tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11756218998633542012024-02-19T00:39:11.742-07:00Sunday Bible Study: Outlines of Bible HistoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-22049904051234696152010-01-17T12:10:00.000-07:002016-06-19T21:37:57.432-07:00Rehoboam, the first king of Judah<span style="font-size: small;"><b></b><b></b></span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">We have already learned something of Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, in connection with the division of the Kingdom. A true son of his father, he walked at first in paths of righteousness until, surrounded by a numerous harem, his heart was turned away from following the Lord. During his reign, and that of his successor, there was hostility between Judah and Israel, Judah pressing an ineffectual attempt to coerce the revolting tribes of the North.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">REHOBOAM</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(People to remember from 1 Kings)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key Facts: </b>Son of Solomon, first southern king of divided Israel (1 Kings 11:43-12:24)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Mother: </b>Naamah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A21">1 Kings 14:21</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wives: </b>18, including Mahalath and Maacah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+11%3A18-21">2 Chron. 11:18-21</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Children: </b>Abijam, Jeush, Shemariah, Zaham, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith are named among 28 sons and 60 daughters (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+11%3A19-21">2 Chron. 11:19-21</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Death: </b>Recorded in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A31">1 Kings 14:31</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Total Bible References: </b>50</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key References: </b><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A43-12%3A27">1 Kings 11:43-12:27</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A21-31">1 Kings 14:21-31</a></span></div>
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<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: upper-alpha; margin-left: 4.85em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rehoboam (first king). </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">He began in 930 b.c. and reigned seventeen years. </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">His cruel and tactless answer to the demands of some of Israel’s leaders help trigger the tragic civil war (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A1-16">1 Ki. 12:1-16</a>). </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">He is unknowingly helped by Jeroboam who has driven the faithful Levite priests from the north to Jerusalem. These godly men were responsible in the main for Judah’s continuation a century after Assyria had captured the northern kingdom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+11%3A16-17">2 Chron. 11:16, 17</a>). </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rehoboam’s failure doubtless began by his polygamous actions, which involved eighteen wives and sixty concubines; they bore him twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. Another factor in his downfall was his favorite wife, whose name was Maachah. This woman, the daughter of Absalom, apparently exercised an evil influence upon both Rehoboam and Abijam, their son, who succeeded his father. Finally, her wicked power was curbed by her own grandson, King Asa, who deposed her for idol-worshiping (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+11%3A18-23">2 Chron. 11:18-23</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+12%3A1">12:1</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+12%3A14">14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A13">2 Ki. 15:13</a>). As his power grew, so his evil increased. Judah built shrines and obelisks and idols on every high hill and under every green tree. In addition to all this, there was homosexuality throughout the land. This vile and perverted sexual crime had possibly been introduced to the inhabitants of Palestine by Canaan, grandson of Noah. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+9%3A20-25">Gen. 9:20-25</a>.) </span></li>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Now the people of Israel had allowed this sickness of the soul to degrade them also. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul lashes out against sodomy perhaps more severely than against any other single sin. (Read <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+1%3A18-32">Rom. 1:18-32</a>.)</span></div>
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<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the fifth year of Rehoboam’s reign, Judah is invaded by King Shishak of Egypt with a powerful force. Because of Rehoboam’s wickedness, Jerusalem is now invaded by a foreign power for the first time in nearly 100 years. Shishak conquers the fortified cities of Judah and comes to Jerusalem. Shemaiah, the prophet, then leads Rehoboam and the frightened people in a revival. God thus spares Jerusalem, but allows the city to pay tribute to Shishak, that they might realize it is far better to serve their Heavenly King than an earthly one. Shishak plunders the Temple treasury, including the golden shields placed there by Solomon. Rehoboam then replaces them with bronze shields, symbolizing the rapidly deteriorating spiritual condition of Judah. Already the trace of Ichabod could be seen gathering over the southern kingdom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+12%3A2-12">2 Chron. 12:2-12</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+4%3A21">1 Sam. 4:21</a>). </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">After a reign of seventeen years, Rehoboam dies and is succeeded by his son, Abijam (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A31">1 Ki. 14:31</a>). </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Abijam soon finds cause to do battle with his father’s old enemy, Jeroboam. They meet in the field, but Abijam has only 400,000 troops, as opposed to Jeroboam’s 800,000 Israeli soldiers. Just prior to the fighting, Abijam gives a long lecture to Jeroboam and his soldiers concerning the folly of rebelling against the house of David, and the wickedness of their golden calf worship. He contrasts all this to the true Temple worship still carried on in Jerusalem. Upon completing his message, however, Abijam discovers that Jeroboam has secretly outflanked him and they are surrounded. He immediately cries out to God for mercy and the priests blow their trumpets. God then turns the tide of battle their way and Jeroboam is dealt a severe defeat which costs him 500,000 men (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+13%3A1-17">2 Chron. 13:1-17</a>). </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In spite of his heaven-sent victory on the battlefield, Abijam degenerates into a wicked king (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+15%3A3-4">1 Ki. 15:3, 4</a>). After a reign of three years, Abijam dies and is succeeded by his son Asa (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+15%3A8">1 Ki. 15:8</a>). </span></li>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Rehoboam Speaks</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">It's just not fair! Both my father and grandfather lived to reach 70, and ruled over all 12 tribes—for 40 years each. But look at me, only 58, apparently at the end of my life after ruling over just two tribes. It's mostly the fault of those political idiots who advised me at Shechem. Had it not been for their stupid counsel, things no doubt would have turned out differently. If only my father had killed Jeroboam when he had the chance. Without his leadership the 10-tribe revolt probably would not have happened. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A40">1 Kings 11:40</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A1-20">1 Kings 12:1-20</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A21">1 Kings 14:21</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But most of all, I blame Jehovah God. It was his prophet who encouraged Jeroboam. And he allowed the king of Egypt to embarrass me by attacking Jerusalem and carrying off many of our greatest treasures. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A29-40">1 Kings 11:29-40</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A25-28">1 Kings 14:25-28</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, for better or for worse, I've done things my way. Admittedly, at the very beginning I forsook the God of Solomon and David. It is painfully obvious now that in the final days of life he has forsaken me! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+12%3A1">2 Chron. 12:1</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+12%3A13-16">13-16</a>)</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Spiritual Lessons from Rehoboam</span></i><br />
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<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">"A hothead starts fights; a cool-tempered person tries to stop them" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Pr+15%3A18">Proverbs 15:18</a>). Scripture's most tragic example of this is seen in Rehoboam's senseless answer to Israel's northern leaders, which triggered the civil war (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A1-16">1 Kings 12:1-16</a>). </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">When seeking advice, we should value the voice of experience (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A1-16">1 Kings 12:1-16</a>). </li>
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Key Verse</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"But when Rehoboam was firmly established and strong, he abandoned the law of the Lord, and all Israel followed him in this sin" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+12%3A1">2 Chron. 12:1</a>).</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-14689471953124481042010-01-17T12:08:00.000-07:002010-01-17T12:08:02.393-07:00Judah, The Southern Kingdom<span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. JUDAH, THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM</b></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Two Kingdoms stood side by side for 259 years. After the fall of Israel, Judah continued 135 years longer.<br />
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Southern Kingdom Rulers Overview<br />
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</span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Rehoboam</b> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A42-14%3A31">1 Ki. 11:42-14:31</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+9%3A31-12%3A16">2 Chron. 9:31-12:16</a>). </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the son of Solomon. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">His stupidity caused the civil war of Israel. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He had eighteen wives and sixty concubines. They gave him twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">His favorite wife was Maachah, the evil daughter of Absalom. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was invaded by Shishak of Egypt. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled seventeen years (931-914 b.c.).</span></li>
</ul><br />
<div><div> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>2. Abijam</b> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A31-15%3A8">1 Ki. 14:31-15:8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+13%3A1-22">2 Chron. 13:1-22</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He defeated (by supernatural intervention) the northern king, Jeroboam, on the battlefield. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In spite of God’s help at this time, he later degenerated into a wicked king. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled three years (914-911 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>3. Asa </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+15%3A8-14">1 Ki. 15:8-14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+14%3A1-16%3A14">2 Chron. 14:1-16:14</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was Judah’s first righteous king. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He led Judah in a revival and was a great builder. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">God answered his prayer and delivered him from a massive Ethiopian attack. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He even deposed his own grandmother Maachah because of her idolatry. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He later was rebuked by a prophet for his sin and responded by throwing him in prison. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He died with a foot disease which problem he refused to take to God. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled forty-one years (911-870 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. Jehoshaphat </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+22%3A41-50">1 Ki. 22:41-50</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+17%3A1-20%3A37">2 Chron. 17:1-20:37</a>). </span> <ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the second righteous king of Judah.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He instituted a nationwide Bible education program. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He compromised with Ahab and his two sons, Ahaziah and Jehoram. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for twenty-five years (873-848 b.c.). </span></li>
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</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. Joram </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A26-29">2 Ki. 8:26-29</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+21%3A1-20">2 Chron. 21:1-20</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He married Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel and Ahab. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He began his reign by murdering his six brothers. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He received a posthumous message from Elijah predicting judgment upon him because of his wicked and murderous reign. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was attacked and defeated by the Philistines and Arabians. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He died of a horrible disease and was unmourned at the funeral. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for eight years (853-845 b.c.). </span></li>
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</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>6. Ahaziah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A24-9%3A29">2 Ki. 8:24-9:29</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+22%3A1-9">2 Chron. 22:1-9</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was killed by Jehu (tenth northern king) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for one year (841 b.c.). </span></li>
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</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>7. Athaliah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+11%3A1-20">2 Ki. 11:1-20</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+22%3A1-23%3A21">2 Chron. 22:1-23:21</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">She was the mother of the slain Ahaziah. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">At his death she slaughtered all his children except one who was hidden from her. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">She herself was later executed. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">She ruled for six years (841-835 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>8. Joash </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+11%3A1-12%3A21">2 Ki. 11:1-12:21</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+22%3A10-24%3A27">2 Chron. 22:10-24:27</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the surviving heir of Athaliah’s bloodbath. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">For awhile he lived for God but later became a cruel leader. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He sanctioned the stoning of Zechariah, the godly Jewish high priest who had rebuked Judah’s sin and called for national repentance. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was executed by his own palace guard. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for forty years (835-795 b.c.). </span></li>
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</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>9. Amaziah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+14%3A1-20">2 Ki. 14:1-20</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A1-2">2 Chron. 25:1-2</a>,<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A8">8</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was a good king for awhile, and executed the men who had assassinated his father, Joash. But he did not kill their children, obeying the Mosaic law which said the sons were not to be killed for the sins of their fathers (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+24%3A16">Deut. 24:16</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+18%3A4">Ezek. 18:4</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+18%3A20">20</a>). (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A1-4">2 Chron. 25:1-4</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+12%3A21">2 Ki. 12:21</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+14%3A1-6">14:1-6</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Amaziah then organized the army of Judah and found he had an army of 300,000. He then hired 100,000 experienced mercenary soldiers from Israel for $200,000 to help him fight against Edom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A5-6">2 Chron. 25:5, 6</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was warned against this by a prophet. The king reluctantly sent these mercenaries home, bitterly resenting the lost money he had paid them. But the prophet reassured him, "The Lord is able to give thee much more than this" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A9">2 Chron. 25:9</a>). Here is a precious spiritual gem that should be carefully considered whenever God requires us to give up our time, talent, treasure, or anything close and precious to us. See Jesus’ stirring words to Peter in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+19%3A27-29">Matthew 19:27-29</a>. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The Israelite troops returned home, also angry and frustrated. On the way they raided several cities of Judah and killed 3000 people (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A13">2 Chron. 25:13</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Amaziah went into battle with only his own troops and soundly defeated Edom, killing 20,000 enemy soldiers (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A11">25:11</a>). But the foolish king brought back with him some Edomite idols and began worshiping them. God warned the king, through a prophet, of his divine anger. Amaziah refused to listen and curtly dismissed him, but not before the king’s doom was predicted (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+25%3A14-16">25:14-16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The overconfident Amaziah then declared war on northern king Jehoash, for the disgraceful action of the returning Israelite mercenaries (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+25%3A17">25:17</a>). Northern king Jehoash responded to Amaziah’s challenge by relating the second (and final) Old Testament fable. (For the first one, see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jdg+9%3A8-15">Jdg. 9:8-15</a>.) Note the language of this fable: </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A18">2 Chron. 25:18</a>).</span></i><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Jehoash was at this point warning Amaziah not to let his Edomite victory blind him to reality but to withdraw his arrogant declaration of war. But the plea fell on deaf ears. </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Amaziah was soundly defeated by Jehoash at Beth-shemesh and was led as a common prisoner back to his own capital in Jerusalem. Upon arriving, Jehoash dismantled 200 yards of the city walls to effect an impressive victory celebration. He then carried off all the treasures of the Temple and palace. Finally the northern king left, taking with him many hostages (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+25%3A21-24">2 Chron. 25:21-24</a>).</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for twenty-nine years (796-767 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul><br />
</div><div> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>10. Uzziah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A1-7">2 Ki. 15:1-7</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+26%3A1-23">2 Chron. 26:1-23</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was a mighty warrior and builder. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He attempted to intrude into the office of the priest. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was punished for this sin by leprosy. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for fifty-two years (792-740 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>11. Jotham </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A32-38">2 Ki. 15:32-38</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+27%3A1-9">2 Chron. 27:1-9</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was a good king (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+27%3A6">2 Chron. 27:6</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He built the upper gate of the Temple and erected fortresses and towers. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He defeated the Ammonites and received a huge annual tribute of silver and wheat from them. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for sixteen years (750-732 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>12. Ahaz </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+16%3A1-20">2 Ki. 16:1-20</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+28%3A1-27">2 Chron. 28:1-27</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was perhaps the second worst king of Judah. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He sacrificed his own children to devilish gods. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the first person to hear about the virgin birth. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled sixteen years (732-716 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>13. Hezekiah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A1-20%3A21">2 Ki. 18:1-20:21</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+29%3A1-32%3A33">2 Chron. 29:1-32:33</a>). </span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the second best king of Judah. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was also the richest of all. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He organized the greatest Passover celebration since the days of Solomon. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He saw the death angel defeat the Assyrian enemies which had surrounded Jerusalem. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was supernaturally healed and given an additional fifteen years to live. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for twenty-nine years (716-687). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>14. Manasseh </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+21%3A1-18">2 Ki. 21:1-18</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+33%3A1-20">2 Chron. 33:1-20</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled longer than any northern or southern king. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the worst of all the kings. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He experienced the new birth prior to his death. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled fifty-five years (697-642 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>15. Amon </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+21%3A19-26">2 Ki. 21:19-26</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+33%3A21-25">2 Chron. 33:21-25</a>). </span><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was, like his father Manasseh, a wicked sinner. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was, unlike his father Manasseh, unrepentant. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was executed by his own household servants. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled two years (643-641 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul><br />
</div><div> <span style="font-size: small;"><b>16. Josiah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+22%3A1-23%3A30">2 Ki. 22:1-23:30</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+34%3A1-35%3A27">2 Chron. 34:1-35:27</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the best king since David. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The book of Moses was discovered in the Temple during his reign. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He led his people in a great revival. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the last good king of Judah. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was killed in a battle with the Egyptians. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for thirty-one years (641-610 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>17. Jehoahaz </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A31-33">2 Ki. 23:31-33</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+36%3A1-4">2 Chron. 36:1-4</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">This middle son of Josiah had both a sinful (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A32">2 Ki. 23:32</a>) and short-lived (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A30-31">2 Ki. 23:30, 31</a>) reign. He was deposed by Pharaoh Necho (who had previously killed his father, Josiah, in battle), after but ninety days on the throne (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A33">2 Ki. 23:33</a>). Necho then leveled a tax against Judah totaling $230,000. Jehoahaz was eventually carried into Egypt where he died in captivity (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A34">2 Ki. 23:34</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Jehoahaz’s younger brother, Eliakim (renamed Jehoiakim by Necho), was chosen by the Egyptian king to succeed him on the throne of Judah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A34">2 Ki. 23:34</a>). Things were now at rock bottom when the devil’s man could pick the king over the Lord’s people! </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for three months (609 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>18. Jehoiakim </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+23%3A34-24%3A5">2 Ki. 23:34-24:5</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+36%3A5-7">2 Chron. 36:5-7</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the brother of Jehoahaz. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was probably Judah’s third worst king. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He persecuted Jeremiah the prophet. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He experienced the first of Nebuchadnezzar’s fearsome "visits" to Jerusalem. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">During this time Daniel and other Hebrew young people were taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He died, and as Jeremiah had predicted, received the burial of an ass. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for eleven years (609-598). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>19. Jehoiachin </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A6-16">2 Ki. 24:6-16</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+36%3A8-10">2 Chron. 36:8-10</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the son of Jehoiakim, and grandson of Josiah. Jehoiachin was also called Coniah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+22%3A24">Jer. 22:24</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+22%3A28">28</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+37%3A1">37:1</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He began ruling at eighteen (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A8">2 Ki. 24:8</a>). Note: There is a textual problem here, for <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+36%3A9">2 Chronicles 36:9</a> informs us he was eight years old. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was an evil king (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A9">2 Ki. 24:9</a>). Because of this: </span></li>
</ul><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Both Ezekiel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+19%3A5-9">19:5-9</a>) and Jeremiah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+22%3A24-26">22:24-26</a>) predicted that he would be carried off into the Babylonian captivity. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was to be regarded as childless, as none of his children would ever sit upon the throne of David or rule in Judah. </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The New Scofield Bible observes:</i></span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 5.4em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"This declaration does not mean that he would have no children, for in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ch+3%3A17-18">1 Chron. 3:17, 18</a>, some are named (Cf. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+1%3A12">Mt. 1:12</a>). By divine judgment, this king was to be written childless, i.e., no physical descendant would occupy a place in the list of Israel’s kings. Consequently, if our Lord Jesus, who is to occupy David’s throne (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+1%3A32-33">Lk. 1:32, 33</a>), had been begotten by Mary’s husband, Joseph, who was of the line of Jeconiah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+1%3A12">Mt. 1:12</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+1%3A16">16</a>), it would have contradicted this divine prediction. Christ’s dynastic right to the throne came through his foster father, Joseph, from Jeconiah, but the physical descent of Jesus from David came through Mary, whose genealogy is traced to David through Nathan, rather than through Solomon." (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+3%3A31">Lk. 3:31</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+1%3A17">Mt. 1:17</a>.) (pp. 793, 794)</span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Jehoiachin was captured during the eighth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A12">2 Ki. 24:12</a>) and carried into Babylon, along with 10,000 other Jewish captives (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+24%3A1">Jer. 24:1</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+29">29</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A14-15">2 Ki. 24:14, 15</a>). Ezekiel was also carried away at this time. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He then appointed Zedekiah (Jehoiachin’s great uncle) to occupy the throne of Judea (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A17">2 Ki. 24:17</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Jehoiachin was placed in a Babylonian prison, where he remained for thirty-six years, until the death of Nebuchadnezzar. He was then released by the new Babylonian monarch, Evil-Merodach, who not only freed him, but gave him a seat at the king’s own table and an allowance for his support (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+25%3A27-30">2 Ki. 25:27-30</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+52%3A31-34">Jer. 52:31-34</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for three months (598 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>20. Zedekiah </b>(<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+24%3A17-25%3A30">2 Ki. 24:17-25:30</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+36%3A11-21">2 Chron. 36:11-21</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He was the youngest son of Josiah. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. For this he was blinded and carried off as a captive to Babylon. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He ruled for eleven years (597-586 b.c.). </span></li>
</ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-72336274054702556102010-01-17T12:05:00.000-07:002010-01-17T12:05:10.619-07:00Hoshea<span style="font-size: small;">Hoshea (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A20-17%3A6">2 Ki. 15:20-17:6</a>). <br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
He was the last ruler of the northern kingdom. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
After becoming a vassal to the Assyrian king, Shalmaneser, Hoshea joined with Egypt in rebelling against Assyria. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
For this he was imprisoned and the people were exiled to Assyria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A4-6">2 Ki. 17:4-6</a>). Hoshea thus became the last of the northern kings. <br />
<br />
Eight died natural deaths, seven were murdered, one died a suicide, one in battle, one under judgment of God, one in a fall. Not a single ruler turned to God. <br />
<br />
From this captivity, the ten tribes have never been restored to Palestine. In fact, they would soon lose their very tribal identity (but not their ancestry). <br />
<br />
The future restoration of all twelve tribes of Israel will be consummated at the Second Coming of Christ. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+24%3A27-31">Mt. 24:27-31</a>.) <br />
<br />
The righteous God had to cut off Israel for their sin. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A7-18">2 Ki. 17:7-18</a>.) </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
The King of Assyria then transplanted colonies of people from various foreign countries into the depopulated land of northern Israel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A24">2 Ki. 17:24</a>). </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
Soon after their arrival, a plague of man-eating lions, sent by God, terrified the land. In desperation, the colonists sent a message to the Assyrian ruler, asking for the ministry of a Jehovah prophet, that the plague be stopped (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A25-26">17:25, 26</a>). <br />
<br />
This lion plague had been predicted by Moses centuries back. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ex+23%3A29">Ex. 23:29</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+26%3A21">Lev. 26:21</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+26%3A22">22</a>.) </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
A prophet arrived and began his ministry from Bethel. The lion plague disappeared and a form of Jehovah-worship appeared, but only in form, as the people continued with their idol-worship as well (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A27-34">2 Ki. 17:27-34</a>). <br />
<br />
This is the beginning of the Samaritan race and religion which was prevalent in the time of Jesus. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+4">Jn. 4</a>.) </span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
Hoshea ruled for nine years (732-723 b.c.).</span><br />
<div style="color: windowtext; font-family: Times New Roman; text-align: left;"><span style="color: navy;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
