Word Association -- Old Testament Characters #6 Quiz

Answer: Gideon

According to Judges 6:30-32, Gideon was given the name Jerubbaal by his father Joash after he had destroyed the altar of Baal. In the NIV, Jerubbaal is spelled Jerub-Baal. The Web site Christiananswers.net reports Jerubbaal means "contender with Baal or, let Baal plead." The name Jerubbaal appears a number of different times in the Old Testament, notably in Judges 6:32, 7:1 and 8:29.

Answer: Ahithophel

Ahithophel is the correct answer. Although he was a wise adviser for David, Scripture indicates he joined forces with Absalom during a full-scale revolt in Israel and ended up committing suicide.

It appears Ahithopel was more of a hindrance than a help for Absalom. 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 Ahithophel committed suicide. 2 Samuel 17:23, in the NIV Bible, states: "When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb."

Answer: Korah

It's a long story, but Korah is the one who suffered an unusual death, along with his associates, for their stubborn refusal to follow Moses' leadership. In other words, Korah led a revolt against Moses. Numbers 16:31-34, in the NIV Bible, tells what happened: "...the ground under them split apart and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, 'The earth is going to swallow us too'!"

Verse 35 goes on to state that 250 men who were offering incense were consumed when fire came out from the LORD. By the time you read down to verse 49, no less than 14,700 people had died from a plague "because of Korah".

Answer: Hezekiah

Hezekiah is the correct answer. He was the 14th king of Israel, according to Wikipedia. The prophet Isaiah told Hezekiah to get his house in order "because you are going to die, you will not recover," as per 2 Kings 20:1. Hezekiah then pored out his heart to the LORD immediately after Isaiah left and Scripture reports the prophet promptly received a message from the LORD. 2 Kings 20:4-5, in the NIV Bible, states in part: "...the word of the LORD came to him: 'Go back and tell Hezekiah, the ruler of my people, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.'" Scripture goes on to report 15 more years were added to Hezekiah's life.

Answer: Benjamin

Benjamin is the correct answer. Joseph and Benjamin were both sons of Jacob and Rachel. According to Scripture, Rachel died giving birth to Benjamin. Genesis 35:18 in the NIV Bible states Rachel, "as she breathed her last -- for she was dying -- she named her son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin." Ben-Oni means 'son of my trouble' while Benjamin means 'son of my right hand'.

Answer: Jonathan

Even though Jonathan would've been in line to replace his father as king, he was the best of friends with David, the man who would eventually become king of Israel. In fact, their friendship was perhaps unlike any other in the Old Testament. 1 Samuel 18:1, in the NIV Bible, describes their friendship this way: "After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." Had it not been for Jonathan, Saul might had been successful in his insatiable quest to have David killed.

Answer: Obadiah

Obadiah was chief of the household of King Ahab, according to Scripture. Although Ahab and his wife Jezebel were dedicated to wiping out the prophets of God, Obadiah remained faithful to the LORD, according to the 18th chapter of 1 Kings. In fact, while Ahab was killing off the prophets of God, verse 4 states Obadiah hid 100 prophets in two caves and provided them with food and water.

Incidentally, Obadiah is a common name in the Old Testament as no less than nine other men had such a name.

Answer: Daniel

According to Scripture, Daniel was given the name Belteshazzar. Daniel's three friends also got new names while in exile in Babylon. The first chapter of Daniel reports Hananiah was called Shadrach, Mishael was called Meshach and Azariah was called Abednego.

The name Belteshazzar is not to be confused with the name Belshazzar. According to the fifth chapter of Daniel, Belshazzar was the king of Babylon who saw the fingers of a man's hand write a message on the wall at a lavish feast he hosted. The chapter concludes with the death of Belshazzar, as predicted by Daniel, or Belteshazzar.

Answer: Joseph

Genesis 41:45 tells of the Pharaoh of Egypt giving Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah. According to notes in the NKJV Study Bible, Zaphenath-Paneah probably means 'The God Speaks and Lives'. Genesis 41:45 also states Asenath, the daughter of Piotiphera, priest of On, became Joseph's wife. According to verse 46, Joseph was 30 years old at the time.

Answer: Og

Og is the correct answer. Deuteronomy 3:3 in the NIV Bible states the Israelites scored a decisive victory over Og's army: "So the LORD our God also gave into our hands Og king of Bashan and all his army. We struck them down, leaving no survivors."

Then there's the fascinating information in Deuteronomy 3:11 in the NIV Bible about Og's massive bed. The passage states: "Only Og king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaites. His bed was made of iron and was more than thirteen feet long and six feet wide. It is still in Rabbah of the Ammonites."

Fittingly, the Web site Christiananswers.net states Og means 'gigantic'.

The Israelite victory over Og is also mentioned in Psalm 135:11 and 136:20.