BIBLE STUDY --- YHVH’S PROPHETS

JEREMIAH STILL REJECTED

THE MURDER OF GEDALIAH

From Jeremiah 41-43

Sometime in October Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, a member of the royal lineage of King David, came to Mizpah with ten top officials of the king. Gedaliah held a banquet for them and while they were eating Ishmael and the men with him arose and murdered Gedaliah, the man the king of Babylon had appointed as governor of the land. Ishmael also murdered the other Jews who were with Gedaliah, as well as the Chaldean soldiers stationed at Mizpah. These murders were still unknown the next day when eighty men approached Mizpah with beards shaved, clothing torn, and bodies cut, bringing their offerings of grain and incense from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Ishmael met them with tears in his eyes and invited them in to see Gedaliah. But when the eighty men came into the city, Ishmael and his men murdered them also and threw their bodies into a cistern. Only ten of the eighty were spared because they had said, [You should not kill us for we have wheat, oil, barley, and honey hidden in the fields.] The cistern where Ishmael threw the bodies of these men was the one which King Asa had made to help him defend Mizpah against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael next captured the remaining Jews who were left behind in Mizpah, the king’s daughters who lived there, and all the other people whom Nebuzar-adan, King Nebuchadnezzar’s captain, had left there in Gedaliah’s care. Ishmael took his captives and set out for the land of the Ammonites. When Johanan the son of Kareah and the captains of the forces which were with him heard of Ishmael’s evil deeds, they went out to fight against him, overtaking him at the great pool by Gibeon. When the captives saw Johanan and his forces coming, they broke away from Ishmael and ran to join Johanan. Ishmael then escaped with eight other men and hid in the land of the Ammonites. Then Johanan took all these captives who had been with Ishmael, including women, children, and eunuchs, and went with them to Geruth Chimham, which is near Bethlehem. From there he planned to take them away into Egypt, for they were afraid of what the Chaldeans would do when they learned that Ishmael had murdered Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor of the land. All these people, including Johanan and his captains and the least to most important of the people, came to Jeremiah for advice. [Pray for those few of us who are left in the land,] they said. [Ask Adonai what we should do and where we should go.] [I have heard your request and will pray for you,] Jeremiah answered: [Whatever He tells me, I will share with you and will withhold nothing.] [May Adonai put a curse on us if we fail to follow His counsel,] they said. [We will obey all that Adonai tells us to do; whether it is good or evil, we will do as He says so that things may be well for us.] After ten days, Adonai spoke to Jeremiah and told him what he should say to the people. [If you remain in this land,] Adonai said, [I will build you up and not tear you down, I will plant you and not uproot you. I am sorry for all the trouble you have had. You must not fear the king of Babylon as you do, for I will be with you and keep him from harming you. I will have compassion on you and cause him to have compassion on you and let you live in this land. But if you refuse to live in this land and determine to go to Egypt, thinking you will escape war, alarms, and hunger, I tell you that the war you seek to escape will follow you to Egypt, and the hunger you fear will also follow you, and you will die there in the land where you seek refuge. You who go to Egypt will die there by war, hunger, and disease, and none shall escape. As My anger was poured out on the people of Jerusalem, so it will also be poured out on those who run away to Egypt. You will become a curse to the people of that land and will never again return here to your own land. I warn you not to go to Egypt.] Jeremiah warned the people further and reminded them that they had asked him to pray for YHVH’s guidance. [You sent me to Adonai to pray for you,] Jeremiah said. [And you promised to do whatever Adonai would instruct you to do. I have told you today what Adonai has said, but in the past, you never obeyed Adonai’s Instructions which He gave through me. Let me warn you once more that you will die from war, hunger, and disease if you insist on going to Egypt.] When Jeremiah was through speaking, Azariah the son of Hoshaiah and Johanan the son of Kareah and all the other proud leaders argued with him. [You are lying!] they said. [Adonai didn’t tell you these things. Baruch the son of Neriah has set you against us to give us into the hands of the Chaldeans so they can put us to death or take us away as captives into Babylon.] These leaders would not obey the voice of Adonai and stay in the land of Judah. Johanan and the other captains of the forces rallied the people of Judah who had returned from other lands, and headed for Egypt. These people included men, women, children, the king’s daughters, and all those whom Nebuzar-adan had left with Gedaliah, Jeremiah, and Baruch. When they entered Egypt, they went to Tahpanhes. While the people were there at Tahpanhes, Adonai spoke to Jeremiah again. [While the men of Judah watch, bury large stones in the mortar of the pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace at Tahpanhes. Tell them that this is what I will do, ‘Adonai will bring Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, here to Egypt. And My servant Nebuchadnezzar will set his throne on these rocks that I have buried, spreading his royal canopy over them. ‘He will conquer the land of Egypt, killing those who deserve to die, and capturing those whom I have marked for captivity, while others die from disease. He will burn the temples of the gods of Egypt, destroying the idols and capturing the people of the land. He will clothe himself with the treasures of Egypt as shepherd clothes himself with his cloak. He will do all these things without harming himself. He will even break down the obelisks of Heliopolis which are in the land of Egypt, and he will burn the temples of the gods of Egypt with fire.’]

