They Finished Second -- Can You Finish First? (#8) Quiz

Answer: Mordecai

The correct answer is Mordecai, the cousin of Queen Esther. Esther 10:1-3, in the NKJV, states: "And King Ahasuerus imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen."

Mordecai figures prominently in the book of Esther. He teamed with Queen Esther to comprise a dynamic duo that saved the day for the Jewish people. In fact, had it not been for this duo, there's a very real possibility Haman would have had his way and arranged the execution of all the Jews in the region ruled over by Ahasuerus. After Haman was thwarted, he ended up being hanged on the gallows he had rigged for the intended execution of Mordecai. The story of Esther, Mordecai and Haman is told in the book of Esther.

Answer: Abinadab

Abinadab is the correct answer. According to 1 Samuel 17:13, Shammah was the third oldest. The following verse states David was the youngest. The chapter goes on to tell about David, a shepherd boy, killing Goliath with a stone fired from a slingshot.

Answer: Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel

Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel is the correct answer. 1 Chronicles 3:1-9 gives some insight into David's children. The verses, in the NIV Bible, state: "These were the sons of David born to him in Hebron: The firstborn was Amnon the son of Ahinoam of Jezreel; the second, Daniel the son of Abigail of Carmel; the third, Absalom the son of Maakah daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital; and the sixth, Ithream, by his wife Eglah.

These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. David reigned in Jerusalem thirty-three years, and these were the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon. These four were by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel.

There were also Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada and Eliphelet -- nine in all. All these were the sons of David, besides his sons by his concubines. And Tamar was their sister."

Answer: Beersheba

Beersheba is the correct answer. According to the NIV Bible, Beersheba can mean 'well of seven' or 'well of oath'.

Genesis 21:25-34, in the NIV Bible, tells how the well got the name Beersheba: "Then Abraham complained to Abimelek about a well of water that Abimelek's servants had seized. But Abimelek said, 'I don't know who has done this. You did not tell me, and I heard about it only today.' So Abraham brought sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a treaty. Abraham set apart seven ewe lambs from the flock, and Abimelek asked Abraham, 'What is the meaning of these seven ewe lambs you have set apart by themselves?' He replied, 'Accept these seven lambs from my hand as a witness that I dug this well.' So that place was called Beersheba, because the two men swore an oath there. After the treaty had been made at Beersheba, Abimelek and Phicol the commander of his forces returned to the land of the Philistines. Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the LORD, the Eternal God. And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines for a long time."

According to Christiananswers.net, "A 'beer' was a deep shaft, bored far under the rocky surface by the art of man, which contained water which percolated through the strata in its sides. Such wells were those of Jacob and Beersheba."

Answer: Saul

Saul was the first king of Israel and although his reign started smoothly, it ended in chaos with much time devoted to trying to kill David. This, even though David basically wanted to live in peace with Saul! According to the 31st chapter of 1 Samuel, Saul was critically injured in battle with the Philistines and pleaded with his armor bearer to kill him with a sword. 1 Samuel 31:4, in the NIV Bible, states: "But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it." Just prior to this incident, Saul's three sons -- Jonathan, Abinadab and Malki-Shua -- were killed in battle.

The story of Samson is one of the most colorful ones in the Old Testament. According to Scripture, his long hair was the secret to his strength and when his locks were cut by Delilah, he lost his power. However, with his hair partially grown back, Samson had his final hurrah in the 16th chapter of Judges 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."

Answer: Timothy

Timothy is the correct answer. Timothy was a young worker in the early church. In other books in the New Testament, Paul describes Timothy as his son. (Feel free to play another quiz I have posted at FunTrivia titled 'Timid Timothy -- Young Church Worker in Olden Days'.)

Answer: The Ethiopian eunuch

The Ethiopian Eunuch is the correct answer. The story of his conversion can be found in Acts 8:26-40. He was converted by Philip, one of the seven Grecian Jewish disciples, originally appointed to oversee the distribution of bread to widows in the community.

Here's some trivia about the eunuch. Acts 8:27 describes him as an "important official" as he was in charge of the treasury for Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. Philip encountered the Ethiopian while he was returning by chariot from Jerusalem where he had gone to worship. Immediately after the Ethiopian became a believer in Jesus Christ, Philip baptized him in water along the side of the road.

Answer: Another servant girl

Peter's denial was issued to a second servant girl, according to the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 26:69-75, in the NIV Bible, gives an account of Peter's three denials: "Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. 'You also were with Jesus of Galilee,' she said.

But he denied it before them all. 'I don't know what you're talking about,' he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, 'This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.' He denied it again, with an oath: 'I don't know the man!' After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, 'Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.' Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, 'I don't know the man!' Immediately a rooster crowed.

Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: 'Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly."

Answer: A woman identified as the 'other Mary'

According to the 28th chapter of Matthew, a woman identified as the other Mary was the second person to see Christ. However, there is no clear consensus about who the other Mary was. Many people believe it was Mary, the mother of Jesus. However, many others insist it was Mary the mother of James and Joseph while others believe it was Mary, the wife of Clopas. Everyone apparently has valid reasons for their beliefs.

Meanwhile, Matthew 28:1-10, in the NKJV, states: "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.'
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

"And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'"

Answer: All of these

The correct answer is 'all of these'. Revelation 8:8-9, in the NIV states: "The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed."

Revelation is the last book in the New Testament and was written by John of Patmos. It has perplexed readers for centuries. However, the book's message is clear: Babylon faces a horrific future and the residents of the New Jerusalem will be ecstatic.