A man from the group of prophets died and his wife went to find Elisha. The men her husband was in debt to wanted to take their children to repay the debt. Elisha told the widow to borrow as many jugs and bowls as she could from her neighbors. She was to lock the door to her house and secure her sons safety then pour what little oil she had into ALL the jugs. When a jug was full, it was to be set aside. The oil was free flowing and she had enough to fill all the containers. When the widow told Elisha what happened, he instructed her to sell the oil to get out of debt then use the rest of the $ for her family.
Elisha had a meal with a woman and her husband in the town of Shumen. This became a tradition, which happened so frequently a small room was added for Elisha to stay in. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, summoned the Shunammite woman so Elisha could ask her if he could report anything back to the king or the army commander. She refused the offer and said there was nothing to report. Even though her husband was an old man, Elisha told her she'd become pregnant and the woman conceived a son. While the boy's father was working in the fields, the boy complained about his head hurting. A servant carried him to his mother and he died in her lap. She then laid him on Elisha's bed and left then traveled all the way to Mt. Carmel to find Elisha. He had no idea what was going on with her son and ordered Gehazi to grab his staff and go as fsast as he could to the woman's home. He was to lay the staff across the boy's face. Gehazi returned stating the boy hadn't stirred at all. Elisha went to Shunem and went alone to the room and prayed to God. He then climbed in bed with the dead boy and covered him with his body. Warmth entered the boy's body. Elisha paced the room then got back in bed. The boy sneezed 7 times and opened his eyes. He called for the mother and she was in awe of what he did.
The people of Gilgal were in the midst of a famine. While Elisha met with the prophets, he told his servant to make some stew. One man picked gourds from a wild vine in the field and put them in the stew. No one knew what plant it had come from. The prophets began to eat the stew, but cried out, "Death in a pot, O man of God! Death in a pot!" The stew was inedible. Elisha threw some meal into the stew and served it up for it was ok to eat. A man from Baal Shalishah brought Elisha 20 loaves of fresh bread and a few apples. His servant went to feed the 100 men but there wasn't enough food to go around. Elisha assured him God said there was plenty and they ate to their fill and even had leftovers!
The army general under the king of Aram was named Naaman. He was a truly honorable man and the king had great favor for him b/c God had used Naaman for their victory. He took a young wife he found when they raided Israel. Unfortunately, he had leprosy and his skin was white as snow (https://health.google.com/health/ref/Leprosy). His wife told a confidant that she wished her husband could see the prophet in Samaria and be healed. The king of Aram allowed Naaman to travel to Samaria and gave him 750 lbs of silver, 50 lbs of gold, and 10 sets of clothes. He even wrote a letter to the king of Israel, which was delivered by Naaman. The letter said, "When you get this letter, you'll know that I've personally sent my servant Naaman to you, heal him of his skin disease." The king of Israel ripped his robe to pieces because he was upset about the letter. He knew he couldn't possibly heal the man. Elisha heard what happened and sent word to the king asking why he was so upset. He told the king of Israel to send Naaman his way. Slisha's servant greeted Naaman and told him to go the Jordan River and immerse himself 7x and he'd be healed. This ticked Naaman off and was annoyed that Elisha wasn't there to pray to God for his healing. He said the rivers in Damascus were much more sanitary than the ones in Israel. As he went to storm off, Naaman's servant caught up with him and urged him to listen to Elisha's servant. He sucked it up and immersed himself and was healed. Naaman went with his servants back to Elisha saying he wasn't doubtful there was a God anywhere like the one of Israel. Elisha refused the gift Naaman wanted to give him as a token of his gratitude. Naaman asked him for a load of dirt because he was never again going to worship false gods. When the king of Aram entered the shrines of Rimmon with him, may God forgive him. Elisha told him to go in peace. Gehazi took off after Naaman because he left without saying thank you. The two men met and Gehazi fabricated a lie about how Elisha sent him to Naaman because two brothers, who were prophets in Ephraim, showed up. He suggested Naaman give them 75 lbs of silver and a few changes of clothes as a gift. Naaman insisted on 150 lbs along with the clothes and 2 servants. Gehazi left and stored the gifts in a fort and sent the servants packing. Elisha asked what Gehazi was up to and he said nothing much. Fortunately, Elisha knew exactly what he did and told him Naaman's skin disease would plague him and his family because of what he did.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Day 23