COMMENTARY

EGYPT: REFUGE FROM DANGER

Like Abram, later generations fled to Egypt to escape famine or danger. Some Hebrews even made the land their home. But others knew Egypt only as a land of captivity or as a conqueror. For Joseph, the land of the Nile was an unknown and hostile place. Sold by his brothers to traders who took him to Egypt, Joseph eventually became governor. When a famine struck Canaan and his brothers came to Egypt for grain, Joseph persuaded his family to move there. The Hebrews settled in the pastureland of Goshen on the borders of Egypt. But Joseph’s descendants were not so fortunate. Another pharaoh forced the Israelites to work as slaves. By the time the Hebrews left to make Canaan their home, Egypt had already been great for nine centuries. When King David attacked the Edomites generations later, Hadad, one of the royal family of Edom, fled to Egypt. The pharaoh gave the Edomite his wife’s sister to marry and allowed their son to grow up with his own children. When David died, Hadad returned to Edom even though the pharaoh wanted him to remain. The years to come saw peace between Egypt and Israel. Solomon made an alliance with Egypt by marrying pharaoh’s daughter. For a wedding gift, pharaoh captured Gezer, one of the Philistine cities never conquered by Israel, and gave it to Solomon. The same pharaoh probably welcomed Solomon’s rival Jeroboam, who hid from Solomon in Egypt. Jeroboam returned home to rule after Solomon died. Meanwhile pharaoh invaded Judah, looting Rehoboam’s palace and the temple. A later Egyptian invasion, during the reign of Asa, failed. Intent on building an empire in Syria and Palestine, the Egyptians resorted to diplomatic conspiracy instead of military force. Their tactics influenced rulers in that region to resist their Mesopotamian masters. After an Egyptian-inspired revolt under Hoshea resulted in Israel’s exile to Assyria, the Assyrians penetrated Palestine and controlled Egypt for a while. Later, the Egyptians marched out to help Jerusalem under Nebuchadnezzar’s siege. Even though the Egyptians were defeated and withdrew, the Jews turned to Egypt for refuge, fearing Nebuchadnezzar’s revenge at the murder of Judah’s Babylonian governor. They forced Jeremiah to go with them to the land he had denounced all his life. In Egypt the Jews found Syrians, Greeks and other Jews who had settled there earlier. They worshiped a collection of many pagan deities, and this encouraged the new exiles to do so too. But even in Egypt, the Jews were not safe from their enemies. Nebuchadnezzar probably invaded the land twenty years later. The lasting conquest of Egypt was to come with the Persian invasions.

"Doth he thank that servant, because he did that which was commanded unto him? I think not.
So likewise ye, when ye have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

Lk 17

Thought for Today: Monday October 06

Remember today, only what is built on solid foundation of the Moshiach will last. Yeshua said: “Everyone who hears these Words of Mine, and puts them into practice, is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24) Also remember, following the Law cannot give you access to heaven BUT sin is the transgression of the Law. “Everyone who sins is breaking YHVH’s Law, for all sin is contrary to the Law” (1 John 3:4) By following the Law, you know not to sin and that is why Yeshua also said: “If you love me, keep My Commandments” (John 14:15) Except the Moshiach into your life today, gain access to eternal live and show Him that you love Him through His Commandments.

Salvation… | #salvation

Honor widows who are truly widows.
1 Timothy 5:3 ESV

For a widow to be deserving of support by the community, she needs to be beyond marriageable age, of good morals, contributing to the congregation in some way, and bringing honor to God's name.

