Word Association -- Old Testament Characters #4 Quiz

Answer: Gehazi

Gehazi is the correct answer. It's a long story, but after Naaman was cured of leprosy he offered Elisha a reward which the prophet declined. Scripture reports Gehazi caught up with Naaman after his departure and asked to receive a talent of silver and two sets of clothing. Naaman promptly responded to Gehazi's request, giving him two talents of silver and two sets of clothing. Later, Gehazi would deny his actions to Elisha and after he left the prophet's presence, Scripture reports he was leprous, as white as snow.

The account of Gehazi being afflicted with leprosy is found in 2 Kings 5:20-27.

Answer: Othniel

Othniel was the first judge of Israel. He was the younger brother of Caleb and his father was Kenash. His wife was Achsah. Judges 3:10-11, in the NIV Bible, states: "The Spirit of the LORD came on him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war.

The LORD gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died."

Answer: Saul

Saul, the son of Kish, was extremely handsome, according to Scripture. 1 Samuel 9:2, in the NIV Bible, states: "Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else." Saul, of course, would become the first king of Israel.

Answer: Samson

Manoah was the father of Samson, according to the 13th chapter of Judges. Samson, of course, was a judge of Israel and was betrayed by his mistress Delilah. Scripture states he had immense strength, enabling him to wrestle with a lion and slay 1,000 soldiers with only the jawbone of a donkey.

When Delilah discovered the secret to Samson's super-strength was his long hair, she cut off his locks and delivered the immensely weakened Samson to his enemies, who blinded and imprisoned him. When Samson's hair grew back, his strength was restored and he caused a temple to collapse, destroying thousands of Philistines as well as himself, as per Judges 16:23-31.

The final verse states Samson led Israel for twenty years.

Answer: Job

According to Job 42:15, Job was the father of three extremely beautiful daughters. And while Job is associated with suffering, he also enjoyed immense blessings. Job 42:12-15, in the NIV Bible, states: "The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers." Verse 16 goes on to state Job lived 140 years and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.

While it is likely Saul, David and Solomon had beautiful daughters, Scripture doesn't provide any details about their appearances. So, the correct answer has to be Job. (Although Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, according to 1 Kings 11:3, no details are given about any of his offspring, with the exception of his son Rehoboam, who replaced him as king.)

Answer: Peninnah

Peninnah and Hannah were both married to Elkanah and according to Scripture, the two didn't get along. In fact, it seems Peninnah, who was the mother of children, took tremendous delight in taunting Hannah who was barren. 1 Samuel 1:6-7, in the NIV Bible states: "Because the LORD had closed Hannah's womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her.

This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the LORD, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat." The chapter goes on to tell about Hannah fervently praying to the LORD and eventually giving birth to Samuel.

Answer: Tamar

Tamar was the mother of twins, according to Scripture. Genesis 38:28-30, in the NIV Bible, offers this account of Tamar giving birth to two boys: "As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, 'This one came out first.' But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, 'So this is how you have broken out!' And he was named Perez. Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah."

Perez and Zerah were the second set of twins born in the Hebrew Bible, or the Old Testament of the English Bible. The first set was Esau and Jacob, the sons of Isaac and Rebekah, as per the 25th chapter of Genesis.

Answer: Gomer

According to Scripture, Gomer became Hosea's wife as a result of instruction from the LORD. Hosea 1:2-3, in the NKJV, states: "When the LORD began to speak by Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: 'Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the LORD.' So he went and took Gomer the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son." Scripture states the son was called Jezreel.

Incidentally, the NIV Bible refers to Gomer as a "promiscuous woman" rather than a harlot.

Answer: Abigail

Abigail was "intelligent and beautiful" according to 1 Samuel 25:3 in the NIV Bible. (In the NKJV, she is described as being a woman of "good understanding and beautiful appearance.")

When it comes to Naomi and Hammoleketh, no details are given about their appearance or their intelligence in Scripture.

However, there is a suggestion in Scripture Leah was not attractive. At least, she didn't seem to measure up against her sister Rachel. Genesis 29:17 in the NIV Bible states, "Leah had weak eyes, but Rachel had a lovely figure and was beautiful." The suggestion, of course, is that Leah did not have a lovely figure and was unattractive. No details are given about Leah's intelligence.

In case you're wondering, Hammoleketh was the daughter of Machir and sister of Gilead, as per 1 Chronicles 7:17-18. Scripture states she was the mother of Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah.

Answer: Haman

Haman, of course, is the man who came up with a diabolical scheme to execute all the Jews in the vast region ruled by the man known as King Xerxes in the NIV Bible. (In the KJV and the NKJV, the king is known as Ahasuerus.) However, he was prevented from carrying out his plans by Queen Esther and Mordecai.

After Haman was thwarted, he ended up being hanged on the gallows he had rigged for the intended execution of Mordecai. The story of Haman, Esther and Mordecai is told in the book of Esther.