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1 MOAB REBELLED AGAINST ISRAEL AFTER THE DEATH OF AHAB.
Ahab King of Israel had been killed
fighting against the King of Aram.
Ahab was the husband of Jezebeel,
daughter of the King of Tyre.
Jezebeel
was a wicked queen who had encouraged her husband to commit idolatry. Despite
his weakness and sins Ahab however had died an heroic death fighting on behalf
of the People of Israel against their enemies.
During the reign of Ahab Moab had been subject to Israel.
After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled
against Israel due to the sins of Ahab, i.e. as a result of susceptibility in
the organizational system Ahab had been responsible for. Nevertheless, despite
his wickedness Ahab did have some virtues and regal qualities of his own.
These were sufficient to delay the outbreak of the rebellion of Moab until after
his death.
Daat
Mikra
points out that it was not simply a case of Moab rebelling against Israelite
domination. Moab threw off the Israelite yoke and then teamed up with the
Ammonites to attack the cities of Israel and Judah. This is indicated in
2-Chronicles 20:1 (onwards) and in the inscription of
Mesha
King of Moab that was discovered some time ago. Sometimes it is not simply a
matter of keeping other peoples down but rather a simple case of
self-protection.
In our opinion the USA is in Afghanistan and Iraq because it has to be for the
sake of its own citizens and for the sake of the world. In times of danger
however the devil delights himself. Just because it is a good thing in itself
does not mean that it could not turn into a disaster. One should not usually
drive fast but if one has to do so then extra care is needed. We are not
necessarily at the highest moral level and our leadership may well be lacking.
We all need to strengthen ourselves in Bible belief and draw closer to the God
of Israel.
2 NOW Ahaziah FELL THROUGH THE LATTICE OF HIS UPPER ROOM IN SAMARIA, AND WAS
INJURED; SO HE SENT MESSENGERS AND SAID TO THEM, GO, INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB, THE
GOD OF EKRON, WHETHER I SHALL RECOVER FROM THIS INJURY.
ZEBUB
(pronounced "Zevuv"
in Modern Hebrew) means "fly". Baal" means "master" or "lord" i.e. "Lord of the
Flies"? Ekron
was a Philistine city.
3 BUT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO ELIJAH THE TISHBITE, ARISE, GO UP TO MEET
THE MESSENGERS OF THE KING OF SAMARIA, AND SAY TO THEM, IS IT BECAUSE THERE IS
NO GOD IN ISRAEL THAT YOU ARE GOING TO INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON?
TISHBITE
in Hebrew "Tishbi"
implying from the settlement of
Teshub somewhere in the region of
Gilead and possibly in the area of what is now Northern Syria. There is a
play-on-words here. Tishbi
uses the same letters that spell "Tashuv"
i.e. return or repent. Elijah exhorted the Israelites to repent.
By going to a foreign god you are not
only betraying the ALMIGHTY. You are also committing treason against Israel.
The Hebrew people will be subject to foreign influences, thought patterns, and
domination whenever they turn to foreign gods.
Our young people and intellectuals who take an interest in Asiatic idolatry or
in pagan practices are making a mistake. This mistake is liable to have serious
consequences. This is not a new phenomenon but it is perhaps getting worse. In
the past the British and American upper classes placed too much importance on
Greek and Roman Mythology. Nationalist elements also tried to play with Ancient
Germanic and "Celtic" idolatry. They still do. This was compounded with
Spiritualism and sometimes Demonology. The climate that gave rise to the Nazis
and others did not stop at human sacrifice. This is not something we have picked
up from some wacky Conspiracy site but rather a known truth that they themselves
admitted.
See:
Hitler and the secret Satanic cult at the heart of Nazi Germany
by Danny Penman
http://www.newsmonster.co.uk/paranormal-unexplained/
hitler-and-the-secret-satanic-cult-at-
the-heart-of-nazi-germany.html
Nowadays we are going along
the same downward path.
On the one hand, we have:
The left wing with its Mother Earth philosophy, liberal usage of chemical
substances, tolerance of perversion, and easy going attitude to the murder of
unwanted babies in their mothers wombs. This attitude contributed to the placing
in the Presidency of a Black Muslim Hater of Whites and of Israelites, a nut
case, who despises us all.
On the other hand we have the Serpent
Doctrine People and the Identity Freaks who are infiltrating
Ephraimite
meetings. The Ephraimites
did not want too much Jewish influence. Fair enough. In its place however they
are getting something that reeks of evil and shames all of us in the eyes of
others. The Identity Freaks are as bad or possibly worse than the Pinky-Winkies
on the left. The Identity Freaks advocate treason, hatred, and
self-destruction. Under the guise of Israelite Identity they want the Israelite
Peoples to deny their true Biblical Heritage and betray Judah. The Jew in
popular imagery is sometimes represented by Judas. The irony is that Judah is
the one being sold out. It happens every time.
