 705 to 681 BC. Assyria had already destroyed Israel under the reign of Shalmaneser. (2 Kings 17:1-6) Sennacherib's field commander came to bargain, doing so in Hebrew so the people of Jerusalem would understand and perhaps revolt. Isaiah sent a prophecy that Assyria would not be successful, and Hezekiah prayed to the Lord for deliverance.

After another prophecy against Sennacherib, Isaiah 37:36 wrote, "Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp."

Answer: John the Baptist

John the Baptist is known to Christians as the man who preached repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah. Isaiah 40:3 also stated: "Make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God." Both of these terms are related to the idea of repentance. John's residence during his ministry was in the wilderness where he ate locusts and honey.

Answer: Cyrus

"This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of..." (Isaiah 45:1) Cyrus was an emperor of a foreign land, the Persian empire. According to the previous chapter, Cyrus was ruler when he allowed Jerusalem to be rebuilt. Judah would later be carried off into exile by Babylon, but Persia would conquer Babylon.

This event was recorded in the book of Ezra. "Moreover, King Cyrus brought out articles belonging to the temple of the Lord, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away..." (Ezra 1:7)

Answer: The great evil will be expelled into the darkness.

Most of this passage featured the positives of the new heavens and new earth. This was the culmination of the promise after the exile that the Lord promised, ending with the return of the Messiah. "They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain." (Isaiah 65:25) Isaiah ended this prophecy going back to the imagery of God's mountain seen throughout the book.