Hoshea </span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Hoshe'a</b> (<i>salvation</i>).</span></div><div style="color: windowtext; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. The nineteenth, last and best king of Israel. He succeeded Pekah, whom he slew in a successful conspiracy, thereby fulfilling a prophecy of Isaiah. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+7%3A16">Isai 7:16</a> In the third year of his reign (b.c. 726) Shalmaneser cruelly stormed the strong caves of Beth-arbel, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+8%3A14">Hose 8:14</a> and made cruel tributary, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A3">2 Kin 17:3</a> for three years. At the end of this period Hoshea entered into a secret alliance with So, king, of Egypt, to throw off the Assyrian yoke. The alliance did him no good; it was revealed, to the court of Nineveh by the Assyrian party in Ephraim, and Hoshea was immediately seized as a rebellious vasal, shut up in prison, and apparently treated with the utmost indignity. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mic+5%3A1">Mica 5:1</a> Of the subsequent fortunes of Hoshea nothing is known.</span></div><div style="color: windowtext; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. The son of Nun, i.e. Joshua, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+32%3A44">Deut 32:44</a> and also in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Nu+13%3A8">Numb 13:8</a> though to there the Authorized Version has <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/book.asp?pub=0&book=138&sec=00009363#link592">OSHEA</a>.</span></div><div style="color: windowtext; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. Shon of Azaziah, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ch+27%3A20">1 Chr 27:20</a> like his great namesake, a man of Ephraim, ruler of his tribe in the time of King David. (b.c. 1019.)</span></div><div style="color: windowtext; font-family: Times New Roman; margin-left: 1.5em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. One of the heads of the people who sealed the covenant with Nehemiah. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ne+10%3A23">Nehe 10:23</a> (b.c. 410.) </span></div>—Smith's Bible Dictionary<br />
<br />
<h2 style="color: navy; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Hoshea</span></b></h2><a href="" name="Hoshea"></a> Salvation.<br />
(1.) The original name of the son of Nun, afterwards called Joshua (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Nu+13%3A8">Num 13:8</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Nu+13%3A16">16</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+32%3A44">Deut 32:44</a>).<br />
(2.) <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ch+27%3A20">1Ch 27:20</a>. The ruler of Ephraim in David's time.<br />
(3.) The last king of Israel. He conspired against and slew his predecessor, Pekah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+7%3A16">Isa 7:16</a>), but did not ascend the throne till after an interregnum of warfare of eight years (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A1-2">2Ki 17:1, 2</a>). Soon after this he submitted to Shalmaneser, the Assyrian king, who a second time invaded the land to punish Hoshea, because of his withholding tribute which he had promised to pay. A second revolt brought back the Assyrian king Sargon, who besieged Samaria, and carried the ten tribes away beyond the Euphrates, B.C. 720 (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A5-6">2Ki 17:5, 6</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A9-12">2Ki 18:9-12</a>). No more is heard of Hoshea. He disappeared like "foam upon the water" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+10%3A7">Hos 10:7</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+13%3A11">Hos 13:11</a>).<br />
—Easton's Illustrated Dictionary<br />
<br />
<h2 style="color: navy; margin: 1em 0px 0.5em; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Assyria</span></b></h2><a href="" name="Assyria"></a> The name derived from the city Asshur on the Tigris, the original capital of the country, was originally a colony from Babylonia, and was ruled by viceroys from that kingdom. It was a mountainous region lying to the north of Babylonia, extending along the Tigris as far as to the high mountain range of Armenia, the Gordiaean or Carduchian mountains. It was founded in B.C. 1700 under Bel-kap-kapu, and became an independent and a conquering power, and shook off the yoke of its Babylonian masters. It subdued the whole of Northern Asia. The Assyrians were Semites (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+10%3A22">Gen 10:22</a>), but in process of time non-Semite tribes mingled with the inhabitants. They were a military people, the "Romans of the East."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lion-Hunt by Assur-Bani-Pal B.C. 668</span></b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Easton-35.png" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">From a photograph of a marble slab in the British Museum<br />
Assur-bani-pal on horseback spearing a lion, and a lion attacking his horse. From sculptures discovered in the ruins of the palace of Assur-bani-pal at Nineveh.</span></i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
</div>Of the early history of the kingdom of Assyria little is positively known. In B.C. 1120 Tiglath-pileser I., the greatest of the Assyrian kings, "crossed the Euphrates, defeated the kings of the Hittites, captured the city of Carchemish, and advanced as far as the shores of the Mediterranean." He may be regarded as the founder of the first Assyrian empire. After this the Assyrians gradually extended their power, subjugating the states of Northern Syria. In the reign of Ahab, king of Israel, Shalmaneser II. marched an army against the Syrian states, whose allied army he encountered and vanquished at Karkar. This led to Ahab's casting off the yoke of Damascus and allying himself with Judah. Some years after this the Assyrian king marched an army against Hazael, king of Damascus. He besieged and took that city. He also brought under tribute Jehu, and the cities of Tyre and Sidon.<br />
About a hundred years after this (B.C. 745) the crown was seized by a military adventurer called Pul, who assumed the name of Tiglath-pileser III. He directed his armies into Syria, which had by this time regained its independence, and took (B.C. 740) Arpad, near Aleppo, after a siege of three years, and reduced Hamath. Azariah (Uzziah) was an ally of the king of Hamath, and thus was compelled by Tiglath-pileser to do him homage and pay a yearly tribute.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Lion-Hunt by Assur-Bani-Pal B.C. 668</span></b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Easton-36.png" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">From a photograph of a marble slab in the British Museum<br />
Part of the sculptures from King Assur-bani-pal's palace at Nineveh. Assur-bani-pal in his chariot, with attendant killing a lion.</span></i><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
</div>In B.C. 738, in the reign of Menahem, king of Israel, Pul invaded Israel, and imposed on it a heavy tribute (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A19">2Ki 15:19</a>). Ahaz, the king of Judah, when engaged in a war against Israel and Syria, appealed for help to this Assyrian king by means of a present of gold and silver (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+16%3A8">2Ki 16:8</a>); who accordingly "marched against Damascus, defeated and put Rezin to death, and besieged the city itself." Leaving a portion of his army to continue the siege, "he advanced through the province east of Jordan, spreading fire and sword," and became master of Philistia, and took Samaria and Damascus. He died B.C. 727, and was succeeded by Shalmanezer IV., who ruled till B.C. 722. He also invaded Syria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A5">2Ki 17:5</a>), but was deposed in favour of Sargon (q.v.) the Tartan, or commander-in-chief of the army, who took Samaria (q.v.) after a siege of three years, and so put an end to the kingdom of Israel, carrying the people away into captivity, B.C. 722 (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A1-6">2Ki 17:1-6</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A24">24</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A7">2Ki 18:7</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A9">9</a>). He also overran the land of Judah, and took the city of Jerusalem (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+10%3A6">Isa 10:6</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+10%3A12">12</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+10%3A22">22</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+10%3A24">24</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+10%3A34">34</a>). Mention is next made of Sennacherib (B.C. 705), the son and successor of Sargon (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A13">2Ki 18:13</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+19%3A37">2Ki 19:37</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+7%3A17-18">Isa 7:17, 18</a>); and then of Esar-haddon, his son and successor, who took Manasseh, king of Judah, captive, and kept him for some time a prisoner at Babylon, which he alone of all the Assyrian kings made the seat of his government (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+19%3A37">2Ki 19:37</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+37%3A38">Isa 37:38</a>).<br />
Assur-bani-pal, the son of Esarhaddon, became king, and in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ezr+4%3A10">Ezra 4:10</a> is referred to as Asnapper. From an early period Assyria had entered on a conquering career, and having absorbed Babylon, the kingdoms of Hamath, Damascus, and Samaria, it conquered Phoenicia, and made Judea feudatory, and subjected Philistia and Idumea. At length, however, its power declined. In B.C. 727 the Babylonians threw off the rule of the Assyrians, under the leadership of the powerful Chaldean prince Merodach-baladan (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+20%3A12">2Ki 20:12</a>), who, after twelve years, was subdued by Sargon, who now reunited the kingdom, and ruled over a vast empire. But on his death the smouldering flames of rebellion again burst forth, and the Babylonians and Medes successfully asserted their independence (B.C. 625), and Assyria fell according to the prophecies of Isaiah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+10%3A5-19">Isa 10:5-19</a>), Nahum (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Na+3%3A19">Nah 3:19</a>), and Zephaniah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Zep+3%3A13">Zep 3:13</a>), and the many separate kingdoms of which it was composed ceased to recognize the "great king" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+18%3A19">2Ki 18:19</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+36%3A4">Isa 36:4</a>). Ezekiel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+31">Ezek 31</a>) attests (about B.C. 586) how completely Assyria was overthrown. It ceases to be a nation. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/book.asp?pub=0&book=15&sec=00010293#NINEVEH">NINEVEH</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/book.asp?pub=0&book=15&sec=00001542#BABYLON">BABYLON</a>.)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Easton-37.png" /><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Map of Assyria</span></i><br />
</div>—Easton's Illustrated DictionaryUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-80735608797740735792010-01-17T11:59:00.002-07:002010-01-17T11:59:48.571-07:00Hosea<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="" name="link124">Hosea (755-715 b.c.)</a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key Facts: </b>Prophet, told by God to marry a prostitute (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A2">Hosea 1:2</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Father: </b>Beeri (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A1">Hosea 1:1</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Wife: </b>Gomer (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A2-3">Hosea 1:2-3</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Sons: </b>Jezreel, Lo-ammi (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A4">Hosea 1:4</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A9">9</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Daughter: </b>Lo-ruhamah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A6">Hosea 1:6</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Total Bible References: </b>4</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key References: </b><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1-14">Hosea 1-14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+9%3A25">Romans 9:25</a></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>PURPOSE:</b> To reveal God's unconditional love, especially illustrated in contrast to the sinful harlotry of His people.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>TO WHOM WRITTEN:</b> The Northern Kingdom (Israel).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>MAIN THEME:</b> A spiritual message. Apostasy from God is spiritual adultery.</span><br />
</div><ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li>God, the husband,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A20">Hosea 2:20</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+54%3A5">Isaiah 54:5</a>. </li>
<li>Israel, the unchaste wife,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A2">Hosea 2:2</a>. </li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>KEY WORDS:</b> Unconditional love.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>KEY VERSE:</b> <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+3%3A1">Hosea 3:1</a>.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>NOTABLE PASSAGE:</b> Penitence and its blessings,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+14">Hosea 14</a>.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">SYNOPSIS:</span></b><br />
</div><ol style="list-style-type: upper-roman;"><li><b>Israel's apostasy</b> symbolized by the experience of the prophet in his marriage,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1-3">Hosea 1-3</a>. </li>
<li><b>Prophetic discourses,</b> chiefly descriptions of the backsliding and idolatry of the people mingled with threatenings and exhortations,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+4-13">Hosea 4-13</a>. </li>
</ol>The formal call to repentance and promises of future blessings,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+14">Hosea 14</a>.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE HIGHLY FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE</b> used to express the evil conditions in Israel.</span><br />
</div><ol style="list-style-type: decimal;"><li>The valley of Achor for a door of hope,—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A15">Hosea 2:15</a>. <i>See</i> <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jos+7%3A24-26">Joshua 7:24-26</a>. </li>
<li>"Joined to idols,"—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+4%3A17">Hosea 4:17</a>. </li>
<li>"Mixes... with the nations" (no longer a separated and holy nation),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+7%3A8">Hosea 7:8</a>. </li>
<li>"A cake not turned" (dough on one side, expressing half-heartedness),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+7%3A8">Hosea 7:8</a>. </li>
<li>"Strangers devour his strength" (weakened by evil associations),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+7%3A9">Hosea 7:9</a>. </li>
<li>"Grey hairs also are sprinkled on him" (premature old age and unconscious deterioration),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+7%3A9">Hosea 7:9</a>. </li>
<li>"Israel swallowed up" (national identity lost),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+8%3A8">Hosea 8:8</a>. </li>
<li>"A vessel in which no one delights" (a marred and useless vessel to the Lord),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+8%3A8">Hosea 8:8</a>. </li>
<li>"False balances" (commercial trickery in business),—<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+12%3A7">Hosea 12:7</a>. </li>
</ol><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>PROMINENT PEOPLE:</b> Hosea, Gomer, their children.</span><br />
</div>Thompson Chain Reference Bible.<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Key Verse</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">"Go and marry a prostitute, so some of her children will be born to you from other men. This will illustrate the way my people have been untrue to me, openly committing adultery against the Lord by worshiping other gods" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A2">Hosea 1:2</a>).</span></i><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="" name="link124"><br />
</a></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Introduction:</span></b><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">Hosea’s name means "salvation." He was a prophet to the northern kingdom, and wept over their sins, as Jeremiah later wept over Judah’s sins. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Hosea is perhaps the strangest book in all the Bible, for God instructed his prophet to "take unto thee a wife of whoredoms."</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
There were several reasons why God did this.</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><u><br />
The experimental reason</u>. By marrying an unfaithful wife, Hosea could, as perhaps no other single prophet, understand somewhat the anguish in God’s own heart over the northern kingdom, whose people were constantly committing spiritual fornication and adultery against Jehovah.</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<br />
God had often compared his relationship to Israel to that of a marriage. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+62%3A5">Isa. 62:5</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A19">Hos. 2:19</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jer+3%3A14">Jer. 3:14</a>.)</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><u>The illustrative reason</u>. His own marriage would become a walking and visible example of his message to Israel. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><u><br />
The prophetical reason</u>. God would command him to name his children by those titles which would describe the future punishment and eventual restoration of all Israel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He may have ministered longer than any other prophet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Hosea predicted the Assyrian invasion, and later lived to see these prophecies fulfilled in 721 b.c. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In his book he refers to the northern kingdom as Ephraim constantly. Ephraim was the first of the twelve tribes of Israel to backslide. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Hosea is quoted more times for its size in the New Testament than any other Old Testament book, for a total of some thirty times. Compare: </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+11%3A1">Hosea 11:1</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+2%3A15">Matthew 2:15</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+6%3A6">Hosea 6:6</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+9%3A13">Matthew 9:13</a> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+10%3A8">Hosea 10:8</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+23%3A30">Luke 23:30</a> </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A23">Hosea 2:23</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+13%3A14">Romans 9:25</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+13%3A14">Hosea 13:14</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Co+15%3A55">1 Corinthians 15:55</a></span></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
<div> <span style="font-size: small;">A Grieving Husband and His Grievous Wife (Hosea vs. Gomer) (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos.%201-3">1-3</a>). </span> <br />
</div><div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Hosea’s wife, ill-famed. His wife Gomer was apparently a harlot before marriage and an adulteress after marriage. Hosea attempts in vain to save this marriage by: </span><br />
<br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Barring her from the markets of the world. "Therefore, behold I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall that she shall not find her paths" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A6">2:6</a>). <br />
</span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Hosea thought he could force her to remain home in this manner. He even sought the help of his first son, Jezreel, asking him to reason with his mother concerning the folly of her ways.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">"Plead with your mother, contend; for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband. Let her, therefore, put away her harlotry out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A2">2:2</a>).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">But all this was to no avail. Gomer apparently continues to run off at the first opportunity.</span></li>
</ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Buying her out of the markets of the world. It was not long before Gomer had been used, abused, and abandoned by her lustful lovers, and found herself in a slave market. </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">God ordered Hosea to find and redeem her from this market. "So I bought her for myself for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+3%3A2">3:2</a>).</span></li>
</ul></ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Hosea’s children, ill-named. The prophet fathered three children through Gomer. Each child (at God’s command) was given a name which carried with it prophetical meaning. <br />
<br />
<u>The first child</u>, a boy, named <i>Jezreel</i> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A4">1:4</a>), meaning "to be scattered," predicted two future events. </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The setting aside of the dynasty of a northern king named Jehu. This brutal and bloody king had slain many in and around the city of Jezreel. Among his victims were: </span></li>
</ul><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">the northern king Jehoram and the Judean king Ahaziah on the same day (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A14-28">2 Ki. 9:14-28</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Jezebel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A33">2 Ki. 9:33</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ahab’s seventy sons (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A1-10">2 Ki. 10:1-10</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ahab’s distant relatives and political friends (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A11">2 Ki. 10:11</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A17">17</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">the royal princes of Judah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A12-14">2 Ki. 10:12-14</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">the priests of Baal (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A18-28">2 Ki. 10:18-28</a>) </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">While God did indeed order him to avenge Naboth, whose innocent blood Ahab had shed (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21">1 Ki. 21</a>), the brutal Jehu went too far in his bloodletting. Because of this, Jehu would be allowed only four generations upon Israel’s throne (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A30">2 Ki. 10:30</a>). These were:</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>first generation</u>, Jehoahaz, his son</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>second generation</u>, Jehoash, his grandson</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>third generation</u>, Jeroboam II, his great-grandson</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 80px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>fourth generation</u>, Zechariah, his great-great-grandson</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the time of the birth of Hosea’s son, Jehu’s third generation was ruling, in the person of Jeroboam II. Thus, it would not be long until the dynasty would end. This, of course, happened in the days of Zechariah, who was murdered after a reign of but six months (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A12">2 Ki. 15:12</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Assyrian invasion, at which time the entire northern kingdom would be scattered (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A5">1:5</a>).</span></li>
</ul><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><u>The second child</u>, a girl, named <i>Lo-ruha-mah</i> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Zec+1%3A6">1:6</a>). This name literally meant, "no more mercy," indicating that God’s judgment was just around the comer. Along with this baby, however, came the promise that God would spare Judah, the southern kingdom, of this coming Assyrian invasion. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Zec+1%3A7">1:7</a>.) This, of course, happened as recorded in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+19%3A35">2 Kings 19:35</a>.</span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>The third child</u>, a boy, named <i>Lo-ammi</i> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A9">1:9</a>). Here the name means "not my people."</span><br />
</div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">A Grieving Husband and His Grievous Wife (God vs. Ephraim) (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A14">4:14</a>). </span> <br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Ephraim denounced: </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Because of her ignorance: </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A6">4:6</a>).</span></li>
</ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Because of her idolatry: </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">"My people ask counsel of their idols... they sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and bum incense upon the hills... Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A12-13">4:12, 13</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A17">17</a>).</span></li>
</ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Because of immorality: </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">"I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hidden from me; for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredoms, and Israel is defiled" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A3">5:3</a>).</span></li>
</ul></ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Ephraim desired: In spite of her wickedness, God still loved her. </span><br />
</div><div><i><span style="font-size: small;">"O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goeth away" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A4">6:4</a>).</span></i><br />
</div><div> <span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Ephraim described: </span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">She was aflame with lust like a baker’s hot oven (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+7%3A4">7:4</a>). God said the hearts of the people smolder with evil plots during the night, and burst into flaming fire the next morning. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They mingled with the heathen and had become as useless as a half-baked cake (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7%3A8">7:8</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were as a silly dove, calling to Egypt, and flying to Assyria for help (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7%3A11">7:11</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were as a crooked bow, always missing the target, which was God’s glory (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7%3A16">7:16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They lay among the nations as a broken pot (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A8">8:8</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were as a wandering and lonely wild ass (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A9">8:9</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were as a dried up root (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A16">9:16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were as an empty vine (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A1">10:1</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were as a backsliding heifer (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A16">4:16</a>). </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Ephraim disciplined: God declared, </span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A7">8:7</a>). (See also <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A13">10:13</a>.)</span></i><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">God would therefore (for awhile) withhold his mercy from them (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A4">2:4</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They would be many days without (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A4">3:4</a>): </span></li>
</ul><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">A king: In 721 b.c. Hoshea, Israel’s last king, was dethroned, and in 587 b.c., Zedekiah, Judah’s final king, was deposed. Some six centuries later Israel’s only true king was rejected (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+19%3A15">Jn. 19:15</a>). Thus, this tragic situation will continue until he comes again (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+19%3A11-16">Rev. 19:11-16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A prince: The next recorded prince in Israel’s future will not minister until the millennium. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+44%3A3">Ezek. 44:3</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A sacrifice: In a.d. 70 Titus destroyed the Temple and all animal sacrifices ceased. During the tribulation they will once again be instituted, only to be stopped by the antichrist (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Da+9%3A27">Dan. 9:27</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An image: This literally means, "the pillars," and may refer to the Temple. A temple will be rebuilt during the tribulation (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+13">Rev. 13</a>), destroyed (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Zec+14%3A2">Zech. 14:2</a>), and again raised during the millennium (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+40%3A48">Ezek. 40:48</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An ephod: A reference to Israel’s high priesthood. The ephod was a garment he wore. Her last high priest personally planned the murder of the nation’s own Messiah. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+11%3A49-51">Jn. 11:49-51</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+26%3A57-68">Mt. 26:57-68</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Teraphim: These were normally figurines, or images in human form. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+31%3A34">Gen. 31:34</a>.) It is not known what Hosea had in mind here. </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">They would go off as slaves into Assyria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+10%3A6">10:6</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They would be (for awhile) swallowed up among the nations (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+8%3A8">8:8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+9%3A17">9:17</a>). </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Ephraim delivered. Someday this glorious event will indeed take place. Note the following passages: </span><ol><li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A19">Hosea 2:19</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A23">23</a> </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+3%3A5">Hosea 3:5</a> </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+6%3A1-3">Hosea 6:1-3</a> </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+11%3A1">Hosea 11:1</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+11%3A4">4</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+11%3A8-9">8, 9</a> </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+13%3A10">Hosea 13:10</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+13%3A14">14</a> </span></li>
<li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+14%3A4-7">Hosea 14:4-7</a></span></li>
</ol><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Hosea Speaks</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">She's gone again! In spite of the pleading from Jezreel, she's gone! In spite of all my attempts to keep her home, she's gone again! Why, oh, why did he order me to marry a prostitute? As I could have predicted, she's been nothing but unfaithful ever since the wedding. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A2">Hosea 1:2</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A5-6">Hosea 2:5-6</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But even more disturbing was his command just yesterday: "Go and get your wife again. Bring her back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery." (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+3%3A1">Hosea 3:1</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I reminded the Lord that this was a violation of his own Word, but he told me to find her anyway. Of course I did what he ordered. I found Gomer in the slave market, where she had been dumped by her lovers. I was able to redeem her for 15 shekels of silver and five bushels of barley and some wine—not much of a price for a human being, however sinful! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+3%3A2">Hosea 3:2</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Time and again I have asked the reason for all this, but of course the answer is obvious: My miserable marriage has served as a sensational illustration of the marriage between God and his unfaithful wife, Israel. His wife, like mine, is notorious for sharing her bed with pagan idols. So in some small way I can sympathize with him. Jehovah's hurt is my hurt. My pain is his pain. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+4%3A12">Hosea 4:12</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, whatever my suffering, I count it an honor to serve as his prophet, for ours is the privilege of knowing the future. I know how God's troubled marriage will end. His wife will repent and be fully restored. As he has said, "I will heal you of your idolatry and faithlessness, and my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever!" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+14%3A4">Hosea 14:4</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">That's what the future holds for his marriage. I'm not so sure about mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Spiritual Lessons from Hosea</span></i><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Though God's calling Hosea to marry a prostitute was very unusual and was for a specific prophetic purpose, he may sometimes call us to do things that seem illogical or unproductive by human standards. When so called, we should readily obey. Abraham's willingness to offer Isaac is another example of such obedience (see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+22%3A1-2">Genesis 22:1-2</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In a day of easy divorce, Hosea's efforts to win back his unfaithful wife provide a much-needed good example. The law provided for divorce (see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+24%3A1">Deut. 24:1</a>) but only "as a concession to [Israel's] hard-hearted wickedness" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+19%3A8">Matthew 19:8</a>). Divorce is never the best option, even in cases of sexual infidelity. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Though God disciplines us, he is also eager to forgive. God ordered Hosea to give his children names with meanings suggesting judgment (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A4">Hosea 1:4</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A6">6</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A9">9</a>) but later gave a redeeming interpretation to those names (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+1%3A10-2%3A1">Hosea 1:10-2:1</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Hos+2%3A23">23</a>). (See also <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+103%3A9">Psalm 103:9</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+9%3A25">Romans 9:25</a>.) </span></li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-4401193816241031602009-12-27T10:19:00.000-07:002009-12-27T10:19:06.765-07:00Amos<div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><div id="pim7" style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://docs.google.com/File?id=dgp4q385_177fx5sr8dh_b" style="height: 195.992px; width: 160px;" /><br />
</div><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key Fact: </b>Prophet from Judah to Israel</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Occupation: </b>Herdsman, fruit grower, prophet (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A14-15">Amos 7:14-15</a>)</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Total Bible References: </b>7</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key References: </b><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1-9">Amos 1-9</a></span><br />