Isaiah 8: 18 Here am I and the children
whom the LORD has given me! We are for signs and wonders in Israel. From the
LORD of Hosts, Who dwells in Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8: 19 And when they say to you, Seek those who are mediums and wizards,
who whisper and mutter, should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the
dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 8: 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to
this word, it is because there is no light in them.
4 NOW THEREFORE, THUS SAYS THE LORD: YOU SHALL NOT COME DOWN FROM THE BED TO
WHICH YOU HAVE GONE UP, BUT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE. SO ELIJAH DEPARTED.
Ahaziah
sent to Baal Zebub,
Lord of the Flies. The Fly is the cause and symbol of decay and putrefaction.
cf.
DEAD FLIES PUTREFY THE PERFUMERS OINTMENT, AND CAUSE IT TO GIVE OFF A FOUL ODOR;
SO DOES A LITTLE FOLLY TO ONE RESPECTED FOR WISDOM AND HONOR (Ecclesiastes 10:
1).
Ahaziah
turned to the Lord of the Flies. He was going to get what he had asked for.
So too, if we flirt with the friends of Hitler (on the right), may his name be
cursed, or Mohamed (on the left and right), the psychopath, we are liable to
receive them.
5 AND WHEN THE MESSENGERS RETURNED TO HIM, HE SAID TO THEM, WHY HAVE YOU COME
BACK?
6 SO THEY SAID TO HIM, A MAN CAME UP TO MEET US, AND SAID TO US, GO, RETURN TO
THE KING WHO SENT YOU, AND SAY TO HIM, THUS SAYS THE LORD: IS IT BECAUSE THERE
IS NO GOD IN ISRAEL THAT YOU ARE SENDING TO INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF
EKRON? THEREFORE YOU SHALL NOT COME DOWN FROM THE BED TO WHICH YOU HAVE GONE UP,
BUT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE.
7 THEN HE SAID TO THEM, WHAT KIND OF MAN WAS IT WHO CAME UP TO MEET YOU AND TOLD
YOU THESE WORDS?
8 SO THEY ANSWERED HIM, A HAIRY MAN WEARING A LEATHER BELT AROUND HIS WAIST.
AND HE SAID, IT IS ELIJAH THE TISHBITE.
A HAIRY MAN. The Commentators offer
different explanations. It would seem the Elijah wore a kind of cloak made of
goat skins. Alternately it may be that he let his hair and beard grow to great
lengths. It has been suggested that he was under a kind of
Nazirite
vow but no supportive evidence for this is available.
9 THEN THE KING SENT TO HIM A CAPTAIN OF FIFTY WITH HIS FIFTY MEN. SO HE WENT UP
TO HIM; AND THERE HE WAS, SITTING ON THE TOP OF A HILL. AND HE SPOKE TO HIM: MAN
OF GOD, THE KING HAS SAID, COME DOWN!
He referred to Elijah as MAN OF GOD and
then commanded Elijah to obey the King placing the royal order before that of
the Almighty. We have this problem today with Government officials, doctors, and
people in positions of influence and authority who put official policy or
conventional practice before Divine Commandments.
10 SO ELIJAH ANSWERED AND SAID TO THE CAPTAIN OF FIFTY, IF I AM A MAN OF GOD,
THEN LET FIRE COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUME YOU AND YOUR FIFTY MEN. AND FIRE
CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED HIM AND HIS FIFTY.
The Captain must have heard of Elijah at
Mount Carmel where he caused fire to come down from heaven and consume the
sacrifices and the altar.
http://www.britam.org/Kings/1Kings18.html
Elijah replied to him that
If I am as you say then I should be able to do unto you and those who follow you
deeds that prove the priority of Divine Sanction over that of human beings.
11 THEN HE SENT TO HIM ANOTHER CAPTAIN OF FIFTY WITH HIS FIFTY MEN.
AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID TO HIM: MAN OF GOD, THUS HAS THE KING SAID, COME DOWN
QUICKLY!
This second officer appears to have been
even more imperious than the first.
Non-believers are like that. They are arrogant, assume they know everything, and
dismiss even obvious examples of Divine Intervention.
They reject the authority of Holiness claiming they wish to be independent. In
practice however they quickly give their subservience to the first secular power
to assert itself no matter how corrupt it may be.
12 SO ELIJAH ANSWERED AND SAID TO THEM, IF I AM A MAN OF GOD, LET FIRE COME DOWN
FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUME YOU AND YOUR FIFTY MEN. AND THE FIRE OF GOD CAME DOWN
FROM HEAVEN AND CONSUMED HIM AND HIS FIFTY.