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, met w/ Ahab and decided to fight the king of Aram together. All 400 prophets were asked if it was a good plan and they got approval. God would give them victory over this king. Jehoshaphat wasn't satisfied w/ only 400 prophet's opinions, so he asked if anyone else could advise him. Ahab mentioned Micaiah, but he forewarned Jehoshaphat of his hatred towards him and how he never received any positive feedback from him. One of Ahab's men reported back that Micaiah said yes to going to war against the king of Aram; there was a 'but' involved though. The messenger said Micaiah said, "As surely as God lives, what God says, I'll say. Go ahead. An easy victory. God's gift to the king. " Ahab pressed harder for the absolute truth. Paraphrasing, Micaiah told Ahab God asked how He could seduce Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and an angel volunteered by getting all 400 prophets to lie. Micaiah said, "And that's what happened. God filled the mouths of your puppet prophets with seductive lies. God has pronounced your doom." Zedekiah, a prophet, punched Micaiah in the nose asking when God's spirit left him and transferred to him. Ahab was very frustrated and turned Micaiah over to the judicial officer of the city and his son and told them to lock him up. He was only to have bread and water until Ahab returned. Micaiah shot right back and said IF Ahab returned, he wasn't a real prophet.
The kings and their men went to war w/ the king of Aram. Ahab, dressed in a disguise, used Jehoshaphat as a decoy in battle and dressed him up in kings attire. The king of Aram ordered 32 chariot commanders to Jehoshaphat and Ahab's side and they were to only go after the king of Israel. When they spotted Johoshaphat, they chased after him but the commander realized he wasn't the right man. Just then a soldier shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and it hit Ahab. God really has a sense of humor :) Ahab died watching the battle on the sidelines. Ahazaiah was the heir to the throne of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was 35 when because king of Judah and ruled 25 years. He continued in his father's footsteps by honoring God, unfortunately he didn't remove the sex and religion shrines. He and the king of Israel, Ahaziah, remained allies. Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son was heir to the throne of Judah. Ahaziah ruled for 2 years in the 17th year of Jehoshaphat's reign. He lived as his parents did, which God viewed as an evil life. He also worshiped Baal shrines.
Started 2 Kings...
Ahaziah injured himself by falling through the railing of the balcony on his house. His messengers were sent to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. Meanwhile, God's angel told Elijah to hurry and meet the king's messengers and confront them. Elijah asked them if they were consulting Baal-Zebub because there was no God is Israel and said to them, "You're not going to get out of that bed you're in-you're as good as dead already!" They described the man to Ahaziah and he knew the man was Elijah. Fifty men went to find Elijah, who was atop a hill. The captain said, "O Holy Man! King's orders: Come down!" Elijah said if he was a holy man, they'd get struck by lightning. Just then a blue lightning bolt stuck and killed them all. A new set of 50 men were sent by Ahaziah and said the same thing to Elijah. They too were toast just like the previous 50. A third set of 50 men went to Elijah and the captain asked him to respect his life and his 50 men. Elijah told Ahaziah that because he sent the messengers to Baal-Zebub, he would never get out of bed alive and was as good as dead. He died immediately and because he had no heir, his brother, Joram, was appointed king. Joram ruled over Israel in Samaria and was king for 12 years. God viewed him as a mediocre king but better than his parents. He still held onto sinful practices though.
Elijah was going to be taken up to heaven by God and told Elisha to stay in Gilgal, for he had an errand to run in Bethel. Elisha refused to part ways so they went together. When asked by prophets, Elisha said he knew God was going to take Elijah and to keep it hush hush. Elijah had to go to Jericho so again, the two men went together. Prophets from Jericho approached Elisha and asked him the same question and Elisha told them to keep it quiet. Elijah and Elisha went to the Jordan river and 50 prophets from Jericho gathered a short distance away. The river divided when Elijah took his rolled up cloak and hit the water with it. They crossed and Elisha told Elijah he wanted his life to mirror his and be a holy man. Elijah responded by telling Elisha to watch when he was taken to heaven and his request would be granted. All the sudden fiery horses carrying chariots blazed between the men and in a whirlwind like fashion went up to heaven. Elisha grieved by ripping his robe and took Elijah's robe to the Jordan and stood there. He hit the river and asked, "Now where is the God of Elijah? Where is he?" The river parted and the prophets watched close by. They honored Elisha and said they were at his service. They suggested Elisha send them out to look for Elijah and found nothing after 3 days.