</div><br />
<br />
</div>Born in Tekoa of Judah, Amos was called to prophesy in Israel. At Bethel he denounced the prevailing sins and predicted the Assyrian captivity at a time when outward prosperity made the prediction extremely improbable.<br />
<br />
</span><i><span style="font-size: small;">Key Verse</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"Prepare to meet your God as he comes in judgment, you people of Israel!" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+4%3A12">Amos 4:12</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="" name="link123">Amos (765-750)</a></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Introduction:</span></b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></b><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The name Amos means "burden." As Middle Eastern names are usually meaningful, this name may have referred to his unwelcome birth, or been given as a prophecy of his future ministry to describe his burdened heart over Judah and Israel’s sin. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was from the little town of Tekoa, some five miles from Bethlehem in Judea. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Amos was a herdsman (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1%3A1">1:1</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A14-15">7:14, 15</a>) and a gatherer of sycamore fruit (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A14">7:14</a>). He had not graduated from the school of the prophets, but was called by God to become a layman evangelist. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He was called to be a prophet to the whole house of Jacob (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+3%3A1">3:1</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+3%3A13">13</a>), but chiefly to the northern kingdom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A14-15">7:14, 15</a>) at the main sanctuary at Bethel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A10">7:10</a>). Here he conducted his "Greater Samaritan Revival Campaign," and thundered away on the subjects of sin, separation, and sanctification. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Amos ministered during the reigns of Uzziah (King of Judah) and Jeroboam II (King of Israel), beginning his ministry some two years before a mighty earthquake had struck Palestine (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1%3A1">1:1</a>). This earthquake was so severe that Zechariah (a later Hebrew prophet) referred to it some 250 years later. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Zec+14%3A5">Zech. 14:5</a>.) Josephus, the Jewish historian, tells us the earthquake happened at the time when God punished King Uzziah with leprosy for his intrusion into the office of the priesthood. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+26%3A16-21">2 Chron. 26:16-21</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">At the time of Amos’ ministry, Israel, under powerful King Jeroboam II, was at its zenith of success. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+14%3A25">2 Ki. 14:25</a>.) But along with the nation’s prosperity had come religious perversion! </span></li>
</ul><br />
<br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Eight Nations Denounced (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Amos%201-6">1-6</a>).</b><br />
<br />
</span> <br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><u>1. Syria</u>—capital city, Damascus (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1%3A1-5">1:1-5</a>). </span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">This nation had often harassed Israel, especially under Ben-hadad I and King Hazael. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+10%3A32-33">2 Ki. 10:32, 33</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+20%3A1">1 Ki. 20:1</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A24">2 Ki. 6:24</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">God would thus: </span></li>
</ul><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Burn down the palace of the capital city. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Break down their strongholds. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cause many Syrians to die and others to be carried back into Kir, the land of their former slavery. (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1%3A5">1:5</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+9%3A7">9:7</a>.) Kir was located in Mesopotamia. See also <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+16%3A9">2 Kings 16:9</a>. </span></li>
</ul></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><div> <span style="font-size: small;"><u>2. Philistia</u>—capital city, Gaza (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1%3A6-8">1:6-8</a>).<br />
<br />
</span> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Philistia’s four chief cities, Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, and Ekron were to be judged because they sold Israelites into slavery to Edom. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+21%3A16-17">2 Chron. 21:16, 17</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Joel+3%3A4-8">Joel 3:4-8</a>.)</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 4.85em; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 4.85em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><u>3. Phoenicia</u>—capital city, Tyre (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A9-10">1:9, 10</a>). </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">They had broken their covenant of brotherhood with Israel (referring to the agreement David and Solomon had made with Tyre. See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+9%3A13">1 Ki. 9:13</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Israel had been attacked by Tyre and its citizens led into slavery to Edom. (See also <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Joel+3%3A4-8">Joel 3:4-8</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">God would thus burn down the forts and palaces of Tyre. </span></li>
</ul></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div> <span style="font-size: small;"><u>4. Edom</u>—capital cities, Teman and Bozrah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A11-12">1:11, 12</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Teman was located southeast of Petra, and Bozrah was in north central Edom. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Even though the Edomites and Israelites were closely related (one people from Esau, the other from Jacob, see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+25%3A30">Gen. 25:30</a>), Israel had suffered grievously at the hands of Edom. (See also <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mal+1%3A2">Mal. 1:2</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ob+1%3A1-21">Obad. 1:1-21</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Their strongholds would thus be burned. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>5. Ammon</u>—capital city, Rabbah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A13-15">1:13-15</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Ammonites, descendants of Lot’s youngest daughter (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+19%3A38">Gen. 19:38</a>) had committed cruel crimes, ripping open pregnant Israelite women with their swords during their expansion wars in Gilead. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">God would thus destroy their cities and enslave their people. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>6. Moab</u>—capital city, Kirioth (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A1-3">2:1-3</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">These people (from Lot’s older daughter, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+19%3A37">Gen. 19:37</a>) had, among other crimes, desecrated the tombs of the kings of Edom, with no respect for the dead. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A26">2 Ki. 3:26</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A27">27</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Moab would be defeated in battle and its palaces burned. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>7. Judah</u>—capital city, Jerusalem (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+2%3A4-5">2:4, 5</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Judah had rejected the Word of God, and disobeyed the God of the Word. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They had hardened their hearts as their fathers had done. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>8. Israel</u>—capital city, Samaria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A6-16">2:6-16</a>). </span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">They had perverted justice by accepting bribes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They had sold the poor into slavery, trading them for a pair of shoes. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Both fathers and sons were guilty of immorality with the same harlot. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were lounging in stolen clothing from their debtors at religious feasts. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They had offered sacrifices of wine in the Temple, which had been purchased with stolen money. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They were absolutely unthankful for God’s past blessings. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They caused Nazarites to sin by tempting them to drink wine. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Because of all this, God would: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Make them groan as a loaded-down wagon would groan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cause their swiftest warriors to stumble in battle.</span></li>
</ol><br />
</div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The Whole Home of Jacob (both Israel and Judah) (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A1-6%3A14">3:1-6:14</a>).</b><br />
</span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Jacob’s punishment must equal her past privileges (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A1-3">3:1-3</a>) </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. Can two walk together, except they be agreed?"</span></i><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">God was issuing them one final warning through his prophets (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A7">3:7</a>). </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Jacob’s enemies are called upon to attest to her wickedness (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A9">3:9</a>). </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Her women had become cruel and demanding (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A1-3">4:1-3</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Her formal and empty religious ceremonies had become an insult to divine holiness (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A4-5">4:4, 5</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A21-26">5:21-26</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They had surrounded themselves with gross luxury, with ivory beds to lie upon, and the choicest food to eat (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A4">6:4</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They thought more of worldly music than their own Messiah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A5">6:5</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They had drunk wine by the bucketful, perfumed themselves with sweet ointments, and totally neglected the poor and needy (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A6">6:6</a>). </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">God had tried everything to bring his people to their senses (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A6-13">4:6-13</a>). But they had refused. Thus, their former Savior would now become their Judge. </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Therefore, thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A12">4:12</a>).</span></i><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">One final invitation is extended by God (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A4-15">5:4-15</a>). </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Seek him who maketh the... stars... and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name."</span></i><br />
</div><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">This invitation was rejected and judgment would fall. </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Jacob would be consumed as a lion devours a sheep (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A12">3:12</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">There would be crying in the streets and every road (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A16">5:16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">In that day they would be like a man who escaped from a lion, only to meet a bear. They would be as one who leans against a wall in a dark room and puts his hand upon a snake! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A19">5:19</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ninety percent of their soldiers would fall in battle (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A3">5:3</a>). </span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<b>Five Visions Announced (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Amos%207-9">7-9</a>).</b><br />
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</span> <br />
</div><div><u><span style="font-size: small;">1. The locust plague (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7%3A1-3">7:1-3</a>). </span></u><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">In a vision God revealed to Amos his intentions to destroy all the main crops that sprang up after the first mowing. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Amos interceded for Israel and a merciful God changed his course of action. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>2. The vision of the great fire (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A4-6">7:4-6</a>). </u></span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Amos saw a destructive fire, the heat from which was so fierce that it consumed the very waters of Palestine. This was to fall upon the land to punish sin. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Again the prophet pied for mercy, and again God set aside this deserved judgment. </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>3. The vision of the plumb line (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A7-16">7:7-16</a>). </u></span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Amos viewed the Lord as he stood beside a wall built with a plumb line to see if it was straight. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">God informed Amos: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">That he would continue testing Israel with the plumb line of heavenly justice. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">That he would no longer turn away from punishing. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">That he would destroy the dynasty of Jeroboam II by the sword. This, of course, literally happened (as do all of God’s prophecies). Jeroboam II was succeeded by his son Zechariah, who was assassinated by a rebel named Shallum after a reign of only six months. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+15%3A10-12">2 Ki. 15:10-12</a>.) God would later use this same plumb line on Judah during the days of wicked King Manasseh. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+21%3A13-15">2 Ki. 21:13-15</a>.) </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">At this point in his preaching ministry, Amos was confronted by Amaziah, the chairman of the Bethel ministerial association, who quickly issued two messages. </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">One was to King Jeroboam II, warning him against the "Bible banging" activities of Amos. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The other was to Amos himself, ordering him to leave Bethel and go back to his own land of Judah. </span></li>
</ol><div style="margin-left: 40px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amos quickly responded that, in spite of his lowly background (he was not a prophet, nor a prophet’s son) he had been called by God and would not allow any middle-of-the-road spokesman to stop him. Amos then related to Amaziah from the Lord one of the most terrifying prophecies ever pronounced upon a human being, because of the false priest’s attempts to silence God’s true prophet.</span><br />
</div><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Amaziah’s wife would become a common Bethel street prostitute. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">His sons and daughters would be killed. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">His land and possessions would be divided up. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He, himself, would die as a captive in a heathen land. </span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>4. The vision of the basket of summer fruit (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+8%3A1-14">8:1-14</a>). </u></span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The meaning of this vision: God showed Amos a basket filled with ripe fruit, explaining that it symbolized Israel, which was now ripe for judgment. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The reason for this judgment vision. The cruel and totally materialistic merchants of the northern kingdom had: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">robbed the poor (by selling them moldy food) and trampled upon the needy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">longed for the Sabbath to end and various religious holidays to be over that they could once again start cheating, using their weighted scales and undersized measures </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">made slaves of the poor, buying them for their debt of a piece of silver or a pair of shoes </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The results of this judgment vision: </span></li>
</ul><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The riotous sound of singing in the Temple would be turned to weeping. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Dead bodies would be scattered everywhere. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Fearful heavenly signs would occur: </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 80px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+8%3A9">8:9</a>). This frightening punishment will have its ultimate fulfillment during the coming great tribulation. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+24%3A22">Mt. 24:22</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+24%3A29">29</a>.)</span></i></div><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">There would be no comforting words from God (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+8%3A11-12">8:11, 12</a>). </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 80px;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it."</span></i></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<u>5. The vision of the Lord at the altar (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+9%3A1-15">9:1-15</a>). </u></span><br />
</div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The condemnation of Israel’s transgressors (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+9%3A1-10">9:1-10</a>). </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 3.6em; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"Though they dig into hell [sheol] there shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, from there will I bring them down; and though they hide themselves in the top of [mount] Carmel, I will search and take them out from there; and though they be hidden from my sight in the bottom of the sea, there will I command the serpent and he shall bite them" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+9%3A2-3">9:2, 3</a>).</span></i><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The restoration of David’s Tabernacle </span></li>
</ul><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The Davidic monarchy was in a degraded condition with ten out of the twelve tribes refusing to give homage to it. But during the glorious millennium all this would change. James quotes <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+9%3A11-12">Amos 9:11, 12</a> at the Jerusalem Council (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ac+15%3A14-17">Acts 15:14-17</a>) and bases an important decision upon it, namely, should saved Gentiles be circumcised? His answer was a resounding <i>no!</i></span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><ul style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The blessings of this restored monarchy (under Christ, the rightful seed of David) would be manifold: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 80px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The harvest time will scarcely end before the farmer starts again to sow another crop. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The terraces of grapes upon the hills of Israel will drip sweet wine. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Israel’s faithful will have their fortunes restored and be permanently regathered in the glorious land. </span></li>
</ol><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Amos Speaks</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">He first spoke to me on that hillside overlooking Tekoa as I tended my sheep. He instructed me to pay a visit to my northern relatives and denounce their sins as well as the sins of Judah and six pagan nations. All would be severely punished. That in itself was awesome, but those five accompanying visions were almost overwhelming! They seemed to appear without pause, like so many flashes of lightning. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+1%3A1-3%3A3">Amos 1:1-3:3</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">All five visions dealt with God's judgment. What a relief when the locust plague and that all-consuming fire were both averted because of his grace. But this would not be the case with the remaining three. Of course, the vision that caused the most difficulty for me personally was that of the plumb line. He talked about "testing his people with a plumb line," then went on to say he would "bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end." (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A1-9">Amos 7:1-9</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Needless to say, this kind of talk against Jeroboam infuriated his puppy-dog priest at Bethel. He demanded that I go back home and prophesy in Judah! Well, I quickly responded to this religious phony. I pointed out that although I was not an official prophet, nor even the son of a prophet, I would nevertheless oblige him by a few choice predictions. I warned him that, as a result of his godlessness, his wife would become a harlot, his land would be confiscated, and he himself would die as a captive in a foreign land. What a miserable future he faces! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A12-17">Amos 7:12-17</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But it will all have a happy ending, as God revealed to me on that little hillside: "I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. . . . Then they will never be uprooted again." (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+9%3A14-15">Amos 9:14-15</a>)</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Spiritual Lesson from Amos</span></i><br />
<ul><li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">God used a theologically untrained "layman" as one of his most effective prophets (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Am+7%3A14">Amos 7:14</a>). Usefulness in God's service has more to do with the condition of the heart than with natural abilities or professional credentials (see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+11%3A25">Matthew 11:25</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ac+4%3A13">Acts 4:13</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Co+1%3A27">1 Cor. 1:27</a>). As far as God is concerned, the two greatest "abilities" are availability and dependability! (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Isa+6%3A8">Isaiah 6:8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Co+4%3A1-2">1 Cor. 4:1-2</a>.) </li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-38920629344772686412009-11-29T13:52:00.001-07:002009-11-29T14:09:53.357-07:00Elisha<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ELISHA</span></b><br />
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</div><hr style="color: windowtext; text-align: center; width: 20em;" /><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key Facts: </b>Prophet, Elijah's successor, performed several miracles (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3-8">2 Kings 3-8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16">1 Kings 19:16</a>)</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Father: </b>Shaphat </span>of Abel-meholah<span style="font-size: small;"> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16">1 Kings 19:16</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Total Bible References: </b>58</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key References: </b><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3-8">2 Kings 3-8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16-21">1 Kings 19:16-21</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">became the attendant and disciple of Elijah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16-19">1Ki 19:16-19</a>). <br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">His name first occurs in the command given to Elijah to anoint him as his successor (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16">1Ki 19:16</a>). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3hekQB32YOqTR_WIWzax28JeYH5_UnvHXbE71wDGgA8H81qK4UICFmGiFp7B2WTo_gT27Ioae-PdEXuNHVKntVabQIMfrBxRdcnPkvGJIBl2z5Cj08sFu30i7wq-qrLK6uKltM1lhBU/s1600/elisha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3hekQB32YOqTR_WIWzax28JeYH5_UnvHXbE71wDGgA8H81qK4UICFmGiFp7B2WTo_gT27Ioae-PdEXuNHVKntVabQIMfrBxRdcnPkvGJIBl2z5Cj08sFu30i7wq-qrLK6uKltM1lhBU/s200/elisha.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah, on his way from Sinai to Damascus he found Elisha at his native place engaged in the labours of the field, ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. He went over to him, threw over his shoulders his rough mantle, and at once adopted him as a son, and invested him with the prophetical office (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+9%3A61-62">Luke 9:61, 62</a>). <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Elisha accepted the call thus given (about four years before the death of Ahab), and for some seven or eight years became the close attendant on Elijah till he was parted from him and taken up into heaven. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">During all these years we hear nothing of Elisha except in connection with the closing scenes of Elijah's life. After Elijah, Elisha was accepted as the leader of the sons of the prophets, and became noted in Israel. He possessed, according to his own request, "a double portion" of Elijah's spirit (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A9">2Ki 2:9</a>);</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">This is indicative of the property inheritance customs of the time, where the oldest son received twice as much of the father's inheritance as the younger sons. For example, if a man had 3 sons, his property was divided into fourths. Each son received one-fourth, with the oldest receiving two-fourths (twice as much as the others). In this instance with Elijah, Elisha is not asking to become twice as powerful as Elijah, but that he may be seen as the "rightful heir" to the work of the Lord that Elijah had done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"> and for the long period of about sixty years (B.C. 892-832) held the office of "prophet in Israel" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A8">2Ki 5:8</a>).</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">In almost every respect Elisha presents the most complete contrast to Elijah. Elijah was a true Bedouin child of the desert. If he enters a city it is only to deliver his message of fire and be gone. Elisha, on the other hand, is a civilized man, an inhabitant of cities. His dress was the ordinary garment of an Israelite, the <i>beged </i></span>(<b style="background-color: #ffff66; color: black;">be</b>hg'-ed, Covering or clothing)<span style="font-size: small;">, probably similar in form to the long <i>abbeyeh</i> of the modern Syrians. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A12">2 Kin 2:12</a> His hair was worn trimmed behind, in contrast to the disordered locks of Elijah, and he used a walking-staff, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A29">2 Kin 4:29</a> of the kind ordinarily carried by grave or aged citizens. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Zec+8%3A4">Zech 8:4</a></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Key Verse</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, 'What can I do for you before I am taken away?' And Elisha replied, 'Please let me become your rightful successor' " (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A9">2 Kings 2:9</a>).</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Elisha and Eighteen Exciting Events</span></b><br />
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</div><div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Parting the waters at Jordan (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A14">2 Ki. 2:14</a>). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">When Elijah had disappeared from view, Elisha picked up his master’s cloak and returned to the Jordan River bank to see if his request for power had been granted. Striking the river with Elijah’s cloak, he thundered out, "Where is the Lord God of Elijah?" Immediately the Jordan waters parted. This marked the third time such a miracle had happened in Israel’s history. (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jos+3%3A17">Josh. 3:17</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A8">2 Ki. 2:8</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A14">14</a>.) Today, in our desperate world, the cry is: "Where are the Elijahs of the Lord God?"</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">All this was watched by the students from the j.b.i. (Jericho Bible Institute), but these pessimistic prophets found it difficult to believe Elijah really went all the way to heaven and therefore suggested that some of their best athletes form a search party; "Lest peradventure the Spirit of the Lord hath taken him up, and cast him upon some mountain, or into some valley" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A16">2 Ki. 2:16</a>). After repeated urging, Elisha agreed to the search. After the fifty men combed the entire area for three days, the hunt was called off (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A17-18">2 Ki. 2:17, 18</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha now employed his supernatural powers to their greatest extent. No other Old or New Testament individual (apart from the Savior), with the possible exception of Moses, could match the sheer number of his miracles.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Purifying the waters at Jericho (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A19-22">2:19-22</a>).</b><br />
<br />
</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At Jericho Elisha purified a polluted city well, which was believed by the citizens to be causing miscarriages, by pouring a bowl of salt into the noxious water (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A19-22">2 Ki. 2:19-22</a>). Moses did a similar miracle at Marah centuries before. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ex+15%3A23-25">Ex. 15:23-25</a>.)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Judging some hoodlums at Bethel (2:23, 24). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">En route to Bethel he was surrounded by a gang of young hoodlums from that city who ridiculed his bald head and mocked the recent translation of Elijah. Elisha caused two female bears to appear, and forty-two of these arrogant rebels were clawed as a divine punishment (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A23-25">2 Ki. 2:23-25</a>). The Hebrew word <i>yeled</i>, translated "little children," should doubtless be rendered "young lads." The same word is found in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+16%3A11">1 Samuel 16:11</a>, referring to David, and by then David had already established a reputation as "a mighty man of valor" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+16%3A18">1 Sam. 16:18</a>), having killed a lion and a bear (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+17%3A34-37">1 Sam. 17:34-37</a>). Note their taunt, "Go up, thou bald head," an obvious effort to ridicule the rapture of Elijah. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+26%3A21">Lev. 26:21</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+26%3A22">22</a>.)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Causing some empty ditches to fill with water (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A16-27">2 Ki. 3:16-27</a>).</b><br />
<br />
</span> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This took place during the days of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Jehoshaphat was again tricked by the Ahab dynasty into an unholy alliance. This time (the fourth and final), King Jehoram, Ahab’s youngest son, persuaded him into a fighting alliance to defeat the Moabites, who had rebelled against Israel by refusing to pay their tribute after Ahab’s death (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A1-8">3:1-8</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The two allied armies met in the wilderness of Edom and immediately were faced with the problem of water. In desperation both kings turned to Elisha when it was discovered he was secretly traveling with them. Elisha utterly spurned the pleas of wicked Jehoram, but agreed to help for Jehoshaphat’s sake. At his order, great trenches were dug and the next day God had filled them all with water (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+3%3A9-20">3:9-20</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Moabites were now aware of the impending attack and began to marshal their forces along the frontier. On the day of the battle, the Moabites mistook the rays of the sun shining across the water-filled trenches for blood, and immediately attacked, concluding that their enemies were fighting a bloody battle among themselves (3:21-23).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This reckless action led them into a trap which resulted in their total defeat. The Moabite king made one last effort to break through the siege by leading an attack of 700 swordsmen. When this failed, he took his oldest son and, to the horror of the watching allied armies, killed and sacrificed him as a burnt offering to his pagan god (3:22-27).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Creating oil in empty vessels (4:1-7).<br />
<br />
</span></b> <br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At Samaria he rescued a poverty-stricken widow of a God-fearing man from her creditor, who was threatening to enslave her two sons for non-payment. Elisha ordered the woman to borrow every possible container from her neighbors and then pour her remaining jar of olive oil into these vessels. She did this and every container was supernaturally filled, thus solving her indebtedness problem (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A1-7">2 Ki. 4:1-7</a>). God loves to use little things.</span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He used Moses’ rod (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ex+4%3A2">Ex. 4:2</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He used Aaron’s rod (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Nu+17%3A8">Num. 17:8</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He used David’s sling (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+17%3A49">1 Sam. 17:49</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He used Gideon’s trumpet (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jdg+7%3A18">Jdg. 7:18</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He used the widow’s handful of meal (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A12">1 Ki. 17:12</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">He used a little boy’s lunch (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+6%3A9-11">Jn. 6:9-11</a>). </span></li>
