How Did They Die? - Biblical Characters Quiz

Answer: Old Age

Abraham is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament and is regarded as the founding patriarch of the Israelites. He is also revered in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. According to the Bible, Abraham died at the age of 175.

His death is described in peaceful terms: "Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years" (Genesis 25:8, KJV). No illness or other specific cause of death is mentioned.

His sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the Cave of Machpelah, near Mamre (Genesis 25:9-10, KJV). Abraham had purchased the cave years earlier as a burial place for his wife Sarah.

Answer: Old Age

Isaac was the son of Abraham and Sarah and the father of Esau and Jacob. Alongside his father and his son Jacob, he is one of the three great patriarchs of the Israelites. According to the Bible, Isaac died at the age of 180, making him the longest-lived of the three patriarchs.

His death is described in similar terms to those used for his father: "And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days" (Genesis 35:29, KJV). Again: No illness or other specific cause of death is mentioned.

His sons Esau and Jacob buried him together (Genesis 35:29, KJV). While the burial place is not specified in this passage, Genesis 49:29-31 identifies the Cave of Machpelah as Isaac's final resting place, alongside his wife Rebekah and other members of his family.

Answer: Old Age

Following the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, Joshua succeeded Moses as their leader. He is best known for guiding them into the Promised Land and for conquering the city of Jericho, whose walls famously collapsed after the Israelites marched around them. According to the Bible, Joshua died at the age of 110.

His death is recorded in a brief passage: "And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old" (Joshua 24:29, KJV). Again, no illness or other particular cause of death is specified.

Joshua was buried in Timnathserah, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash (Joshua 24:30, KJV). Unlike Abraham and Isaac, whose burials involved their sons, Joshua's burial is described without mentioning any family members.

Answer: Suicide

Saul was the first king of Israel, chosen to rule over the Israelites before David. His reign was marked by military conflicts, particularly with the Philistines, and an increasingly troubled relationship with the prophet Samuel. According to the Bible, Saul died during a battle against the Philistines on Mount Gilboa.

After his three sons were killed and Saul himself was seriously wounded by archers, he asked his armourbearer to kill him rather than let the Philistines capture and abuse him. When the armourbearer refused, Saul took his own life. "But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it" (1 Samuel 31:4, KJV). His armourbearer then took his own life in the same manner.

The Philistines later found Saul's body, cut off his head and fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. When the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard what had happened, they recovered the bodies of Saul and his sons, burned them, and buried their bones beneath a tree at Jabesh (1 Samuel 31:8-13, KJV).

Answer: Suicide

Ahithophel was a trusted adviser to King David, renowned for his wisdom and political counsel. However, when David's son Absalom rebelled against him and attempted to seize the throne, Ahithophel sided with Absalom and became one of his chief advisers.

He urged Absalom to pursue David immediately with an army of 12,000 men, hoping to kill the king before he could regroup. Absalom, however, rejected this advice in favour of a different strategy proposed by Hushai, who was secretly working to protect David. Realising that his counsel had been disregarded, Ahithophel returned to his hometown and took his own life.

The Bible describes his death in unusually matter-of-fact terms: "And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself" (2 Samuel 17:23, KJV). He was subsequently buried in his father's tomb.

Answer: Suicide

Judas Iscariot was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and is best known for betraying him to the religious authorities in exchange for thirty pieces of silver. According to the Gospel of Matthew, Judas identified Jesus to the men sent to arrest him by greeting him with a kiss - an act that has become a lasting symbol of betrayal.

After Jesus was condemned, Judas regretted his actions and tried to return the money to the chief priests and elders. When they refused to accept responsibility for what he had done, Judas threw the silver pieces into the temple and left. The Bible describes what happened next in a single sentence: "And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself" (Matthew 27:5, KJV).

The chief priests used the returned money to purchase a field for burying strangers, which became known as the Field of Blood (Matthew 27:6-8, KJV). A different account of Judas's death appears in Acts 1:18, which describes him falling headlong, his body bursting open, and his intestines spilling out.