A man from Jordan told Elisha their water was bad. Elisha told him to bring a new bowl of water and put salt in it, then went to the spring and proclaimed God's word, "I've healed this water. It will no longer kill you or poison your land." On Elisha's way to Bethel, kids were making fun of him; taunting him and calling him skinhead. Elisha looked at them and cursed them in the name of God. Two bears came out of the bushes and knocked all 42 of them down, ripping them limb from limb. Yikes!
King Mesha of Moab rebelled against Israel back when Ahab died. King Joram prepared Israel for war and asked Jehoshaphat to be his ally. The kings and their armies set out to war against Mesha but they went through the badlands of Edom. They were out of water for soldier and animal in a weeks worth of time. Joram, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to meet Elisha. Side note: when a minstrel played, God's power came to Elisha. God's word through Elisha was to dig ditches in the valley. Rain water would be available to them. He said God would hand the city of Moab over to them and they were to destroy the support of the city, wipe out villages/orchards, block springs, and put stones in the fields. By morning, a flash flood filled the valley. Moab heard of the impending attack and gathered his able bodied men. Only the capital of Moab, Kir Hareseth, was left after the battle with the Israelites and Judah. It was soon surrounded and destroyed. Mesha took 700 swordsmen to fight the king of Edom, but he was unsuccessful. Mesha then took his 1st born son and sacrificed him at the city wall. Israel was angered by this and returned home.
The kings and their men went to war w/ the king of Aram. Ahab, dressed in a disguise, used Jehoshaphat as a decoy in battle and dressed him up in kings attire. The king of Aram ordered 32 chariot commanders to Jehoshaphat and Ahab's side and they were to only go after the king of Israel. When they spotted Johoshaphat, they chased after him but the commander realized he wasn't the right man. Just then a soldier shot an arrow randomly into the crowd and it hit Ahab. God really has a sense of humor :) Ahab died watching the battle on the sidelines. Ahazaiah was the heir to the throne of Israel.
Jehoshaphat was 35 when because king of Judah and ruled 25 years. He continued in his father's footsteps by honoring God, unfortunately he didn't remove the sex and religion shrines. He and the king of Israel, Ahaziah, remained allies. Jehoram, Jehoshaphat's son was heir to the throne of Judah. Ahaziah ruled for 2 years in the 17th year of Jehoshaphat's reign. He lived as his parents did, which God viewed as an evil life. He also worshiped Baal shrines.
Started 2 Kings...
Ahaziah injured himself by falling through the railing of the balcony on his house. His messengers were sent to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. Meanwhile, God's angel told Elijah to hurry and meet the king's messengers and confront them. Elijah asked them if they were consulting Baal-Zebub because there was no God is Israel and said to them, "You're not going to get out of that bed you're in-you're as good as dead already!" They described the man to Ahaziah and he knew the man was Elijah. Fifty men went to find Elijah, who was atop a hill. The captain said, "O Holy Man! King's orders: Come down!" Elijah said if he was a holy man, they'd get struck by lightning. Just then a blue lightning bolt stuck and killed them all. A new set of 50 men were sent by Ahaziah and said the same thing to Elijah. They too were toast just like the previous 50. A third set of 50 men went to Elijah and the captain asked him to respect his life and his 50 men. Elijah told Ahaziah that because he sent the messengers to Baal-Zebub, he would never get out of bed alive and was as good as dead. He died immediately and because he had no heir, his brother, Joram, was appointed king. Joram ruled over Israel in Samaria and was king for 12 years. God viewed him as a mediocre king but better than his parents. He still held onto sinful practices though.