</ul></div><div><br />
</div><div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Raising a dead boy at Shunem (4:18-21, 32-37). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Shunem he was given a sleeping room by a prominent woman of that city and her husband. To reward her kindness for his prophet’s chamber, Elisha promised she would have a son. The son was born, but fell sick some years later and died. In desperation the mother found Elisha and begged him to do something. He then sent his carnal servant Gehazi who laid the prophet’s staff upon the dead child’s face, but all in vain. Elisha then arrived and stretched his body across the child. The lad became warm, sneezed seven times, and opened his eyes (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A8-37">2 Ki. 4:8-37</a>). Elisha would later advise this woman to leave the land during a divinely sent seven-year famine. Upon return, she went to the northern king (Jehoram) to get her land back. Gehazi happened to be there and was relating to the king how Elisha had once raised a boy from the dead. At that very moment she walked in. The king was so impressed he restored all her land (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A1-6">2 Ki. 8:1-6</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Purifying a poisonous stew at Gilgal (4:38-41). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">In Gilgal a student prophet had unknowingly prepared some harmful stew for the students’ lunch hour by adding some poisonous wild gourds. Upon discovering this, Elisha purified the soup by throwing some meal into it (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A38-41">2 Ki. 4:38-41</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Feeding 100 men by supernaturally increasing twenty loaves of bread and a sack of corn (4:42-44). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Near Baal-shalishah he fed one thousand men supernaturally from a sack of fresh corn and twenty loaves of barley bread. Again the prophet’s servant Gehazi displayed his carnality by doubting this could be done. He acted here as Philip and Andrew would later respond prior to the feeding of the 5000 performed by our Lord in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+6%3A5-13">John 6:5-13</a>. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A42-44">2 Ki. 4:42-44</a>.)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Healing of Naaman (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A1-19">5:1-19</a>). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Syrian king at this time had an army commander whose name was Naaman. This general was honorable, brave, and successful, but he had a problem, for he was also a leper (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A1">2 Ki. 5:1</a>). A little Israeli slave girl who was serving in the Naaman household told her master about the miraculous power of the prophet Elisha in Israel. Acting upon her testimony, the Syrian king sent Naaman to Jehoram (Israel’s ruler) carrying $20,000 in silver, $60,000 in gold, and ten units of clothing, along with a personal royal letter requesting healing (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+5%3A2-6">5:2-6</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jehoram was filled with both wrath and fear at this impossible request and concluded Syria demanded this as an excuse to invade the land again. However, Elisha soon learned the purpose of Naaman’s visit, and bid the leprous general to visit him (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+5%3A7-8">5:7, 8</a>). Naaman arrived and waited outside Elisha’s home where he was instructed by a servant to wash seven times in the Jordan River, which would cure his leprosy. The Syrian soldier was furious at such "impersonal treatment" but finally was persuaded by his own servants to obey. This he did and was immediately healed (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+5%3A9-14">5:9-14</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Naaman arrived back at Elisha’s home and was this time greeted by the prophet, but his offered reward was refused. Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, coveted the money and later told Naaman that his master had changed his mind. Naaman gave him $4,000 and two expensive robes. Elisha discovered this, and Gehazi was divinely punished by being afflicted with the kind of leprosy of which Naaman was cured (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+5%3A15-27">5:15-27</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Predicting the judgment of leprosy upon Gehazi (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A15-27">2 Ki. 5:15-27</a>).<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Recovering a lost axehead (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+6%3A1-7">6:1-7</a>). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the river Jordan, Elisha caused an axehead which had accidentally fallen into the water to float on top (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A1-7">2 Ki. 6:1-7</a>).</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
Revealing the secret war plans of Syria (6:8-12). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha the prophet, who had once refused to help Jehoram, the northern king, now aided him by warning the monarch of several planned Syrian ambushes (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A8-10">2 Ki. 6:8-10</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Syrian king concluded a traitor in his camp must be informing Israel of their plans, but was told by one of his officers that Elisha was supernaturally revealing these plans (6:11, 12). Syrian troops were immediately dispatched to arrest Elisha at Dothan. The prophet awakened the next day and found himself surrounded by a great army of chariots and horses (6:13-15).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Praying that his servant could see an invisible angelic army and blinding the Syrian army (6:15-23). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">His servant, Gehazi, was terrified, but was soon reassured by Elisha.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">"And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha" (6:16-18).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha then led these sightless Syrian soldiers into Samaria, where their eyes were opened. King Jehoram (the northern king) determined to slay his helpless enemies, but was forbidden to do so by Elisha (6:19-23). This little account by itself totally refutes the devilish claim of liberals and unbelievers that the Old Testament is one huge bloody "eye-for-an-eye" slaughter story. Here an entire Syrian army was defeated by sheer kindness. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+12%3A20-21">Rom. 12:20, 21</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Pr+25%3A21-22">Prov. 25:21, 22</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+5%3A43-45">Mt. 5:43-45</a>.)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Blinding the entire Syrian army (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A18-23">2 Ki. 6:18-23</a>). </span></b><br />
</div><div><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">Predicting the salvation of Samaria from starvation (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7">2 Ki. 7</a>). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some years later (perhaps after Naaman’s death) the Syrians invaded Israel and besieged the city capitol of Samaria, causing a great famine. This must have been indescribably horrible, for even a donkey’s head sold for $50.00 and a pint of dove’s dung brought $3.00. Things became so desperate that even cannibalism was practiced (6:29).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">All this was tragically prophesied over five centuries before by Moses. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+26%3A27-29">Lev. 26:27-29</a>.) The southern kingdom of Judah would later be reduced to this same pit of despair during the destruction of Jerusalem. (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+28%3A53">Deut. 28:53</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=La+4%3A10">Lam. 4:10</a>; see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A25-29">2 Kings 6:25-29</a>.) The northern king, Jehoram, bitterly remembered how Elisha had once refused to allow him to kill the blinded Syrian soldiers some years back, and vowed to execute the prophet, blaming him for the present terrible situation (6:31). The unruffled Elisha ignored the king’s threats and predicted that within twenty-four hours food would be so plentiful that two gallons of flour and four gallons of barley grain would only bring a dollar in the Samaritan market. He also prophesied that the king’s chief officer, an especially arrogant man, would see this food but never live to eat it (7:1, 2).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Outside the gate of the city sat four starving lepers who decided in desperation to surrender to the Syrians and began walking toward their camp (7:3, 4). But God caused their very footsteps to resemble the clatter of speeding chariots and horses. In panic, the Syrians fled, concluding that Samaria must have hired the Hittites and Egyptians to attack them (7:5-7).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">God had employed this method before. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+5%3A23-24">2 Sam. 5:23, 24</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jdg+7%3A16-21">Jdg. 7:16-21</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+20%3A20-25">2 Chron. 20:20-25</a>.) After looting the camp, the four lepers reported the good news to Samaria. Soon thousands of frantically happy men and women were rushing out from the main gate to gather food. In their mad drive, the king’s official, attempting to control the traffic, was knocked down and crushed to death, just as Elisha had predicted. That very day two gallons of flour and four gallons of barley grain did indeed sell for a dollar (7:8-20).</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
<b>Predicting the death of Ben-hadad, King of Syria, and the subsequent reign of Hazael over Syria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A7-15">2 Ki. 8:7-15</a>). </b></span> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha went to Damascus to visit Ben-hadad, the ailing Syrian king. En route he was greeted by Hazael, an important Syrian official who presented the prophet with forty camel loads of the best products of the land. Hazael was instructed to inquire whether Ben-hadad would recover from his illness. Elisha gave the strange answer that he would indeed get well, but would still die (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A7-10">2 Ki. 8:7-10</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha then predicted that Hazael would become the next king of Syria and that his reign would shed much Israelite blood. Hazael denied this, but the very next day he smothered to death his master, Ben-hadad (8:11-15).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hazael would later oppress Israel without mercy. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A22">2 Ki. 13:22</a>.) Elisha instructed one of his young prophets to locate a professional charioteer in Ramoth-gilead named Jehu and anoint him the next king over Israel. This was done and Jehu was ordered by God to execute the dynasty of Ahab, including Jezebel, whom the dogs would later eat (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A1-10">2 Ki. 9:1-10</a>). Note: The anointing of both Hazael and Jehu was ordered by God to be performed by Elijah, but for some reason he did not accomplish this. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A15">1 Ki. 19:15</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16">16</a>.)</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Predicting Israel’s three victories over Syria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A14-19">2 Ki. 13:14-19</a>). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">On his deathbed Elisha was visited by Jehoash, a wicked northern king of Israel. In spite of his evil ways he did apparently have some affection for Elisha. Jehoash visited the dying prophet and wept over his impending death. Following Elisha’s strange command, the king shot an arrow from his bedroom window. This was to symbolize Israel’s victory over the Syrians. He was then instructed to strike the floor with some arrows, which he timidly did three times, thus angering Elisha, who told him he should have hit the ground five or six times, for each strike assured him of a victory over Syria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A14-19">2 Ki. 13:14-19</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the period that followed, Jehoash reconquered the cities his father had previously lost, and defeated the Syrians on three specific occasions, just as Elisha had predicted (13:22-25).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>We do not again read of him till we find him on his death-bed in his own house (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A14-19">2Ki 13:14-19</a>). Joash, the grandson of Jehu, comes to mourn over his approaching departure, and utters the same words as those of Elisha when Elijah was taken away: "My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof."<br />
Afterwards when a dead body is laid in Elisha's grave a year after his burial, no sooner does it touch the hallowed remains than the man "revived, and stood up on his feet" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A20-21">2Ki 13:20-21</a>).<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><b><span style="font-size: small;">Raising a man from the dead years after the prophet himself had died (13:20, 21). </span></b> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha died and was buried. After some years, a corpse was being buried near the prophet’s grave and was accidentally allowed to touch the bones of Elisha. The dead man suddenly revived and jumped to his feet (13:20, 21).</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>We do not again read of him till we find him on his death-bed in his own house (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A14-19">2Ki 13:14-19</a>). Joash, the grandson of Jehu, comes to mourn over his approaching departure, and utters the same words as those of Elisha when Elijah was taken away: "My father, my father! the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof."<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1175621899863354201&postID=3892062934477268641" name="4299"> </a><br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1175621899863354201&postID=3892062934477268641" name="4299"><b>Resemblance to Elijah.</b> </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1175621899863354201&postID=3892062934477268641" name="4299">There is a striking resemblance between the life of Elisha and that of Elijah. Not only do their names sound alike, but the main events of their lives run in much the same channels. They are twin figures in Hebrew history. </a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1175621899863354201&postID=3892062934477268641" name="4299"><b>The Two Prophets in Parallel. <i>Both...</i></b></a><br />
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<ul><li>Strike the waters of the river Jordan and passed over on dry ground, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A8">2 Kings 2:8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A14">2:14</a>. Bring waters of refreshment in times of drought, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A41-45">1 Kings 18:41-45</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+3%3A9-20">2 Kings 3:9-20</a>. </li>
<li>Increase a widow's store of food, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A10-16">1 Kings 17:10-16</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A1-7">2 Kings 4:1-7</a>. </li>
<li>Raise only sons to life, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A17-24">1 Kings 17:17-24</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A18-35">2 Kings 4:18-35</a>. </li>
<li>Perform miracles for persons outside the boundaries of Israel, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A9-16">1 Kings 17:9-16</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A1-15">2 Kings 5:1-15</a>. </li>
<li>Pronounce sentences on kings, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21%3A19-22">1 Kings 21:19-22</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+8%3A7-10">2 Kings 8:7-10</a>. </li>
<li>Call down vengeance on unbelievers, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A9-12">2 Kings 1:9-12</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A23-25">2:23-25</a>. </li>
</ul><br />
In spite of the points of resemblance between the miracles performed by the two prophets, Elisha was not a mere echo of his fiery predecessor. There was a marked difference between the temperaments of the two men, and their general attitude toward society.<br />
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Elijah was a solitary figure like John the Baptist. His life was largely spent in an unavailing struggle with the evils of his times, and he had his periods of great depression.<br />
Not so Elisha. His gift of "a double portion of the Spirit" enabled him to lead a triumphant life as he mingled with his fellow men.<br />
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We have no record that he ever complained of his lot, fled from his enemies, or lost his courage.<br />
Even on his death bed he seemed to be full of power as he gave commands to a king.<br />
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His reception of a double portion of the Spirit is demonstrated by the fact that he lived a victorious life and also that he performed a greater number of miracles than any other prophet except Moses.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha Speaks</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I can only hope they're prepared by now to minister without me. I've done my best to provide proper instructions for these young prophets. I've also purified their water and food, fed their hungry, recovered their lost tools, and provided oil for their widows! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A3-5">2 Kings 2:3-5</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A19-22">19-22</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A1-7">2 Kings 4:1-7</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A38-44">38-44</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A1-7">2 Kings 6:1-7</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Well, at least they won't be running around looking for this old bald head as they once did when they were trying to find Elijah. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A15-16">2 Kings 2:15-16</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A23-24">23-24</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I only hope I have been half the teacher to them that Elijah was to me. What a remarkable man! There I was, plowing with oxen, when he suddenly threw his coat on my shoulders and announced that I would be his successor! Frankly, I think he had his doubts about me, considering how I hesitated. But what could he do? God himself had commanded it! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16-21">1 Kings 19:16-21</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Funny, Elijah's final miracle was identical to my first miracle—the parting of the Jordan. We also both raised young men from the dead. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A7-8">2 Kings 2:7-8</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13-14">2 Kings 13-14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A8-37">2 Kings 4:8-37</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A17-24">1 Kings 17:17-24</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But in other ways our ministries differed. He could pray down fire from heaven, while God would allow me to feed a starving city and heal a leper. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A10-14">2 Kings 5:10-14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7%3A1">2 Kings 7:1</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+7%3A18">18</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A38">1 Kings 18:38</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Death approaches, but I feel no fear. God once sent his angels to protect me. I know he will now commission them to comfort and reassure! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A8-18">2 Kings 6:8-18</a>)</span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;">Spiritual Lessons from Elisha</span></i><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Seeking and following God's purpose for our lives should take precedence over family and friendship ties (compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A19-21">1 Kings 19:19-21</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+6%3A33">Matthew 6:33</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+8%3A21-22">Matthew 8:21-22</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">We should live our lives in such a way that others will know we believe in God and stand for the truth. Elisha knew that if Naaman were to come to him for healing, he would become convinced "that there is a true prophet here in Israel" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A8">2 Kings 5:8</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+5%3A15">15</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">People of faith need have no fear, even when surrounded by their physical, spiritual, or financial enemies, knowing that "there are more on our side than on theirs!" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+6%3A16">2 Kings 6:16</a>; see <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+27%3A3">Psalm 27:3</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+34%3A7">Psalm 34:7</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Heb+1%3A14">Hebrews 1:14</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The influence of a godly person continues after his or her death, imparting life to others (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A20-21">2 Kings 13:20-21</a>). </span></li>
</ul></div><br />
Outstanding Lesson of His Life: The Power of Divine Grace.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sources: H.L Willmington, Dr. David C. Brown, Clarence O. Staggs, A.T. Worley, Easton's Dictionary, Smiths Bible Dictionary, Thompson Chain Reference, Wikipedia</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-65117424752865481702009-11-06T10:13:00.002-07:002009-11-08T13:48:06.410-07:00Northern Kingdom Prophets: Elijah<a href="http://biblehistoryoutlines.blogspot.com/2009/11/northern-kingdom-prophets-elijah.html">Northern Kingdom Prophets: Elijah</a><br />
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<div><div class="post-body"> <div class="separator" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFkx-QKucIroZlZAkHZpxSe_8DJrTOkFniut0Xq9-f2T2d9Z51N_itPomVwSnrbaN0uls5cvZZ8iuINvs_BJORdkgPlR5PbM15j9zCVx-EQ7UFV-un8x1K6GBj7R3uyZ18pCePVPtUUA/s1600-h/mt+carmel+elijah.jpg" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFkx-QKucIroZlZAkHZpxSe_8DJrTOkFniut0Xq9-f2T2d9Z51N_itPomVwSnrbaN0uls5cvZZ8iuINvs_BJORdkgPlR5PbM15j9zCVx-EQ7UFV-un8x1K6GBj7R3uyZ18pCePVPtUUA/s200/mt+carmel+elijah.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>The prophets were close students of political as well as religious problems, and as the advisers of kings, they often wielded a decisive influence in the affairs of state.<br />
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Elijah, who prophesied in Israel during the dark days of Ahab and his successors, battled mightily against the Baal worship which Ahab and Jezebel had introduced into Israel.<br />
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Elijah, a Gileadite of picturesque grandeur, suddenly appeared before Ahab’s court and denounced the prevailing idolatry. By stern word and mighty miracle he did much to restore the worship of Jehovah.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">As notable among the events of his life may be mentioned:</span></b><br />
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<ol><li><h3><b> Elijah's challenge to the priests of Baal and Ashtoreth and Jehovah’s signal vindication on Mt. Carmel</b></h3></li>
<li><h3><b> Elijah's subsequent failure and flight</b></h3></li>
<li><h3><b> Elijah's denunciation of Ahab in connection with the murder of Naboth, and his prediction of the overthrow of that wicked king.</b></h3></li>
<li><h3><b> Elijah and the chariot of fire </b></h3></li>
</ol></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">ELIJAH</span></b><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">(People to remember from 2 Kings)</span><br />
</div><hr style="color: windowtext; text-align: center; width: 20em;" /> <br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key Facts: </b>Prophet, taken up to heaven without dying (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A1-11">2 Kings 2:1-11</a>)</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Key Events in His Life:</span></b><br />
</div><ul><li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Predicts drought; fed by ravens (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A1-7">1 Kings 17:1-7</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Helps widow; raises her son (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A8-24">1 Kings 17:8-24</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Defeats prophets of Baal (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A17-40">1 Kings 18:17-40</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Ministered to in despair (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A1-18">1 Kings 19:1-18</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Names Elisha as his successor (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A19-21">1 Kings 19:19-21</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Condemns Ahab and Jezebel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21%3A17-24">1 Kings 21:17-24</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Taken up to heaven (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A1-11">2 Kings 2:1-11</a>) </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Appears at Transfiguration (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+17%3A1-13">Matthew 17:1-13</a>) </li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Total Bible References: </b>95</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 1.5em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Key References: </b><a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17">1 Kings 17</a>-<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2">2 Kings 2</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mal+4%3A5-6">Malachi 4:5-6</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+16%3A13-14">Matthew 16:13-14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+17%3A1-13">Matthew 17:1-13</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jas+5%3A17-18">James 5:17-18</a></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">The ministry of Elijah, one of the most colorful and courageous prophets who ever lived, will be considered first in outline subject-matter form, and then presented in actual chronological fashion.</span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">An outline, subject-matter consideration of his life:</span><br />
</div></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and King Ahab<b>:</b></span></li>
</ul><br />
</div><div><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">announcing the three-and-a-half year drought (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A1">1 Ki. 17:1</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">challenging him to a contest on Mt. Carmel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A17-20">18:17-20</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">predicting the end of the drought (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A41-46">18:41-46</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">pronouncing the death sentence upon him and his wife (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+21%3A17-24">21:17-24</a>) </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and the ravens at Cherith (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A2-7">17:2-7</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and the widow at Zarephath (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A8-15">17:8-15</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and Obadiah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A1-16">18:1-16</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and the people of Israel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A20-24">18:20-24</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and the priests of Baal (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A25-40">18:25-40</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and God (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A1-18">19:1-18</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and Elisha </span></li>
</ul></div><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">calling him to special service (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+9%3A19-21">1 Ki. 9:19-21</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">preparing him for special service (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A1-10">2 Ki. 2:1-10</a>) </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and King Ahaziah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A1-17">2 Ki. 1:1-17</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah and the chariot of fire (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A11">2 Ki. 2:11</a>) </span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>A chronological consideration of his life:</i></span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: small;">"Like a meteor suddenly flashing across the darkened sky, [the mighty tishbite] Elijah appears on the scene without historical background, and without warning!" (</span><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. John Whitcomb, </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Solomon to the Exile,</i> p. 50)<br />
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</span> <ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">He announces to wicked King Ahab that a long drought can be expected as a punishment for sin (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A1">1 Ki. 17:1</a>). The New Testament writer James refers to this terrible drought as an example of the tremendous power of prayer (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jas+5%3A17">Jas. 5:17</a>). James says the drought lasted three-and-a-half years. The lack of rain was a divine punishment for sin. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+11%3A13-17">Deut. 11:13-17</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Dt+28%3A24">28:24</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+7%3A12-15">2 Chron. 7:12-15</a>.) </span></li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">God then orders his prophet to hide himself (from the king’s wrath) by the Brook Cherith at a place east of where it enters the Jordan (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A2">17:2</a>). Here he would be fed supernaturally by some ravens. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah is now ordered to proceed to a city in Jezebel’s own backyard, called Zarephath, where God has commanded a widow to feed him. After what must have seemed an eternity (possibly a year or longer), Elijah finally graduates from the d.b.i. (Drying Brook Institute). The brook experience almost always precedes the Mt. Carmel challenge in the plan of God for his chosen servants. Paul spent three years in the a.b.i. (Arabian Bible Institute, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Gal+1%3A18">Gal. 1:18</a>) and Moses passed some forty years on the campus of the s.b.i., Sinai Bible Institute. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ex+3%3A1">Ex. 3:1</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A8">1 Ki. 17:8</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A9">9</a>.) </span></li>
</ul><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Again God does the unexpected thing. His prophet who has been fed by some ravens now has his needs met by a lonely and poverty-stricken old widow. Elijah asks the starving widow and her son to share their last available meal with him and promises them that God himself will see to it that their oil and flour containers will always be full until it rains and the crops grow again. By faith the widow shares with him and finds God’s promise to be true (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A10-16">17:10-16</a>).</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Suddenly, with no warning whatsoever, the widow’s son dies. In her grief-stricken statement at this time, the widow brings out two significant things (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A18">1 Ki. 17:18</a>): </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The testimony of Elijah. Note her phrase, "O thou man of God." Here was a woman who had seen the prophet out of his pulpit and before he had drunk his first cup of coffee in the morning. She saw him as he really was, and still could call him a man of God. The acid test of a man’s true religion is the home test. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Her own uneasy conscience. She asks him if he was sent to call her sin to remembrance. Perhaps some shameful and secret deed in her past had constantly plagued her conscience. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah carries the lad upstairs, stretches himself upon the lifeless body three times, and prays that God will raise the boy. God hears his prayer. This marks the first of eight body resurrections in the Bible (not counting the resurrection of Christ). These are: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah raises the widow’s boy (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A22">1 Ki. 17:22</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha raises the son of a Shunammite woman (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+4%3A35">2 Ki. 4:35</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elisha’s bones raise a man whose dead body touches them during a graveyard burial (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+13%3A21">2 Ki. 13:21</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Christ raises the daughter of Jairus (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+9%3A25">Mt. 9:25</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Christ raises the son of a widow (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+7%3A14">Lk. 7:14</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Christ raises Lazarus (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jn+11%3A43-44">Jn. 11:43, 44</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Peter raises Dorcas (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ac+9%3A40-41">Acts 9:40, 41</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Paul raises Eutychus (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ac+20%3A12">Acts 20:12</a>). </span></li>
</ol><br />
<b>1. Elijah's challenge to the priests of Baal and Ashtoreth and Jehovah’s signal vindication on Mt. Carmel</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah is promised by God that he will soon send rain and orders his prophet to confront Ahab again. En route to the palace, Elijah is met by Obadiah, a backslidden believer, who served as household administrator under Ahab. Obadiah attempts to impress Elijah with his good works (he has hidden 100 prophets in a cave from the murderous wrath of Jezebel) and reluctantly and fearfully agrees to inform Ahab of Elijah’s presence (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A1-16">1 Ki. 18:1-16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">At their summit meeting, Ahab blames Elijah for all Israel’s trouble. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah, however, refuses to accept Ahab’s stupid accusation and challenges Ahab and pagan priests of Baal to a "fire-consuming sacrifice" contest on Mt. Carmel, with the following rules: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Two bullocks would be sacrificed and laid upon two altars, one dedicated to Baal, the other to God. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Both deities would be prayed to, and the real god could prove himself by sending down fire from heaven to Consume his sacrifice (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A23-25">1 Ki. 18:23-25</a>). </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The priests of Baal pray first, agonizing, screaming, dancing, and even cutting themselves to attract their god’s attention, but all in vain. During this time Elijah mocks them. We read that about noontime, Elijah began mocking them. </span></li>
