Sunday, January 27, 2008

June Quiz (Five Scrolls and Post-Exilic Writings)

June Quiz on the Five Scrolls (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther) and the Post-Exilic Writings (Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 & 2 Chronicles):

1. Who said the following: “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you”?
a. Ezra to the Levites, during the reading of the law
b. Haggai to Zerubbabel during the building of the second temple
c. Solomon to Hiram during the building of the first temple
d. Nehemiah to Sanballat during the building of the wall of Jerusalem

2. To what event does the book of Lamentations respond?
a. the death of Jonathan
b. the death of Josiah
c. the division of the kingdom
d. the destruction of Jerusalem

3. “By the rivers of Babylon – there we sat down and there we wept” is followed immediately by what words?
a. in the presence of our enemies.
b. Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
c. when we remembered Zion.
d. Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain?

4. Which of the following is NOT a quotation from the Song of Solomon?
a. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!”
b. “My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.”
c. “I am black and beautiful, O daughters of Jerusalem.”
d. “My mother’s sons were angry with me; they made me keeper of the vineyards.”

5. To what town do Naomi and Ruth return from Moab?
a. Timnah
b. Oboth
c. Bethlehem
d. Nazareth

6. Which saying does NOT appear in the book of Ecclesiastes?
a. "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."
b. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven."
c. "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?"
d. "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting."

7. How does this statement conclude: "The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the skillful..."?
a. But the Lord rules over all
b. But the just shall live by faith
c. But time and chance happen to all
d. But the last shall be first

8. In Esther, Haman becomes furious with Mordecai because he
a. wore rich clothing
b. would not bow for Haman
c. had a higher social position than Haman
d. was Esther's cousin

9. What was Nehemiah’s great achievement?
a. rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem
b. defeating the Samaritans in battle
c. restoring the monarchy
d. teaching the law to the returning exiles

10. Which of the following statements is found in Ecclesiastes?
a. "All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, 'I will be wise' but is was far from me."
b. "Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who reverts to his folly."
c. "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary."
d. "Zion stretches out her hands, but there is no one to comfort her."

11. Ruth deliberately presents herself at the
a. garden gate
b. city gate
c. road to Moab
d. threshing floor
e. home of Naomi

12. The writer of Chronicles condemns Saul for seeking guidance from a
a. prophet
b. king
c. medium
d. priest

13. The Persian decree permitting the reconstruction of the Jerusalem Temple may be found in the Book of:
a. Daniel
b. Ezra
c. 2 Kings
d. 2 Chronicles

14. What was Nehemiah's role in Susa?
a. eunuch
b. scribe of Yahweh
c. cupbearer to the king
d. ambassador from Judah

15. How were the words, which Daniel interpreted ("MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN"), conveyed?
a. spoken by a messenger of God
b. spoken by Daniel
c. read by a eunuch
d. written on a wall

Short Answer:

1. The Song of Songs has been interpreted as God's love for Israel or Christ's love for the Church. What is your evaluation of that interpretation?

2. The story of Esther is the reason for the Festival of Purim. Describe this festival.

3. Nehemiah condemned the powerful for charging interest and thereby keeping other Jews indebted and in poverty. Can you think of similar situations today? What does it mean when we say "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors?"

4. How are the stories in Chronicles different from the stories in Samuel and Kings?

5. What quality does Ruth possess that makes her respected?

Longer Answer:

Who caused "bitter tears" to "flood her cheeks?" (Lamentations 1:2) Do you think it is psychologically healthy to believe in a punitive God? Why or why not?

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