Elijah was going to be taken up to heaven by God and told Elisha to stay in Gilgal, for he had an errand to run in Bethel. Elisha refused to part ways so they went together. When asked by prophets, Elisha said he knew God was going to take Elijah and to keep it hush hush. Elijah had to go to Jericho so again, the two men went together. Prophets from Jericho approached Elisha and asked him the same question and Elisha told them to keep it quiet. Elijah and Elisha went to the Jordan river and 50 prophets from Jericho gathered a short distance away. The river divided when Elijah took his rolled up cloak and hit the water with it. They crossed and Elisha told Elijah he wanted his life to mirror his and be a holy man. Elijah responded by telling Elisha to watch when he was taken to heaven and his request would be granted. All the sudden fiery horses carrying chariots blazed between the men and in a whirlwind like fashion went up to heaven. Elisha grieved by ripping his robe and took Elijah's robe to the Jordan and stood there. He hit the river and asked, "Now where is the God of Elijah? Where is he?" The river parted and the prophets watched close by. They honored Elisha and said they were at his service. They suggested Elisha send them out to look for Elijah and found nothing after 3 days.
A man from Jordan told Elisha their water was bad. Elisha told him to bring a new bowl of water and put salt in it, then went to the spring and proclaimed God's word, "I've healed this water. It will no longer kill you or poison your land." On Elisha's way to Bethel, kids were making fun of him; taunting him and calling him skinhead. Elisha looked at them and cursed them in the name of God. Two bears came out of the bushes and knocked all 42 of them down, ripping them limb from limb. Yikes!
King Mesha of Moab rebelled against Israel back when Ahab died. King Joram prepared Israel for war and asked Jehoshaphat to be his ally. The kings and their armies set out to war against Mesha but they went through the badlands of Edom. They were out of water for soldier and animal in a weeks worth of time. Joram, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went to meet Elisha. Side note: when a minstrel played, God's power came to Elisha. God's word through Elisha was to dig ditches in the valley. Rain water would be available to them. He said God would hand the city of Moab over to them and they were to destroy the support of the city, wipe out villages/orchards, block springs, and put stones in the fields. By morning, a flash flood filled the valley. Moab heard of the impending attack and gathered his able bodied men. Only the capital of Moab, Kir Hareseth, was left after the battle with the Israelites and Judah. It was soon surrounded and destroyed. Mesha took 700 swordsmen to fight the king of Edom, but he was unsuccessful. Mesha then took his 1st born son and sacrificed him at the city wall. Israel was angered by this and returned home.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day 22
Ahab told Jezebel what Elijah did on their way to Jezreel. She wanted Elijah dead so he fled to Beersheba. Out in the desert, he found shade from a broom bush. Elijah told God he wanted to die, then fell asleep because he was exhausted from traveling. An angel woke him up saying, "Get up and eat!" Elijah saw there was bread and a jug of water. He ate and went back to sleep. The angel came back and told him to eat more because he had a very long journey ahead of him.
Elijah walked 40 days and nights to Horeb. The word of God came to him in a cave and asked him what he was doing there. Elijah responded by explaining that the people of Israel had abandoned the covenant they made, destroyed places of worship, and murdered his prophets. After all of this, they were after him now! God instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain and He would pass by. Wind as strong as a hurricane came through the mountains and shattered rocks. After the wind, came an earthquake. After the earthquake came fire. After the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. Elijah hid his face in his cloak as the gentle voice asked him again why he was in Horeb. He gave the same response as he did before. God told him to go back the way he came to Damascus. He was to appoint Hazel as king over Aram. Jehu was to be king over Israel. Elisha was to succeed Elijah as prophet. Seven thousand soul's were preserved by God who hadn't bowed to false gods. Elijah went on his journey and found Elisha. He bid farewell to his family by butchering 2 oxen for a feast.
Ben-Hadad was the king of Aram and his troops set out for war around Samaria. He told Ahab he wanted all the silver and gold from Israel and all the wives and sons as well. Ahab agreed to giving him silver and gold but he only had his choice of wives and sons, not all of them. In an intoxicated state, Ben-Hadad told his men to attack Israel. A lone prophet approached Ahab and repeated God's word. He said, " Have you taken a good look at this mob? Well, look again-I'm turning it over to you this very day. And you'll know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am God." Ahab was skeptical and wanted to know who was going to make this all happen. God responded, "The young commandos of the regional chiefs." Ahab would start the first blow against Ben-Hadad. There were 232 commandos and 7,000 available men to fight. Meanwhile, Ben-Hadad was still drinking away with his buddies and got a report that the Samarian men were on their way. He stated he wanted live hostages if they came in peace. The commandos were equipped with a full army but Ben-Hadad got away on horseback along with his cavalry. Ahab was visited by the prophet again and was told to build up his army and assess their skills because before too long, Ben-Hadad would be back to fight them again.