<li><i><span style="font-size: small;">"‘You’ll have to shout louder than that,’ he scoffed, ‘to catch the attention of your god! Perhaps he is talking to someone, or is out sitting on the toilet, or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be awakened’" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A27">1 Ki. 18:27</a>, The Living Bible).</span></i></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Then it was evening, and Elijah’s turn. He took twelve stones and rebuilt an old torn-down altar of God in that very area. He then dug a three-foot wide trench around the altar and dumped twelve barrels of sea water into it. Finally, he stepped back and prayed (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A36-37">18:36, 37</a>). </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">The fire immediately fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice. Note the order in which the things at the altar were consumed: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The burnt-sacrifice. This speaks of ourselves! (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+12%3A1-3">Rom. 12:1-3</a>.) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The wood. This speaks of our efforts. It is tragically possible for a pastor on a Sunday morning to experience either fire without wood or wood without fire. The first occurs when he isn’t studied up, and the second when he isn’t prayed up. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The stones. This speaks of the difficult things in our lives. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The dust. This speaks of the useless things in our lives. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The water. This speaks of the impossible things in our lives (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A38">18:38</a>). </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah then executed the prophets of Baal. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Finally, after a sevenfold prayer meeting, there was a great rain (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A45">18:45</a>). God often works in a roundabout way, but he does so to accomplish certain specific things. Thus, through all this: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah received valuable training for his future ministry. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A disrespectful king learned the fear of the Lord. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A heathen woman believed on the name of the Lord. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A young man was raised from the dead. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A backslidden believer was restored to fellowship. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The nation Israel experienced a temporary revival. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">A large number of God’s enemies were destroyed. </span></li>
</ol><br />
<b>2. Elijah's subsequent failure and flight</b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Upon hearing of Elijah’s action, Jezebel vowed to kill him in twenty-four hours, and Elijah ran for his life (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+19%3A2">19:2</a>). This points out two important spiritual truths: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The infallibility of the Word of God. No mere human author would have included the sad account we read here. This part in the life of a fearless man of God would have simply been denied or ignored. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">The fallibility of the man of God. Elijah, like David, was a man who failed God in what was supposedly his strongest point. In David’s case it was his purity and in Elijah’s situation it was his courage. But both fell on their faces. They needed the lesson God taught Paul in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Co+12%3A1-10">2 Corinthians 12:1-10</a>. </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah fled eastward and after a day’s journey he fell exhausted under a juniper tree, praying that God would kill him (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A4">19:4</a>). This was prayed some twenty-eight centuries ago and God had yet to answer it. Elijah, like Enoch, participated in God’s first and second space shot. (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+5%3A24">Gen. 5:24</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A11">2 Ki. 2:11</a>.) But someday the Lord will allow his prophet to lay down his life for Jesus. (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mal+4%3A5-6">Mal. 4:5, 6</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Rev+11%3A3-12">Rev. 11:3-12</a>.) Both Moses (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Nu+11%3A15">Num. 11:15</a>) and Jonah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jnh+4%3A3">4:3</a>) had also prayed this despondent prayer. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">As he slept, an angel touched him and fed him (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A5">19:5</a>). God often allows his angels to participate in his dealing with man. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Heb+1%3A14">Heb. 1:14</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Pe+1%3A12">1 Pet. 1:12</a>.) </span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah was by now totally exhausted, having traveled 150 miles from Jezreel to Beersheba. But now he desperately needed food. Our spiritual and physical natures are so closely entwined that one automatically affects the other. Part of his terrible soul depression was due to the mistreatment of his body. The stomach can affect the soul. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ps+127%3A2">Ps. 127:2</a>.)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">God himself finally spoke through a still, small voice to Elijah in a cave, perhaps the same one where Moses had viewed God’s glory some five centuries before. (Compare <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A9">19:9</a> with <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ex+33%3A21-23">Ex. 33:21-23</a>.) In spite of his objections to the contrary, Elijah was ordered immediately to perform four tasks: </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Get back and start preaching again. Besides, he was not alone as he claimed, for God still had 7000 followers in Israel who had not bowed to Baal (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A15">19:15</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A18">18</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Anoint a man named Hazael to be king of Syria (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A15">19:15</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Anoint a man named Jehu to be king of Israel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16">19:16</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Begin training Elisha to succeed him (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A16">19:16</a>). In passing, it should be noted (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A10">19:10</a>) that Elijah’s prayer here is the only example of an Israelite believer making intercession against his own beloved nation Israel. Paul specifically states that this was indeed the case. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ro+11%3A1-4">Rom. 11:1-4</a>.) Needless to say, God has never and will never honor this kind of praying. James and John later expressed the same vindictive spirit concerning some unbelieving Samaritans. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lk+9%3A55">Lk. 9:55</a>.) </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah returned and found Elisha plowing in a field. Elijah went over to him and threw his coat across his shoulders.. Elisha thereupon prepared a farewell feast for his family and servants and followed Elijah (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A19-21">19:19-21</a>). </span></li>
</ul><br />
<b>3. Elijah's denunciation of Ahab in connection with the murder of Naboth, and his prediction of the overthrow of that wicked king.</b><br />
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<ol><li style="list-style-type: decimal; margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahab attempts unsuccessfully to purchase a choice vineyard near his palace owned by a man from Jezreel named Naboth. Years back Samuel had warned against land grabbing by Israel’s kings. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+8%3A14">1 Sam. 8:14</a>.) Even had Naboth wanted to sell his vineyard, the Levitical law would have forbidden him. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+25%3A23">Lev. 25:23</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Nu+36%3A7">Num. 36:7</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eze+46%3A18">Ezek. 46:18</a>.) </span></li>
</ol><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ahab returns home in a sullen mood. Jezebel is told of Naboth’s refusal and informs her pouting potentate to cheer up, as he will soon possess that vineyard. She then writes letters in Ahab’s name, seals them with his seal, and addresses them to the civic leaders of Jezreel where Naboth lives. She commands them to call the citizens together for prayer and fasting. They are then to summon Naboth and pay two lying witnesses to accuse him of cursing God and the king. He then is to be taken out and murdered. This horrible order is carried out to the letter (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21%3A4-14">1 Ki. 21:4-14</a>). His sons are also stoned. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A26">2 Ki. 9:26</a>.) Wicked Jezebel, herself a rabid worshiper of Baal, now cleverly appeals to the Mosaic law in obtaining two witnesses against the accused (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Lev+24%3A17">Lev. 24:17</a>).</span><br />
</div><div style="margin-left: 6.6em; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small;">This mock trial would have its ultimate counterpart some nine centuries later on an early Friday morning in April as the mighty Creator is judged by his miserable creatures. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+26%3A59-68">Mt. 26:59-68</a>.) Jezebel is told the news, and Ahab gleefully goes down to the vineyard to claim it (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21%3A15-16">1 Ki. 21:15, 16</a>).</span><br />
</div><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">God now orders Elijah to confront Ahab in Naboth’s vineyard and pronounces heaven’s curse upon him and his household for their part in the cold-blooded murder of godly Naboth. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">An angry and doubtless fearful Ahab then hears Elijah’s stern words of judgment (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21%3A19">21:19</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+21%3A21-24">21-24</a>). All this literally came true.</span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">The dogs did lick Ahab’s blood, as they had done with Naboth’s blood (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+22%3A38">1 Ki. 22:38</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">His descendants were destroyed. Ahaziah, his oldest son, died in a fall (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A17">2 Ki. 1:17</a>), and Jehoram, his youngest son, was murdered by Jehu (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A24">2 Ki. 9:24</a>), and his body thrown in the same field where Naboth was buried. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">His wicked wife Jezebel was eaten by the wild dogs of Jezreel (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+9%3A30-36">2 Ki. 9:30-36</a>). </span></li>
</ol></div><div><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Sometime later, King Ahaziah, wicked northern ruler (and eldest son of Ahab) suffered a severe fall off the upstairs porch of his palace in Samaria. Fearing the worst, he sent messengers to the Philistine temple dedicated to Baalzebub at Ekron to ask this pagan god whether he would recover (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A1-3">2 Ki. 1:1-3</a>). This ungodly son of Ahab was apparently unaware of Israel’s history, for had he been aware, he certainly would not have trusted in a pagan god who was utterly powerless to save his own worshipers against the wrath of the Ark of God (in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+5%3A10-12">1 Samuel 5:10-12</a>). Elijah was instructed by God’s angel to intercept these messengers and send them back to Ahaziah with his prophecy, that due to the king’s idolatry, he would indeed soon die (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A3-6">1:3-6</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Ahaziah correctly guessed the identity of this fearless hairy man with the wide leather belt and sent out a captain with fifty men to arrest him. As the soldiers approached him, Elijah called down fire from heaven and they were consumed. Another fifty were sent out and suffered the same fate. The captain of the third group fell to his knees and begged Elijah to spare their lives and come with them. The prophet agreed and soon stood before the king where he repeated similar words he had once said to Ahab, Ahaziah’s father. Shortly after this, Ahaziah died and was succeeded by his younger brother Jehoram (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A7-17">2 Ki. 1:7-17</a>). He had reigned for but two short years.</span></li>
</ul><br />
<b>4. Elijah and the chariot of fire </b><br />
<br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah’s magnificent ministry had now come to a close and he would soon be taken heavenward by means of a whirlwind, without dying. He quickly traveled his circuit for the final time, moving rapidly from Gilgal to Bethel to Jericho to the Jordan River. At the first three stops he tested the determination of Elisha by suggesting that he might want to drop the hectic life of the prophet and return to his quiet farm. But on each occasion (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A2">2:2</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A4">4</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A6">6</a>) he refused by uttering these five fearless words: "I will not leave thee!" Elisha, like Ruth, thus proved worthy for the blessings of God! (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ru+1%3A15-17">Ruth 1:15-17</a>.) Both at Bethel and Jericho Elisha spoke with the sons of the prophets living in those areas. These men may have been able to trace their heritage back to the prophetic schools of Samuel’s day (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+19%3A20">1 Sam. 19:20</a>). But what a sorry lot they were. </span></li>
</ul><ol style="margin-left: 40px;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">They were cowardly (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A4">1 Ki. 18:4</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They attempted to discourage Elisha (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A3">2 Ki. 2:3</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A5">5</a>) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">They lacked faith (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A16-18">2 Ki. 2:16-18</a>). </span></li>
</ol><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">When they came to the Jordan River, Elijah folded his cloak together and struck the water with it; and the river divided, allowing them to cross on dry ground (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A8">2:8</a>).</span></li>
</ul><ul><li><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah then asked Elisha what wish he would have granted before his heavenly departure. Elisha asked for a double portion of his master’s power. He was told this was a hard thing, but that if he were present at Elijah’s translation the request would be granted (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A9-10">2:9, 10</a>). </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Suddenly a chariot of fire, drawn by horses of fire, appeared and drove between them, separating them, and Elijah was carried by a whirlwind into heaven (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A11">2:11</a>). He thus became the second of two individuals who saw glory without the grave. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+5%3A24">Gen. 5:24</a> for the other person.) </span></li>
</ul><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Elijah Speaks:</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">I've often wondered just how Enoch might have felt. Now I know! Did God remove him in such spectacular fashion as I am experiencing? Amazing! Who would have anticipated in their wildest dreams leaving this earth in a chariot of fire, pulled by horses of fire! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A11">2 Kings 2:11</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Ge+5%3A24">Genesis 5:24</a>)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">In a way it's fitting, though, for fire seems to have accompanied my ministry. It was God's fire that fell from heaven to consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel. Then, who could forget witnessing that mighty wind, fearful earthquake, and roaring fire on Mount Horeb? Of course, God spoke to me in his still, small voice. Finally, I prayed down great sheets of fire to consume my enemies who were trying to arrest me. And now this, my fiery ride to glory! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+1%3A10-12">2 Kings 1:10-12</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A38">1 Kings 18:38</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A12-13">1 Kings 19:12-13</a>)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">I see Elisha standing below with open mouth, taking this all in. Good! This will qualify him for that double anointing from God he requested. (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+2%3A9-12">2 Kings 2:9-12</a>)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">How ironic to remember I once rather envied that young widow's son whom God allowed me to raise from the dead, wondering if someone might do this for me when I died. He was the first person in history to be raised, you know! But now, miracle of miracles, here I am, only the second person in history to leave this life without dying! Not bad at all for a prophet who once sat beside a dried-up brook, having to depend on ravens to feed him! (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A1-7">1 Kings 17:1-7</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A17-24">17-24</a>)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;">Spiritual Lessons from Elijah</span></i><br />
<ul><li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">Elijah learned, as we must learn, that the lowly "drying-brook experience" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A1-7">1 Kings 17:1-7</a>) is often necessary to prepare us for the lofty "Mount Carmel event" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A20-40">1 Kings 18:20-40</a>). </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">God's provision will never fail for those who give their all to him (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+17%3A8-16">1 Kings 17:8-16</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Mt+6%3A33">Matthew 6:33</a>). </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">God expects us to build the altar, gather the wood, and prepare the sacrifice (as Elijah did literally in <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A30-37">1 Kings 18:30-37</a>). Then, and only then, will he send the fire of his blessings (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A38">1 Kings 18:38</a>). </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">We are never closer to defeat than following our moments of greatest victory. On Mount Carmel, Elijah stood alone against 450 priests of Baal (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A22">1 Kings 18:22</a>). Immediately following this, however, he experienced deep despair (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A1-10">1 Kings 19:1-10</a>). </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">God expects us to take care of our physical needs. An empty stomach can sometimes discourage one's soul (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A4-7">1 Kings 19:4-7</a>). </li>
<li style="margin-left: 2.7em;">God speaks more often in persistent whispers than in loud shouts (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+19%3A11-12">1 Kings 19:11-12</a>). </li>
</ul><i><span style="font-size: small;">Key Verses</span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">"At the customary time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. . . .' Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the ditch!" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A36">1 Kings 18:36</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+18%3A38">38</a>).</span><br />
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Miscellaneous notes:<br />
<br />
<b>Non-writing prophets</b><br />
<ul><li><u>Jehu </u>- prophet of Israel who pronounced God's curse upon king Baasha</li>
<li><u>Urijah </u>- Predicted Judah's destruction during Jeremiah's ministry</li>
<li><u>Shemaiah </u>- Forbade Rehoboam (King of Judah) to battle against Israel</li>
<li><u>Elisha </u>- The succe'Ssor of Elijah who prayed for and received a double portion of God's power</li>
<li><u>Ahijah </u>- A prophet from Shiloh who told Jeroboam of the coming rebellion after Solomon's death</li>
<li><u>Huldah </u>- A prophetess whoattested to the genuiness of the law of Moses' book found by Hilkiah, the priest in the temple</li>
<li><u>Elijah </u>- The most famous Old Testament prophet who was a bone in the throat of Ahab king of Israel</li>
<li><u>Micaiah </u>- The prophet who predicted the death of Ahab in a battle with Syria</li>
<li><u>Azariah </u>- The prophet who supported king Asa In his reform efforts</li>
<li><u>Zedekiah </u>- A spineless prophet in the pay of Ahab and the mouthpiece for the 400 prophets whom Ahab consulted to learn the outcome of his proposed battle with Syria.</li>
</ul>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-85872926873631039132009-10-29T08:39:00.002-07:002009-10-29T13:00:23.682-07:00Israel: Leading Kings<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYo_j_m_HGoePvUeNsmUQ2ZHXFNCbxfWMGEFrfF7gOucEXd8wGSm-7DiRdInrivfBxLB5SXNDEjK-EffYwhiQRR6eA4XJIOLKGaSiGXyCdIjbWq1jz758l6vB9XVkpceimT2a9pAHTMY/s1600-h/israelkings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYo_j_m_HGoePvUeNsmUQ2ZHXFNCbxfWMGEFrfF7gOucEXd8wGSm-7DiRdInrivfBxLB5SXNDEjK-EffYwhiQRR6eA4XJIOLKGaSiGXyCdIjbWq1jz758l6vB9XVkpceimT2a9pAHTMY/s200/israelkings.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Passing by Israel's kings which seem to be of less importance, we study some kings of the Northern Kingdom which stand out for various reasons.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>1. Omri and Ahab</b><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Omri founded the third dynasty, and building the city of Samaria, transferred his capital to that stronghold. A vigorous soldier and an unscrupulous king, Omri strengthened and extended the Kingdom, but did much to corrupt the people.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">In order to cement the alliance between himself and the king of Sidon, he brought about the marriage between his son Ahab and Jezebel, a daughter of the Sidonian king. Succeeding to the Kingdom, Ahab, dominated by the wicked and idolatrous Jezebel, proceeded to introduce into Israel all manner of idolatrous worship. At this crisis, and under these distressful conditions, the great prophet, Elijah, came upon the scene and waged mighty warfare for the true God against the idolatries of Israel.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>2. Jehu</b><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Jehu, the tenth king of Israel and founder of its fifth dynasty, was a picturesque and powerful figure. Jehu was anointed king by one of the sons of the prophets and with the utmost promptness and vigor he dashed across the plain, slew Jehoram the king with his own hand, ordered the destruction of Jezebel and proceeded to establish himself in Samaria as king of Israel. By a stratagem he assembled the leaders of idolatrous worship, the priests and prophets of Baal, in the vast temple which Ahab had erected in Samaria and caused them to be slain. Pushing forward the work thus begun, Jehu did not cease until he had destroyed utterly the Baal worship which had so blighted the nation. The reformation thus wrought in zeal and blood does not seem to have produced lasting fruits.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>3. Jeroboam II</b><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">While he walked in the ways of the first Jeroboam in that he kept up the idolatry of the golden calves, yet did much to strengthen and extend the Kingdom. Under his reign the people increased in wealth and power and enjoyed a prosperity which reminds one of the glorious days of David and Solomon. Idolatry, drunkenness and licentiousness were rampant, however, prophet Amos and other prophets were sent to denounce the sins of the day and to call the people back to the worship of Jehovah.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>4. Hoshea</b><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hoshea, the last of the kings of Israel, was somewhat better than his predecessors, but the doom long threatened was hastening apace. The Assyrians under Sargon reduced Samaria, 722 B.C. and carried the unhappy Israelites away into a captivity from which they were never to return.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-24423756749862510292009-10-25T10:05:00.001-07:002009-10-25T10:07:03.434-07:00ISRAEL, THE NORTHERN KINGDOM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra-6-_tX7Lanme2r8MX4g43wyTpsDkG7KVePf4cZ_b6TctQA1dAJi0lm-VwllYpk0eNk7ztXcGQxvBKXHahrmnbfYo_ljk92gqm_2rgiD1rN6oSVJgqPHtN0vA4hpQp81fYZxySTJH1k/s1600-h/jacob-blessing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgra-6-_tX7Lanme2r8MX4g43wyTpsDkG7KVePf4cZ_b6TctQA1dAJi0lm-VwllYpk0eNk7ztXcGQxvBKXHahrmnbfYo_ljk92gqm_2rgiD1rN6oSVJgqPHtN0vA4hpQp81fYZxySTJH1k/s200/jacob-blessing.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>The Two Kingdoms stood side by side for 259 years. After the fall of Israel, Judah continued 135 years longer.<br />
<br />
<b>(1) Jeroboam, Israel's first king</b><br />
<br />
So deeply did Jeroboam impress himself upon the life of Israel, a clear conception of his life and character will shed light on all the history which comes after.<br />
<br />
Coming to the throne of the new Kingdom, Jeroboam evinced no concern for the higher religious welfare of Israel. One ambition possessed him—the firm establishment of the Kingdom in his own hand. To this one thing he was willing to sacrifice all other things. Believing that his own interests and the permanency of his throne would be imperiled if his people continued to go for sacrifice and worship to Jerusalem, the heart and capital of the Southern Kingdom, he set up idols, golden calves, in imitation of those worshiped in Egypt. These he placed in Dan, an extreme Northern city, and Bethel, an ancient shrine situated on the border between Israel and Judah.<br />
<br />
This folly of Jeroboam never departed from Israel. No one of all the long line of kings which followed Jeroboam ever had the courage to destroy these idol shrines. <br />
<br />
<b>(2) Leading kings</b><br />
<br />
Passing by the kings which seem to be of less importance, we study some kings which for various reasons stand out in some distinctness.<br />
<br />
Omri and Ahab—Omri founded the third dynasty, and building the city of Samaria, transferred his capital to that stronghold. A vigorous soldier and an unscrupulous king, Omri strengthened and extended the Kingdom, but did much to corrupt the people.<br />
<br />
In order to cement the alliance between himself and the king of Sidon, he brought about the marriage between his son Ahab and Jezebel, a daughter of the Sidonian king. Succeeding to the Kingdom, Ahab, dominated by the wicked and idolatrous Jezebel, proceeded to introduce into Israel all manner of idolatrous worship. At this crisis, and under these distressful conditions, the great prophet, Elijah, came upon the scene and waged mighty warfare for the true God against the idolatries of Israel.<br />
<br />
Jehu, the tenth king of Israel and founder of its fifth dynasty, was a picturesque and powerful figure. Jehu was anointed king by one of the sons of the prophets and with the utmost promptness and vigor he dashed across the plain, slew Jehoram the king with his own hand, ordered the destruction of Jezebel and proceeded to establish himself in Samaria as king of Israel. By a stratagem he assembled the leaders of idolatrous worship, the priests and prophets of Baal, in the vast temple which Ahab had erected in Samaria and caused them to be slain. Pushing forward the work thus begun, Jehu did not cease until he had destroyed utterly the Baal worship which had so blighted the nation. The reformation thus wrought in zeal and blood does not seem to have produced lasting fruits.<br />
<br />
Jeroboam II, while he walked in the ways of the first Jeroboam in that he kept up the idolatry of the golden calves, yet did much to strengthen and extend the Kingdom. Under his reign the people increased in wealth and power and enjoyed a prosperity which reminds one of the glorious days of David and Solomon. Idolatry, drunkenness and licentiousness were rampant, however, prophet Amos and other prophets were sent to denounce the sins of the day and to call the people back to the worship of Jehovah.<br />
<br />
Hoshea, the last of the kings of Israel, was somewhat better than his predecessors, but the doom long threatened was hastening apace. The Assyrians under Sargon reduced Samaria, 722 B.C. and carried the unhappy Israelites away into a captivity from which they were never to return.<br />
<br />
<b>(3) Prophets</b><br />
<br />
The prophets were close students of political as well as religious problems, and as the advisers of kings, they often wielded a decisive influence in the affairs of state.<br />
<br />
Elijah and Elisha, who prophesied in Israel during the dark days of Ahab and his successors, battled mightily against the Baal worship which Ahab and Jezebel had introduced into Israel. Elijah, a Gileadite of picturesque grandeur, suddenly appeared before Ahab’s court and denounced the prevailing idolatry. By stern word and mighty miracle he did much to restore the worship of Jehovah. As notable among the events of his life may be mentioned: (a) his challenge to the priests of Baal and Ashtoreth and Jehovah’s signal vindication on Mt. Carmel; (b) his subsequent failure and flight; (c) his denunciation of Ahab in connection with the murder of Naboth, and his prediction of the overthrow of that wicked king.<br />
<br />
Elisha, more polished and of milder temperament, wielded through his long career a strong influence both on the court and among the people. Among the many miracles which he wrought, the following are of special interest: (a) the multiplying of oil which enabled a prophet’s widow to pay her debts; (b) the raising to life of the child of the Shunammite; (c) the recovery of Naaman from his leprosy; (d) making the borrowed ax-head to swim; (e) smiting with blindness the Syrian forces which were sent to capture him in Dothan.<br />
<br />
Amos and Hosea—Born in Tekoa of Judah, Amos was called to prophesy in Israel. At Bethel he denounced the prevailing sins and predicted the Assyrian captivity at a time when outward prosperity made the prediction extremely improbable.<br />
<br />
Hosea was contemporary with Amos and continued his labors through the reigns of Jeroboam II, Zechariah, Shallum, Menahem and Pekahiah. <br />
<br />
<b>(4) Into Captivity</b><br />
<br />
Hoshea, the last of Israel’s kings, pursued a weak and vacillating policy in his attitude toward the great opposing powers of the day, Egypt and Assyria.<br />
<br />
The Assyrian forces, at first under Shalmaneser and later under Sargon, laid siege to Samaria, the capital of Israel, and after a desperate struggle lasting three years, the city was taken, 722 B.C., and Hoshea and his people were carried away captive into Assyria, being there lost to history.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-74554313842637232732009-10-18T03:29:00.000-07:002009-10-18T03:29:11.975-07:00The Kingdoms Relations to Each Other<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">How the two kingdoms related to each other:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(1) </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Hostility</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Sixty years of Hostility. Rehoboam, king of Judah, was warned through a prophet that the rending of the Kingdom was of God, and he was directed to submit. In spite of this clear injunction, Rehoboam and his successors through a period of almost sixty years, persisted in their unsuccessful efforts to subdue Israel, waging a ceaseless petty warfare.</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">(2) Alliance</span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Thirty years of alliance. In the days of Ahab of Israel and Jehoshaphat of Judah, the reigning families were bound together in a friendly alliance against foreign foes, especially the powerful kingdom of Syria.</span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Renewed hostility</span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">One hundred and sixty-nine years of renewed hostility. When Jehu came to the throne of Israel he destroyed the house of Ahab and severed forever the ties which bound the Two Kingdoms. From this time to the fall of Israel, in 722 B.C., there was ceaseless strife between Israel and Judah.</span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">(4) Both loved of Jehovah</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><b><br />
</b></span></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">God seems to have made little difference between the Two Kingdoms, regarding them alike as his erring children. To them alike he sent prophets to warn and exhort, while in both he laid bare his arm in wonderful deliverances.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-55571368200468737012009-10-10T12:39:00.002-07:002009-10-18T03:23:04.920-07:00THE KINGDOMS COMPARED<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://biblehistoryoutlines.blogspot.com/2009/10/kingdoms-compared.html">THE KINGDOMS COMPARED</a><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Comparasion of the Kingdoms are as follows:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The northern kingdom: <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana;">Israel</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana;">, Kingdom of</span></span><br />
