Bible Quizzes

Exodus

Shmot

Chapters 1:1 – 5:26 · Answers

What discrepancy do you find between 3:18 and 4:29 and 5:1? How do you explain it?
From what verse do you know that the people recognized Moses as an Israelite and not an Egyptian?
How many of Jacob’s family came to Egypt?
What was the Egyptian decree regarding the fate of newborn Jewish males?
What were the 2 signs God gave Moses so that the people would believe him?

Chapters 6:2 – 9:35 · Answers

Why did Moses have to resort to tricks which were mostly duplicated by the Egyptian magicians?
Why do you think the ages of Moses and Aaron are mentioned?
In what way is Pharaoh not only evil but also irrational?
Why are just the three eldest tribes included in the listing in Chapter 6?
What discrepancy is there in Chapter 9:9-10?
Why does Pharaoh say “the Lord is righteous” (9:27) at the time of the plague of hail?

Chapters 10:1 – 13:16 · Answers

Chapters 13:17 – 17:16 · Answers

How large was Pharaoh’s attacking army?
Why did God make the Israelites not take the short route to Canaan?
Why do you think the Israelites had to collect the manna daily instead of once a week? What day of the week were they not to collect the manna?
In what way was the manna a test of faith for them?
The Israelites fought the Amalekites who had attacked them in Refidim. When Moses lifted up his hands, the Israelites kept winning; when his hands grew weak and dropped, the Amalekites kept winning the battle. What do you think this symbolized?

Chapters 18:1 – 20:23 · Answers

Which law in this week’s PARSHA shows that the MIZBEACH (altar) was to be a symbol of peace?
Look in Deuteronomy 5:6ff and compare the Ten Commandments that are given there with the version given in this week’s PARSHA. Can you find the differences?
What advice did Yitro (Jethro) give Moses?
How do we know that “Do not steal” refers to kidnapping?
How does God refer to Himself in the 1st commandment? Why?

Chapters 21:1 – 24:18 · Answers

The Talmud (Bava Metzia 59) indicates that the Torah mentions how we should deal with the stranger no less than 36 times. Where in our PARSHA do we learn that we are not allowed to anger or oppress the stranger? What is the reason given?
The way the Torah demands we treat our servants is vastly different from the way a slave was treated in ancient civilizations (and even in 19th Century America). If a man had no money and sold himself as a servant what was to happen to him after 6 years of servitude?
If a slave owner hit his slave and the slave’s tooth fell out what was to become of the slave?
Where in the PARSHA do we learn that we are to return missing property even if it entails effort on our part?
What festivals are mentioned in Chapter 23?

Chapters 25:1 – 27:19 · Answers

In the second line of this week’s PARSHA (25:2) we read: “Take for Me an offering”. The Malbim, a classic Jewish commentator says, “Their spirit of generosity should not be tainted by any external motive whatsoever, whether for the sake of honor or glory or reward, but that it should be solely for the sake of the Lord”. On what allusion in the text does the Malbim base his explanation?
From what verse may we derive the idea that God is more interested in a holy people than in a holy temple?
Look in the book of I Kings, Chapters 6-8. What are some of the differences between the MISHKAN (desert tabernacle) in our PARSHA and the temple of Solomon?
What religious idea is embedded in the fact that the MISHKAN was to be a portable rather than a permanent structure?
All parts of the Tabernacle were portable. Usually, they were carried by removable poles. Why weren’t the poles for the Ark ever removed (25:15)?

Chapters 27:20 – 30:10 · Answers

Even before all details of the MISHKAN (tabernacle) had been imparted, we find a commandment (27:20-21) that requires the Children of Israel to ensure that there is pure olive oil for the continually burning lamp in the MISHKAN. Why do you think this commandment was inserted here and not after all the details of the MISHKAN had been completed? (HINT: see MISHLEI [Proverbs] Chapter 6 verse 23). What do you think the light represents?
The Torah often strives for the golden mean between extremes (e.g. vegetarianism vs. all meat being permitted; slavery as practiced in the ancient period vs. no servitude at all). Find at least one or more laws in this week’s PARSHA in this category.
What significant moral idea is contained in the injunction that the altar of God is also in need of purification (see: 29:36)?
Why isn’t Moses mentioned in this week’s PARSHA?
What is the connection between 29:46 and the passage preceding it?

Chapters 30:11 – 34:35 · Answers

Why were rich and poor alike to give the same amount of money (MACHTZIT HA’SHEKEL)? What do you think this represents?
Why were only shekalim counted rather than individuals?
Which verse in the PARSHA illustrates the following common family problem: when our son is good he is mine, when he is bad, he is yours?
Which response illustrating the people’s contrition and repentance can you find after the incident of the Golden Calf?
Who was Bezalel and what did he do?
Can you suggest a reason for the sudden mention of Sabbath observance in 31:14?

Chapters 35:1 – 40:38 · Answers

In the very beginning of the PARSHA, we see that a law about keeping the sabbath is suddenly mentioned. Why is this law stressed amidst the laws about building the MISHKAN (tabernacle)? Why do you think it’s here?
Gold can be used for either good or evil purposes. It is not evil in itself. Illustrate this from Exodus Chapter 32 and from this week’s PARSHA.
Which items were the first to be built for the MISHKAN (see Chapter 37)? Why did these items take priority?
The MISHKAN was constructed so it could be set up or dismantled in a short time. How would the Israelites know when to camp or break up camp?
On what date was the MISHKAN set up?
In your opinion, what was the major purpose of the MISHKAN (see: Exodus 25:8; 29:45; and also I Kings 8:27)?