The king Aram's advisors told him that the god of Israel was the god of the mountains, they didn't stand a chance against them. Their strategy was to remove each of the 32 sheik (official or leader) and replace them with experienced officers. Then, gather a fighting force and fight Israel on the plain. The two sides went to Aphek to start war. A holy man came to Ahab saying, "God is the god of the mountains and not the god of the valleys, "I'll hand over this huge mob of an army to you. Then you'll know that I am God." On the 7th day of the standoff, the Israelites killed 100,000 of the Arameans. The rest of Ben-Hadad's army retreated only to have the city wall fall on all 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad and his advisors dressed in gunny sacks, carried the white flag of surrender, and approached Ahab. I wonder if he laughed at them. Ben-Hadad begged for his life to be spared. Ahab, amazed, said he must be his brother if he's still alive. The king spared him and told him he would return the cities his father took from Ben-Hadad's father. Ben-Hadad could set up his headquarters in Damascus safely.
One of the prophets told a man next to him to slug him for God's sake. Because the man wouldn't do it, the prophet told him he'd be attacked by a lion. The prophet went to another man and asked him to slug him, which he did in the nose. The bleeding prophet, with a bandage over his eye, waited on the road for Ahab. He cried out, "Your servant was in the thick of the battle when a man showed up and turned over a prisoner to me, saying, 'Guard this man with your life; if he turns up missing you'll pay dearly.' But I got busy doing one thing after another and the next time I looked he was gone." The prophet removed the bandage and Ahab new immediately who he was. He delivered God's word to Ahab saying, "Because you let a man go who is under sentence by God, it's now your life for his, your people for his." This ticked Ahab off and he sulked all the way home to Samaria.
Ahab told Naboth he wanted his vineyard in Jezreel, for it was right next to his palace. He offered a much better one in exchnage for money. Naboth told him passionately he'd never sell his family farm to him. Ahab then threw and hissy fit by going home, stuffing his face in his pillow, and not eating. Jezebel told Ahab to cheer up because she would handle the whole thing. She wrote letters to Jezreel elders and civic leaders suggesting they call for a day of fasting with Naboth at the head of the table. Two scoundrels, 'stool pigeons' as Eugene Peterson referred to them, were to sit across from Naboth and proclaim he blasphemed God and the king. They were to throw him out of the city and stone him to death. The leaders followed Jezebel's instruction and when she received the news from them, she told Ahab to claim the vineyard. God spoke to Elijah and instructed him to confront Ahab again and give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’” Elijah told Ahab his descendants would be killed off and he'd have the same fate as Jeroboam and Baasha. Jezebel's flesh would be fought over by dogs for she had great influence over Ahab and pushed him to indulge in outrageous obscenities in the world of idols, doing what the Ammorites did. Upon hearing this, Ahab ripped his clothes, dressed in burlap, and fasted. God said to Elijah, "...Because of his repentance, I'll not bring doom during his lifetime; Ahab's son, though, will get it."
Elijah walked 40 days and nights to Horeb. The word of God came to him in a cave and asked him what he was doing there. Elijah responded by explaining that the people of Israel had abandoned the covenant they made, destroyed places of worship, and murdered his prophets. After all of this, they were after him now! God instructed Elijah to stand on the mountain and He would pass by. Wind as strong as a hurricane came through the mountains and shattered rocks. After the wind, came an earthquake. After the earthquake came fire. After the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. Elijah hid his face in his cloak as the gentle voice asked him again why he was in Horeb. He gave the same response as he did before. God told him to go back the way he came to Damascus. He was to appoint Hazel as king over Aram. Jehu was to be king over Israel. Elisha was to succeed Elijah as prophet. Seven thousand soul's were preserved by God who hadn't bowed to false gods. Elijah went on his journey and found Elisha. He bid farewell to his family by butchering 2 oxen for a feast.
