50 2 Samuel Bible Quiz Questions and Answers

David becomes king, brings the ark to Jerusalem and faces trouble in his own family. How much of 2 Samuel do you know?

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Easy questions

  1. Question 1Easy

    What holy object did David attempt to bring to Jerusalem?

    Answer: D. The Ark of God2 Samuel 6:2
    And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.
  2. Question 2Easy

    In the matter of Bathsheba, the thing David had done _____ the Lord.

    Answer: B. Displeased2 Samuel 11:27
    And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.
  3. Question 3Easy

    Who conquered the fortress of Zion and renamed it the City of David?

    Answer: B. David2 Samuel 5:7
    Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.
  4. Question 4Easy

    What promise did God make regarding David's kingdom?

    Answer: B. It will endure forever2 Samuel 7:16
    And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.
  5. Question 5Easy

    Who was the commander of David's army?

    Answer: D. Joab2 Samuel 2:13
    And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
  6. Question 6Easy

    Where was David anointed king over the tribe of Judah?

    Answer: D. Hebron2 Samuel 2:4
    And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
  7. Question 7Easy

    How old was David when he became king of Israel?

    Answer: B. 30 years old2 Samuel 5:4
    David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.
  8. Question 8Easy

    David confessed his sin to Nathan saying: 'I have sinned against...'

    Answer: C. The Lord2 Samuel 12:13
    And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
  9. Question 9Easy

    Who was Bathsheba's husband when David sent for her?

    Answer: B. Uriah the Hittite2 Samuel 11:3
    And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?
  10. Question 10Easy

    The first child born to David and Bathsheba lived a long life.

    Answer: False2 Samuel 12:18
    And it came to pass on the seventh day, that the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead: for they said, Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice: how will he then vex himself, if we tell him that the child is dead?
  11. Question 11Easy

    Where was David when kings usually go off to war?

    Answer: C. Remaining in Jerusalem2 Samuel 11:1
    And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.
  12. Question 12Easy

    What did Nathan say to David after David condemned the rich man in the parable?

    Answer: B. You are the man!2 Samuel 12:7
    And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

Medium questions

  1. Question 13Medium

    How did God describe his relationship with David's offspring?

    Answer: C. I will be his father, and he will be my son2 Samuel 7:14
    I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
  2. Question 14Medium

    What did David take from the king of Rabbah after capturing the city?

    Answer: D. A crown of gold with precious stones2 Samuel 12:30
    And he took their king's crown from off his head, the weight whereof was a talent of gold with the precious stones: and it was set on David's head. And he brought forth the spoil of the city in great abundance.
  3. Question 15Medium

    What labor did David impose on the Ammonites?

    Answer: B. Working with saws, iron picks, and axes2 Samuel 12:31
    And he brought forth the people that were therein, and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon. So David and all the people returned unto Jerusalem.
  4. Question 16Medium

    Who started a new rebellion against David after Absalom's death?

    Answer: C. Sheba son of Bicri2 Samuel 20:1
    And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
  5. Question 17Medium

    What instructions did David send to Joab regarding Uriah?

    Answer: D. Put him in the front line where the fighting is fiercest and withdraw2 Samuel 11:15
    And he wrote in the letter, saying, Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.
  6. Question 18Medium

    What job did David give to Ziba and his sons?

    Answer: B. To farm the land for Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:10
    Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
  7. Question 19Medium

    Which king of Tyre sent messengers, cedar logs, and carpenters to build a palace for David?

    Answer: A. Hiram2 Samuel 5:11
    And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.
  8. Question 20Medium

    Who did Joab send to help persuade David to bring Absalom back?

    Answer: B. A wise woman from Tekoa2 Samuel 14:2
    And Joab sent to Tekoah, and fetched thence a wise woman, and said unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner, and put on now mourning apparel, and anoint not thyself with oil, but be as a woman that had a long time mourned for the dead:
  9. Question 21Medium

    Who murdered Abner in revenge for his brother Asahel?

    Answer: C. Joab2 Samuel 3:27
    And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
  10. Question 22Medium

    Who cursed David and threw stones at him as he fled from Jerusalem?

    Answer: A. Shimei2 Samuel 16:5
    And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
  11. Question 23Medium

    What did David do to Uriah to try to cover up Bathsheba's pregnancy?

    Answer: C. Got him drunk so he would go home to his wife2 Samuel 11:13
    And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk: and at even he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but went not down to his house.
  12. Question 24Medium

    What did David do with the gold and silver articles he received from other nations?

    Answer: D. He dedicated them to the Lord2 Samuel 8:11
    Which also king David did dedicate unto the LORD, with the silver and gold that he had dedicated of all nations which he subdued;
  13. Question 25Medium

    What did King David do after the death of the child born to him and Bathsheba?

