A Quick Look at Weddings in the Bible -- #2 Quiz

Answer: True

True. Genesis 34 tells of Shechem defiling Dinah and then asking for approval to marry her. As a dowry, Dinah's brothers said approval would be given if Shechem and all the men in his town, also known as Shechem, became circumcised. Shechem agreed to the request and it would prove to be a deadly mistake. After every male was circumcised and in pain, Scripture states two of Dinah's brothers, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers, took swords and went on a ruthless killing spree.

Simeon and Levi killed every male in the town and took captive all the women and children and then plundered all the livestock and items found in the houses.

Answer: Jacob

Jacob is the correct answer. Scripture states he agreed to work for Laban for seven years to win Rachel's hand, however, when the seven years were up, he was given Rachel's older sister Leah as his bride. Laban, the father of the two girls, told Jacob he was given Leah in marriage because it was the local custom for the oldest daughter to be married first. Laban then convinced Jacob to work an additional seven years to win Rachel's hand.

Rachel was Jacob's true love and Leah ended up in a loveless marriage, often at loggerheads with her younger sister.

Answer: Ishmael

Genesis 21:21 tells of Hagar selecting an Egyptian wife for her son Ishmael. However, no name is given for the woman. According to Genesis 25:13-15, Ishmael was the father of twelve sons -- Nebajoth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.

Hagar was a handmaiden for Sarah. Scripture tells of Sarah giving permission to her husband Abraham to sleep with Hagar for the purpose of producing a child. (Sarah was unable to conceive at the time.)

Answer: Lamech

Lamech was the world's first polygamist, going by Scripture. Genesis 4:19 states he was married to Adah and Zillah. Scripture goes on to state Adah was the mother of two sons, Jabal and Jubal while Zillah was the mother of a son and daughter, Tubal-Cain and Naamah.

Jabal is described as the "father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock" while Jubal was the father of "all those who play the harp and flute." Tubal-Cain is described as "an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron." No details are given about Tubal-Cain's sister Naamah.

Answer: Amaziah

Amos 7:10-17 tells of Amos prophesying a message of doom and gloom pertaining to Amaziah, a wicked priest. In addition to stating Amaziah and his children would be killed, Amos prophesied his wife would be a harlot.

Here's how the prophesy reads in the NKJV:
"Your wife shall be a harlot in the city;
Your sons and daughters shall fall by the sword;
Your land shall be divided by survey line;
You shall die in a defiled land;
And Israel shall surely be led away captive
From his own land."

Scripture tells of Amos issuing his prophesy after Amaziah told him to flee and "never again prophesy at Bethel for it is the king's sanctuary." It seems Amaziah took exception to some of the things Amos had declared about Jeroboam, king of Israel.

For more details, see Amos 7:7-17.

Answer: Joseph

Joseph, of course, is the correct answer. Scripture tells of Mary becoming pregnant even though she had not been intimate with a man. Scripture states Mary had been betrothed to marry Joseph when she was miraculously found to be with a Child of the Holy Spirit. Initially, Joseph wanted to break off the engagement as he was not aware of all the details of Mary's miraculous pregnancy. Matthew 1:19 in the NKJV states Joseph, "being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly."

However, when an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained the situation, he had an entirely different view of the situation. Matthew 1:20-21 quotes the angel as telling Joseph, "...do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins."

Answer: They were struck dead

Ananias and his wife Sapphira were both struck dead after they falsely claimed they donated all the proceeds from the sale of land to the early church. However, Acts 5:1-11 doesn't give details about the amount of money paid to Ananias and Sapphira for the land and how much they kept for themselves.

The passage tells of Ananias initially appearing before Peter and then being struck dead for withholding money from the transaction. About three hours later, Sapphira appeared before Peter and not knowing her husband had been struck dead, also claimed all the proceeds from the sale had been turned over to the church. She too was struck dead.

Answer: Joanna

Joanna was the wife of Chuza and a follower of Jesus. According to Luke 8:3 in the NKJV, Chuza was Herod's steward. (In the NIV, the verse describes Chuza as the manager of Herod's household and the Easy to Read Version says he was the manager of Herod's property.)

According to Luke 24:10-11, Joanna was with Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, when Christ's empty tomb was first noticed. However, when the women told the disciples about the empty tomb, "their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them."

Answer: Aquila and Priscilla

It is most likely Aquila and his wife Priscilla were Paul's closest friends among those who were married. In fact, going by Scripture, they appear to be the only husband-wife team who labored for some time alongside Paul in spreading the Gospel message.

On top of this, Acts 18:3 states Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers, just like Paul, and the three of them worked together for an unstated period of time.

Answer: Pilate

Scripture tells of Pilate's wife having a dream and informing her husband while he was on the judgement seat to have nothing to do with Jesus. Matthew 27:19 in the NKJV quotes her as saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."

Her advice, however, was not followed. Pilate gave into the demands of a crowd and approved the crucifixion of Jesus. Later, he would wash his hands before the multitude saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person."