The Torah Network

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Question 103: Who were the Sidonians?

Answer:

These people were descendants of Sidoa, a son of Canaan and were formerly a part of the Phoenician nation (Matthew 15:21, 22; Mark 7:24, 26). They dwelt on the sea-coast in the cities of Zidon and Zarephath (Joshua 11:8; I Kings 17:9; Luke 4:26), and were governed by kings. In character they were careless, idolatrous, superstitious, wicked and un-penitent (Judges 18:7; I Kings 11:5; Jeremiah 27:3-9; Matthew 11:21, 22). Their business was commerce and of course they were skilful sailors (Isaiah 23:2; Ezekiel 27:8). They supplied the Jews with timber, who in turn supplied them with provisions (I Chronicles 22:4; Acts 12:20; Ezekiel 27:17). Although they were hostile and oppressive to YHVH's people, Solomon and Abijah intermarried with them and Israel followed the Sidonian idolatry (Judges 10:12; Ezekiel 28:22-24; I Kings 11:1, 16:31).

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Question 102: Why were “shepherds” an abomination to the Egyptians?

Answer:

The reason of the Egyptian hatred of the shepherds is a historic one. The Hyksos or Shepherd Kings, hundreds of years before Joseph's time, had invaded and conquered Lower Egypt and ruled the Delta, although they never occupied the whole country. They came from the East and were probably Arabians and are represented as having been a cruel and arrogant race, who subjected the Egyptians to great hardships. "(See Genesis 46:34.) They were finally driven out of the country by a coalition of forces under several kings. They were probably called Shepherds because of the simplicity of their life, which was largely pastoral and semi-barbaric. Manetho, the Egyptian historian, says that they were the builders of Jerusalem, but his reference is probably to the Canaanites rather than the Jews. Some writers suggest that they were the progenitors of the Bedouins, and that the Amalekites, Midianites and other hostile nations who opposed the Israelites after the Exodus were also descended from the stock of the expelled Shepherds. It is not improbable that the Philistines may also have been a branch of the same Shepherd family.

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Frequently asked questions and answers:

Question 101: What was the sin of Saul – 1 Samuel 13:13, 14?

Answer:

His chief sin was disobedience. Samuel, the recognized representative of YHVH in the nation, had commanded him to wait till he arrived in Gilgal, saying he would come in seven days. Saul did not wait till the end of the seventh day, thereby showing an impatient and disobedient spirit. YHVH demands that men obey Him implicitly. "To obey is better than sacrifice," Samuel said to Saul on another occasion of his disobedience. Probably also, Saul had no right to conduct the ritual of sacrifice. As to Samuel's doing so, he may simply have ordered it done, directing Eleazar the priest to conduct the ceremony; or his office of prophet may have given him the authority to act also as priest. Furthermore, though not a descendant of Aaron, he belonged to the priestly tribe of Levi.

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"And it shall be, if worthy of beating is the wicked one, also he shall be made to fall by the judge, and be beaten before his face according to his wickedness, in number."
וְהָיָה אִם־ בִּן הַכּוֹת הָרָשָׁע וְהִפִּילוֹ הַשֹּׁפֵט וְהִכָּהוּ לְפָנָיו כְּדֵי רִשְׁעָתוֹ בְּמִסְפָּר

De 25

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Thought for Today: Thursday January 16

Learn to live from your true centre in Elohiym. He resides in the deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is at this deep level that His peace reigns continually. You will not find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances or in human relationships. The external world is always in flux – under the curse of death and decay. But there is a gold-mine of peace within you, waiting to be tapped. Thus, take time today to delve into the riches of YHVH’s residing presence.