“The rod and reproof give wisdom”

Pr 29

Something I hear mentioned by many is some reference to this verse. Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” This ides resonates throughout the Old Testament showing how the mind, Body and spirit are connected. The words heart and kidneys, depending on context is often used to indicate both body and mind.

I think that what is happening in this world today -- we can say the same as Daniel in his time:

"Praise the Name of YHVH forever. To Him belongs all wisdom and might. The times and seasons are in His hands, and the kings ["leaders"] of the world are in His power. Wise men receive their wisdom from Him, and understanding men build upon His knowledge. He reveals what is otherwise deep and mysterious, for darkness hides nothing from Him, and He shines His own light upon these things. O YHVH of my fathers, I thank and praise You, for You have given me wisdom and strength.

BIBLE STUDY -- YHVH’S PROPHETS

JERUSALEM FALLS

THE FALL OF JERUSALEM

From Jeremiah 39-40

Once again King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem and besieged it. It was in January of the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign when the king of Babylon brought his army and surrounded the city. For two years they besieged the city, until July of the eleventh year, when they finally broke through the wall and conquered Jerusalem. The princes of the king of Babylon entered the city in triumph and sat in the middle gate. Among the princes who came were Nergal-sharezer, Saingar-nebo, Sarsechin the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, as well as other princes of the king of Babylon. When King Zedekiah and his soldiers realized that the city was lost, they fled from Jerusalem by night, leaving it through the gate by the king’s garden, between the two walls. They ran toward the Arabah. But the Chaldeans pursued Zedekiah and caught up with him in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon waited to judge him. Nebuchadnezzar forced Zedekiah to watch his own children and the nobles of Judah murdered before his eyes. Then the king of Babylon gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him in chains, and took him away to Babylon. Back in Jerusalem, the Babylonian army burned the king’s palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of the city. Nebuzar-adan, the captain of the guard of the Babylonian army, took the survivors of the city, as well as the people of Judah who had deserted to him, and sent them away to Babylon. Only the very poor were left behind in the land of Judah. To these were given fields and vineyards. Nebuchadnezzar had given orders to Nebuzar-adan to find Jeremiah. [Take good care of him and do not hurt him,] the king ordered. [Give him whatever he wants.] Nebuzar-adan, captain of the king’s guard, went with Nebushasban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and the other princes of King Nebuchadnezzar to find Jeremiah. They took him from the palace prison and put him in the care of Gedaliah the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him home so that he could live among his people. Before all this happened, while Jeremiah was still in the palace prison, Adonai had spoken to him concerning Ebed-melech. [Tell Ebed-melech the Ethiopian that Adonai of hosts, the YHVH of Israel has said: [‘I will do all that I have promised to do to Jerusalem and will punish it as I have said. But Ebed-melech will be spared, for Adonai will not permit him to be killed by those whom he fears, for he has put his trust in Me.’] Jeremiah was still in chains when Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, took him with all the other captives of Judah to Ramah, on the way to Babylon. There Nebuzar-adan released Jeremiah from his chains and set him free. [Adonai your YHVH has brought this punishment on this place as He said He would,] said Nebuzar-adan. [Your people have sinned against Adonai and refused to obey Him, so this punishment has come upon them. But today I am setting you free from your chains. If you want to come with me to Babylon, I will take care of you there. But if you think it is wrong for you to come to Babylon, then you should stay here. You may go anywhere in the land that you wish. If you want to go back to live with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, and grandson of Shaphan, do so, for the king has appointed him governor of all the cities of Judah. You may live with him or you may go anywhere in the land you wish to live. The captain of the guard also gave food and money to Jeremiah when he released him. Then Jeremiah went to Mizpah and lived with Gedaliah, choosing to remain with his own people in his own land. Before long the leaders of the scattered forces which were still out in the countryside heard that Gedaliah had been appointed over the people who remained in the land, so they came to see him at Mizpah, where he ruled. Among those who came were Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, as well as their men. [You must not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans,] Gedaliah assured them. [If you live in this land and serve the king of Babylon, all will be well with you. I will remain here at Mizpah to represent the Chaldeans to you and you to them. Now go and live in the cities you have taken over and gather the fruits which are ready for harvest.] Soon some other Jews, who had run away to Moab and Edom and to live among the Ammonites, began to return also. They had heard that the king of Babylon had left some people behind and had appointed Gedaliah governor, so they also came to talk with him at Mizpah. As they went out from there to the deserted countryside, they gathered all the wine grapes and other fruits which they could use. Not long after that, Johanan the son of Kareah and some other captains of the troops that had been in the countryside came to see Gedaliah. [Are you aware that Baalis the king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to kill you?] they said. But Gedaliah would not believe that their report was true. Gedaliah and Johanan then had a secret meeting and Johanan begged Gedaliah to listen. [Let me kill Ishmael secretly so that he will not harm you,] said Johanan. [If he should kill you, what would all of the Jews who have returned here do? Why should these few remaining people of Judah also perish?] But Gedaliah would not let Johanan do this. [You are falsely accusing Ishmael,] he said.