</div><a href="" name="IsraelKingdomof"></a>(B.C. 975-B.C. 722). Soon after the death of Solomon, Ahijah's prophecy (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A31-35">1Ki 11:31-35</a>) was fulfilled, and the kingdom was rent in twain. Rehoboam, the son and successor of Solomon, was scarcely seated on his throne when the old jealousies between Judah and the other tribes broke out anew, and Jeroboam was sent for from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> by the malcontents (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A2-3">1Ki 12:2, 3</a>). Rehoboam insolently refused to lighten the burdensome taxation and services which his father had imposed on his subjects (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A4">1Ki 12:4</a>), and the rebellion became complete. Ephraim and all <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> raised the old cry, "Every man to his tents, O Israel" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+20%3A1">2Sa 20:1</a>). Rehoboam fled to <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A1-18">1Ki 12:1-18</a>; <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ch+10">2Ch 10</a>), and Jeroboam was proclaimed king over all <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Shechem</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region></st1:place> and Benjamin remaining faithful to Solomon's son. War, with varying success, was carried on between the two kingdoms for about sixty years, till Jehoshaphat entered into an alliance with the house of Ahab.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">—<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Easton</st1:place></st1:city>'s Illustrated Dictionary<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">It began in 931 b.c. and lasted 210 years. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The first ruler was Jeroboam. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The last ruler was Hoshea. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The total number of kings was nineteen. Not one was righteous. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">It consisted of ten tribes. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Its capital later became <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Samaria</st1:place></st1:city>. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">It was captured by the Assyrians in 721 b.c. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">There was no return from captivity. </li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal">The southern kingdom:<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana;">Judah</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: navy; font-family: Verdana;">, Kingdom of</span></span><br />
</div><a href="" name="JudahKingdomof"></a>When the disruption took place at Shechem, at first only the tribe of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region> followed the house of David. But very soon after the tribe of Benjamin joined the tribe of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region>, and <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> became the capital of the new kingdom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jos+18%3A28">Jos 18:28</a>), which was called the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Judah</st1:placename></st1:place>. It was very small in extent, being only about the size of the Scottish <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">county</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Perth</st1:placename></st1:place>.<br />
For the first sixty years the kings of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region></st1:place> aimed at re-establishing their authority over the kingdom of the other ten tribes, so that there was a state of perpetual war between them. For the next eighty years there was no open war between them. For the most part they were in friendly alliance, co-operating against their common enemies, especially against <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Damascus</st1:city></st1:place>. For about another century and a half Judah had a somewhat checkered existence after the termination of the kingdom of Israel till its final overthrow in the destruction of the temple (B.C. 588) by Nebuzar-adan, who was captain of Nebuchadnezzar's body-guard (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+25%3A8-21">2Ki 25:8-21</a>).<br />
The kingdom maintained a separate existence for three hundred and eighty-nine years. It occupied an area of 3,435 square miles. (See <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/book.asp?pub=0&book=15&sec=00007126#ISRAELKINGDOMOF">ISRAEL, KINGDOM OF</a>.)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">—<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Easton</st1:place></st1:city>'s Illustrated Dictionary<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">It began in 931 b.c. and lasted 326 years. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">The first ruler was Rehoboam. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">The last ruler was Zedekiah. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">The total number of rulers was twenty: nineteen kings and one queen. Eight of the twenty were righteous. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">It consisted of two tribes (Judah and Benjamin). </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">Its capital remained <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">It was captured by the Babylonians in 606 b.c. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;">There were three separate returns from captivity.</li>
</ul><b>(1) Area<br />
</b><div class="MsoNormal"> <br />
The Northern Kingdom <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place> comprised almost three times as much territory, 9,500 (9,375) square miles as her Southern neighbor, Judah, with 3,500 (3,435) square miles.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>In contrast with the <st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Judah</st1:placename> is that of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<br />
(1.) "There was no fixed capital and no religious centre.<br />
(2.) The army was often insubordinate.<br />
(3.) The succession was constantly interrupted, so that out of nineteen kings there were no less than nine dynasties, each ushered in by a revolution.<br />
(4.) The authorized priests left the kingdom in a body, and the priesthood established by Jeroboam had no divine sanction and no promise; it was corrupt at its very source." (Maclean's O. T. Hist.)<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">—<st1:city w:st="on">Easton</st1:city>'s Illustrated Dictionary<br />
<br />
<b> (2) Resources<br />
</b> <br />
The land embraced in the <st1:placetype w:st="on">territory</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Israel</st1:placename> was on the whole vastly more productive, including, as it did, many fertile plains such as Esdraelon and the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Jordan</st1:country-region></st1:place> valley.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region> <br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Advantages.</i>—The <st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Judah</st1:placename> possessed many advantages which secured for it a longer continuance than that of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>. A frontier less exposed to powerful enemies, a soil less fertile, a population hardier and more united, a fixed and venerated centre of administration and religion, a hereditary aristocracy in the sacerdotal caste, an army always subordinate, a succession of kings which no revolution interrupted; so that Judah survived her more populous and more powerful sister kingdom by 135 years, and lasted from <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">b.c.</span> 975 to <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">b.c.</span> 536.—Smith's Bible Dictionary<br />
<br />
<b> (3) Population<br />
</b> <br />
Isreal's advantage in the matters of area and resources was no greater than her advantage in the matter of population. Her fertile lands sustained a numerous and open-minded people.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The prophet Ahijah <a href="" name="5752x6"></a>of Shiloh, who was commissioned in the latter days <a href="" name="5752x15"></a>of Solomon to announce the division <a href="" name="5752x21"></a>of the <a href="" name="5752x23"></a>kingdom, left one tribe (<a href="" name="5752x27"></a>Judah) to the house <a href="" name="5752x31"></a>of David, and assigned ten to Jeroboam. <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A31">1 Kin 11:31</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+11%3A35">35</a> These were probably Joseph (= Ephraim and Manasseh), Issachar, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali, Benjamin, Dan, Simeon, Gad and Reuben; Levi being intentionally omitted. Eventually the greater part <a href="" name="5752x68"></a>of Benjamin, and probably the whole <a href="" name="5752x74"></a>of Simeon and Dan, were included as if by common consent in the <a href="" name="5752x87"></a>kingdom <a href="" name="5752x88"></a>of <a href="" name="5752x89"></a>Judah.—Smith's Bible Dictionary<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The whole population may perhaps have amounted to at least three and a half millions.—Smith's Bible Dictionary<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Judah</st1:place></st1:country-region><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .25in;"><i>Population.</i>—We have a gage as to the number of the people at different periods in the number of soldiers. If we estimate the population at four times the fighting men, we will have the following table:<br />
</div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 1.5pt;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>King</i><br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Date (<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">b.c.)</span></i><br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Soldiers</i><br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>Population</i><br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div class="MsoNormal">David<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">1056-1015<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">500,000<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">2,000,000<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div class="MsoNormal">Rehoboam<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">975-957<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">180,000<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">720,000<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div class="MsoNormal">Abijah<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">957-955<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">400,000<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">1,600,000<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div class="MsoNormal">Asa<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">955-914<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">500,000<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">2,000,000<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div class="MsoNormal">Jehoshaphat<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">914-889<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">1,160,000<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">4,640,000<br />
</div></td> </tr>
<tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 71.25pt;" valign="top" width="95"> <div class="MsoNormal">Amaziah<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 66.75pt;" valign="top" width="89"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">839-810<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 59.25pt;" valign="top" width="79"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">300,000<br />
</div></td> <td style="padding: .75pt .75pt .75pt .75pt; width: 72.75pt;" valign="top" width="97"> <div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">1,200,000<br />
</div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal">—Smith's Bible Dictionary<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
<b> (4) Capitals<br />
</b> <br />
In one point Judah was especially favored; <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> with its political and religious associations, with its memories of David and Solomon, with its magnificent <st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city>--<st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> was a might asses for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region></st1:place>. While <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>'s capital was often shifted, and <st1:city w:st="on">Samaria</st1:city>, its chief seat of government, was associated with idolatrous rites, <st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Judah</st1:country-region>'s capital, was hallowed by the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Temple</st1:city></st1:place> and made sacred by glorious memories and noble associations.<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Shechem was the first capital of this kingdom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12%3A25">1Ki 12:25</a>), afterwards Tirza (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+14%3A17">1Ki 14:17</a>). <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Samaria</st1:city></st1:place> was subsequently chosen as the capital (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+16%3A24">1Ki 16:24</a>), and continued to be so till the destruction of the kingdom by the Assyrians (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Ki+17%3A5">2Ki 17:5</a>).<br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><st1:city w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:city> became the capital of the new kingdom (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Jos+18%3A28">Jos 18:28</a>), which was called the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Judah</st1:placename></st1:place>. It was very small in extent, being only about the size of the Scottish <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">county</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Perth</st1:placename></st1:place>.<br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-33044048652260002252009-10-01T12:57:00.003-07:002009-10-04T13:42:18.957-07:00CAUSES OF THE DIVISION OF THE KINGDOM<span style="font-size:x-small;"><span style="color:red;">Rough Draft Last - Updated 10/4/09 </span></span><br /><br /><b>Causes of the Divided Kingdom (982-722 B.C.) 1 Kings 12</b><br /><br />In a little more than one hundred years, the Kingdom arose, attained its zenith and went into decline. Under David and Solomon, the seeds were sown which were destined to yield disaster. When Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, came to the throne the Northern tribes raised the standard of revolt, set up a rival Kingdom and for about two hundred and fifty-nine years Two Kingdoms, Israel and Judah, stood side by side.<br /><br /><b>(1) Tribal jealousy</b><br /><br />Ephraim means Double fruitfulness ("for God had made him fruitful in the land of his affliction"). The second son of Joseph by his wife Asenath, born in Egypt (Gen 41:52; Gen 46:20). The first incident recorded regarding him is his being placed, along with his brother Manasseh, before their grandfather, Jacob, that he might bless them (Gen 48:10; Compare Gen 27:1). The intention of Joseph was that the right hand of the aged patriarch should be placed on the head of the elder of the two; but Jacob set Ephraim the younger before his brother, "guiding his hands wittingly." Before Joseph's death, Ephraim's family had reached the third generation (Gen 50:23).—Easton's Illustrated Dictionary<br /><br />The two formed two of the tribes of Israel, There are really 13 tribes but the number twelve was preserved by excluding that of Levi when Ephraim and Manasseh are mentioned separately (Num 1:32-34; Jos 17:14, 17; 1Ch 7:20).<br /><br />Different Philosophies:<br /><br />During the Conquest: We can see the differing points of view between Judah and Ephraim. Judah chose obedience to God by driving the Canaanite out of the land. In contrast, Ephraim was content to exact tribute from and dwell with the Canaanites, Even though they had the military strength to obey God.<br /><br />28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 29 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. Judges 1:28-29 (KJV)<br /><br />Change in Influence and Honor:<br /><br />From the settlement of Canaan till the time of David and Solomon: Ephraim had held the place of honor among the tribes.<br /><br />The portion of Ephraim (Jos 16:1-10) was large and central, and embraced some of the most fertile land in all Canaan. It extended from the Mediterranean across to the Jordan, north of the portions of Dan and Benjamin and included Shiloh, Shechem, etc. A range of mountainous country, which runs through it, is called "the mountains of Ephraim," or "mount Ephraim." This extends also farther south into the portion of Judah, and is there called "the mountains of Judah." Samaria, the capital of the ten tribes, being in Ephraim, this latter name is often used for the kingdom of Israel, Isaiah 11:13; Jeremiah 31:6; 50:19.<br />The tabernacle and the ark were deposited within its limits at Shiloh where it remained for four hundred years.<br /><br />During the time of the judges and the first stage of the monarchy this tribe manifested a domineering and haughty and discontented spirit. "For more than five hundred years, with its two dependent tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, exercised undisputed pre-eminence.<br />Joshua the first conqueror, Gideon the greatest of the judges, and Saul the first king, belonged to one or other of the three tribes.<br />Ephraim (tribe of Joseph) became jealous over the growing power of Judah. I believe Ephraim as a tribe took God’s Blessing for granted.<br /><br />But now when Jerusalem became the capital of the kingdom, and the centre of power and worship for the whole nation of Israel, Ephraim declined in influence.<br /><br />67 Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim: 68 But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount Zion which he loved. 69 And he built his sanctuary like high palaces, like the earth which he hath established for ever. 70 He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheepfolds Psalms 78:67-70 (KJV)<br /><br />Why was Judah chosen?<br /><br />8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk. Gen 49:8-12 (KJV)<br /><br /><br />Judah saved Joseph’s life<br /><br />26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. Gen 37:26-27 (KJV)<br /><br />When the ark was removed from Shiloh to Zion the power of Ephraim was humbled."<br /><br />Ephraim envied Judah; and Judah vexed Ephraim… Is 11:13<br />The discontent came to a crisis by Rehoboam's refusal to grant certain redresses that were demanded (1Ki 12).<br /><br />For seven years, at the close of Saul's reign, Ephraim supported the house of Saul while Judah rallied to the scepter of David. The influence of David, and after him that of Solomon, was strong enough to hold the tribes together. Now that these influences had passed and new conditions had arisen, the old feeling leaped into a flame and the Ten Tribes were glad for a pretext to break away and set up a government for themselves.<br /><br /><b>(2) Worldly policies</b><br /><br />Because Solomon had failed to reign according to the will of Jehovah, and had turned his heart away after other gods; God decreed the dissolution of his Kingdom. Already in Solomon's day, the prophet Ahijah had been sent to Jeroboam with the prediction that that prince should reign over the ten tribes of Israel.<br /><br />1 Kings 11:1-43<br /><br /><b>(3) Heavy taxes</b><br /><br />While gold and silver and precious treasures had flowed in abundance into the coffers of the king, the people themselves had been sorely oppressed and burdened. Groaning beneath their burdens, they assembled in Sheechem and pleaded that their taxes should be reduced.<br /><br />1 Kings 12:1-7<br /><br /><b>(4) Rehoboam's folly</b><br /><br />Apparently all of these difficulties might have been overcome but for the consummate folly of Rehoboam, Solomon's son. Instead of conciliating the people and reducing their burdens, he answered them roughly; "My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins." Thereupon the northern tribes revolted and set up a separate Kingdom.<br /><br />1 Kings 12:8-24Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-62936485894468447292009-09-24T13:10:00.000-07:002009-09-24T13:10:39.722-07:00UNITED KINGDOM - MARKS OF THIS PERIOD<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: red;">(Rough Draft - Last Updated 9/24/09)</span></span><br />
<br />
As the period of the judges has been called the "Dark Ages," so this period of the kingdom may be called the "Golden Age" of Israel's history.<br />
<br />
<b>(1) Literary Activity</b><br />
<br />
Many books of Scripture were written during this period -- Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Solomon, and most of the Psalms and of the Proverbs.<br />
<br />
<b>(2) Religious Progress</b><br />
<br />
This was a period of special religious development. The Temple was built and dedicated, and its worship was elaborately perfected; sacred music was introduced on a scale never known before, and a high degree of religious faith and fervor was developed.<br />
<br />
<b>(3) Conquest and Expansion</b><br />
<br />
The Kingdom under David and Solomon comprised about six times as much territory as was originally occupied by the Twelve Tribes. The promise made hundreds of years before to Abraham was thus fulfilled.<br />
<br />
<b>(4) Wealth and Splendor </b><br />
<br />
Silver was in Jerusalem as stones and cedar trees as sycamores, and the people became so many that they were as the sand which is by the sea for multitude.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-88851634400480637602009-09-13T13:30:00.005-07:002009-09-19T19:35:38.733-07:00THE REIGN OF SOLOMON<span style="color: red; font-size: 85%;">(Draft in progress - Recent update 9/19/09)</span><br />
<br />
While sixty chapters are given in the Sacred Record to the life of David, only twenty chapters are given to Solomon. The life of Solomon may be briefly summarized as follows:<br />
<br />
<b>(1) Early simplicity</b><br />
<br />
Our earliest glimpses of Solomon are most pleasing. Coming to the throne at an early age, perhaps about twenty, one of his first public acts was to call an assembly of Israel at Gibeon which, as the location of the Tabernacle, was the center of Israel's worship. Here he offered with all Israel one thousand burnt offerings. That same night God appeared to him and bade him, for his father David's sake, to ask what he would. With beautiful spirit Solomon made reply, "Give me wisdom and knowledge that I may come in and go out before this people: for who can judge this thy people that is so great?" Because Solomon requested wisdom rather than riches or honor or long life or the life of his enemies, God was pleased and declared that he should have all of these besides the wisdom he craved.<br />
<br />
<b>(2) Mature greatness</b><br />
<br />
Solomon ruled wisely the vast domain which he had inherited from his father David, and as the years passes, grew into a man of strength and a statesman of ability. He completed and perfected the governmental policies inaugurated by David; he carried on extensive building operations both in Jerusalem and throughout the realm; he formed trade relations with Egypt, Tyre, and other nations which brought him wealth from the remote parts of the earth.<br />
<br />
<b>(3) Sinful indulgence</b><br />
<br />
Along with increasing wealth and power there came to Solomon and to all Israel a spirit of ease and indulgence which could but prophesy evil for the holy nation. After the manner of Oriental despots, Solomon made alliance with foreign courts and in order to cement the bonds of friendship he married daughters of these foreign rulers, among them the daughter of Pharaoh, thus establishing an extensive harem. These women brought in their foreign gods and idolatries and thus turned the heart of Solomon from the worship of Jehovah. The usual forms of sacrifice and worship were indeed kept up, but the spirit had gone out of the forms, and Solomon and all Israel with him were swept by currents of sin and worldly indulgence.<br />
<br />
<b>(4) Sad decline</b><br />
<br />
Wearied with the follies and idolatries of the king and the nation, Jehovah appeared again with the words, "Forasmuch as this is done of thee and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee and give it to thy servant." Clouds began to gather; signs of decline began to appear. The increasing weakness of these declining days is manifest in the fact that Rezon, king of the Syrians, was able for many years to wage war against Solomon, and that Israel's ancient enemy, Edom, under the dreaded Hadad, also raised a standard of revolt which Solomon seemed unable to put down.<br />
<br />
Chrolological Notes:<br />
<br />
The division of the kingdom following Solomon's death occurred at some time in the year beginning in Nisan (in the spring) of 931 BCE, as argued by Edwin Thiele <i>Mysterious Numbers</i> p. 78.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-33"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#cite_note-33"></a></sup><br />
<br />
His fourth year would have begun in Tishri (in the fall) of 968/967 BCE. Solomon's fourth year, in which Temple construction allegedly began, is calculated by modern scholars<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-34"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#cite_note-34"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-35"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#cite_note-35"></a></sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-36"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon#cite_note-36"></a></sup> from the Tyrian king list of Menander (Menander of Ephesus (ca. early 2nd century BC) was the historian whose lost work on the history of Tyre was used by Josephus) as the year 968 BCE without the use of biblical texts. [J. Liver, "The Chronology of Tyre at the Beginning of the First Millennium B.C.," Israel Exploration Journal 3 (1953) 113-120.; Frank Moore Cross, "An Interpretation of the Nora Stone," Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 208 (1972) 17, n. 11.;William H. Barnes, Studies in the Chronology of the Divided Monarch of Israel (Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, 1991) 29-55.]<br />
<br />
Rough Study Notes:<br />
<br />
Solomon, Israel’s fabulous king (1 Ki. 1-11; 2 Chron. 1-9). <br />
<br />
His triumph over his enemies (1 Ki. 1:1-2:46). <br />
<br />
Over Adonijah. While David is on his deathbed, his oldest living son, Adonijah, attempts to steal the throne from his half-brother, Solomon. He is supported by Joab and Abiathar (1:7). Solomon, however, is supported by Nathan, the Prophet; Bath-sheba, his mother; Zadok, the high priest; and Benaiah, one of David’s mighty men of old (1:8-11). Bath-sheba visits her dying husband, and arranges for Solomon to be anointed by Zadok (1:39). Adonijah is placed on probation, but later executed when he makes a power play for the throne by attempting to marry Abishag, who had been David’s last concubine (1:3; 2:17, 25).<br />
<br />
Over Abiathar (2:26, 27). Because of his faithfulness to David, Abiathar is allowed to live but is banished from the priesthood. <br />
<br />
Over Joab (2:28-34). This bloody general is finally executed, not only for his part in Adonijah’s rebellion, but for many past crimes which included the murders of Abner and Amasa. <br />
<br />
Over Shimei (2:36-46). Shimei, like Adonijah, is for a while placed on parole, but he breaks this trust and suffers the death penalty for it. At the execution of Shimei, David’s dying request has been fulfilled by Solomon, for he had asked that justice be done to both Joab and Shimei (2:5, 8). <br />
<br />
His talent from God (3:4-28). <br />
<br />
Solomon is visited by the Lord in a dream while in Gideon to make sacrifice. God tells him he may have anything he desires and the new king asks for wisdom (3:6-9). <br />
<br />
When he returns to Jerusalem, he is immediately confronted with a situation which tests his newly acquired wisdom. Two harlot mothers approach him concerning two babies, one dead and the other living. Both mothers claim the living one as theirs. Solomon suggests he divide the living child with a sword and give half to each woman. The real mother, of course, is horrified at this, and thus her true identity is revealed (3:16-28). <br />
<br />
His total and tranquil reign over all Israel (1 Ki. 4:1-34). Solomon’s reign at this time is a beautiful foreshadowing of Christ’s perfect millennial reign. Thus we see: <br />
<br />
Solomon had twelve cabinet members to aid in his reign (1 Ki. 4:7). Jesus will confer this upon his twelve disciples (Mt. 19:28). <br />
<br />
Solomon ruled "over all kingdoms" in the Holy Land area (1 Ki. 4:21), while Christ will rule over all kingdoms everywhere (see Rev. 11:15). <br />
<br />
Solomon’s subjects served him as we will serve Christ (1 Ki. 4:21; Rev. 22:3). <br />
<br />
Solomon brought in local peace (1 Ki. 4:24), as Christ will usher in universal peace (Isa. 2:2-4). <br />
Judah and Israel dwelt safely, "every man under his vine" (1 Ki. 4:25). So will it be during Christ’s reign (Jer. 23:6; Micah 4:4; Zech. 3:10). <br />
<br />
His Temple of worship (1 Ki. 5-8; 2 Chron. 2-7). <br />
<br />
The preparation. <br />
<br />
It was begun in May during Solomon’s fourth year and completed in November of his eleventh year, thus making a total of seven years (1 Ki. 6:38). <br />
<br />
It was exactly twice the size of Moses’ tabernacle, ninety feet long, thirty feet wide, and forty-five feet high. (Compare with Ex. 26:16, 18.) <br />
<br />
It was built by the partial slave labor project instituted by Solomon, which consisted of 100,000 Israelites, 80,000 stone cutters, and 3,600 foremen. <br />
<br />
The floors and walls were made of stone covered with cedar and overlaid with gold (1 Ki. 6:16, 21, 22). <br />
It was built without the sound of hammer, axe, or any other tool (1 Ki. 6:7). <br />
<br />
It had ten lampstands and ten tables of shewbread (1 Ki. 7:49), as opposed to one each in Moses’ tabernacle. <br />
<br />
Solomon paid King Hiram of Tyre nearly a million bushels of wheat and some 840 gallons of pure olive oil for the timber alone from the forest of Lebanon to construct the Temple shell (5:8-11). <br />
<br />
There were two golden cherubim in the Holy of Holies (1 Ki. 8:7). <br />
<br />
The dedication. Solomon briefly reviews the historical circumstances which led up to this glad day (1 Ki. 8:12-21; 2 Chron. 6:1-11). <br />
<br />
The supplication (1 Ki. 8:22-53; 2 Chron. 6:12-42). Solomon prays that the influence of this beautiful Temple will extend itself in a threefold manner: <br />
<br />
Over the individual (1 Ki. 8:31, 32). <br />
That sinners will be judged. <br />
That the righteous will be justified. <br />
<br />
Over the nation. <br />
That its sins might be forgiven (vs. 33-35). <br />
That its land might be healed (vs. 36, 37). <br />
That Israel might be preserved in captivity (vs. 44-50). <br />
<br />
Over the heathen (vs. 41-43). <br />
<br />
The benediction (1 Ki. 8:54-61). <br />
<br />
The manifestation (2 Chron. 7:1-3). <br />
"Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house."<br />
<br />
The presentation (1 Ki. 8:62-66; 2 Chron. 7:4-10). This offering, consisting of 120 thousand sheep and twenty-two thousand oxen, was the largest in the Bible, and perhaps of all time. <br />
<br />
His treasury of riches. <br />
He had 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Ki. 11:3). <br />
He had fantastic quantities of gold. <br />
from Hiram he acquired three and a half million (9:14) <br />
from his navy, 420 talents of gold (9:27, 28) <br />
from the Queen of Sheba, three and a half million (10:10) <br />
from yearly taxes and revenue, upwards of 20 million (10:14) <br />
He owned 40,000 horses (4:26). <br />
He owned 1400 chariots, each costing $400 apiece (10:26). <br />
He commanded 12,000 cavalrymen (10:26). <br />
He owned an extensive fleet of ships (1 Ki. 9:26-28; 10:22; 2 Chron. 8:17, 18). <br />
He built a huge ivory throne and overlaid it with pure gold. It had six steps and a rounded back with arm rests. It was surrounded by twelve lions, two resting on each step (10:18-20). <br />
He constructed an iron-smelting industry at Ezion-Geber (1 Ki. 9:17). <br />
His testimony throughout the land (1 Ki. 4:29-34; 10:1-13). <br />
The ruler of Arabia came to see for herself the riches of Solomon and also to test his universally famed wisdom. She entered Jerusalem a skeptic, but left with this testimony: <br />
"I believed not the words, until I came and mine eyes had seen it: and behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard" (1 Ki. 10:7).<br />
Some nine centuries later the Savior would refer to this historic visit. (See Mt. 12:42.)<br />
Solomon’s wisdom was testified to universally in matters of: <br />
jurisprudence (1 Ki. 3:28) <br />
administration (1 Ki. 4:29; 5:12) <br />
poetry (1 Ki. 4:32) (Solomon’s writings are discussed at the end of this stage.) <br />
natural science (1 Ki. 4:33) <br />
architecture and engineering (1 Ki. 5:1-7; 9:15-22) <br />
commercial enterprise (1 Ki. 9:26-10:29) <br />
philosophy (Eccles. 2:3) <br />
horticulture (Eccles. 2:5) <br />
<br />
His transgressions against God: <br />
The warnings to Solomon against transgressing. <br />
<br />
from David <br />
first warning (1 Chron. 22:13)<br />
last warning (1 Ki. 2:3) <br />
<br />
from God <br />
first warning (1 Ki. 3:14) <br />
second warning (9:6, 7) <br />
last warning (11:11) <br />
<br />
The nature of Solomon’s transgressions. Some four and one-half centuries before Solomon, God had written the following qualifications concerning all future kings of Israel: <br />
<br />
"When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me; thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold" (Deut. 7:14-17).<br />
<br />
But Solomon disobeyed in all three areas.<br />
He had much gold and silver (1 Ki. 10:14-27). <br />
He owned thousands of horses (4:26). <br />
He gathered hundreds of wives and concubines (11:3). <br />
<br />
The results of Solomon’s transgressions: <br />
<br />
That he would, for the first time in his reign, be plagued with troublemakers and minor revolts (11:14-25). <br />
<br />
