Old Testament Bible Exam Prep Questions Flashcards
What important verse from 2 Peter refers to the Holy Spirit’s agency in the inspiration of the Bible?
2 Peter 2:20-21
Have the original manuscripts of the Old Testament ever been found?
No
LXX is the abbreviation for the….
Septuagint
What is the name for the Greek translation of the Old Testament?
Septuagint
At which council was the Old Testament canon confirmed? (The “final stage” of the OT canon.)
Council of Jamnia
What does the Greek word biblia mean?
Book
What are the three languages in which the Bible was written?
Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic
What does “canon” mean?
Accepted Books (and order) of the Bible. The word has Semitic origins meaning “measuring rod”
What is the name for the books written by Jews in the period between the Old and New Testaments?
Apocrypha
Who accepts the deutero-canonical books as scripture?
Roman Catholics
How many books are there in the English Old Testament?
39
How many books are there in the Hebrew Bible?
24
What are the divisions of the Hebrew Bible?
1) Torah (Law), sacred literature. 2) Nevi’im (Prophets), including history books, beliefs, and values. 3) Kethuviem (Writings), includes stories, psalms, and proverbs
Where were these Dead Sea Scrolls found?
Qumran
T/F: While a complete copy of the book of Psalms appears in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Isaiah is missing chapters 40-66
False (Isaiah is most complete)
What led God to make a covenant with his people in the first place?
Salvation of his people and making them the light of the world
What is the word used to describe the “ultimate heir of David”?
Messiah
What is the period between the testaments called?
Second Temple Period
T/F Most scholars agree that there is a single, unifying theology of the Old Testament.
False
T/F The Old Testament does not explicitly describe God as a trinity.
True
T/F The land of Israel was to be a reconstituted Eden.
True
T/F The Law is described as an object of delight and admiration.
True
T/F The New Testament abolishes the distinction between Jew and Gentile.
True
What is central to biblical faith in the Old Testament?
Land
What are the three key regions of the Ancient Near East?
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Syria-Palestine
Mesopotamia is important for biblical study because….
Source of… Abram, Semitic peoples, Assyria, and Babylon
What is the main geographical feature of Egypt?
Nile River
What divides between the northern and southern portions of Palestine?
Mount Hermon
T / F Syria / Palestine is also known as the promised land.
True
What is the river which marks the point at which the Israelites ended their 40 years of wandering?
Zered River
What is the mountain at the northern edge of the Land, about 9232 feet, and is snow-covered for most of the year?
Mt. Hermon
T/F: The Sea of Galilee is 689ft below sea level.
True
What is the lowest body of water on Earth at 1290 ft. below sea level.
Dead Sea
The city of Nazareth, best know as the home of Jesus, is located in what region of the Land?
Galilee
T/F: Palestine was not called a “land flowing with milk and honey” until after Israel developed the land during David’s reign as king.
False
The traditional author of the Pentateuch is….
Moses
The Hebrew word for Law is….
Torah
The word Pentateuch means…
Five Scrolls
Name the five books in the Pentateuch.
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
The Old Testament is written primarily in what language?
Hebrew
How did God encourage Israel’s compliance with the Law as revealed at Sinai?
Covenant. Obedience = Blessing, Disobedience = Punishment
T/F The names of Israelite kings appear in the records of the Assyrians
True
What does the name “Genesis” mean?
Beginning
T/F Genesis has ten linear genealogies of ten generations each.
False
The theme of Genesis is….
Creation, Sin, Recreation
T/F The promised blessing goes to the first born son.
True
Which line assumed leadership in the book of Joshua? (Although ultimately the kings did not come from this line).
Ephraim
T/F No creature other than man is given a proper name in Genesis 1
True
T/F Genesis 1 does not discuss the mechanics of creation.
True
T/F Clearly all the events of Genesis predate the time of Moses.
True
T/F Genesis seems to reflect its origin in the second millennium BC
True
T/F The genealogies of Genesis 5 and 10 have parallels in Sumerian king lists.
False (5 and 11)
Know what is made on each day of creation.
1) Light 2) Sky and Water 3) Land and Vegetation 4) Celestial Bodies 5)Sea Life and Birds 6) Land Animals and Mankind 7) Nothing–God Rested
Know the general order of events in Genesis 1-11
Creation, Fall, Flood, Patriarchs
The name for God in Genesis 1 is…
Elohim
What is the name of God used in Gen 2:4 which connects creation to the redemption from slavery in Exodus?
Yahweh
T/F The creation story in Genesis deliberately contradicts important elements of other creation myths from the ancient world.
True
T/F The idea of creation by word expresses the knowledge that the whole world belongs to God.
True
How does Adam describe Eve in Gen 2?
Bone of My Bone, Flesh of My Flesh
What does Eve add to the command of God?
“Do not touch the fruit”
What did Adam say to the serpent in Gen 3 in response to the temptation to eat from the Tree?
Nothing
What verse in Genesis 3 is known as the “Protevangelium,” and what does that mean?
Genesis 3:15; “First Message/Gospel” pointing to the offspring of Eve that would destroy Satan
How was the way back to the tree of life guarded?
Cherubim with Flaming Sword
Who are the two sons of Adam in Chapter 4?
Cain and Abel
Who was the first man who married two wives?
Lemech
Who were the results of the interaction of the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men”?
Nephilim (“Fallen”); thought to be a race of Giants
The man who lived 969 years was . . .
Methuselah
What does the name “Noah” sound like in Hebrew?
