Biblical Mountains -- Have You Met Your Match? Quiz

Answer: Moriah

The mountain isn't mentioned by name, but Abraham received divine instructions to take his son Isaac to a mountain in the region of Moriah and to sacrifice him as a burnt offering.

Scripture tells of Abraham being obedient to God and travelling to the unnamed mountain to sacrifice Isaac. Just as Abraham was preparing to sacrifice Isaac, an angel of the LORD called out and told him to spare his son because it was evident Abraham feared God. A few moments later, Abraham saw a ram in the thicket and used it as his sacrificial offering.

For more details, see Genesis 22.

Many Christians compare this episode to God's sacrifice of His own Son, Jesus, in the New Testament.

Answer: Nebo

According to Scripture, Moses viewed the Promised Land for the first time while on Mount Nebo, as per Deuteronomy 34:1. Shortly after this, Moses died on Mount Nebo with his burial taking place in a valley in the land of Moab. He was 120 years old.

Moses had led the Israelites for forty years on their long and tedious march from Egypt to Canaan, but never got to enter the Promised Land. The Israelites were led into their new home by Joshua.

Mount Nebo is also referred to as Pisgah in Scripture. According to Wikipedia, Pisgah in Hebrew means 'summit' or 'peak'.

Answer: Carmel

Elijah's miraculous victory over 450 prophets of Baal took place on Mount Carmel, according to the eighteenth chapter of 1 Kings.

In the showdown, Elijah and the prophets of Baal each agreed to call upon a higher power to ignite a sacrificial offering on Mount Carmel. Elijah called on the LORD while the 450 prophets called Baal.

According to Scripture, Elijah was the clear winner.

Carmel was such a lovely place that Solomon even compares the beauty of a bride to it, as per Song of Solomon 7:5. In the NKJV Bible, the verse states: "Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel, and the hair of your head is like purple; a king is held captive by your tresses."

Answer: Ararat

According to Genesis 8:4. Noah's ark came to rest in the mountains of Ararat after a massive flood engulfed the world. Ararat is in present day Turkey, not far from the border with Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan, according to Wikipedia.

Scripture states Moses and his unnamed wife, with their three sons and their unnamed wives, took refuge in the ark to survive the Great Flood.

Using the NKJV, Ararat is also mentioned in 2 Kings 19:37, Isaiah 37:38 and 51:27.

Answer: Hor

According to Scripture, Aaron, died on Mount Hor. Numbers 20:23, states Mount Hor was "by the border of the land of Edom".

Aaron was the brother of Moses and Miriam and the high priest for the Israelites. Numbers 20:22-29 tells of the LORD instructing Aaron to proceed to Mount Hor with Eleazar his son, and then to strip off his priestly garments and give them to Eleazar. After Aaron gave his garments to Eleazar, Verse 27 tells of Aaron dying on top of the mountain.

According to Scripture, the Isrealites mourned Aaron's death for thirty days.

Answer: Gilead

Jacob and Laban were often deceiving each other, resulting in them being at loggerheads. This even though Jacob was married to two of Laban's daughters -- Leah and Rachel.

According to the 31st chapter of Genesis, Jacob and his household were fleeing from Laban with his father-in-law in hot pursuit. Genesis 31:25 tells of Jacob pitching his tent in the mountains of Gilead and Laban finally catching up to him after pursuing him for seven days.

Needless to say, a frank and earnest discussion took place. Scripture tells of the two men settling their differences and erecting a pile of stones to symbolize their friendship.

According to Wikipedia, Gilead was a mountainous region east of the Jordan River.

Answer: Gilboa

Saul, the first king of Israel, and his three sons died in a fierce battle with the Philistines on Mount Gilboa, according to 1 Samuel 31:1-6. His three sons were Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishuarth.

It should be pointed out Saul committed suicide after he was severely wounded in battle. Scripture tells of Saul asking his armorbearer to "draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and abuse me."

According to Wikipedia, Mount Gilboa, is a mountain range overlooking the Jezreel Valley in northern Israel.

Answer: Horeb

Mount Horeb, also known as "the mountain of God", according to Exodus 3:1, is where Moses encountered a burning bush while he was tending sheep for his father-in-law Jethro in Midian. (Jethro is also known as Reuel.)

Scripture states the flames did not consume the bush and, to Moses'amazement, an Angel of the LORD appeared to him from the midst of the fire.

Scripture goes on to tell of God instructing Moses to return to Egypt to lead the Israelites out of captivity and into a land flowing with milk and honey.

(In some places in the Bible, Mount Horeb is also called Mount Sinai.)

Answer: Zion

Mount Zion is the correct answer. When it comes to the most mentioned mountain in Scripture, it's not even close. Mount Zion is mentioned 37 times in the Old and New Testaments using the NKJV. That's considerably more times than any other mountain. For example, Mount Sinai is mentioned 20 times and Mount Carmel nine times.

It should be pointed out that Zion, in the New Testament, is used sometimes to denote the Church of God (Hebrews 12:22), and sometimes the heavenly city (Revelation 14:1). However, in the Old Testament, it often refers to Jerusalem.

Using the NKJV, the place name Zion appears more than 160 times in the Old Testament, but only seven times in the New Testament.

Answer: Calvary

According to the four Gospels, Jesus was crucified on Mount Calvary, also known as Golgotha, with two common criminals.

The place name Calvary comes from the Latin word for skull and is used in Luke 23:33. However, Matthew 27:33, Mark 15:22 and John 19:17 tell of Jesus being crucified at Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull.

Scripture goes on to tell of Jesus being resurrected from the dead three days after His crucifixion and after appearing to a large number over 40 days, He ascended to Heaven.