Born after the division of the united kingdom of Israel, Amos was born in Judah but was active as a prophet in Samaria in the eighth century BCE. Most of what we know about him comes from the Book of Amos in the Old Testament. He describes himself as a "shepherd" and "dresser of sycamore trees". Amos says that Samaria and Judah will eventually face God's judgement for failure to follow His laws. Amos also focuses on concern for the disadvantaged.
2. Asa
Answer: Kings of Judah
Asa was the third King of Judah and a descendant of David and Solomon. He ruled during the late tenth and early ninth centuries BCE. The events of Asa's reign are described in the First Book of Kings and Second Book of Chronicles. Judged by the standards of the Bible (adherence to God's law), Asa is seen as a generally good and effective ruler. During most of his reign, Judah was at peace.
3. Asher
Answer: Sons of Jacob
Asher was one of Jacob's twelve sons (the second of two by Zilpah--Leah's handmaid) and eighth overall. In the Book of Genesis it is suggested that Asher's name means "happy" or "blessed". He is considered the titular founder of the Tribe of Asher. Other mentions of Asher in the Bible suggest that he was generally considered blessed.
Some extra-Biblical works suggest that Asher served as a peacemaker amongst the sons of Jacob.
4. Haggai
Answer: Minor Prophets
Haggai lived and was a prophet in the sixth century BCE (in the period after the end of the Babylonian exile). It is possible that he was one of the exiles taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. One of the shortest books of the Bible, the Book of Haggai is only two chapters long.
It consists of a series of four prophecies, of which at least two refer to the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Haggai is considered a saint by the Eastern Orthodox church.
5. Hezekiah
Answer: Kings of Judah
Hezekiah was King of Judah and son of King Ahaz. He lived in the late ninth and early eighth centuries BCE. While he was alive, the northern Kingdom of Samaria (Israel) was conquered by the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Judah was also attack by the same empire (though not successfully).
His reign is described in both the Second Book of Kings and Second Book of Chronicles. They describe him as a good king for his religious reforms.
6. Issachar
Answer: Sons of Jacob
Issachar was the fifth of the six sons of Jacob and his wife Leah and the ninth overall. He is considered the traditional founder of the Tribe of Issachar. The name Issachar is described as possibly meaning "reward". Some extra-Biblical sources describe him as living to the age of 127 and having a practical personality.
In the Book of Genesis, Jacob described Issachar as one who liked a settled life.
7. Judah
Answer: Sons of Jacob
Judah was both the fourth of Jacob's sons and the fourth by Jacob's wife Leah. He is considered the founder of the Tribe of Judah. (King David was a descendant of Judah.) When Joseph's brothers ambush him and plan to kill him, Judah is the one who suggests instead selling him to an approaching group of Ishmaelites.
8. Manasseh
Answer: Kings of Judah
Manasseh was a King of Judah and the son of Hezekiah. His reign of 55 years was during the seventh century BCE. Archeological remains suggest that the rural economy of Judah improved during his reign. The Biblical record (in the Second Book of Kings and Second Book of Chronicles) criticized Manasseh for allowing corruption of the religious practices of the nation.
Note: There was a Manasseh mentioned in the Book of Genesis, but he was the son of Joseph and therefore the grandson of Jacob.
9. Nahum
Answer: Minor Prophets
Nahum (with a name that may mean "comforter") was a prophet who lived in the seventh century BCE. He had strong feelings of nationalism for his people. In the Book of Nahum, he describes the describes the destruction of the city of Nineveh. It is believed that Nahum's tomb may lie in the synagogue in the town of Alqosh in northern Iraq.
The Protestant reformer John Calvin spoke very highly of the Book of Nahum.
10. Obadiah
Answer: Minor Prophets
The prophet Obadiah has a name that may mean "servant of Yahweh". His primary work, the Book of Obadiah probably dates from the fifth century BCE. Extra-Biblical sources suggest that Obadiah was a foreign convert to Judaism. The Book of Obadiah is the shortest book in the entire Old Testament, having only one chapter of 21 verses.
The work describes a vision of the fall of Edom, Obadiah's homeland.
11. Simeon
Answer: Sons of Jacob
Simeon was the traditional founder of the Tribe of Simeon. He was the second son of Jacob and Leah and the second son of Jacob overall. In the Book of Genesis, Simeon and his brother Levi took their revenge after a Canaanite sexually assaulted their sister Dinah. Extra-Biblical sources suggest that Simeon was one of those most jealous of his brother Joseph for the favor shown him by their father Jacob.
12. Uzziah
Answer: Kings of Judah
Uzziah was a King of Judah in the eighth century BCE and the son of Amaziah. Early in his reign, Uzziah was co-ruler with his father. Late in his reign, Uzziah was infected with leprosy and shared power with his sons. In the Bible, Uzziah was considered a righteous king but not so much so later in his reign.
He was criticized for attempting to usurp the authority of the High Priest. The Book of Amos describes a significant earthquake occurring during his reign.
13. Zebulon
Answer: Sons of Jacob
Zebulon was the sixth of Jacob's sons by Leah and the tenth of Jacob's sons overall. He was seen as the traditional founder of the Tribe of Zebulon. His name is sometimes said to mean "gift" or "honor". In the Bible, Zebulon is said to have been the father of three sons. His tomb is located in Sidon, Lebanon.
14. Zedekiah
Answer: Kings of Judah
Zedekiah was the last King of Judah before its conquest by Nebuchadnezzar in the early sixth century BCE. He was considered to be an unsuccessful and bad king despite having the counsel of the prophet Jeremiah. After Zedekiah was captured, he was forced to witness the blinding of his sons by the Neo-Babylonians before he himself was blinded.
He lived for several additional years as a prisoner.
15. Zephaniah
Answer: Minor Prophets
Zephaniah was active as a prophet in the late seventh century BCE. He was a great-great-grandson of Hezekiah. Zephaniah was also a contemporary of the prophet Jeremiah. Speaking against moral and religious transgressions, Zephaniah predicted the future destruction of the King of Judah.
The Book of Zephaniah is relatively short at three chapters long. The Book of Zephaniah was an inspiration for the hymn "Dies Irae" ("Days of Wrath").
This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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