    Answer: C. He washed, changed clothes, and worshiped2 Samuel 12:20
    Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
  14. Question 26Medium

    Why did Uriah refuse to go home to his wife?

    Answer: C. Because the Ark and the army were in tents2 Samuel 11:11
    And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? as thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing.
  15. Question 27Medium

    Speaking to Nathan the prophet, what did God ask regarding the building of a house of cedar?

    Answer: A. Did I ever ask any leader to build me a house of cedar?2 Samuel 7:7
    In all the places wherein I have walked with all the children of Israel spake I a word with any of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to feed my people Israel, saying, Why build ye not me an house of cedar?
  16. Question 28Medium

    How was Ish-Bosheth killed?

    Answer: C. Two of his captains stabbed him in his bed2 Samuel 4:7
    For when they came into the house, he lay on his bed in his bedchamber, and they smote him, and slew him, and beheaded him, and took his head, and gat them away through the plain all night.
  17. Question 29Medium

    Where did Absalom flee after killing Amnon?

    Answer: A. Geshur2 Samuel 13:37
    But Absalom fled, and went to Talmai, the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day.
  18. Question 30Medium

    Which prophet did David tell about his desire to build a temple?

    Answer: A. Nathan2 Samuel 7:3
    And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in thine heart; for the LORD is with thee.
  19. Question 31Medium

    What did Mephibosheth call himself to show humility before David?

    Answer: D. A dead dog2 Samuel 9:8
    And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?
  20. Question 32Medium

    David was so moved by Rizpah's vigil that he gathered the bones of her sons and buried them properly.

    Answer: True2 Samuel 21:13-14
    And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged. And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was intreated for the land.
  21. Question 33Medium

    David said there is no one like God and no God but Him, according to what?

    Answer: D. All that we have heard with our ears2 Samuel 7:22
    Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.
  22. Question 34Medium

    During King David's first attempt to move the Ark of the Covenant, how was it transported contrary to the Law?

    Answer: B. On a new cart2 Samuel 6:3
    And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
  23. Question 35Medium

    After David's sin involving Bathsheba and Uriah, what punishment did God pronounce on David's house?

    Answer: B. The sword would never depart from his house2 Samuel 12:10
    Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

Hard questions

  1. Question 36Hard

    Which concubine of Saul spread sackcloth on a rock and guarded the bodies of her executed sons from birds and beasts?

    Answer: A. Rizpah2 Samuel 21:10
    And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
  2. Question 37Hard

    How many people in Israel died from the plague sent after David's census?

    Answer: B. 70,0002 Samuel 24:15
    So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba seventy thousand men.
  3. Question 38Hard

    In the record of King David's officials, who were named as the priests?

    Answer: B. Zadok and Ahimelech2 Samuel 8:17
    And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;
  4. Question 39Hard

    According to the account in 2 Samuel, when King David ordered a census, how many fighting men were reported in Judah?

    Answer: C. 500,0002 Samuel 24:9
    And Joab gave up the sum of the number of the people unto the king: and there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men that drew the sword; and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
  5. Question 40Hard

    Whom did David appoint as commander in place of Joab after Absalom's defeat?

    Answer: B. Amasa2 Samuel 19:13
    And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
  6. Question 41Hard

    In what city did a wise woman negotiate with Joab to save her people from destruction?

    Answer: D. Abel Beth Maacah2 Samuel 20:15-22
    And they came and besieged him in Abel of Bethmaachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down. Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee. And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. …
  7. Question 42Hard

    Who were the Pelethites and Kerethites in David's administration?

    Answer: A. David's royal bodyguard2 Samuel 8:18
    And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
  8. Question 43Hard

    Who was the king of Hamath who sent his son to congratulate David?

    Answer: A. Toi2 Samuel 8:9
    When Toi king of Hamath heard that David had smitten all the host of Hadadezer,
  9. Question 44Hard

    Which of David's mighty men fought until his hand froze to his sword?

    Answer: A. Eleazar son of Dodo2 Samuel 23:10
    He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
  10. Question 45Hard

    In which nation did David place garrisons to make them subject to him?

    Answer: D. Edom2 Samuel 8:14
    And he put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom put he garrisons, and all they of Edom became David's servants. And the LORD preserved David whithersoever he went.
  11. Question 46Hard

    Whom did Ish-bosheth accuse Abner of sleeping with, provoking Abner's anger?

    Answer: C. Rizpah, Saul's concubine2 Samuel 3:7-8
    And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine? Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do shew kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou …
  12. Question 47Hard

    Who was the recorder in David's administration?