Ben-Hadad was the king of Aram and his troops set out for war around Samaria. He told Ahab he wanted all the silver and gold from Israel and all the wives and sons as well. Ahab agreed to giving him silver and gold but he only had his choice of wives and sons, not all of them. In an intoxicated state, Ben-Hadad told his men to attack Israel. A lone prophet approached Ahab and repeated God's word. He said, " Have you taken a good look at this mob? Well, look again-I'm turning it over to you this very day. And you'll know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am God." Ahab was skeptical and wanted to know who was going to make this all happen. God responded, "The young commandos of the regional chiefs." Ahab would start the first blow against Ben-Hadad. There were 232 commandos and 7,000 available men to fight. Meanwhile, Ben-Hadad was still drinking away with his buddies and got a report that the Samarian men were on their way. He stated he wanted live hostages if they came in peace. The commandos were equipped with a full army but Ben-Hadad got away on horseback along with his cavalry. Ahab was visited by the prophet again and was told to build up his army and assess their skills because before too long, Ben-Hadad would be back to fight them again.
The king Aram's advisors told him that the god of Israel was the god of the mountains, they didn't stand a chance against them. Their strategy was to remove each of the 32 sheik (official or leader) and replace them with experienced officers. Then, gather a fighting force and fight Israel on the plain. The two sides went to Aphek to start war. A holy man came to Ahab saying, "God is the god of the mountains and not the god of the valleys, "I'll hand over this huge mob of an army to you. Then you'll know that I am God." On the 7th day of the standoff, the Israelites killed 100,000 of the Arameans. The rest of Ben-Hadad's army retreated only to have the city wall fall on all 27,000 of them. Ben-Hadad and his advisors dressed in gunny sacks, carried the white flag of surrender, and approached Ahab. I wonder if he laughed at them. Ben-Hadad begged for his life to be spared. Ahab, amazed, said he must be his brother if he's still alive. The king spared him and told him he would return the cities his father took from Ben-Hadad's father. Ben-Hadad could set up his headquarters in Damascus safely.
One of the prophets told a man next to him to slug him for God's sake. Because the man wouldn't do it, the prophet told him he'd be attacked by a lion. The prophet went to another man and asked him to slug him, which he did in the nose. The bleeding prophet, with a bandage over his eye, waited on the road for Ahab. He cried out, "Your servant was in the thick of the battle when a man showed up and turned over a prisoner to me, saying, 'Guard this man with your life; if he turns up missing you'll pay dearly.' But I got busy doing one thing after another and the next time I looked he was gone." The prophet removed the bandage and Ahab new immediately who he was. He delivered God's word to Ahab saying, "Because you let a man go who is under sentence by God, it's now your life for his, your people for his." This ticked Ahab off and he sulked all the way home to Samaria.
Ahab told Naboth he wanted his vineyard in Jezreel, for it was right next to his palace. He offered a much better one in exchnage for money. Naboth told him passionately he'd never sell his family farm to him. Ahab then threw and hissy fit by going home, stuffing his face in his pillow, and not eating. Jezebel told Ahab to cheer up because she would handle the whole thing. She wrote letters to Jezreel elders and civic leaders suggesting they call for a day of fasting with Naboth at the head of the table. Two scoundrels, 'stool pigeons' as Eugene Peterson referred to them, were to sit across from Naboth and proclaim he blasphemed God and the king. They were to throw him out of the city and stone him to death. The leaders followed Jezebel's instruction and when she received the news from them, she told Ahab to claim the vineyard. God spoke to Elijah and instructed him to confront Ahab again and give him this message: ‘This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth!’” Elijah told Ahab his descendants would be killed off and he'd have the same fate as Jeroboam and Baasha. Jezebel's flesh would be fought over by dogs for she had great influence over Ahab and pushed him to indulge in outrageous obscenities in the world of idols, doing what the Ammorites did. Upon hearing this, Ahab ripped his clothes, dressed in burlap, and fasted. God said to Elijah, "...Because of his repentance, I'll not bring doom during his lifetime; Ahab's son, though, will get it."
Day 21
Hanini received a message from God for Baasha. His message was, "I took you from nothing-you complete nobody-and set you up as the leader of my people Israel, but you plodded along in the rut of Jeroboam, making my people Israel sin and making me seethe over their sin. An now the consequences. I will burn Baasha and his regime to cinders, the identical fate of Jeroboam son of Nebat. Baasha's people who die in the city will be eaten by scavenger dogs; carrion crows will eat the ones who die in the country." Elah, son of Baasha, was the next king of Israel when Baasha died.