Rest
On what mountain does the ark come to rest? In which modern country is this mountain?
Ararat; Turkey
What is the sign of the covenant God made with Noah?
A Rainbow
After the flood, how is murder to be treated?
Life for a Life/Capital Punishment
Who were the three sons of Noah?
Shem, Ham, Japheth
The sons of Japheth are associated with which peoples?
Greeks, Aryans of India
Which son of Noah sins against his father? Who is cursed as a result of this sin?
Ham; Canaan
What is the Babylonian flood myth called?
Epic of Gilgamesh
T/F: The Gilgamesh Epic is remarkably similar to the biblical flood story, except the time in the ark is much longer.
False
Where was the “Tower of Babel” built?
Shinar
Who was the father of Abraham?
Terah
T/F: The name Babel is similar to the Hebrew word balal, which means “to babble.”
False
In which chapter of Genesis is the call of Abram found?
12
What does Abram’s name mean?
Abram= “exalted father”, Abraham = “father of multitudes”
Who was Abram’s nephew?
Lot
In what Mesopotamian city was Abram born?
Ur
T/F Abram lived during the great and bountiful second Dynasty of Ur.
False
At what location did Abram and his family stop on the way to Canaan?
Shechem
In Genesis 12:1-3, as God makes his famous promise to Abraham, what does God tell Abraham to do?
Go to the land that God will Give to Him
What are the two words repeated five times each in the promise to Abram?
“I will”
Abram lives near what city in Gen 13?
Hebron
To demonstrate his promise to Abram, God took Abram outside and told him to count what?
Stars
What Mesopotamian king led a raid in Canaan,
Chedorlaome
Who was Hagar?
Sarah’s Servant/Concubine
Who was the mother of Ishmael?
Hagar
What was the sign of the covenant that God gave to Abraham in Gen 17?
Circumcision
T/F Circumcision was unique to the Israelites.
True
Who were the three visitors who came to Abraham?
The Lord and 2 Angels
What are the two cities destroyed by God in Gen 19?
Sodom and Gomorrah
Lot’s descendants become what two nations?
Ammonites and Moabites
What is the meaning of the name Sarah?
Noble Woman
Sodom and Gomorrah were located near what body of water?
Dead Sea
Who wanted to force Hagar to leave the camp?
Sarah
What is the mountain to which Abraham was sent to sacrifice his only son?
Mount Moriah
What is given as a substitute for Isaac in Genesis 22?
Ram
What does Abraham call the place where he was to sacrifice Isaac?
Mount of the Lord
From whom did Abraham buy a cave in which to bury Sarah?
Ephron the Hittite
Who was Isaac’s wife? Whose daughter is she? (How is she related to Isaac?)
Rebekah; Bethuel’s; 2nd Cousin
How did the servant know which woman was to be Isaac’s wife?
The woman who offered him AND his camels water
Ishmael had 12 sons; who are descended from these twelve tribes?
Arabians
What name means “heel grasper”?
Jacob
Who were the wives of Jacob? Who were his concubines?
Leah and Rachel; Bilhah and Zilpah
God changed Jacob’s name to…
Israel
Where did Jacob have his first vision and message from the Lord?
Bethel
How did Jacob mark the spot in which he had the dream of the ladder to Heaven?
Pillar
To what location does Jacob flee after stealing Esau’s birthright?
Haron
For whom does Jacob work there?
Laban
Who is the only daughter of Jacob mentioned in his genealogy?
Dinah
Who was the mother of Joseph, the favored son?
Rachel (also the mother of Benjamin)
T/F Jacob rewarded Simeon and Levi for their bravery.
False
T/F Jacob cheated his uncle by stealing his sheep.
False
Where does Jacob have his second encounter with the Lord?
Peniel
What does the name Rachel mean?
Ewe, Value, Protection, Good Value
What did Rachel steal from her father? Why?
Household god; protect inheritance
How did Reuben offend his father Jacob?
He laid with Bilhah
In what town is Rachel buried?
Ephram
With whom does Jacob wrestle in Gen 32?
God
Who are the descendants of Esau?
Edomites
Who is raped by the king of Shechem in Gen 34? Who is it that defends her? (How do they defend her?)
Dinah; Levi and Simeon; Kill and the Men
T/F Leah is buried near Shechem in a beautiful tomb purchased from the Hittites.
False (Buried in Hebron)
What is Joseph given by his father?
A Coat of Many Colors
Who is the youngest son of Jacob?
Benjamin
T/F: Joseph dreamed of seven stars and seven lamp stands which bowed before him.
False
T/F: The brothers of Joseph lied to their father about what happened to him.
True
Which brother of Joseph wanted to save him from the others (although he failed)?
Reuben
Which son of Jacob dishonors himself in Gen 38?
Judah
What was to be Tamar’s punishment for her adultery?
To be Burned
What was the price paid for Joseph when he was sold into slavery?
20 Shekels of Silver
What is the name of the Egyptian who buys Joseph?
Potipher
T/F Joseph quotes the seventh commandment when his master’s wife wants to have an affair with him.
False
What was this man’s role in the Egyptian government?
Chief of Pharaoh’s Officials
Who were Joseph’s fellow prisoners?
A Baker and a Cupbearer
What is the title for the “king of Egypt”
Pharaoh
What did the Pharaoh’s dreams mean?
Seven Years of Plenty Followed by Seven Years of Famine
In Gen 41, how does the Pharaoh describe Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams?
He is Full of the Spirit of God