That after his death, God would take the kingdom from Solomon’s son and give a large portion of it to another (11:9-13, 26-40).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-50309082967771147402009-08-18T12:25:00.013-07:002009-08-30T22:48:41.199-07:00THE REIGN OF DAVID<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >(Draft in progress - Recent update 8/30/09)</span><br /><br />We now approach the greatest and noblest character, after Moses, in Israelite history; we come also to the most brilliant era in the life of the nation.<br />David’s life falls into four periods:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) David the shepherd lad (16:1-13)</span><br /><br />Of his early shepherd life we know but little, save that he kept his father’s flocks on the pasture lands about Bethlehem, and that on occasions he slew a lion and a bear.<br /><br />God told Samuel is instructed to visit Jesse of Bethlehem and anoint one of his eight sons as King of Israel. (16:1)<br /><br />Samuel is told to, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature... for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (16:7)<br /><br />After God rejects the first seven sons, Samuel calls for David the youngest who keeps the sheep and anoints him (16:11-13)<br /><br />David, in God's sight, is the anointed king, but he must suffer before he reigns<br /><br />The Spirit of Jehovah came upon David and forsook Saul, who, at the same time, is troubled by an evil spirit. (16:14) If God and his grace do not rule us, sin and Satan will have possession of us.<br /><br />Obviously God is working with both David and Saul only in different ways.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) David at the court of Saul (Singer, Harp Player, Armor Bearer)(16:14-23)</span><br /><br />King Saul is from this point on troubled by an evil spirit.<br /><br />Saul's servant's say "Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee." (i.e. by God's permission, who delivered him up to be buffeted of Satan; delivered him up to Satan)<br /><br />The fame of David’s skill as an accomplished harpist causes Saul to issue a "command performance," and David readily agrees.<br /><br /><br />"And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son, unto Saul" (v. 20). What a beautiful typical picture is here presented to us. It was the dire need of poor Saul which moved Jesse to send forth his anointed son: so it was a world lying in sin unto which the Father sent His Beloved. Behold David richly laden with presents for the king: Jesse sent him<br />forth not with weapons of warfare in his hands, but with the tokens of his good will. So the Father sent forth His Son "not to condemn the world" (John 3:17), but on an errand of grace and mercy unto it."<br /><br />David’s beautiful music helps the troubled Saul.<br /><br />1Sa_17:15, But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">David the soldier</span><br /><br />Jesse sends David with some food for his brothers who are soldiers in Saul’s army.<br />Israel at this time was engaged in battle with the Philistines.<br /><br />Upon arriving, David views a giant Philistine warrior who had for forty days (17:16) brazenly insulted the armies of Israel and their God, taunting them to send forth a Champion (soldier) to do battle with him and thus determine the war. The giant’s name was Goliath; he was approximately ten feet high. He wore a bronze helmet, a 200-pound coat of mail, bronze leggings, and carried a bronze javelin several inches thick, tipped with a twenty-five-pound iron spearhead.<br /><br />David accepts this challenge and, armed with only the sling of a shepherd, kills the giant with a stone which he hurls into his forehead.<br /><br />Saul called David to live permanently at the court.<br /><br />By his genius and skill and courage, David attained the high position of captain of the king’s bodyguard, a place which seems to have been second only to that held by Abner as general of the army.<br /><br />1Sa_18:2, And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.<br /><br />He now begins his lifelong friendship with Jonathan, Saul’s son (1 Sam. 18:1-4).<br /><br />He is made commander-in-chief of Saul’s armies (1 Sam. 18:5).<br /><br />He receives the praise of the Israelite women for slaying Goliath (1 Sam. 18:6, 7).<br />These women sang concerning how Saul had slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands. Apparently the Philistines would also later hear of this song. (See 1 Sam. 21:11; 29:5.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) David, an outlaw chieftain sought (1 Sam 18-31)</span><br /><br />Imperiled by the jealous enmity of Saul (18:8), David was driven forth, and for a few years became a frontiersman. Many thrilling incidents and hairbreadth escapes marked this period. Again and again, as he himself declared, there was only a step between him and death.<br /><br />Saul's first attempt to kill David (1 Sam. 18:11).<br /><br />He is demoted from general to a captain in Saul’s armies (1 Sam. 18:13).<br />Saul attempts to have the Philistines kill David, by falsely promising his daughter to wife for defeating the enemy (1 Sam. 18:19).<br /><br />Saul then promises his second daughter, Michal, to David if he can kill 100 Philistines. David thereupon goes out and kills 200 (1 Sam. 18:20-27).<br /><br />David marries his first of many wives, Michal (1 Sam. 18:27, 28).<br /><br />Saul attempts to kill him again with a javelin (1 Sam. 19:10).<br /><br />David escapes Saul’s next murderous attempt by being lowered down through his own bedroom window with the help of Michal (1 Sam. 19:12).<br /><br />David goes to Ramah and reports all this to Samuel (1 Sam. 19:18).<br /><br />Jonathan warns David of Saul’s renewed efforts to kill him (1 Sam. 20:18-22, 35-42).<br /><br />David goes to Nob and (after lying about the nature of his visit) receives bread and a sword from Ahimelech, the high priest (1 Sam. 21:1-9).<br /><br />He then goes to the Philistine city of Gath and fakes insanity before King Achish (1 Sam. 21:10-15).<br /><br />David makes the Cave of Adullam his headquarters and begins gathering his "outlaw army." This army at first totaled 400 men (1 Sam. 22:1, 2).<br /><br />During this period three of his mighty men slipped through enemy lines to bring David the drink of water from the well in Bethlehem he had so longed for. David was so impressed that he refused to drink it, but poured it out as an offering to God (1 Chron. 11:16-19).<br /><br />David goes to Moab, but is ordered back to Judah through the mouth of Gad, the prophet of the Lord (1 Sam. 22:3-5). God had already gone to the trouble of bringing David’s great grandmother from Moab into Judah. (See Ruth 1.)<br /><br />A vicious Edomite named Doeg betrays Ahimelech to Saul, whereupon the insane king orders the slaughter of eighty-five priests at Nob simply because Ahimelech had offered some bread to David (22:12-19).<br /><br />David receives Abiathar, one of Ahimelech’s sons, who alone had escaped Saul’s bloody slaughter of the priests at Nob (1 Sam. 22:20-23).<br /><br />David saves the Israelite city of Keilah from the Philistines (1 Sam. 23:5).<br /><br />He then is warned by God to flee the city, for the fickle citizens were preparing to hand him over to Saul (1 Sam. 23:10-12).<br /><br />He now has an army of 600 men (1 Sam. 23:13).<br /><br />Jonathan and David meet in the woods of Ziph and renew their friendship (1 Sam. 23:16-18).<br /><br />Saul surrounds David in the wilderness of Maon, but upon hearing the report of a Philistine invasion, is forced to leave before capturing him (1 Sam. 23:26-28).<br /><br />David spares Saul’s life in a cave in the wilderness of En-gedi, by cutting off a piece of Saul’s coat when he could have sliced off his head (1 Sam. 24:1-15).<br /><br />David’s heart immediately smote him for this act of disrespect (1 Sam. 24:5). (This "smiting" was to be recorded on two future occasions, as well.) 1. After his sin with Bath-sheba (2 Sam. 12:13). 2. After numbering the people of Israel (2 Sam. 24:10). (Psalm 7 may have been written at this time.)<br /><br />Saul acknowledges both his stupidity and the fact that he knew God had chosen David to rule Israel (1 Sam. 24:16-22).<br /><br />David marries his second wife, Abigail. She was the widow of an arrogant and rich Judean sheepherder who had refused to help David in his time of need and for this reason was slain by the Lord ten days later (25:1-42). (Just prior to this, Samuel had died and was buried at Ramah.)<br /><br />David marries his third wife, Ahinoam (1 Sam. 25:43). Note: His first wife, Michal, had been given by Saul to another man (25:44). Ahinoam would later give birth to Amnon (see 2 Sam. 3:2).<br /><br />David spares Saul’s life the second time on a hillside in the wilderness of Ziph. To prove this to Saul, he orders one of his men to take the spear and water canteen while the king lies sleeping (1 Sam. 26:1-16).<br /><br />Saul once again acknowledges his wickedness and promises no more to seek his life (1 Sam. 26:17-24). Note: The wicked and frustrated king, apparently, this time, kept his word.<br /><br />David backslides and moves to the Philistine city of Ziklag (1 Sam. 27:1).<br /><br />David now completes his army of mighty men. These men were known for:<br /><ul><li>their strength (1 Chron. 12:2, 8) </li><li>their spiritual perception (1 Chron. 12:18) </li></ul>During this time, a period of sixteen months, David carries out numerous plundering raids upon various non-Israelite cities, but convinces the Philistine king, Achish, that the cities are indeed Israelite ones. (See 1 Sam. 27:8-12.)<br /><br />Saul visits the witch of En-dor in a desperate attempt to call up Samuel from the dead in order to receive advice concerning a fearful Philistine military threat (28:1-11).<br /><br />Samuel appears, apart, however, from any actions of the evil witch, and predicts Saul’s defeat and death on the battlefield the following day (28:12-25).<br /><br />Note: The appearance of Samuel on this occasion has created a great deal of discussion among Bible scholars and has produced a number of viewpoints with regard to the precise nature of this event. They are as follows:<br /><br />"The appearance of Samuel was not a literal one, but merely the product of psychological impressions. According to this view, the woman had permitted herself to become emotionally involved and psychologically identified with the prophet, so that she was convinced that he had actually appeared when called. Two objections can be raised against this view. The first is derived from verse 12, which indicates that when Samuel did appear, the medium cried out with a loud voice, apparently surprised or startled by his appearance. Such would not be the case if she were merely seeking a vision produced by ‘psychological excitement.’ Second, the general reading of the text leads one to the conclusion that not only did the woman speak with Samuel, but Saul spoke with him as well (cf. v. 15).<br /><br />A demon or Satan impersonated Samuel. Those holding this view argue for the idea that a visible form of Samuel himself appeared, which was in reality merely an impersonation of him. Many who defend this view argue that God would not permit a woman of this type to actually disturb the rest of a godly man. The whole affair is therefore considered a satanic or demonic deception of Saul. The advocates of this view remind us that Satan can appear as ‘an angel of light’ (2 Cor. 11:14) and, therefore, has the ability to carry out such deceptions. In evaluating this view, it should be pointed out that the basic reading of the biblical text leads one to the conclusion that this was actually Samuel and not an impersonation. While it is true that Satan can perform such deception, it is highly doubtful that he has the prophetic knowledge necessary to reveal that which was given to Saul in this chapter. Furthermore, if this were a demon or an evil spirit, it is improbable that he would have given the prediction found in this passage. More likely, in the light of the godly character of David and the wickedness of Saul, the demonic power would have flattered Saul with a positive prophecy.<br /><br />The whole thing was a deliberate imposture practiced upon Saul. The witch really did not see Samuel, but fooled Saul into believing that her voice or that of someone else was that of Samuel. Those maintaining this view point out that only the woman saw Samuel and reported his words. Saul heard and saw nothing. A number of objections may be raised against this view. In the first place, the Bible does not specifically say that the woman reported Samuel’s words; on the contrary, it makes it clear that Samuel spoke directly to Saul. Orr’s statement that the king ‘saw and heard nothing’ is in direct conflict with the obvious reading of the text (cf. v. 15ff). It is also highly doubtful that she was in a position to predict the outcome of the battle and specifically forecast the death of Saul’s sons. It is also unlikely, from a practical point of view, that she would give such a forecast to a man obviously aligned with the Israelite camp.<br /><br />The most popular view and that which is maintained by most orthodox commentators is that this was a genuine appearance of Samuel brought about by God himself. In favor of this proposal is the Septuagint reading of 1 Chronicles 10:13 which is as follows: ‘Saul asked counsel of her that had a familiar spirit to inquire of her, and Samuel made answer to him.’ Furthermore, the fact that she cried out when she saw Samuel indicated that she did not bring up Samuel and did not expect him to appear in this manner. The fact that Saul bowed himself to the ground and did obeisance is a further indication that this was a real appearance of Samuel. It is doubtful that he would have reacted merely on the grounds of a verbal description or a false impression. Samuel’s statement to Saul in verse 15 should not be regarded as a proof of the fact that the witch of En-dor or Saul brought him back from the dead. What, then, was the purpose of God in bringing Samuel back for this appearance? This unusual act on the part of God was certainly designed to emphasize the doom of Saul and God’s displeasure for his coming to a necromancer. Robert Jamieson suggests three additional reasons: (1) To make Saul’s crime an instrument of his punishment, (2) To show the heathen world God’s superiority in prophecy, and (3) to confirm a belief in a future state after death. Two other men who made an appearance on the earth after death were Moses and Elijah at the transfiguration of Christ (Mt. 17:3; Lk. 9:30, 31). They, however, appeared ‘in glory,’ but Samuel appeared in the mantle which he had worn while on earth. Therefore, in a real sense the appearance of Samuel after death was a completely unique event." (The Birth of a Kingdom, John J. Davis, pp. 96-99)<br /><br />David foolishly volunteers to join the Philistines as they march to fight with Israel at Jezreel. But he is not fully trusted by the Philistine leaders, and his offer is refused (1 Sam. 29:1-11).<br /><br />David avenges the sudden destruction of his adopted Philistine city Ziklag by totally slaughtering the guilty Amalekites (1 Sam. 30:1-18).<br /><br />After this successful battle, David institutes an important statute and ordinance in Israel, which reads:<br /><br />"But as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike" (1 Sam. 30:21-25).<br /><br />Saul is defeated by the Philistines and is sorely wounded. He thereupon falls upon his sword to avoid torture at the hands of the enemy. His sons, including Jonathan, are also killed in battle (31:1-7).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) David, Sovereign King in Hebron and in Jerusalem (2 Sam. 1-10; 1 Chron. 11-19)</span><br /><br />Upon the death of Saul the powerful tribe of Judah came together in Hebron and made David their king.<br /><br />After reigning seven years in Hebron over the tribe of Judah, David, upon the death of Saul’s son and the collapse of his Kingdom, was solemnly chosen by all of the tribes to be their king. Reducing the fortress of Jebus (Jerusalem), which had to this time successfully resisted attack, David made it his capital and the center of his Kingdom. Here for thirty-three years David reigned over all Israel.<br /><br />David hears the news of the death of Saul and Jonathan and grieves for them in Ziklag (2 Sam. 1:1-27). He orders the execution of an Amalekite soldier who attempted to take the credit for Saul’s death.<br /><br />At God’s command, he returns to Palestine and is anointed at Hebron by the men of Judah as their king. This was his second anointing (2 Sam. 2:1-4). David is now around thirty and he will rule over Judah for the next seven and a half years (2 Sam. 5:5).<br /><br />Abner, Saul’s general, makes Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, king over the eleven tribes (2:8-10).<br /><br />Joab arranges a meeting with Abner and murders many of his men. Abner is forced to kill Joab’s brother Asahel in self-defense (2:18-23).<br /><br />After a long war between Saul’s house and David’s house, Abner breaks with Ish-bosheth and attempts to negotiate with David (3:1, 21). David agrees to cooperate.<br /><br />Joab hears of this and murders Abner (3:30).<br /><br />At this time David gets Michal, his first wife, back. He then marries four more women, for a grand total of seven wives, while in Hebron (2 Sam. 3:2-5; 1 Chron. 3:1-4). It was in Hebron that four (of his many) children were born who would later bring sorrow to his life. They were:<br /><br /><ul><li>Amnon, who would rape his half-sister Tamar (2 Sam. 13:1-14)</li><li>Tamar (2 Sam. 13:1)</li><li>Absalom, who would kill Amnon for this and later lead a revolt against the king himself (2 Sam. 13:28; 15:13, 14)</li><li>Adonijah, who also would later attempt to steal David’s throne while the old king lay dying (1 Ki. 1)</li></ul><br />David learns of and bitterly laments the brutal murder of Abner (Saul’s ex-captain) by Joab (David’s captain) (2 Sam. 3:31-39). David would never forget this vicious act of revenge done by Joab to Abner. Nor did Joab stop here, for the king’s beloved (and prodigal) son, Absalom, would later be murdered by Joab (see 2 Sam. 18:14). The viciousness of this crime was intensified in that it was done in Hebron, a city of refuge (see Josh. 21:13). In such a city not even the avenger of blood might slay the murderer without a trial (Num. 35:22-25). Joab probably murdered Abner for two reasons:<br /><br /><ul><li> To avenge the slaying of his brother Asahel (2:23) by Abner. However, Abner had done this only in self-defense.</li><li> To protect his own position as commander-in-chief of David’s armies. Joab was the son of David’s half-sister, Zeruiah (1 Chron. 2:16; 2 Sam. 17:25) and was therefore his nephew.</li></ul> David avenges the murder of Ish-bosheth, Saul’s fourth son, by executing his two murderers (2 Sam. 4:9-12). This was the turning point, for after the death of Ish-bosheth, nothing could stop David from having the kingdom of Israel. Much blood had now been shed to purchase David’s throne. Death had claimed eighty-five priests, Saul, Jonathan, an Amalekite, Asahel, many Israelite soldiers, Abner, Ish-bosheth, and two captains. David was indeed (even though at that time unintentionally so) a bloody man. (See 1 Chron. 22:8.) How different would be David’s perfect Son who shed only his own blood to obtain his eternal throne! (See 1 Pet. 1:18, 19.)<br />10. David is anointed king over all Israel at Hebron. This marked his third anointing. It was a fantastic three-day celebration with nearly 400 thousand honor troops from the twelve tribes of Israel taking part (2 Sam. 5:1-5; 1 Chron. 12:23-40). Especially helpful must have been those soldiers from the tribe of Issachar, for we are told they were: "Men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (1 Chron. 12:32).<br />11. David then captured Jerusalem and made it his permanent capital. He enlarges his kingdom, hires Hiram, the King of Tyre, to build him a palace, and marries more wives and concubines (5:6-16).<br /><br />He is victorious over the Philistines twice during this time. Both victories were at the hand of God (2 Sam. 5:17-25).<br /><br />David brings the Ark of the Covenant (2 Sam. 6:1-19; 1 Chron. 13:1-14; 15:1-16:43).<br /><br />1. His method of carrying the ark (in a new cart) displeases God, resulting in the death of a man called Uzzah, and brings a three-month delay (2 Sam. 6:3, 7, 11).<br /><br />2. Finally, with much shouting, singing, and making of music, the ark enters the city. A history of the ark up to this time is as follows:<br /><br />1. It was first made by Moses at God’s command (Ex. 25:10-22).<br />2. It was then transported along with the other tabernacle furniture through the forty-year wilderness journey.<br />3. It was eventually set up in Shiloh, the first Israelite capital (Josh. 15:1).<br />4. It was carried into battle and captured by the Philistines (1 Sam. 4:11).<br />5. It was passed on among the Philistine cities like a hot potato (1 Sam. 5).<br />6. It was brought to the city of Bethshemesh, where it caused a fearful plague (1 Sam. 6:19).<br />7. It was brought to Kirjath-jearim where it resided twenty years (1 Sam. 7:1, 2).<br /><br />David then appointed some of the Levites to "minister before the ark of the Lord, and to record, and to thank and praise the Lord God of Israel" (1 Chron. 16:4; 25:7). This choir, numbering 288,<br /><br />David now delivers his first recorded Psalm (1 Chron. 16:7-36).<br /><br />Upon returning home, he is severely rebuked for all this "religious emotional nonsense" by his wife Michal (2 Sam. 6:20-23).<br /><br />He desires to build a temple, but this request is not allowed by God (2 Sam. 7:17; 1 Chron. 17:4).<br /><br />He is now given the Davidic Covenant from God (2 Sam. 7:8-17). This all-important covenant stated:<br />1. David is to have a child, yet to be born, who will succeed him and establish his kingdom.<br />2. This son (Solomon) shall build the Temple instead of David.<br />3. The throne of his kingdom shall be established forever.<br />4. The throne will not be taken away from him (Solomon) even though his sins justify chastisement. (See Ps. 89:33-37.)<br />5. David’s house, throne, and kingdom shall be established forever. (See also Lk. 1:28-33, 68-75; Acts 15:13-18.)<br />17. He responds to this by offering a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving (2 Sam. 7:18-29).<br />18. He now consolidates his kingdom by defeating in rapid succession the Philistines, the Moabites, the Syrians, and the Edomites (2 Sam. 8:1-14).<br />19. He seeks out and shows kindness to Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s lame son (2 Sam. 9:1-13).<br />20. The Ammonites spurn his act of kindness by humiliating his ambassadors and are soundly punished for this (2 Sam. 10:1-19).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> David the sinner (2 Sam. 11).</span><br /><br />1. The indulgent king lusts after and lies with Bath-sheba, the wife of Uriah, one of his soldiers.<br />2. Bath-sheba becomes pregnant and reports this to David.<br />3. Uriah is hurriedly called home from the battlefield under a pretext that he might visit his wife and thus later believe that the unborn child would be his.<br />4. Uriah apparently realizes the truth of the situation and refuses to cooperate.<br />5. In an act of desperation, David sends him back with a sealed letter to Joab to arrange for his death in battle.<br />6. Uriah is killed and David marries Bath-sheba.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> David the sorrowful (2 Sam. 12-24; 1 Chron. 20, 21).</span><br /><br />After Bath-sheba’s child is born, Nathan the prophet relates to David a story of how a rich farmer who owned thousands of sheep stole a little pet lamb from a poor farmer, his only one, butchered and ate it (12:1-4).<br /><br />David’s anger knows no limit and he vows that the cruel rich man will pay back fourfold for his sin (12:5, 6).<br /><br />Nathan then boldly points out to David that he, the king, is that man.<br /><br />David confesses his sin and repents (12:13).<br /><br />God forgave David, but would require his servant to pay back fourfold, the same price the king would have made the rich man pay.<br /><br />Seven days after David’s confession, the first installment comes due, for the child dies (12:18).<br /><br />The king accepts this by faith, believing he will someday see him again (12:23).<br /><br />Solomon is born (12:24).<br /><br />David fights his last recorded battle against an outside enemy and defeats Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon (12:29).<br /><br />David’s son, Amnon, lusts after and eventually rapes his own half-sister, Tamar. The second installment on David’s debt had come due (13:14).<br /><br />Absalom, the full brother of Tamar, begins plotting the murder of Amnon and kills him two years later. This would be installment number three (13:29).<br /><br />Absalom flees into the desert and stays with his pagan grandfather for three years (13:38).<br /><br />Joab employs a crafty woman from Tekoah to trick David into permitting Absalom to return to Jerusalem.<br /><br />Absalom returns, but is refused an audience with his father for two years. Finally, after Absalom burned a barley field to get attention, David agrees to see him (14:33).<br /><br />Absalom begins planning a revolt against his father. After four years, he is ready, and instigates the plot in Hebron (15:12).<br /><br />The rebellion gathers strength and David is forced to leave Jerusalem. God had now exacted the fourth installment (15:14).<br /><br />David is accompanied into the wilderness by Ittai (a foreign guest who, along with his 600 soldiers, sides in with him) (2 Sam. 15:18-22).<br /><br />Abiathar and Zadok also accompany him. However, David orders these joint high-priests back to Jerusalem. They return, carrying God’s ark with them (2 Sam. 15:24-29).<br /><br />David walks up the road to the Mount of Olives and weeps (2 Sam. 15:30).<br /><br />Upon learning that his advisor Ahithophel has joined Absalom’s rebellion, the king prays, "O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness" (2 Sam. 15:31).<br /><br />David then orders another advisor, Hushai, also to pretend to sell out to Absalom, that he might frustrate and counter Ahithophel’s advice (2 Sam. 15:34). Absalom listens to both counselors. Ahithophel advises an immediate "hit-’em-where-they-aren’t" frontal attack, before David can muster his forces. Hushai, however, appeals to the vain pride of Absalom by suggesting that they wait until a larger army can be raised and that Absalom himself lead the attack. This inferior advice was heeded, whereupon Ahithophel went home and hanged himself (17:1-23).<br /><br />He now meets Ziba, the manager of Mephibosheth’s household, who brings him food, but who lies about his master to feather his own nest (2 Sam. 16:1-4).<br /><br />David is cursed out and has stones thrown at him by Shimei, a member of Saul’s family (2 Sam. 16:5-8). In spite of this, David refuses to order his execution (16:10-12).<br /><br />Absalom enters Jerusalem and possesses David’s concubines (16:22).<br /><br />David is warmly greeted by Shobi (an Ammonite), and others, who offer him mats to sleep upon and food to eat (2 Sam. 17:27-29).<br /><br />Out of loving concern, David’s armies refuse to allow him into the battle with Absalom (2 Sam. 18:3).<br /><br />He sends his troops into battle in the woods of Ephraim, but orders the life of Absalom to be spared (2 Sam. 18:5, 6).<br /><br />Absalom’s green soldiers are no match for David’s seasoned troops and they quickly lose some twenty thousand men and the entire battle (18:7).<br /><br />Absalom attempts to escape, but is caught in some underbrush and killed by Joab (18:14).<br /><br />David learns of Absalom’s death at Joab’s hand and grieves over his dead son (18:33; 19:1-4).<br /><br />Joab severely rebukes him for this (19:5-7).<br /><br />He begins his trip back to Jerusalem and promises to appoint his nephew Amasa as head of his armies if Amasa can get the people of Judah (who had been miffed at David) to back his return to power (19:13, 14).<br /><br />He spares the life of Shimei, who falls at his feet at the river Jordan and begs forgiveness (19:23).<br /><br />He meets Mephibosheth and hears why his lame friend did not join him in the wilderness (19:24-30).<br /><br />He meets Barzillai, who had befriended him in the wilderness, and invites the old man to accompany him to Jerusalem and live there (19:34-37).<br /><br />Upon crossing Jordan, David is confronted with yet another rebellion, this one led by Sheba, a Benjaminite. Ten tribes now desert David. Only Judah and Benjamin remain loyal (20:1-3).<br /><br />David instructs Joab to crush this revolt. This Joab does at a city called Abel, but prior to this, Joab brutally murders Amasa, thus eliminating a dangerous rival (20:6-22).<br /><br />David thereupon once again returns to Jerusalem, a sadder and wiser man. He would have more troubles later, but they would not include wars and rebellions. He could now burn the mortgage on his sin-debt with Bath-sheba.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> David the statesman (2 Sam. 21:1-14).</span><br /><br />A three-year plague from God had settled down upon Israel. David is told it was because of the bloody house of Saul in the past when he slew the Gibeonites.<br /><br />In Joshua 9, Israel had made a covenant with these Gibeonites that they would not be harmed. This sin was now being punished.<br /><br />David negotiates with the Gibeonite leaders, and they determine that justice can be done only by allowing them to execute seven of Saul’s sons, all of whom doubtless had participated in the former Gibeon massacre. This is done and the plague is stayed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> David the statistician (2 Sam. 24).</span><br /><br />David succumbs to the temptation of Satan and numbers Israel (1 Chron. 21:1-6).<br /><br />He later repents of this and is offered by God one of three kinds of punishment:<br /><ul><li> seven years of famine</li><li> to flee ninety days before his enemies</li><li> a three-day pestilence</li></ul> He chooses the third (2 Sam. 24:15).<br /><br />As a result, 70,000 men die. The plague is stopped by David at a threshing floor as he pleads with God’s death angel. David later buys this floor (2 Sam. 24:15-25; 1 Chron. 21:18-30).<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">David the sponsor (1 Chron. 22-29).</span><br /><br />David is now nearly seventy. When he was but thirty-seven, he determined to build the Temple for God, but was forbidden by the Lord to do so (22:7, 8).<br /><br />The old king is, however, allowed to lead in the preparations for the Temple which Solomon will construct (22:5, 9, 10).<br /><br />David therefore makes the following preparations:<br /><ul><li> the blocks of squared stone which will be used in the Temple (22:2)</li><li> great quantities of iron for the Temple nails (22:3)</li><li> a huge supply of cedar logs (22:4)</li><li> three million dollars in gold bullion (22:14)</li><li> two million dollars’ worth of silver (22:14)</li><li> 24,000 Levites to supervise the Temple work (23:4)</li><li> 6,000 Levites to be Temple bailiffs and judges (23:4)</li><li> 4,000 Levites to act as Temple guards (23:5)</li><li> 4,000 Levite musicians to head up the praise service (23:5)</li><li> a special Temple choir of 288 skilled singers (25:1, 7)</li></ul> David then calls a special dedicatory service and does the following:<br /><ul><li> He hands over the Temple blueprints to Solomon, which plans he received directly from God’s hand (28:19).</li><li> He personally contributes to the work of an offering totaling 85 million dollars of gold and 20 million dollars of silver (29:4).</li><li> His action immediately prompts Israel’s leaders to pledge $145 million in gold, $50 thousand in foreign currency, $30 million in silver, 800 tons of bronze, and 4600 tons of silver, in addition to great amounts of jewelry (29:6, 7). Thus the total of David’s preparation must have exceeded $200 million.</li><li> He then offers one of the most beautiful prayers in all the Bible (1 Chron. 29:10-19).</li><li> This dedicatory service was ended by a massive sacrificial service, which included a thousand young bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, all offered up as burnt offerings (29:21). </li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> David the scribe:</span> Of the 150 Psalms, David wrote seventy-seven. The Psalms will be discussed later<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">David the sage (1 Ki. 2:2-5).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Application to our life</span>:<br /><ul><li>Every Christian is offered a kingdom</li><li>There are enemies threatening from outside and inside to undermine it.</li><li>Kings of Israel were never able to get rid of the Philistines, Ammonites, Jebusites, Perizzites and all the other ites of the day</li><li>Internal enemies threaten to undermine and overthrow the dominion that God intends us to have as we learn to reign in life by Jesus Christ.</li><li>Compare with our internal enemies such as jealousy, envy, lust, bitterness, resentment, worry, anxiety and all the other ites, isms, chasms, and spasms that afflict us in our daily walk</li><li>David was brought by God to a place of reigning over his kingdom</li><li>When Saul (man of the flesh) died, new man (David) was free to be king over the land.</li><li>When we put the old man to death, the new man flourished.</li></ul><br />Rough Notes so far...<br /><br />Key Facts: Israel's greatest king, author of half of the book of Psalms<br />Father: Jesse (Ruth 4:17; 1 Samuel 16:1)<br />Brothers: Eliab, Abinadab, Shammah, Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem (1 Samuel 17:12-13; 1 Chron. 2:13-15); 1 unnamed (the seventh of 1 Samuel 16:10)<br />Sisters: Zeruiah, Abigail (1 Chron. 2:16)<br />Wives: Michal, Ahinoam, Abigail, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 2 Samuel 11:26-27; 1 Samuel 18:27; 1 Chron. 3:1-8)<br />Sons: Amnon, Kileab (also called Daniel), Absalom, Adonijah, Shephatiah, Ithream, Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, Eliphelet (2 Samuel 3:2-5; 2 Samuel 5:13-16; 1 Chron. 3:1-8; 1 Chron. 14:3-5); 1 unnamed (2 Samuel 12:15-23)<br />Occupation: Shepherd, musician, songwriter, soldier, king of Judah, king of all Israel (2 Samuel 2:1-7; 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Samuel 16:11, 23; 1 Samuel 18:5)<br />Key Events in His Life:<br />Anointed king by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:12-13) Psalm 78<br />Kills Goliath (1 Samuel 17:17-54)<br />Plays Harp for Saul (16:14-23)<br />David's friendship with Jonathan (1 Sam 18.1-4; 20.1-42; 23.14-18; 2 Sam 1.1-27) Psalm 54,63<br />David's Marriage to Michal (1 Sam 18.20-28; 19.9-17; 2 Sam 6.20-23) Psalm 59<br />Saul becomes jealous of David (18:6-30)<br />Flees from Saul (1 Samuel 19)<br />David meets and marries Abigail (1 Sam 25.1-44)<br />Becomes king of Judah (2 Samuel 2:1-7)<br />Becomes king of all Israel (2 Samuel 5:1-5)<br />Establishes Jerusalem as capital (2 Samuel 5:6-16)<br />Brings Ark to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:1-15)<br />God's covenant with him (2 Samuel 7:9-16)<br />Wins many military victories (2 Samuel 8; 2 Samuel 10)<br />Adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12) Psalm 51<br />Solomon Born (2 Sam 12.24,25)<br />Absalom's rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18)<br />Absalom dies David mourns(2 Sam 18.7--19.8)<br />David Counts the people (2 Sam 24.1-25)<br />Names Solomon his successor (1 Kings 1:28-39)<br />Age at Death: 70 (2 Samuel 5:4-5; 1 Kings 2:10-11)<br />Total Bible References: 1,118<br />Key References: 1 Samuel 16-1 Kings 2; Psalms; Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 30:8-9; Ezekiel 37:24-25; Zech. 12:7-10; Matthew 1:1; Hebrews 11:32Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-89671233287371135732009-08-11T02:25:00.008-07:002009-08-18T12:34:38.396-07:00THE REIGN OF SAUL<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Read: 1 Samuel 13 to 31</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saul was a clever man; a great military leader; an able statesman; yet his life was a miserable failure because he tried to put himself in the place of God and to carry out his own plans.<br /><br />We can follow his gradual decline as he begins to take matters into his own hands, make rash vows, disobeys God's commands, is shamed by his son Jonathan's simple nobility and became jealous, bitter and depressed, wasting his time hunting down David, desperate for guidance he stooped to spiritism which he earlier had banned, and finally became one of the Bible's rare suicides. In four words we may outline the career of Saul.</span> 1. Annointed, 2. Crowned, 3. Disobedient, 4. Rejected. We could subtitle this lesson, "The King who went wrong."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(1) Anointed</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The elders of Israel had gathered at Ramah and demanded that Samuel give them a king (8:3-20). Samuel is displeased and lists the many disadvantages of having a king (8:11-18). Samuel then receives the prophecy from God that he is to give Israel a king and that the king would come to him in 24 hours (1 Samuel 9:16). </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">We first meet Saul in quest of his father's asses which had strayed from home. He came to inquire of the prophet Samuel as to their whereabouts </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and unknowingly fulfills the prophecy given to Samuel. (1 Samuel 9:18-20). </span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li>Saul is privately anointed by Samuel at Ramah (10:1).</li><li><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204);">Saul is publicly acclaimed by Samuel at Mizpeh (10:24).</span></li></ul>Four Things in Saul's Ordination:<br /><br />1. Divine Ordination (1 Samuel 9:3-20) He went out with a bridle and came back with a scepter.<br />2. Prophetic Ordination (1 Samuel 10:11) Samuel was his tutor and friend. What an advantage but it was thrown away. How often we do that today!<br />3. Spiritual Ordination - The Spirit of God came upon him (1 Samuel 10:10) He grieved this Spirit, then he quinched Him.<br />4. Popular Ordination - "and all the people shouted and said, 'God save the king.'" (1 Samuel 28:7)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(2) Crowned</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">All Israel assembled in Mizpah at the call of Samuel to choose a king. When the lot fell on Saul, the people searched for him and found him among the baggage. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saul felt unworthy at this point of being king (9:21) and actually hid himself. When Samuel officially proclaimed him king, he had to be brought out of hiding (10:21).</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> "And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher then any of the people, from his shoulders and upward" (1 Samuel 10:23)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saul returns to Gibeah (10:26).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saul raised an army of 330 thousand to rescue the Israelite city of Jabesh-Gilead who had been surrounded by a cruel enemy. (11:8-15).