13 AGAIN, HE SENT A THIRD CAPTAIN OF FIFTY WITH HIS FIFTY MEN. AND THE THIRD
CAPTAIN OF FIFTY WENT UP, AND CAME AND FELL ON HIS KNEES BEFORE ELIJAH, AND
PLEADED WITH HIM, AND SAID TO HIM: MAN OF GOD, PLEASE LET MY LIFE AND THE LIFE
OF THESE FIFTY SERVANTS OF YOURS BE PRECIOUS IN YOUR SIGHT.
This third person acknowledged the
pre-eminence of the Almighty over that of human rule. He was however an agent of
the king and had to perform what he had been ordered to do, or at least make the
attempt. He therefore begged Elijah for consideration of himself and the men he
was in charge of.
14 LOOK, FIRE HAS COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND BURNED UP THE FIRST TWO CAPTAINS OF
FIFTIES WITH THEIR FIFTIES. BUT LET MY LIFE NOW BE PRECIOUS IN YOUR SIGHT.
15 AND THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SAID TO ELIJAH, GO DOWN WITH HIM; DO NOT BE AFRAID
OF HIM. SO HE AROSE AND WENT DOWN WITH HIM TO THE KING.
16 THEN HE SAID TO HIM, THUS SAYS THE LORD: BECAUSE YOU HAVE SENT MESSENGERS TO
INQUIRE OF BAAL-ZEBUB, THE GOD OF EKRON, IS IT BECAUSE THERE IS NO GOD IN ISRAEL
TO INQUIRE OF HIS WORD? THEREFORE YOU SHALL NOT COME DOWN FROM THE BED TO WHICH
YOU HAVE GONE UP, BUT YOU SHALL SURELY DIE.
17 SO Ahaziah DIED ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF THE LORD WHICH ELIJAH HAD SPOKEN.
BECAUSE HE HAD NO SON, JEHORAM BECAME KING IN HIS PLACE, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF
JEHORAM THE SON OF JEHOSHAPHAT, KING OF JUDAH.
Jehoram
of Judah and Jehoram
of Israel have the same name and their reigns overlapped. This can be confusing.
Jehoram
of Judah began his reign as co-ruler with his father
Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat
reigned 25 years (1-Kings 22: 42).
Jehoram
the son of Ahab (brother of and successor to
Ahaziah)
became king over Israel in the second year of
Jehoram
of Judah (2-Kings 1:17).
Ahaziah
King of Israel had begun to rule in the seventeenth year of
Jehoshaphat
King of Judah (1-Kings 22:52).
Ahaziah had succeeded Ahab.
Ahaziah
ruled for two years when he was succeeded by
Jehoram
of Israel. When Jehoram
of Israel became king it was already the second year of
Jeroham
of Judah. The reign of Jehoram
of Judah had therefore begun at the death of Ahab.
The co-rulership
of Jehoshaphat
and Jehoram
according to Daat Mikra
is hinted at in 2-Chronicles 21:1 :
2-Chronicles 21:1 And Jehoshaphat
rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David.
Then Jehoram
his son reigned in his place. 2 He had brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel,
Zechariah, Azaryahu,
Michael, and Shephatiah;
all these were the sons of
Jehoshaphat king of Israel. 3
Their father gave them great gifts of silver and gold and precious things, with
fortified cities in Judah; but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram,
because he was the firstborn.
Daat Mikra
quotes from the Tosefta
(Sota
12:2) which says that the official end of the reign of Jehoshaphat
dates from the time he went to war alongside Ahab against Aram
(1-Kings 22:32). It had been decreed that he should die on that day but because
he cried for mercy his life was prolonged by seven years but from that time on
his son Jehoram
was to rule alongside him. These seven years were paralleled in Israel by
two years of Ahaziah and 5 years of Jehoram.
The death of Ahab was therefore the occasion of the succession of Ahaziah
over Israel and Jehoshaphat appointing his son Jehoram
as co-ruler alongside him.
We are told further on (2-Kings 3:1) that Jehoram
the successor of Ahaziah
became king in the 18th year of
Jehoshaphat.
2-Kings 3:1 Now Jehoram
the son of Ahab became king over Israel at Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat
king of Judah, and reigned twelve years.
According to our calculations however Jehoram became King in the 20th year of Jehoshaphat. It would seem that for
some reason this verse may be reckoning the time
of accession of Jehoram to the time Ahaziah his brother and predecessor. We shall deal with this matter in our Commentary to chapter three.
18 NOW THE REST OF THE ACTS OF Ahaziah WHICH HE DID, ARE THEY NOT WRITTEN IN THE
BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES OF THE
KINGS OF ISRAEL?
Main Sources Referred to:
Me'am
Loaz.
Daat
Mikra.
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