BIBLE STUDY -- JEHOSHAPHAT’S FAITH

THE ARMY THAT DEFEATED ITSELF

From 1 Kings 22:45-49; 2 Chronicles 19-20

When Jehoshaphat returned safely home to Judah, the prophet Jehu went to meet him. “Why did you help the wicked, those who hate Adonai?” he asked. “Because you did this, Adonai is angry with you. But He also realizes that you have done some good things, for you took the Asherah idols from the land and have set your heart to seek Adonai.” After that, Jehoshaphat settled in Jerusalem and did not return to Israel. Later, he made another trip among the people, going from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, encouraging the people to return to Adonai. Jehoshaphat appointed judges in the fortified cities throughout Judah. “Be careful how you judge the people,” he warned. “You are not judging for men, but for Adonai, for He is with you as you judge. Make sure that each decision is His, for you must reverence Him. Be sure that you do not judge unjustly, with partiality or for bribes.” King Jehoshaphat also appointed some Levites, family heads and priests to be judges in Jerusalem. It was their duty to judge for Adonai and settle disputes. “Do your work in the fear of Adonai, faithfully and with your whole heart,” the king told them. “Whenever your fellow judges in the provinces refer a case to you, whether it is for murder or for breaking another Law of YHVH, instruct them so that neither you nor they will be guilty and YHVH judge you.” The king made Amariah the high priest the supreme judge of the land in things concerning Adonai and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael, the governor of Judah, the supreme judge of the land in things concerning the king. The Levites served as assistants to these two supreme judges. “Judge courageously and may Adonai be with those who do right,” the king commanded. As time passed the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites joined together in war against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. As these forces moved toward Judah, a report of their movement reached Jehoshaphat. “A great army is moving toward us from Edom beyond the Dead Sea. They are already at Hazazon-tamar, which is Engedi,” the king was told. When Jehoshaphat heard this, he was afraid and searched for Adonai’s guidance. He proclaimed a fast throughout Judah and called for an assembly of the people to ask for Adonai’s help. So, the people of Judah came from all over the land to plead for Adonai to help them. King Jehoshaphat stood in the midst of the people as they assembled at the new court of the temple. Then he prayed this prayer, “O Adonai, YHVH of our fathers, are You not the YHVH of all the heavens and the ruler of all the nations on earth? Your hand is mighty and powerful, so who can stand against You? Did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land so that You might give it to Your people Israel, a gift to the descendants of Your friend Abraham? Now we have settled here and built this sanctuary, the temple, for Your name. We have said that we may stand before this temple in a time of war, disease or famine and know that You are here and that You will listen to us and save us when we cry to You. “Now, Adonai, the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir are approaching. When Israel left Egypt, You would not let them destroy these people, so our people went around their lands. But now they reward us by coming to drive us from the land You have given us for an inheritance. “Adonai, will You please judge these people, for we are not strong enough to protect ourselves from this great army. We do not know what to do, so we turn our eyes to You.” The men of Judah stood helplessly there with their wives and children. Then suddenly the Spirit of Adonai came upon Jahaziel, a Levite who had descended from Asaph through Zechariah, Benaiah, Jeiel and Mattaniah. “Listen, people of Judah and Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat,” he said. “Adonai says you must not fear or be discouraged because of this great army, for the battle is His, not yours. Go against this army tomorrow as they come up by the ascent of Ziz. They will be at the end of the valley east of the Wilderness of Jeruel. Take your positions. Yet you will not need to fight, for while you stand still, Adonai will bring a great victory to you. Go without fear or discouragement, for Adonai will be with you. King Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground while all the people of Judah and Jerusalem joined him to worship Adonai. The Levites who had descended from Kohath and Korah stood up to sing loud praises to Adonai YHVH of Israel. Early the next morning the army of Judah set forth for the Wilderness of Tekoa. King Jehoshaphat gave them these marching orders “listen, people of Judah and Jerusalem,” he said. “Believe in Adonai your YHVH and you will be established. Believe in His prophets and you will succeed.” After consulting with the leaders, the king appointed a choir to lead the army. The choir was dressed in sacred garments and went singing, “Praise Adonai, for His abiding love endures forever.” As soon as the men of Judah began to sing, Adonai caused the armies of Ammon and Moab to turn upon their allies, the army of Mount Seir and to destroy them. When they had done that, they then turned on one another and destroyed their entire army. When the people of Judah arrived at the high place overlooking the wilderness, they found dead bodies everywhere, for not one of the enemy soldiers had escaped. During the next three days King Jehoshaphat and his people gathered plunder from the dead men, for there was so much that it took that long to strip the clothing, jewellery and other valuables from the corpses and to carry them away. On the fourth day the king and his men gathered at the Valley of Berachah, as they still call it and gave praise to Adonai for what He had done. Then King Jehoshaphat led his men back to Jerusalem with great joy, for Adonai had saved them from their enemies in a wonderful way. They marched into the city with the sound of harps, lyres and trumpets and made their way to the house of Adonai. News that Adonai had given Israel a great victory spread to the surrounding kingdoms and with it the fear of Adonai. So, there was peace in Judah from that time on, for Adonai gave Jehoshaphat rest from the menace of other nations. The other adventures of King Jehoshaphat are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. At one time Jehoshaphat joined Ahaziah king of Israel in building ships to go to Tarshish and Ophir. They built the ships at Ezion-geber and Ahaziah suggested that some of his men sail with the crew, but Jehoshaphat refused. The prophet Eliezer, the son of Dodavahu of Maresha prophesied that the venture would fail, which it did. “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, who is wicked, Adonai will destroy these ships,” he told Jehoshaphat. The ships indeed were destroyed, just as the prophet said would happen.