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">As we studied last week, Samuel gathers Israel at Gilgal and gives his farewell address to the people. He warns both Saul and the people about the consequences of disobeying God (12:25). God punctuates this warning by the miracle of thunder and rain (12:18)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(3) Disobedient </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(1 Samuel 13:1)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Saul began early to manifest a rebellious spirit against Jehovah. When he was sent to destroy Amalek, he spared </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">a pagan named</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Agag the king and the best of the cattle </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">and his city (15:9)</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">By offering the sacrifice of a priest (13:9)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">By ordering the death of his own son. Saul had foolishly ordered no food to be eaten by his troops until the Philistines were defeated. Jonathan, his son, unaware of the command, ate some honey: The people, however, refused to let Saul carry out his foolish law and thus saved Jonathan (14:45). God saved Israel that day; this was done in spite of Saul’s stupidity, through three things:</span><br /><ol style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><li>Jonathan’s battle plan and personal courage (14:6)</li><li>a divine earthquake (14:15)</li><li>panic among the Philistine troops (14:19) </li></ol><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(4) Rejected</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Because of his failure to obey the word of the Lord in the matter of Amalek </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">(15:9), the event was significant because it marked the total rejection of Saul by God (15:11)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It illustrated a great biblical principle. When Saul lamely excused his actions in not killing the animals as instructed, but in saving them for sacrificial reason, God sent Samuel to denounce Saul's wickedness: </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king" (</span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+15%3A22-23">1 Sam. 15:22, 23</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In other words, it is better to obey than to sacrifice (for sins) because when one obeys God in the first place, he need not offer a sacrifice. (It is therefore better to apply the principle laid down in </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=Eph+6%3A13">Eph. 6:13</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> than the one found in </span><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Jn+1%3A9">1 John 1:9</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">.)</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"Thou has rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel" (1 Samuel 15:26).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It was the last meeting between Saul and Samuel until Samuel died (15:35). </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The closing years of Saul's reign are shadowed by the struggle between the wayward king and God. At last in a terrible hour of defeat and despair Saul died by his own hand on the slopes of Mt. Gilboa.<br /><br /></span>Questions for thought:<br /><br />Insomuch as Saul was granted to Israel as king in response to Israel's sinful demand for a king, contrary to God's will, did Saul ever really have a chance to "make good" in God's sight? Could he possible have succeded under such circumstances? Was he not condemed by God to failure even before he started as king?<br /><br />1 Samuel 12:12-15 - The prophet of God tells Israel that although they demanded their king in defiance to God (12), if both they and their king would fear Jehovah and serve Him, all would be well. Note what follows (verses 16-18). In verse 19 we see Israel confessing her sin of asking for a king, and Samuel reassures Israel promising blessing if they serve God.<br /><br />The only reason why a soul is ever rejected by God is because that soul has first rejected God. God takes the initiative in love. "We love Him, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) Man takes the initiative in sin (1 Samuel 15:23)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Give God His Right-of-way<br /><br />All through the years Samuel morned for Saul. When he failed, Samuel was faithful in warning him, then in loneliness he mourned over him. Multiplied verses tell the story. (1 Samuel 15:35)<br /><br />In the battle of the philistines, Saul and his three sons met death. Here a life so full of promise ended in defeat and failure. Saul had not obeyed God absolutely. For example: If I should sell 1000 acres of land and reserve 1 acre in the center, I would have the right to go over those 1000 acres to get to mine. One trouble with us is that we reserve a room for satan in our hearts and he knows he has right of way. This was the trouble with Saul.<br /><br />Think of the differance between Saul (of Tarsus) and Saul the king! One put God first, the other himself. God is showing that He must be all in all! That His children have no blessing apart from Him. The dawn morning of Saul's life was bright but soon the sky became overcast. Then his sun set in the blackest storm clouds taking him from rise, to reign, to ruin.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Application Notes:<br /><br /></span>The only reason why a soul is ever rejected by God is because that soul has first rejected God. God takes the initiative in love. "We love Him, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19) Man takes the initiative in sin (1 Samuel 15:23)<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br />We must be right with God. God chooses and uses those who's hearts are right with Him. He gifts, empowers and blesses those who serve him. He is equally prepared to judge and confound those who disobey Him. A good start is no guarantee of future success. We need to keep right with Him, obedient and trusting all along, not just in spots.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Samuel's Lament<br /><br />As Abraham mourned once for Israel<br />I have mourned for Saul<br />His future looked so bright to me<br />Spirit filled, strong and tall<br /><br />The demand (at Ramah), for a king was made<br />Saul was anointed there<br />At Mizpah the command of God I obeyed<br />Much more I could not bear<br /><br />"Rejection of My Prophet", God said<br />was not what they had done<br />It was rejection of their Lord that day<br />And it wont be the only one<br /><br />Israel was promised blessings there<br />If they would obey God's will<br />But Saul took a very different path<br />His own life, he'd fulfill<br /><br />"To obey is better than sacrifice"<br />was my response to them<br />Because he had rejected The Word of the Lord<br />Kingship would be removed from him<br /><br />As Abraham mourned for Ishmael<br />I have mourned for Saul<br />His lack of obedience cost his life<br />And he died by his own fall<br />----Staggs<br /><br /></span></div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Sources: KJV, Burroughs,Scofield, Willmington,Mears,Larkin,Balchin,David C. Brown, A.T. Worley, C.O. Staggs and my own personal study notes</span><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-75536643494745851372009-08-04T01:49:00.005-07:002009-08-09T13:52:16.953-07:00The Rise of the Kingdom<span style="font-weight: bold;">6. THE KINGDOM (*1102-982 B.C.)</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(1 Samuel 8-31, 2 Samuel, 1 Kings 1-11, 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 1-9, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon)</span><br /><br />Description:<br /><br />The period of "The Kingdom," continues through three reigns (Saul, David & Solomon) of about forty years each, and hence covered one hundred and twenty years.<br /><br />Most of Israel's Beautiful songs and Wisdom Literature were written during this period which would include the Song of Solomon, Proverbs, Psalms, and Ecclesiastes.<br /><br />Because Israel began clamoring for an earthly king (1Sam8:4-7). A reluctant Samuel, the last and greatest of the Judges, established a Kingdom and the period begins with the selection of king (Saul, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+9">1 Sam. 9</a>) and ends with the rejection of another king (Rehoboam, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+12">1 Ki. 12</a>).<br /><br />This period is also refered to as “the golden age” of Israel’s history where the chosen people attained their highest glory. Art and architecture flourished, the government was firmly established, and Israel’s borders were pushed out to “the river of Egypt” in one direction, and to the Euphrates in the other.<br /><br />During this period there was a visit to the witch of En-dor (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+28">1 Sam. 28</a>) and a visit by the Queen of Sheba (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+10">1 Ki. 10</a>).<br /><br />Record of the death of 2 babies. The first (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+12">2 Sam. 12</a>) pointed out the sin of a king, while the second (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+3">1 Ki. 3</a>) pointed out the wisdom of king.<br /><br />"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. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+12%3A13-14">2 Sam. 12:13, 14</a>).<br /><br />"And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other. Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof. And all Israel heard of the judgement which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do judgement" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+3%3A25-28">1 Ki. 3:25-28</a>).<br /><br />During this period a city is saved (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+11">1 Sam. 11</a>), some animals are spared (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+15">1 Sam. 15</a>), and a giant is slain (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+17">1 Sam. 17</a>).<br /><br />It describes a fearless prophet (Nathan, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+12">2 Sam. 12</a>), and a faithful priest (Zadok, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+15">2 Sam. 15</a>).<br /><br />The Ark of God on two occasions is carried to Jerusalem, once during a celebration (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+6">2 Sam. 6</a>), and again during a revolution (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+15">2 Sam. 15</a>).<br /><br />"So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+6%3A15">6:15</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+6%3A17">17</a>).<br /><br />"And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+15%3A14">15:14</a>, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+15%3A24-25">24, 25</a>).<br /><br />A sister is raped (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+13">2 Sam. 13</a>) and a son is hanged (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+18">2 Sam. 18</a>).<br /><br />A father’s son (Jonathan) protects young David from the son’s father (Saul, <a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Sa+20">1 Sam. 20</a>).<br /><br />A heathen city becomes the Holy City (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+5">2 Sam. 5</a>).<br /><br />"And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David. And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house" (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=2Sa+5%3A6-8">2 Sam. 5:6-8</a>).<br /><br />Solomon is instructed (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+2">1 Ki. 2</a>) and the Temple is constructed (<a href="http://www.crossbooks.com/verse.asp?ref=1Ki+6">1 Ki. 6</a>). **<br /><br />This period and the 3 following:<br /><ol><li>The Kingdom (This Period)<br /></li><li>The Two Kingdoms<br /></li><li>Judah Alone and<br /></li><li>The Captivity</li></ol>are recorded in:<br /><br />1 Samuel - Man's Choice - Saul<br />2 Samuel - God's Choice - David<br />1 Kings - Solomon and Israel<br />2 Kings - Israel's Kings<br />1 Chronicles - Solomon and the Temple<br />2 Chronicles - The Kings and the Temple<br /><br />A study of the chart below, will show where these several records are to be found.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorYeS7Eg1VMmAqn49tpjoDxp42an-lpBDGuPEw7qbbr_RDu-JBmaz_P3aCYIysLjoP-oiACVlKoElWU4TLCp1ed90bbsq9jhcY_GZxlbAAav9Y28LYTuza4rNz2EucPyAEuiKgaGpTlQ/s1600-h/OTHistoryChart.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 129px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorYeS7Eg1VMmAqn49tpjoDxp42an-lpBDGuPEw7qbbr_RDu-JBmaz_P3aCYIysLjoP-oiACVlKoElWU4TLCp1ed90bbsq9jhcY_GZxlbAAav9Y28LYTuza4rNz2EucPyAEuiKgaGpTlQ/s200/OTHistoryChart.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366047182806056626" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />We will be considering this period under the following outline:<br /><ol><li><a href="http://www.on-mission.com/outlines/61.html">The rise of the Kingdom</a></li><li>The reign of Saul</li><li>The reign of David</li><li>The reign of Solomon</li><li>Marks of the Period</li></ol><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:78%;" >Sunday Lesson Notes for Sunday, August 9, 2009</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">VI. THE KINGDOM - 1. THE RISE OF THE KINGDOM</span></span><br />(1 Samuel 11:14-12:25)<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The sons of Samuel failed</span></span><br /><br />Samuel had ruled Israel long and well. As he came to old age deep shadows were falling over the pathway of Israel. In contrast with the splendid integrity of his own life, and the dignity of his own reign, his sons, to whom he had entrusted some responsibliity of government, and who naturally would have succeeded him, were by their corruptions proving themselves unworthy to succeed their great father. The elders of Israel clearly perceived that the nation was approaching a serious crisis. (1 Samuel 8:1)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />(2) The people desired a king</span><br /><br />Assembling the nation in Ramah, the home of Samuel, the elders of the people made demand for a king to rule over them. They reminded the aged judge that his sons walked not in his ways, and they asked him to make for them a king to rule them "like the nations round about." Bringing the request of the people before the Lord, Samuel was bidden to yield to the demand and was consoled by the assurance that "they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them." He was directed to protest solemnly and to show the people the manner of king who should rule over them. (1 Samuel 8:5)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br />(3) Saul was chosen to be king</span><br /><br />As Israel's first king, and by reason of his strange personality, Saul commands peculiar interest. Chosen possibly because he was the type of man whom Israel desired, he failed utterly to measure up to the high demand of the place to which he was called. (1 Samuel 9:1)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) Samuel's farewell to Israel</span></span><br /><br />Having called the people togher in Gilgal, and made Saul king, Samuel availed himself of the opportunity thus presented to say his word of farewell to the people whom he had so long judged and whom he so deeply loved. With the utmost of dignity and with the noblest words he challenged Israel to witness against him. (1 Samuel 11:14)<br /><br />Following are rough study notes that will be used in the Introduction to the Kingdom Stage in Israel's History:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">These notes will be edited during th</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">e week and comments and questions are encouraged in the development of the Bible Study for Sunday</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We now approach the most brilliant and prosperous era of Israel's history. The "dark ages" which we have studied is succeeded by this "golden age." Israel now took high rank among the nations of the earth, attaining a high development in architecture, literature and all the elements of civilization.<br /><ul><li>Period of the Judges ends with Samuel</li><li>Begins the 500 year period of the kings of Israel (*1095 - 586 BC)</li></ul>1 Samuel Information:<br /><ul><li>Covers period of about 115 years From Samuel's Boyhood through Saul's Troubled reign to the choosing of King David.<br /></li><li>Samuel was the last of the Judges</li><li>Saul was first of the kings</li><li>Psalm 89 - Brings us to a time when David is ready to permanently establish the monarchy and God is ready permanently to establish David's throne.</li></ul>Book Outline of 1 Samuel:<br /><ol><li>Samuel (1-7)</li><li>Saul (8-15)</li><li>David (16-31)</li></ol>Most Popular Stories:<br /><ol><li>Samuel (chapter 3)<br /></li><li>David & Golieth (chapter 17)<br /></li><li>The friendship of David and Jonathan (chapter 18)</li></ol><br /><br />*Dating Information:<br />1102-987BC Period of United Kingdom suggested by Burroughs<br />1095-586BC Period of the Kings of Israel suggested by Mears<br /><br />** Willmington's Guide to the Bible<br />---<br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="https://clients4.google.com/voice/embed/embedPlayer" height="64" width="100%"><param name="movie" value="https://clients4.google.com/voice/embed/embedPlayer"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="FlashVars" value="u=13135204603431251605&k=AHwOX_DmOtpw8AcOe8KWl-ZjD6g6VE3KU9aVU7HQAoiZR8WYRpYNdPzjxIL5wVqI0_gas6QJq-BfHi-EJVP_mb25-yDwmyCO4WEcNDwWIKzSIjndPvnHdy7H8ua8tY60a98Az4KriveUWStqSCh_GQLc1-C3_7Hev2n_JYJLLVYhKNdrFfFoAuc&baseurl=https://clients4.google.com/voice&autoPlay=false"></object><br />---<br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/james/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-38262580268450978552009-05-10T11:15:00.000-07:002009-05-10T11:17:27.931-07:00Preparation for Canaan<span style="font-weight: bold;">5. PREPARATION FOR CANAAN (DEUTERONOMY) </span><br /><br />(1) On the plains of Moab<br /><br />Israel came at last to the plains of Moab, on the east of Jordan, over against Jericho. Of the unbelieving generation, which almost forty years before grieved God with its rebellion, all those twenty years of age and up had died.<br /><br />(2) Moses’ farewell addresses (Deuteronomy 1-30)<br /><br />Because Moses failed to sanctify Jehovah before the people, in that he smote the rock instead of speaking to it, as God commanded, he was not permitted to enter the Land of Promise. Before he went away into the mount from which he was not to return, he assembled all Israel in the open plain and delivered a series of farewell addresses, which for strength and dignity rank with the noblest of all human utterances.<br /><br />(3) Moses died<br /><br />At the call of God, Moses ascended Mt. Nebo and viewed the land which he was himself forbidden to enter. Here in the land of Moab, Moses died, and here God buried him so that no man ever knew the place of his burial.<br /><br />(4) Joshua succeeded Moses<br /><br />As a slave in Egypt, Joshua saw the mighty plagues by which Jehovah delivered Israel; as his minister he was with Moses in the sacred mount; as one of the twelve spies he brought back a good report. Thus in a long and honorable career and by varied training Joshua was prepared for leadership. ife, moving from place to place as the necessities of water and pasturage required.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-30442526187768335832009-05-10T11:14:00.000-07:002009-05-10T11:15:48.378-07:00Wilderness Wanderings<span style="font-weight: bold;">4. WILDERNESS WANDERINGS (NUMBERS) </span><br /><br />During the year spent before sinai we have four leading events, as follows:<br /><br />(1) To Kadesh-barnea<br /><br />After a solemn observance of the Passover, the hosts of Israel, numbering upwards of two millions, broke camp, and, led on by the pillar of cloud, set out toward Canaan, reaching Kadesh-barnea, on its southern shore, at the time of the first ripe grapes, in the month of September.<br /><br />(2) The spies sent<br /><br />In obedience to the command of Jehovah, twelve men, selected from the Twelve Tribes of Israel, went up throughout the whole land to spy it out. On their return they brought back a unanimous report as to the fertility and resources of the land, and as to the fierceness of its inhabitants. Here their agreement ceased. Ten men, declaring that they could not take the land, made the hearts of the people melt with fear. The other two, Caleb and Joshua, bravely withstood the majority, saying, “Let us go up at once and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Numbers 13: 30).<br /><br />(3) The people turned back<br /><br />The two men were unable to overcome the tide of doubt and dismay caused by the adverse report of the ten. The courage and faith of Israel signally failed and the people turned back, to wander in the desert until that generation of unbelieving men was dead.<br /><br />(4) Wilderness Wanderings<br /><br />For thirty-seven and a half years the children of Israel lived the nomadic life of the desert. We are not to to suppose that the people traveled constantly during this time, but rather that they lived a wandering and unsettled life, moving from place to place as the necessities of water and pasturage required.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-18089102163605388422009-04-12T06:10:00.000-07:002009-04-12T06:13:24.728-07:00Before Sinai<span style="font-size:85%;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">3. Before Sinai (Exodus 19 to 40, and Leviticus)</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />During the year spent before sinai we have four leading events, as follows:</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(1) The Decalogue given</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />After the patriarchal covenant had been ratified between Jehovah and Israel, the Lord spoke unto the assembly in the mountin the midst of the fire and the cloud and of the thick darkness, with a great voice, setting forth the Ten Words of the Law. Later, Jehovah wrote these words on tables of stone and sent them to the people by the hand of Moses. </span><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(2) The golden calf destroyed</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />While Moses was in the mount in solemn conclave with Jehovah, the people, impatient of the long delay and desirous of some visible symbol of Jehovah, prevailed upon Aaron to make a golden calf similar to the images they had often seen in Egypt. Returning from the mount, Moses found the people in the act of worshiping before this image. With flaming indignation he burned the image with fire, and strewing the ashes on a neighboring stream, he compelled the people to drink its waters.</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(3) The Tabernacle built</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />While in the holy mount, Moses received from the Lord instructions and directions for the building of a Tabernacle, which should be the center of worship for Israel. All the people were invited to make contributions; the men brought gold and silver and hewed down acacia trees, while the women brought the finest of their spinning and weaving. Thus was produced a portable structure of rare fineness, which for hundreds of years continued to be the worshipping and rallying place for God's people.</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(4) The Levitical Laws given</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />During the remaining months of the year at Sinai there was given through Moses an elaborate system of laws, touching the preisthood, the sacrifices and offerings, the holy seasons, the sacred feasts, together with all manner of moral and civil laws. <o:p></o:p></span><o:p></o:p> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-13859754946796297422009-04-12T06:05:00.000-07:002009-04-12T06:08:31.670-07:00Out of Egypt<p><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">2. <st1:country-region st="on">Out of Egypt</st1:country-region><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"></st1:place></st1:country-region> (Exodus 5 to 18)</span></b></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In setting forth this interesting bit of Israel's history, we may consider:</span></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(1) The plagues</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As Pharaoh, by his terrible oppressions, made Israel willing to go out of Egypt, so God, by his fearful visitations, made Pharaoh willing to let Israel go. Ten dreadful plagues, the last resulting in the death of the firstborn throughout the land, so crushed and humbled the haughty Egyptians that they were glad to send the people forth from their land. These plagues were: (1) water turned into blood, (2) frogs, (3) lice, (4) flies, (5) murrain of beasts, (6) boils upon men and beasts, (7) hail, (8) locusts, (9) darkness, (10) death of the firstborn. </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(2) The departure</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />Extensive preparations must have been made for the removal of so great a multitude with their families and their possessions. The eight or ten months during which Moses was contending with Pharaoh offered opportunity for this needed preparation. Laden with stores of jewelry, apparel and varied wealth, the chose people marched out of Egypt.</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(3) The journey to Sinai</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />The land of Canaan lay a little more than a hundred miles from Goshen, along the ancient caravan route, and could have been reached in a fortnight. But its inhabitants were fierce and warlike, and its cities were walled fortresses. Enervated by long slavery, Israel was wholly unprepared to meet such foes. Hence, God directed their course southeastward, and after sixty days of marching, the people entered the open plain before Mount Sinai.</span><br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(4) Miracles of the journey</span></b><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />This journey was marked by signs and signal deliverances. Notable among these were: (a) the pillar of cloud shielding by day and of fire lighting by night; (b) the waters of the Red Sea parted; (c) the bitter waters of Marah sweetened; (d) manna given daily; (e) water from the smitten rock. </span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-18793573964217377912009-03-28T04:00:00.000-07:002009-03-28T04:05:20.851-07:00Moses Called<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">MOSES CALLED (Exodus 1 to 4)</span></b> <p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Next to the call of Abraham, and scarcely second in importance to that event, is the call of Moses.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> As God called Abraham to found the nation, so God called Moses to deliver and develop the nation:<br /><br />We may consider the life of Moses as follows:</span></p> <b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(1) His birth and infancy</span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">When other means of oppression failed to stay the growth of the Children of Israel, Pharaoh issued an edict that all male infants born among the Hebrews should be cast into the Nile. When Moses was born, his parents dared to defy the edict of the king and by a fine strategy,under the favoring hand of God, the child was saved from death. </span> <br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(2) Forty Years in Egypt</span></b> <br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />The earliest of these years were spent under the care of his mother, from whom he received a training so vigorous and efficient that its force was never broken by the temptations to which he was subjected in the after years. From his mother's care Moses passed into the courts of Pharaoh and was trained in all the learning of the Egyptians. </span> <br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(3) Forty Years in the Desert</span></b> <br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />Compelled by the failure of a premature effort at deliverance to flee from the wrath of Pharaoh, Moses, when he was forty years of age, went away into the desert of Arabia. Here for forty years the future deliverer was in training for his life task. He came to know the desert, and it meant much that he should know personally and minutely the land in which for so many years he was to lead and govern his people. In the solitude of the desert he found opportunity to commune with God, and here he developed that fullness of faith and that clearness of vision which marked his later life. </span> <br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(4) Forty Years in Leadership</span></b> <br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />It has been said that Moses was forty years an Egyptian, forty years an Arabian, and forty years an Israelite.<br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-19559833125610646822009-03-22T01:40:00.000-07:002009-03-22T01:44:04.880-07:00Into Egypt<p><b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">5. <st1:country-region st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> (Genesis 46 to 50; Exodus 1)</span></b></p> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">In four words we may outline the experiences of <st1:country-region st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> through the long period during which they remained in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>:</span><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b><p style="margin: 5pt 0.5in;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></p><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(1) Blessed</span></b> <p style="margin: 5pt 1in;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"></span></b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">For a time after beginning their sojourn in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region>, the Children of Israel were blessed and prosperous.<span style=""> </span>The land to which they were assigned was exceedingly fertile, extending from the Nile valley to the borders of the <st1:place st="on">Arabian <span class="GramE">desert</span></st1:place>.<span style=""> </span>This era of prosperity seems to have continued something like a hundred years. </span> <br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(2) Oppressed</span></b> <br /><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />The rapid growth in numbers and in wealth of a subject race could but alarm the king of Egypt, who feared that in case of ware they might join forces with the enemies of Egypt and become a source of peril.<span style=""> </span>Pharaoh therefore resolved to reduce tem to the condition of slaves and began to put on them heavy burdens, requiring them to build cities and various public works.</span> <br /><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />(3) Multiplied</span></b> <p style="margin: 5pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The people increased in numbers with marvelous rapidity, owing to the warm climate, the abundance of wholesome food and doubtless chiefly to the favor of God.<span style=""> </span><st1:country-region st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> went down into <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> number seventy souls, while the host which went out under Moses numbered probably two million, of whom six hundred thousand were fighting men.</span><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b><p style="margin: 5pt 0.5in; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></b></p><b><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">(4) Civilized</span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br />This sojourn in <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Egypt</st1:country-region></st1:place> brought the chosen people into contact with the highest civilization of the day.<span style=""> </span>They came out with some knowledge of the arts and sciences, bearing the impress of an advanced civilization. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-49154991907146336492009-03-14T07:44:00.000-07:002009-03-14T07:48:10.341-07:00Joseph<span style="font-weight: bold;">Joseph The Deliverer of His People (Genesis 37 to 50)</span><br /><br />In Joseph we have a character of wonderful charm, one of the few eminent men of the Bible against whom no special sin is<br />recorded:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) Sold into Egypt</span><br /><br />Jacob’s partiality to his son Joseph, as manifested in the gift of the “coat of many colors,” was a fruitful cause of envy and bitterness in the family. By indiscreetly telling his dreams, Joseph aroused further the enmity on the part of the brothers and they first plotted his death and afterward, persuaded by Reuben, cast him into a pit instead. Later they sold him to Midianitish merchantmen, who in turn sold him to Potiphar , an officer of Pharaoh in Egypt .<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) A High Officer in Egypt</span><br /><br />When Pharaoh was perplexed by his two dreams, that of the seven lean kine devouring the seven fat kine, and that of the seven thin ears consuming the full and fat ears, Joseph was called to interpret these dreams. The fat kine and the full ears were seven years of plenty, when the earth should bring forth in handfuls. The lean kine and the thin ears were seven years of famine, which should utterly consume the land. Joseph wisely counseled that plans should be made to gather up stores during the years of plenty in preparation for the years of famine. This met the<br />king’s favor, and Joseph was selected to be the overseer of the task.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Delivered Israel from famine</span><br /><br />The predicted famine prevailed in Egypt and in the surrounding countries. Canaan , the home of Jacob’s household, suffered severely. When the sons of Jacob went down into Egypt to buy corn, Joseph discovered himself to them and in order that he might better care for them and their families, he sent for Jacob and the members of his household, and caused them to be brought down into Egypt . Here they were warmly welcomed by Pharaoh and given the rich pasture land known as Goshen .<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) Last days in Egypt</span><br /><br />When Joseph was one hundred and ten years old, he gathered the elders of Israel about him and declared that God would lead the people out of Egypt to the land promised to Abraham. He further exacted a promise that they would carry his bones with them out of Egypt and give them burial in Canaan. Thus, after a long and useful life, Joseph was gathered to his fathers.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1175621899863354201.post-17039567026316093852009-03-08T11:41:00.000-07:002009-03-08T11:51:36.736-07:00Jacob<div class="Section1"><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>3. Jacob and His Twelve Sons (Genesis 27 to 36)</b><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">We consider the life of Jacob under four points:<b><br /></b></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>(1) Flight to Haron</b><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Compelled to flee from the wrath of Esau, from whom he had by trickery taken the patriarchal blessing, Jacob went to his mother’s kinspeople in Padan-aram.<span style=""> </span>Here he served Laban fourteen years in order to secure as his wives Laban’s daughters, Leah and Rachel.<span style=""> </span>Continuing six years longer, he increased exceedingly and had much wealth. </span> <br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>(2) Return to Canaan</b><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Because of differences with his father-in-law, Jacob was constrained to flee from Haran with his wives and his possessions.<span style=""> </span>Overtaken by Laban, reconciliation was effected and Jacob made his way back to Sheechem, where Abraham had first built his altar in the Land of Promise.<span style=""> </span>To Jacob were born twelve sons, who became the heads of the Twelve Tribes of Israel.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br />(3) Lost Rachel and Joseph</b><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">After the return to Canaan a shadow fell over the patriarch’s home in the death of his beloved wife, Rachel.<span style=""> </span>While his heart was yet tender with this bereavement, Joseph, his favorite son, was taken from him through the treachery of his sons and sold into Egypt.</span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><br />(4) Last days in Egypt</b><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Driven by famine and invited by Joseph, Jacob went down into Egypt with his household.<span style=""> </span>Here, under the care and protection of Joseph, the patriarch spent the last seventeen years of his life.</span> <p style="margin-right: 0.5in; margin-left: 0.5in;"> </p> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0