Answer: Murdered by Individuals

Abel was the second son of Adam and Eve and the younger brother of Cain. According to the Book of Genesis, Abel was a shepherd, while Cain worked the land. Both brothers brought offerings to God, but he accepted only Abel's offering and rejected Cain's. Cain was so angry about this that he turned against his brother.

The Bible describes Abel's death in a single sentence: "And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him" (Genesis 4:8, KJV). The text does not explain how Cain killed Abel or what weapon, if any, he used. Thus, Abel became the first murder victim in the Bible.

When God asked Cain where his brother was, Cain replied with the famous words, "Am I my brother's keeper?" (Genesis 4:9, KJV). As punishment, God cursed Cain and condemned him to a life as a fugitive and wanderer. The Bible does not mention Abel's burial or his age at the time of his death.

Answer: Murdered by Individuals

Abner was the commander of King Saul's army and a powerful military figure in ancient Israel. After Saul's death, Abner backed Saul's son Ishbosheth for the throne, which placed him in opposition to David. However, Abner later changed sides, helping David to establish his rule over all of Israel.

Abner's death was the result of a personal vendetta. During an earlier battle, he had killed Asahel, the brother of David's commander Joab, after repeatedly warning him to stop pursuing him. When Joab later learned that Abner had visited David and departed in peace, he secretly summoned him back to Hebron. Pretending to speak with him privately, Joab stabbed Abner in the abdomen. The Bible states: "And smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother" (2 Samuel 3:27, KJV).

David publicly condemned the killing and ordered Joab and his followers to mourn Abner. David himself followed the funeral procession and wept at Abner's grave in Hebron. According to 2 Samuel 3:33-34 (KJV), David lamented that Abner had died not as a criminal or prisoner, but as a man who had fallen into the hands of wicked men.

Answer: Murdered by Individuals

Amasa was a military commander in ancient Israel and a nephew of King David. During the rebellion of David's son Absalom, Amasa led the rebel army against his uncle. After Absalom's defeat and death, David nevertheless appointed Amasa commander of his own forces, replacing Joab, who had previously held that position.

This brought Amasa into conflict with Joab. When the two men met at Gibeon, Joab approached Amasa as though to greet him warmly. He took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him, while concealing a sword in his other hand. The Bible describes the attack: "But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground" (2 Samuel 20:10, KJV).

Amasa died from the wound, and his body was left lying in the road. When passing soldiers stopped to look at him, one of Joab's men dragged the body into a field and covered it with a cloth so the troops could continue their pursuit of the rebel Sheba (2 Samuel 20:11-12, KJV).

Answer: Executed by Authorities

John the Baptist was a Jewish preacher and prophet who urged people to repent for their sins and baptised them in the River Jordan. He is best known for baptising Jesus Christ and preparing the way for his ministry. John also publicly condemned Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, for marrying Herodias, the ex-wife of his brother Philip. As a result, Herod had John arrested and imprisoned.

During a banquet celebrating Herod's birthday, Herodias's daughter danced for the guests, pleasing the ruler so much that he promised to grant her any request. Prompted by her mother, she demanded John the Baptist's head on a platter. Although distressed by the request, Herod ordered John's execution rather than break his promise in front of his guests.

The Bible describes the execution in straightforward terms: "And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison" (Mark 6:27, KJV). Although personal motives played a role in John's death, his beheading was ordered by Herod Antipas in his capacity as ruler of Galilee and carried out by an appointed executioner. John's head was presented to the girl, who gave it to her mother. His disciples later collected his body and laid it in a tomb (Mark 6:28-29, KJV).

Answer: Executed by Authorities

Achan was an Israelite who lived during the time of Joshua, the successor of Moses. After the Israelites conquered the city of Jericho, they were forbidden to take any of the city's spoils for themselves. However, Achan secretly kept a valuable garment, 200 shekels of silver and a 50-shekel bar of gold, hiding them under the ground in his tent.

