Where Was That Place? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Damascus, Syria

The only Biblical reference to Beth-Eden is found in Amos 1:5. We see that it most likely refers to Damascus, Syria: the oldest continually inhabited city on earth.

The King James Version of Amos 1:5 reads this way:

"And I will break the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the valley of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Beth-Eden; and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith Jehovah."

Beth (meaning "house") and Eden (meaning "Paradise" or "place of delight or pleasure") could thus be translated as "the house of delightful pleasure". The word "Paradise" is of Persian (Iranian) origin, while "Beth" is from the Hebrew language. "Eden" is derived from the ancient Assyrian tongue, and means "a plain", in the geographic sense of the word.

Answer: The Aegean Sea

Patmos is only one of many small islands that dot the Aegean Sea just off the west coast of Turkey and considerably to the east of Greece. In more modern times, the island fell under the control of the Ottoman Empire prior to Italian occupation in 1912. The Italians were replaced as occupiers when Nazi Germany took over the area in 1943.

At the end of World War II, the Germans vacated the island and Patmos became autonomous until 1948, at which time it joined up with Greece.

Answer: to unite or be joined

Hebron comes from another word "Chebrown", which in turn is derived from "chebar" or "chabar", meaning to unite, to be joined, or even a company or association held under a magical spell or charm.

The location of Hebron was one in which Abraham built an altar to God, and it was also later mentioned as a place of refuge for King David.

Answer: Jehovahjireh

Jehovahjireh or Yahweh-Yireh, probably best translates as the phrase, "The Lord Will Provide".

According to Genesis 22, this is a reflection of what transpired between Abraham and God, as God prepared a sacrifice for him (King James Version).

"And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen."

Answer: house of God

Beth-el, also referred to as el Beth-el, can mean either "house of God" or "the house of God". Its original name was "Luz", which meant "almond tree", but after Jacob (Israel) built an altar there from which to worship God, it became known as Bethel.

Answer: broad places

Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah, built the city of Rehoboth, according to Genesis 10:11.

When Isaac, Abraham's son, lived in the land of Gerar, there was some dispute between him and several other tribesmen and settlers on the land about wells for watering livestock. After several attempts at settling, Isaac dug a well that he named Rehoboth (broad places), perhaps indicating that there was enough land and water for all to share.

Answer: Troas

Troas' name may mean something akin to "penetrated", with its complete name being 'Alexandria Troas'. The city was built by a man named Antigonus, and was originally called 'Antigonea Troas', but this name was not confined to the city itself, but also the surrounding region, which was also known as "Troad".

The modern name for the ruins of this ancient city is 'Eski-Stamboul', the old Constantinople.

During the days of Roman influence over the region, as a colony of Rome, its citizens were exempt from poll and land taxes.

Answer: True

Philip II of Macedonia waged a series of wars against Greece and won their alliance (if not their loyalty) as a result. After the assassination of Philip, his father, Alexander III of Macedon, also known as Alexander the Great, went on to conquer most of the then-known world, from the Himalayan Mountains to the Adriatic Sea.

The ancient city of Philippi lay about nine miles from the Mediterranean Sea, and featured an area rich in gold mines and fertile lands.

Answer: True

The land known as Uz lay somewhere in the vicinity of southern Israel, Idumea, and west of the Euphrates River.

The man, Uz, was a descendant of Noah and was either a son or grandson of Noah's son, Shem. Shem's name is where the words Semitic and Semite originate, while the name Uz means "counsel" or "words". Considering this translation of the name, perhaps it is no small coincidence that Job endured "counsel" and a multitude of "words" from the lips of his friends, during his time of seemingly endless trials and problems.

Answer: fairness, comeliness or beauty

Joppa, or Jaffa/Yafa, lies about thirty five miles northwest of Jerusalem on the Mediterranean Sea. Originally lying on land that had been denoted as belonging to the tribe of Dan, it was here that the materials used in the construction of Solomon's temple were off-loaded as they arrived by ship from Lebanon.

The name reflects the natural beauty of this area. It is one that is rich in fertile plains and has a picturesque view of the sea, while the city itself is crowned with a fortress, as the land it rests upon rises nearly one hundred fifty feet above sea level.