COMMENTARY --- SHIPPING AT EZION-GEBER

King Jehoshaphat hoped to revive the maritime trade that once had brought wealth and fame to Israel. A century before, King Solomon had begun Israel’s first efforts in the world of international shipping. On the north-eastern arm of the Red Sea, he established the prosperous port of Ezion-geber, set on the northern edge of the Gulf of Aqabah. The port at Ezion-geber gave Israel openings to important international maritime routes. The shipping lanes of the Red Sea led past Egypt and the southern shoulder of Arabia. From there, sailors could continue south along the coast of Africa or east to India. Solomon’s merchant fleet may have sailed to these very places in their journeys to the yet-unidentified land of Ophir; a journey that took three years to complete. The fleet sailed from Ezion-geber with copper, and returned with cargoes of gold, jewels and precious woods. Ezion-geber was also an important connecting link in the overland routes that went through the entire Middle East. At the city, traffic from Egypt joined caravans from Arabia; often loaded with the spices and perfumes so popular throughout the region. The merchants then travelled north on the King’s Highway, the caravan route that led through Trans-Jordan to Damascus, the Syrian capital of commerce. From Damascus, other routes led east into Mesopotamia. Jehoshaphat hoped to recover the benefits of this commerce by rebuilding the port at Ezion-geber. He enlisted the aid of Ahaziah, the king of the northern kingdom, in building a fleet of merchant ships. Little is known about the design of their fleet, although it was probably modelled after Phoenician vessels, the masters of the sea. Merchant ships of the time were designed for durability and storage space, not speed. They were generally wide with deep hulls, built of heavy pine or cedar. The fir used in warships was a much lighter wood, but it rotted quickly and could not stay in the water all year, as did merchant vessels. Jehoshaphat’s fleet never made it out of the harbour. A violent storm swept up the gulf and destroyed the entire fleet before its first voyage. Prophets of the time told the king the disaster was a result of his alliance with Ahab, the evil king of Israel.

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The events of judgement day will surprise many because the modern Christian church does not teach the whole truth. Some denominational doctrine suggests that if your name is found in the book of the lamb you are safe regardless of what you do. Revelation 20:12, “And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.” It’s not about what we say, it’s about what we do.