When the Israelites subsequently suffered a surprising defeat at the city of Ai, God revealed that someone had disobeyed his command. Joshua investigated, and Achan eventually confessed to taking the forbidden goods. He and his possessions were then taken to the Valley of Achor, where he was sentenced to death.

The Bible describes his execution: "And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones" (Joshua 7:25, KJV). The passage also mentions Achan's sons and daughters among those brought to the valley, although it is debated whether they were executed alongside him. A large heap of stones was raised over Achan's remains as a lasting reminder of his punishment (Joshua 7:24-26, KJV).

Answer: Executed by Authorities

James, son of Zebedee, also known as James the Greater, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and the brother of the apostle John. Originally a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, he became one of Jesus' closest disciples, along with Peter and John. The three were present at several important events, including the Transfiguration of Jesus and his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane.

After Jesus' death, James remained a member of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. During a period of persecution, King Herod Agrippa I ordered his execution. The Bible records his death in just a few words: "And he killed James the brother of John with the sword" (Acts 12:2, KJV). While the exact method of execution is not specified, he is traditionally believed to have been beheaded.

James is the only one of the twelve apostles whose martyrdom is explicitly recorded in the New Testament. According to Acts 12:3-4 (KJV), his execution took place around AD 44, during the reign of Herod Agrippa I, after which Herod had Peter arrested, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Answer: Divine Punishment

Uzzah was an Israelite who lived during the reign of King David. He and his brother Ahio were entrusted with transporting the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred chest containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments, to Jerusalem. The Ark was being carried on a new cart pulled by oxen, while David and the Israelites celebrated with music and dancing.

When the oxen stumbled at a threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to steady the Ark and prevent it from falling. Although his action may have been well-intentioned, touching the sacred object was forbidden under Israelite law. The Bible describes what happened next: "And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God" (2 Samuel 6:7, KJV). The exact physical cause of his death is not explained.

David was initially angry about Uzzah's sudden death and then became afraid of bringing the Ark into Jerusalem. Instead, he left it at the house of Obededom for three months before finally completing the journey (2 Samuel 6:8-12, KJV). The place where Uzzah died became known as Perezuzzah, meaning roughly "the breaking out against Uzzah".

Answer: Divine Punishment

Onan was a son of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the brother of Er. According to the Book of Genesis, Er died after displeasing God, leaving his wife Tamar a widow. Judah then instructed Onan to marry Tamar and father a child who would be regarded as his deceased brother's heir, in accordance with a custom later known as levirate marriage.

Onan, however, knew that any child born from this union would be regarded as his deceased brother's offspring rather than his own. Although he had sexual relations with Tamar, he deliberately prevented conception by spilling his semen on the ground. The Bible describes the consequences: "And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also" (Genesis 38:10, KJV). No physical mechanism or specific cause of death is given beyond God's intervention.

Onan's story has often been associated with masturbation, and the term "onanism" derives from his name. However, the biblical account describes interrupted intercourse rather than masturbation. In the context of the narrative, his wrongdoing was his refusal to fulfil his obligation to provide offspring for his dead brother (Genesis 38:8-10, KJV).

Answer: Divine Punishment

Herod Agrippa I was a grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea and neighbouring territories under Roman authority from AD 41 to 44. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who ordered the execution of James, son of Zebedee, and the imprisonment of the apostle Peter. According to the Book of Acts, Agrippa met a particularly gruesome end himself.

During a public appearance in Caesarea, Agrippa addressed a crowd while dressed in royal robes. The people acclaimed him as a god rather than a man, and he apparently accepted their praise. The Bible describes what happened next: "And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost" (Acts 12:23, KJV). The passage presents his death as divine punishment for failing to give glory to God.

The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus also recorded Agrippa's death in his "Antiquities of the Jews" (Book 19, Chapter 8). According to Josephus, the king was attending a festival in Caesarea when he suddenly experienced severe abdominal pain. He suffered for five days before dying at the age of 54. Unlike the biblical account, Josephus does not mention worms, although he too connects the king's illness with his acceptance of divine honours.