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SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 9

AHAZIAH’S INJURY AND DEATH

From 1 Kings 22:40, 51-53; 2 Kings 1

When King Ahab of Israel died his son Ahaziah ruled in his place as king of Israel. Ahaziah became king during the seventeenth year of the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah and ruled for two years. He was an evil king, for he followed the way of his father Ahab, his mother Jezebel and of the evil King Jeroboam who had led Israel into sin. He made Adonai angry because of his sin. After Ahaziah became king, Moab rebelled against Israel and refused to send tribute. Now, Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice in his upstairs room in Samaria and was injured, so he was confined to his bed. He sent messengers to Ekron with these instructions [go to Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron and ask if I will get well.] About this same time the Angel of Adonai told Elijah to meet these messengers and say to them, [isn’t there a YHVH in Israel? Why then are you going to Baal-zebub, the YHVH of Ekron? Go home and tell the king that he will not get well, but will die.] Elijah went to meet the messengers and told them what the Angel had said. When the messengers returned to the king, Ahaziah asked them, [Why have you returned so soon?] [Because a man met us and said that we should return to you and ask you if there is not a YHVH in Israel who can answer your question instead of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron. He also said that you would not get well, but would die.] [What kind of man was this?] Ahaziah asked. [He was a hairy man with a leather band about his waist,] they answered. [That was Elijah the Tishbite,] said King Ahaziah. The king then sent fifty men led by a captain to arrest Elijah. They found him sitting at the top of a hill and the captain said to him, [O man of YHVH, the king commands you to come down with us.] [If I am a man of YHVH, let fire come from heaven and burn up you and your fifty men,] Elijah answered. Suddenly fire came down from heaven and burned up the captain and his fifty men. King Ahaziah sent another captain with fifty more men to the hill where Elijah was sitting. [O man of YHVH, the king commands that you come with us.] [If I am a man of YHVH, let fire come from heaven and burn up you and your fifty men,] Elijah answered. Suddenly fire came down from heaven and burned up the captain and his fifty men. Then the king sent a third captain with fifty men to arrest Elijah. As soon as this captain found Elijah he bowed down on his knees before him. [O man of YHVH, please spare my life and the lives of the fifty soldiers with me. I know that fire came from heaven and burned up the other two captains and their men. Please have mercy on us and let our lives be precious in your sight.] Then the Angel of Adonai spoke to Elijah. [Go with this man and do not be afraid,] the Angel said. Elijah went with the captain to see King Ahaziah. Elijah said to the king, [Why have you sent messengers to ask Baal-zebub, the YHVH of Ekron, if you would get well? Is there no YHVH in Israel whom you may ask? Since you have ignored the true YHVH, you will not get well, but will surely die.] King Ahaziah soon died of his injuries, just as Adonai had said. Ahaziah had no sons, so his brother Jehoram ruled as king of Israel in his place. This happened during the second year of the reign of King Jehoram of Judah, son of King Jehoshaphat. The rest of the deeds which Ahaziah did are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.

COMMENTARY

BAAL-ZEBUB, LORD OF THE FLIES

Baal-zebub was an ancient Philistine deity who they thought had the power of prophecy. The priests in his temple in Ekron claimed to be highly skilled in interpreting his messages. Worshipers who sought divine guidance came from all ends of Palestine to plea for help at the oracle. Baal-zebub’s only sanctuary was in Ekron, for he was the special god of that city. At one time Baal-zebub was known as Baal-zebul, which meant, [prince Baal.] He was sometimes thought of as Baal, the Canaanite god of nature, sun and rain. Israelites who did not want to call attention to false gods changed his name to Baal-zebub. This name, which meant, [lord of the flies,] was intended as an insult. No one is certain why the Israelites chose to anger Philistines with this particular title. It may have been because Baal-zebub was believed to pass on his messages through the buzzing of flies. It is also thought that Baal-zebub protected his followers from diseases spread by flies. The fear and hatred ancient Israelites once associated with the false god has remained with his name. In New Testament times the Jews identified Baal-zebub as prince of the demons; prince of the gods of evil. In modern times Baal-zebub is still a name for the devil or any spirit of evil. It is sometimes spelled [Beelzebub.]

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Thought for Today: Shabbat April 15:

May you learn deeply just how important you are to YHVH Elohiym. May you grasp your spiritual wealth and appropriate your spiritual strength. May all your fears dissolve and your worries vaporize. May you walk in the full assurance of YHVH’s Love, acceptance and Grace. May faith and joy abound in you for ever.

SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 8

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. 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. 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.

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith."

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