Bible Trivia Answers

Old Testament Trivia - Part 3
Samuel, Saul,  and the Beginning of the Kings

1. Eli's sons were immoral and corrupt (1 Sam. 2:12) yet still performed priestly duties but while Eli rebukes them, he fails to discipline them as is decreed in the Law. He foolishly puts his love for his sons above his love for God. (1 Sam. 2:30) so God gave Eli two warnings: 1) A prophet tells Eli that his sons will be killed and his line will be set aside. 2) He is told that God will rise up a “faithful priest”, which shifts the focus to Samuel, who was mentored by Eli (2 Sam. 2:35-36). At that point Eli has no choice but to humbly submit to God’s judgment.

2. Pagan armies frequently carried idols into battle, believing their gods would guarantee victory. Eli’s sons were pressured into carrying the ark into battle hoping to force a victory (1 Sam. 4:3). The people were relying on “it” instead of God for deliverance. The Philistines routed the Israelites, killed 30,000, and carried off the ark. As prophesied Eli’s sons were killed in the battle (1 Sam. 4:11).

3. Saul was looking for the “Seer” to find out what he should as he had still not found his father’s donkeys. Unknown to Saul was the fact that divine guidance had brought him to Samuel to fulfill Moses’ prediction that Israel would have a king (Deut. 17:14-15)

4. That he give them a king since his sons, as judges, did not walk in the ways and turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice (1 Sam. 8:1-6) They wanted to be like the other nations that had kings as rulers (1 Sam. 8:19-20)

5. That Samuel forwarn the people of what their king would require of them (1 Sam. 8:11-18)

6. Initially, it was his ability to play the harp. (1 Sam. 16:16-19) When he was brought before Saul, David found favor in his eyes and became Saul’s armor-bearer, and whenever a distressing spirit from the Lord was on him David would play for him and calm the spirit.

7. Saul’s son Jonathan realizing that David is to follow his father on the throne, defends David as a loyal servant of the king. (1 Sam. 19) When forced to take sides, Jonathan chooses to support David, and faces his father’s rage in order to save David’s life. (1 Sam. 20) Being that Jonathan would normally have succeeded his father as Israel’s king, it is especially impressive that Jonathan would hold his friendship above his rite of ascension.

8. Saul was instructed to attack Amalek and to destroy all of the Amalekites and all their possessions(1 Sam. 15:2-3). Saul chose to spare the Amalekite king Agag and "the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them (1 Sam. 15:9). For this Saul was rejected as king over Israel (1 Sam. 15:10ff)

9. Saul died while in battle with the Philistines at Mount Gilboa. Saul had consulted a woman that was a medium at En Dor, and had her perform a séance and reveal Samuel to him. Saul was told that for not obeying God’s command to utterly destroy Amalek that his “…kingdom was to be torn from his hand and given it to your neighbor, David” (1 Sam. 28:17)

10. 1) David had the Amalekite that reported he had slain Saul at his own request executed for having killed “the anointed one” (2 Sam. 1:14-16). 2) Following that, David wrote the lamentation Song of the Bow and instructed that all the children of Judah are to be taught the song (2 Sam. 1:17-27). 3) David had the remains of Saul and his sons removed to their family sepulchre of Kish, Saul’s father. 4) David also searched and found Mephibosheth (who was Jonathan’s son), awarded him a pension from the royal treasury, a home in Jerusalem, and protected him from the Gibeonites, when they were allowed to execute seven of Saul’s sons as sin atonement for David’s attempt to exterminate them (2 Sam. 9).

11. David was a fighting man, a “man of blood.” “but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight (1 Chron. 22:8).

12. Gad (1 Sam. 22:5) and Nathan (2 Sam. 7:2)

13. Hushai - Ahithophel, a well-known statesman of the time whose counsels were considered oracles (2 Sam. 16: 23), urges Absalom to pursue David with a small mobile force before David can reach safety and raise an army (2 Sam. 17:1-4). Ignoring this, Absalom chooses to listen to Hushai (a friend of David’s) (2 Sam. 15:37), who reminds him of David’s great ability as a warrior. Hushai advises him to have a large army to be at his back before he faces David (2 Sam. 17: 5-14). Hushai’s delaying tactics work, and David is able to escape (2 Sam. 17:15-29). David raises an army and defeats Absalom (2 Sam. 18:4-15).

14. Solomon, the youngest son of David and Bathsheba. Solomon was educated under the care of Nathan, the prophet. Nathan sent Bathsheba to remind David of his oath to her to have Solomon reign after him (1 Kings 1:17). David had Nathan take Solomon to Zadok the priest at Gihon and there have Solomon anointed by both Zadok and Nathan (1 Kings 1:38-40; 1 Chron. 22:23).

15. Solomon’s greatest worry was his ability to rule effectively due to his young age. David had given him advice but he was still concerned of his ability to serve the Lord. (1 Kings 3:7-12)

16. It was built on the top of Mount Moriah (2 Chron. 3:1) and was erected on the site where Abraham had gone to sacrifice Isaac (Gen. 22:2). The Temple was built in seven years (1 Kings 6:38). The temple stood until 586 B.C., when it was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. Rebuilt in 520-512 B.C. it was again destroyed in 70 A.D.

17. Following the sacrifices going before the ark, and at the end of the ceremony of placing the ark within the Most Holy Place, a large cloud filled the temple (2 Chron. 7:1-3)

18. It speaks in (1 Kings 10:1 & 2 Chron. 9:1) of her coming to “test” Solomon of his wisdom, and after her questions were answered (as none were too difficult for him), they entered into a significant trade and she then returned to her home. Most identify “Sheba” as a land which was very fertile, and a center of trade in gold and spices, with routes leading to Africa, India, and the Mediterranean coast so it is not at all surprising that word of Solomon reached Sheba. It is most likely that the queen’s visit to Solomon was largely for commercial purposes.

19. It was a common practice to make allegiances with foreign rulers and confirm these “treaties” by marriage. This influence of foreign wives caused Solomon’s decline into idolatry. He let them worship their gods. He built houses of worship on the high places for his wives’ gods. Solomon’s attention was so great for his foreign wives that they influenced him to turn away from God, and join them in their idolatry (1 Kings 11:1-8).

20. For the sake of his father, since David had kept God’s commandments. (1 Kings 11:9-12)

 

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