    Answer: D. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud2 Samuel 8:16
    And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the host; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder;
  13. Question 48Hard

    Hadadezer, whom King David defeated, was king of which territory?

    Answer: D. Zobah2 Samuel 8:3
    David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.
  14. Question 49Hard

    Which punishment did David receive for taking the census?

    Answer: C. Three days of a plague on the land2 Samuel 24:13
    So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I shall return to him that sent me.
  15. Question 50Hard

    Who was the commander of Hadadezer's army?

    Answer: D. Shobach2 Samuel 10:16
    And Hadarezer sent, and brought out the Syrians that were beyond the river: and they came to Helam; and Shobach the captain of the host of Hadarezer went before them.

Answer key

  1. D. The Ark of God (2 Samuel 6:2)
  2. B. Displeased (2 Samuel 11:27)
  3. B. David (2 Samuel 5:7)
  4. B. It will endure forever (2 Samuel 7:16)
  5. D. Joab (2 Samuel 2:13)
  6. D. Hebron (2 Samuel 2:4)
  7. B. 30 years old (2 Samuel 5:4)
  8. C. The Lord (2 Samuel 12:13)
  9. B. Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 11:3)
  10. False (2 Samuel 12:18)
  11. C. Remaining in Jerusalem (2 Samuel 11:1)
  12. B. You are the man! (2 Samuel 12:7)
  13. C. I will be his father, and he will be my son (2 Samuel 7:14)
  14. D. A crown of gold with precious stones (2 Samuel 12:30)
  15. B. Working with saws, iron picks, and axes (2 Samuel 12:31)
  16. C. Sheba son of Bicri (2 Samuel 20:1)
  17. D. Put him in the front line where the fighting is fiercest and withdraw (2 Samuel 11:15)
  18. B. To farm the land for Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:10)
  19. A. Hiram (2 Samuel 5:11)
  20. B. A wise woman from Tekoa (2 Samuel 14:2)
  21. C. Joab (2 Samuel 3:27)
  22. A. Shimei (2 Samuel 16:5)
  23. C. Got him drunk so he would go home to his wife (2 Samuel 11:13)
  24. D. He dedicated them to the Lord (2 Samuel 8:11)
  25. C. He washed, changed clothes, and worshiped (2 Samuel 12:20)
  26. C. Because the Ark and the army were in tents (2 Samuel 11:11)
  27. A. Did I ever ask any leader to build me a house of cedar? (2 Samuel 7:7)
  28. C. Two of his captains stabbed him in his bed (2 Samuel 4:7)
  29. A. Geshur (2 Samuel 13:37)
  30. A. Nathan (2 Samuel 7:3)
  31. D. A dead dog (2 Samuel 9:8)
  32. True (2 Samuel 21:13-14)
  33. D. All that we have heard with our ears (2 Samuel 7:22)
  34. B. On a new cart (2 Samuel 6:3)
  35. B. The sword would never depart from his house (2 Samuel 12:10)
  36. A. Rizpah (2 Samuel 21:10)
  37. B. 70,000 (2 Samuel 24:15)
  38. B. Zadok and Ahimelech (2 Samuel 8:17)
  39. C. 500,000 (2 Samuel 24:9)
  40. B. Amasa (2 Samuel 19:13)
  41. D. Abel Beth Maacah (2 Samuel 20:15-22)
  42. A. David's royal bodyguard (2 Samuel 8:18)
  43. A. Toi (2 Samuel 8:9)
  44. A. Eleazar son of Dodo (2 Samuel 23:10)
  45. D. Edom (2 Samuel 8:14)
  46. C. Rizpah, Saul's concubine (2 Samuel 3:7-8)
  47. D. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud (2 Samuel 8:16)
  48. D. Zobah (2 Samuel 8:3)
  49. C. Three days of a plague on the land (2 Samuel 24:13)
  50. D. Shobach (2 Samuel 10:16)
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What is the Book of 2 Samuel about?

2 Samuel is the tenth book of the Bible and tells the story of King David's reign. After mourning Saul and Jonathan, David is anointed king over Judah in Hebron and later over all Israel (2 Samuel 5:3). He takes Jerusalem and brings the ark of God there, dancing before the Lord with all his might (2 Samuel 6:14). God promises David that his house and kingdom will be established forever (2 Samuel 7:16).

David shows kindness to Jonathan's son Mephibosheth. But he sins with Bathsheba and arranges the death of her husband Uriah. The prophet Nathan confronts him with a parable and the words, "Thou art the man" (2 Samuel 12:7). Trouble follows in David's family, and his son Absalom leads a revolt, ending when his head is caught in an oak (2 Samuel 18:9). The book closes with David's song of praise and his purchase of a threshing floor for an altar.

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