BIBLE STUDY -- AHAB’S DEATH

THE DEATH OF KING AHAB

From 1 Kings 22:1 -40; 2 Chronicles 18

King Jehoshaphat of Judah was very rich and popular. He and King Ahab of Israel made an alliance and Ahab’s daughter was married to Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram. A few years later Jehoshaphat went to visit Ahab at Samaria. There Ahab gave him and his attendants a big feast, with numerous sheep and oxen. “It has been three years since we were at war with the Syrians,” Ahab told his officials, “And there they are, occupying Ramoth-Gilead, while we do nothing about it.” Then Ahab asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you join forces with me to capture Ramoth-Gilead?” “Certainly!” Jehoshaphat replied. “My people are your people, and my horses are your horses, so I am with you. But first, let us ask Adonai so that we are sure what He wants us to do.” King Ahab called for his four hundred false prophets. “Shall we go to battle against Ramoth-Gilead?” he asked them. “Yes, YHVH will give you a great victory there,” they answered. Jehoshaphat recognized that these were not true prophets. “Is there a true prophet of Adonai here so we may ask him?” he said to Ahab. “There is another prophet named Micaiah the son of Imlah,” said King Ahab. “But he never prophesies any good about me, only evil, so I hate him.” “Well, let’s not think that way,” said Jehoshaphat. So, Ahab called for one of his officers and had him summon Micaiah. “Bring him here quickly!” the king ordered. While the officer went after Micaiah, the four hundred false prophets kept saying good things to King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat. The two kings were dressed in their royal robes, sitting on their thrones which had been brought to the threshing floor near the city gate. One prophet, named Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah, made horns of iron. “Adonai says you will push the Syrians with these until they are destroyed,” he said. The other prophets agreed. “Go to Ramoth-Gilead and have great victory,” they said. “Adonai will give the city into your hands.” The messenger who went for Micaiah found him and said, “The prophets who are before the kings all say good things,” he advised him. “That’s what you should do, too.” “I will say only what Adonai tells me,” Micaiah answered. When Micaiah arrived before the two kings, Ahab asked, “shall we go to Ramoth-Gilead to fight or shall we stay home?” Micaiah answered sarcastically, “Go and have a great victory there! Adonai will do that for you, won’t He?” “How often must I tell you to tell me only what Adonai says,” King Ahab replied. Then Micaiah answered, “I saw the people of Israel scattered upon the mountains as sheep without a shepherd. Adonai said, ‘Let each go home in peace, for their king is dead.’” “See, didn’t I tell you that he would say nothing but evil about me?” said Ahab to Jehoshaphat. But Micaiah was not finished. “I have further word from Adonai,” he said. “I saw Adonai sitting upon His throne, with the host of heaven around Him. Adonai asked who would entice Ahab to his defeat at Ramoth-Gilead. Each had a suggestion until one spirit came forward and said that he would do it. ‘How?’ Adonai asked. ‘By placing a lying spirit in the mouths of his prophets,’ the spirit answered. ‘Then go do it,’ Adonai answered. ‘You will surely succeed.’ So now Adonai has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets. But He has done it to bring judgment on you.” One of the false prophets, Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah, came to Micaiah and slapped him on the cheek. “How did the Spirit of Adonai leave me to speak to you?” he demanded. “You will answer your own question on that day when you try to hide in an inner room,” said Micaiah. “Arrest Micaiah!” King Ahab ordered. “Take him back to Amon the governor and Joash the king’s son. Tell them to feed him only enough bread and water to keep him alive until I return in peace.” “If you return in peace, you will know that Adonai has not spoken through me,” Micaiah told the king. Then he spoke to all those standing nearby. “Remember what I say!” he told them. Ignoring what the prophet Micaiah had said, Ahab and Jehoshaphat took their armies to Ramoth-Gilead. “I will disguise myself and go into battle,” Ahab told Jehoshaphat. “But you may wear your robes and stay aside.” Jehoshaphat did as Ahab suggest, staying aside in his robes while Ahab went into battle in disguise. The king of Syria however, had ordered his thirty-two chariot captains, “Do not attack any person, great or small, except the king of Israel.” When the chariot captains saw Jehoshaphat in his royal robes they said, “this must surely be the king of Israel.” They attacked him, but Jehoshaphat cried out to let them know who he was. When the captains realized that he was not the king of Israel, they turned away from him. During the fighting, one Syrian soldier shot an arrow, not realizing that it was headed for King Ahab. The arrow struck Ahab between the scale armour and the breastplate, inflicting mortal wound. “Get me out of the battle,” Ahab told his chariot driver. “I’m badly wounded.” The battle grew fiercer and Ahab returned in his chariot, propped up, facing the Syrian army. The blood from his wound flowed to the bottom of the chariot. Toward evening King Ahab died. Then, about sunset, a cry went through the troops of Israel, “The king is dead! The battle is lost! Every man home to his own city!” The dead king was brought back to Samaria, where he was buried. His chariot was washed at the pool of Samaria where the harlots usually bathed. There also dogs licked up his blood, just as Adonai had said would happen. The other things that Ahab did are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. These include an account of Ahab’s ivory palace and the cities he built. After Ahab was buried with his ancestors, his son Ahaziah ruled in his place as king of Israel.

COMMENTARY --- IVORY IN BIBLE TIMES

Bible-time people created many uses for ivory. Early Egyptian hunters carried ivory tipped arrows and spears and threw boomerangs engraved with figures of fantastic animals. But ivory is too soft to work well in practical tools and utensils and during later periods it is found primarily in decorative objects. It was expensive and only the wealthy owned objects fashioned or decorated with ivory. Ivory was especially popular for small objects like jewellery and toilet articles. Egyptian women used hairpins carved in the shape of coiled serpents, jackal heads and hawks. Canaanite women had combs engraved with hunting scenes. Egyptian mirror handles were carved to look like lotuses and those of the Aegean were covered with scenes of combat between men and animals. Unguent spoons, perfume bottles and ointment jars in Egypt displayed plants and animals of the Nile Valley. Canaanite cosmetic containers were equally elaborate; one famous unguent jar is carved in the shape of a swimming woman with a swan in her hands. Bracelets, pins, incense burners, knife and razor handles, dice and board games were among other ivory items commonly found in wealthy ancient homes. But by far the largest use of ivory was in furniture panels and inlay. Such panels were either engraved or cut in open relief. They adorned chair legs, couches, bedsteads and cabinets. The personal items of royalty were usually elaborately decorated in that way. Some rulers, among them Solomon, sat on thrones of ivory covered with gold. Pharaohs of ancient Egypt slept in beds with footboards entirely carved from ivory; they were buried in mummy cases richly inlaid with the substance. King Ahab’s “ivory house” was called that because of the ivory furniture and the ivory-inlaid borders of the cedar walls. Figures of the gods, of fighting animals and men, plants and mythological creatures were common on the panels. Egyptian elements; lotuses and sphinxes; appeared on panels throughout the Middle East, the influence a result of the trade between countries of the time. The ancient peoples often decorated the ivory itself. Phoenicians overlaid it with gold leaf. Early Egyptian artisans stained ivory green and red, using a technique now unknown. Coloured glass and stones, lapis lazuli and strips of dark ebony were also used to add colour and design to the off-white shades of ivory.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."

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