COMMENTARY

KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR

In 587 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon again attacked the city of Jerusalem. Earlier the Babylonians had taken captives. This time the king of Judah fled, but was captured and blinded by the Babylonians. Just as Jeremiah had warned, the holy city was burned and its walls torn down. Jerusalem joined a long line of magnificent cities that were reduced to ruins. Today the name Nebuchadnezzar conjures up the glory of an ancient empire. But twenty-five hundred years ago, the name struck fear in the hearts of enemies and pride in the hearts of Babylonians. By the time the great king died, the fame of his name and his capital, Babylon, had spread across the ancient world. That was exactly what Nebuchadnezzar had desired from the start. As crown prince, Nebuchadnezzar led campaigns of war in the place of his aging father. Years before, his father had conquered the Assyrians by joining with the mountain people, the Medes. The alliance gave Babylon the right to invade lands to the west, and Media the right to the east. While countering Egyptian advances into Syria and Palestine, young Nebuchadnezzar heard the news of his father’s death. Distrusting his younger brother’s ambitions, he rushed home to be crowned king. The twenty-four-year-old king inherited advantages that helped him achieve his dream of ruling the world. Because of his father’s alliance with the Medes, the northern frontiers of his empire were secure. He could turn his attention elsewhere, unlike the Assyrians who fought constantly to keep power at their borders. Nebuchadnezzar adopted some of the strategies that had worked well for Assyrians. He patterned his empire after Assyrian methods of organization, and copied their cruel practice of torturing and killing defeated enemies. In Assyrian style, he conducted yearly campaigns to collect tribute and crush rebellions in Syria, Palestine and Egypt. His last campaign against Judah brought destruction to Jerusalem, then ruled by Zedekiah. His army looted the city, burned Solomon’s temple and deported all but the poor. The tribute collected on these campaigns went toward Nebuchadnezzar’s building projects. With prisoners of war toiling as builders, the great king constructed a new palace adorned with cedar and gold, He restored the sacred Processional Way, flanked by over one hundred sculptured lions. He ensured the capital’s protection with seventeen miles of new double-defence walls, dams and moats to the north and south, and an artificial lake. He brought water into Babylon from the Tigris River through canals. Legend even credits Nebuchadnezzar as architect of the Hanging Gardens, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. According to tradition, the king built the gardens to comfort his homesick Median wife. The great king also expended his energy in erecting fifty-four temples in Babylon and other cities. He worshiped all the Babylonian gods, but paid special attention to Bel and Marduk, protectors of his kingship. The temples’ gold, silver and copper domes gleamed in the Babylonian sun, proclaiming the religious fervour of their builder. Nebuchadnezzar frequently offered food, wine and precious metals to his gods, and attended religious ceremonies along with his people. The inscriptions on his buildings usually include two hymns and close with a pagan prayer. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride grew with his power. By age sixty, the king had become the most powerful man in the world and his capital the richest city in the world. He decided to be worshiped alongside his gods, and ordered his craftsmen to make a huge gold statue of himself. Nebuchadnezzar’s ruthless energy had run out of goals when, according to the Bible, the king went insane and thought he was an ox. The lack of inscriptions from the latter years of his reign indicate that he may have been absent from government for a time. When he regained health, the Empire was shaken with disorder. At the age of sixty-eight, after forty-three years on the throne, Nebuchadnezzar died. The ungifted kings that succeeded him ruled under the shadow of a rising new power, Persia.