Word Association -- Old Testament Characters #11 Quiz

Answer: The Pharaoh

The first report of a birthday party in Scripture involves a celebration by the Pharaoh.

According to Genesis 40:20-22, the chief cupbearer was restored to his position and the chief baker was hanged on the third day of the Pharaoh's birthday celebration. The fates of the cupbearer and the baker were accurately predicted by Joseph who was imprisoned with the two men. Joseph, of course, was able to predict the fates of the two men when he interpreted their dreams.

Genesis 40:20-22, in the NIV Bible, states: "Now the third day was Pharaoh's birthday, and he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his officials: He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh's hand -- but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation."

Later, Joseph would be called upon to interpret the Pharaoh's dreams. The Pharaoh ended up being so impressed with Joseph's interpretations that he made him the second most powerful man in Egypt.

Answer: Leah

Leah, the first wife of Jacob, was the mother of Dinah, as per Genesis 34:21. According to Genesis 35:23, Leah was also the mother of six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar and Zebulun.

Scripture tells of Jacob being the father of twelve sons with four different women, but Dinah is the only daughter mentioned.

Answer: Nadab and Abihu

Nadab and Abihu were both consumed by fire from the presence of the LORD because of their unholy worship practice. Leviticus 10:1-2, in the NIV Bible, records their demise this way: "Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD." According to Numbers 3:4, Nadab and Abihu had no sons, so their brothers, Eleazar and Ithamar, served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

Answer: Joab

Uriah was a faithful soldier and David, the king, orchestrated his death when Bathsheba became pregnant as a result of an adulterous affair he had with her. The affair happened while Bathsheba's husband Uriah was away in battle. 2 Samuel 11:14-17 states David wrote a letter to Joab, his army commander, and ordered him to put Uriah at the front where the fighting was the fiercest, and then to have all the other men withdraw so he would be killed.

The plan worked but David's murder plan would later become known and he would suffer immense guilt.

Answer: Orpah

Orpah was the sister-in-law of Ruth and she was married to Kilion. (In the KJV and the NKJV, Kilion is called Chilion.)

Not much is known about her, however. After her father-in-law (Elimelek) died and her husband died, Orpah, a Moabite, opted to return to her homeland, according to the first chapter of Ruth.

Ruth, who was also from Moab, was married to Mahlon, who also died. However, she opted to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi, as per the first chapter of Ruth. Ruth would go onto marry Boaz and her name is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus, as per Matthew 1:5.

Answer: Sarah

Sarah, who was originally known as Sarai, is the correct answer. She was the wife of Abraham, who was originally known as Abram, according to Scripture.
As per Genesis 21:5, she was the mother of Isaac.

According to Genesis 23:1, Sarah was 127 years old when she died. This is the only case in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the English Bible, where a woman's age is given.

Answer: Enoch

Enoch was the father of Methuselah, the oldest person in the Bible. Genesis 5:21 states he became the father of Methuselah when he was 65 years old. According to Scripture, Enoch lived to be 365 years old and had other sons and daughters. Apparently he didn't die a natural death as Genesis 5:24 states "...then he was no more, because God took him away." Enoch's name appears in the third chapter of Luke as part of the genealogy of Jesus.

Answer: Shamgar

The third judge of Israel was Shamgar, as per Judges 3:31. According to the verse, Shamgar was the son of Anath, and he struck down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. No details are given about his slaying of the Philistines. However, the verse in the NIV concludes by saying Shamgar "too saved Israel." He was replaced as judge by Deborah.

According to various Web sites, including Wikipedia, an ox goad is a long stick with a pointed end used to spur or guide livestock, usually oxen, when they are pulling a plough or a cart. The device is also known as a cattle prod.

Answer: Hilkiah

Hilkiah is the correct answer. Scripture states Hilkiah was the high priest during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. He is best known for discovering the book of the law written by Moses. The account of Hilkiah finding the book of the law is found in the 22nd chapter of 2 Kings.

There are seven men in the Old Testament who were called Hilkiah. One of them was the father of the prophet Jeremiah.

Answer: Elijah

The correct answer is Elijah. The account of the prophet being fed by ravens is found in 1 Kings 17:1-6. After Elijah told King Ahab there will be "neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word," he got instructions from the LORD to hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 1 Kings 17:5-6, in the NIV Bible, states: "So he did what the LORD had told him.

He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook."