Biblical Oddities #15 - Have You Met Your Match? Quiz

Answer: Onan

Onan, a son of Judah and a brother of Er, was struck dead after he was intimate with his new wife Tamar but took action to make sure she would not become pregnant. According to Scripture, Onan intentionally spilled his semen on the ground to prevent a pregnancy.

Under the customs of the day, Onan was required to sleep with Tamar to produce an heir for Er, his late brother who had been married to the woman.

His actions were deemed wicked and he was struck dead by God.

According to other Web sites, Onan's actions were seen as "selfish disobedience and contempt for God's covenant to continue a family line, not just a sexual act."

Interestingly, Er had been struck dead too, but precise details are not given. Scripture simply states Er was "wicked in the sight of the LORD."

For further details, see Genesis 38.

Answer: Zacharias

The first person in the New Testament to be visited by an angel is Zacharias. (In the NIV he is known as Zechariah.)

Luke 1:5-25 tell of the angel Gabriel visiting Zacharias, an elderly man, and proclaiming his wife Elizabeth would give birth to a baby, this even though she had been barren all her life.

When Zacharias refused to believe Gabriel's pronouncement, he was rendered speechless. Only when Elizabeth gave birth to a boy did he re-gain the ability to speak.

The baby boy would grow up to become John the Baptist, noted for preparing the way for Christ.

Shortly after visiting Zacharias, Gabriel would appear to Mary to announce the upcoming birth of Jesus.

Answer: Ahab

Ahab, king of Israel, was devious and evil. If this wasn't enough, his wife Jezebel was twice as devious and evil and they made a deadly couple.

Scripture tells of Ahab wanting to acquire a vineyard owned by Naboth. The vineyard was next to Ahab's palace and he wanted to use the land for a vegetable garden.

When Naboth refused to sell the vineyard to Ahab because it was an ancestral inheritance, Ahab became sullen and depressed.

Leave it to Jezebel to come up with a cure for her husband's blues. She set the wheels in motion to have Naboth killed.

With Naboth out of the way, Ahab was able to gain control of the land.

Answer: Jair

Little is known about Jair as only three verses tell of his time as judge of Israel.

Judges 10:3-6, in the NKJV provide these details: "After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called 'Havoth Jair' to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died and was buried in Camon."

He was replaced by Jephthah as judge.

Answer: Bartimaeus

Bartimaeus is the only named person in the New Testament who received a miracle of healing with his father mentioned by name as well. Mark 10:46 states his father's name was Timaeus.

According to Scripture, Bartimaeus was a blind beggar who Jesus met just outside Jericho. After Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, calling Him the Son of David, he was invited to meet with Christ. A few moments later, Jesus miraculously enabled Bartimaeus to see.

It should be pointed out the title 'Son of David' was seen as acknowledgement by Bartimaeus that Jesus was the long promised Messiah.


It should also be pointed out the likes of Jairus' daughter and Peter's mother-in-law are mentioned when Christ performed other miracles. However, unlike Bartimaeus, Jairus' daughter and Peter's mother in law are not mentioned by name.

Answer: Aaron

Aaron, the brother of Moses and Miriam, was guilty of creating a gold calf for the Israelites to worship while his younger brother Moses was on Mount Horeb meeting with God to receive the Ten Commandments. (Mount Horeb is also known as Mount Sinai.)

Creation of the gold calf was in direct contravention of the Ten Commandments.

For details about the gold calf, see Exodus 32.

It's apparent Aaron was forgiven for his disobedience as later he would be designated God's high priest. Jewish and Christian tradition holds that Aaron repented of his actions, which led to God's forgiveness.

While Aaron is described as a saint in Psalm 106:16 in the NKJV, in the NIV he is described as "the holy one of the Lord."

Answer: Felix

Felix is the Roman governor of Judea who kept Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, incarcerated for two years.

Acts 24:10-27 tell of Paul making a passionate appeal before Felix about the resurrection of the dead.

Scripture goes on to tell of Felix procrastinating on his decision and leaving Paul locked up for two years.

According to Verse 26, Felix "hoped that money would be given him by Paul, that he might release him."

Felix would be replaced by Festus who would grant permission to Paul to appear before Caesar to argue his case for a resurrected Jesus Christ.

Answer: Samuel

Samuel was the last judge of Israel and he had two sons who were as crooked as fish hooks.

According to Scripture, Joel and Abijah "took bribes, and perverted justice" when their father was elderly. Their actions were so despicable the people of Israel demanded to be governed by a king, leading to the crowning of King Saul.

It should be pointed out Samuel was loyal and obedient to God and he was apparently not aware of the actions of his sons.

Details can be found in the eighth chapter of 1 Samuel.

Answer: Nadab

Nadab was the first king of Israel to be assassinated. According to Scripture, Nadab was killed by Baasha, his own general.

He had reigned for two years after replacing his father Jeroboam as king.

With Nadab out of the way, Baasha would proceed to eliminate everyone connected with Jeroboam's household. He would end up reigning as king for 24 years.

Answer: Amnon

In the Bible, there's no shortage of rogues and villains. Some of them even came from so-called high-class families like Amnon, the son of David.

According to Scripture, Amnon was filled with lust for his half sister Tamar.
His mother was Ahinoam and Tamar's mother was Maacah.

After he raped Tamar, Scripture explains Amnon no longer lusted for the young woman. Instead, he ended up having extreme hatred for her.

Later, Absalom, a full brother of Tamar, would kill Amnon.

And people say the Bible is boring!