Word Association -- Old Testament Characters #15 Quiz

Answer: Nehemiah

Not much is known about the personal life of Nehemiah, apart from the fact he had a brother called Hanani and their father was Hacaliah, as per Nehemiah 1:1-2.

Facing gigantic odds, Nehemiah successfully rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem. In Biblical times, walls around cities were a common feature as they were used to keep occupants safe from intruders.

Although Nehemiah rebuilt the wall around Jerusalem, it is not unanimous that he wrote the Old Testament book that bears his name. Some believe Ezra wrote the book, relying on Nehemiah's memories. Those who believe Ezra wrote the book point out that Nehemiah 7:5-73 and Ezra 2:1-70 are almost identical.

Answer: Naaman

The story of Naaman is found in the fifth chapter of 2 Kings. After coming down with leprosy, Naaman followed the advice of a Jewish slave girl who served his wife. In 2 Kings 5:23, she told him to see the "prophet in Samaria." The end result is this: Elisha the prophet told Naaman to bathe himself seven times in the Jordan River. Afterward, he was cleansed of the dread disease.

2 Kings 5:15, in the NIV Bible, states: "Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, 'Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.'" Elisha, however, refused to accept any gift.

Answer: Lot's wife

Lot's wife is the correct answer. One of the best known stories in the Old Testament involves the LORD bringing down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah because of its wickedness, with Lot and his family fleeing. However, Genesis 19:26 states Lot's wife (no name is given) was turned into a pillar of salt because she looked back, contrary to the LORD'S command.

Answer: Elisha

Elisha is the correct answer. The miracle of Elisha purifying the water is told in 2 Kings 2:19-23.

The passage in the NKJV Bible states: "Then the men of the city said to Elisha, 'Please notice, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the ground barren.' And he said, 'Bring me a new bowl, and put salt in it.' So they brought it to him. Then he went out to the source of the water, and cast in the salt there, and said, 'Thus says the Lord: 'I have healed this water; from it there shall be no more death or barrenness.' So the water remains healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke."

According to Wikipedia, Jericho is one of the longest continually inhabited cities in the world.

Answer: David

Ahinoam and Abigail were both wives of David. Abigail is the best known of the two as her "surly and mean" husband Nabal was struck dead by the LORD, according to Scripture. Shortly after Nabal's death, Abigail became David's wife. In 1 Samuel 25:3, she is described as "intelligent and beautiful".

Ahinoam was already David's wife when he married Abigail, according to 1 Samuel 25:43. Ahinoam was from Jezreel. She bore David a son and he was called Amnon.

Answer: Ahithophel

According to Scripture, Ahithophel was David's treasurer who was famous for his wisdom -- however, he made a crucial mistake when he deserted David and joined Absalom when he attempted to become king in a bloody coup.

Although he wasn't loyal to David, Ahithophel's 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: Delilah

The story of Samson and Delilah is one of the most colorful ones in the Old Testament. According to Scripture, Delilah betrayed Samson after she found out his long hair was the secret to his strength.

The sixteenth chapter of Judges reports five rulers of the Philistines each offered Delilah 1,100 shekels of silver if she would enable them to seize Samson. Delilah had Samson's locks cut while he was sleeping and he ended up becoming a captive of the Philistines.

However, with his hair partially grown back, Samson had his final hurrah as he used his remaining strength to get revenge against the Philistines who had taken him captive. While the Philistine rulers were offering "a great sacrifice" to Dagon their god, it was decided to bring out Samson for "entertainment" purposes. A crucial mistake was made when Samson was placed by the pillars that supported the temple.

Judges 16:30 in the NIV Bible states: "Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines!' Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived."

According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Delilah was the third Philistine woman that Samson became "entangled" with. The two others are mentioned in Judges 14:1 and Judges 16:1.

Answer: Hagar

The correct answer is Hagar. After Abraham's wife Sarah had been unable to conceive for a number of year, she granted permission to him to sleep with Hagar, as per Genesis 16:3. According to Genesis 16:1, Hagar was a servant of Sarah.

The union resulted in the birth of a son who was named Ishmael. He would become the forefather of a great nation, according to Genesis 17:20. Traditionally, Ishmael is regarded as the father of the Arab nation.

Answer: Esther

Hadassah is the original name of Queen Esther, as per Esther 2:7. The passage in the NIV Bible states: "Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful. Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died."

Esther, of course, would go on to play a key role in preventing the extermination of the Jews in the vast area ruled by the king known as Xerxes in the NIV Bible. The annual Jewish festival of Purim recalls the deliverance.

Answer: Abimelek

Abimelek was one of the most wicked men in the Bible. In fact, according to Judges 9:56, he even killed 70 of his brothers as part of his insatiable desire for power. Scripture states Ambimelek's downfall happened when he went to Thebez and attempted to overtake a tower in which a number of men and women had taken refuge. Abimelek decided to set the tower on fire and while he was approaching the structure, Scripture states an unnamed woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.

Judges 9:54-55 states Abimelek requested that his armor-bearer draw his sword and kill him so that no one could claim he was killed by a woman. The servant obliged and Abimelek, who had ruled Israel for three years, died on the battlefield. According to Judges 9:24, his death was divine retribution.