Asa, king of Judah, was in his 26th year of reigning when Elah became king. He only reigned for 2 years because Zimri, captain of half the chariot force, knocked him to the ground and killed him. It didn't help that Elah was plastered either. Zimri became king of Tirzah. He cleaned out Baasha's family, killing them off right and left. The reign of these kings seem to get shorter and shorter! Zimri was king for a week and then killed himself by setting the citadel on fire when he realized he was under attack. Half the Israelites liked Tibni and the other half liked Omri. The Omri supporters proved stronger and Tibni ended up dead. Omri ruled Israel for 12 years. Asa was in his 31st year of reigning when he became king. Omri sinned and made Israel sin. He died and was buried in Samaria, whic started as a hill he bought for 150 lbs of silver from Shemar. Ahab, his son, was appointed king and reigned for 22 years. Apparently he took sinning to a whole new level. He committed the sins of Jeroboam, but then he married a Sidonian woman who went by the name Jezebel. They served and worshiped Baal. A temple was built for Baal in Samaria and an altar was set up. Ahab and Jezebel also built a shrine to Asherah. Ahab ticked God off more than all the other kings combined! He ritually sacrificed his 1st born son, Abiram, at the foundation of Jericho and also sacrificed his youngest, Segub, at the city gates just as Joshua predicted years prior. What is the matter w/ these people??
One day, Elijah confronted Ahab and told him a terrible drought was coming. Elijah left quickly as God told him to and went to the Kerith Ravine. God ordered ravens in the area to feed him and he could drink the water from the brook. After the brook dried, God told Elijah to go to Zarephath in Sidon for there was a widowed woman there who was instructed by God to feed him. When he arrived, Elijah asked for a drink and something to eat. The widow told him she only had a handful of flour and a little oil, not enough to even make a biscuit. Elijah found her gathering firewood for her and her son's last meal. He instructed her to make a small biscuit with what she had and make a meal for her and her boy. God said, "The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empnty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought." The widow was able to make food daily like God promised. Unfortunately, her son because very ill and stopped breathing. She exclaimed, "Why did you (Elijah) ever show up here in the first place-a holy man barging in, exposing my sins, and killing my son?" Elijah took the boy and prayed to God, asking him why He had brought this horrible thing upon the diwo and why the boy was dead. He prayed fervently 3 times and God put breath back into the boy's body. The widow said, "I see it all now, you are a holy man. When you speak, God speaks-a true word."
The drought was in it's 3rd year and God's word came to Elijah. He was to go back to Ahab and tell him rain was coming. Ahab summoned Obadiah, a God fearing and devout follower. When Jezebel wanted to kill all the prophets, he hid 100 of them in a cave and gave them food and water to survive. Ahab said to Obadiah, "God through the country;locate every spring and every stream. Let's see if we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules from dying." They parted ways. Obadiah met Elijah on his journey and bowed in reverence. He was instructed to tell Ahab what he saw but feared for his life. Ahab sent out search parties to look for Elijah when he told him about the drought and Obadiah was afraid he would tell Ahab where Elijah was and then he'd disappear, making him look like a liar. However, Obadiah obeyed and Ahab came out to meet Elijah, calling him a troublemaker. Elijah put the blame back on Ahab for ignoring God's commands. Ahab was instructed to assemble the people of Israel at Mount Carmel. The 450 prophets of the local god's, the Baals, and the 400 prophets to the whore goddess Asherah were there. Elijah challenged the people saying, "How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it's Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!" Elijah was the only prophet of God left in Israel and challenged the 450 Baal prophets to bring 2 oxen. They were to take one and butcher it, put it on an altar of wood, but not set it on fire. Elijah would take the other ox, do the same thing, but wouldn't light it either. Both sides were to pray to their higher power and the real God would ignite the altar. Nothing happened when the prophets prayed to Baal. By mid day, Elijah taunted them with insults. Perhaps Baal was involved with a project or on vacation..maybe he was meditating or slept in. Their prayers grew louder and louder and they began to cut themselves with swords and knives until they were covered in blood. Apparently this was a common practice. Elijah had everyone gather around, repaired altar, and built 12 stones into the altar, signifying the 12 tribes of Jacob. A wide trench was also dug around the altar. I wonder if God had instructed him prior. The ox was put on the altar. He told the people to fill four buckets with water and pour it on the altar 3 times. Elijah prayed to God and immediately the fire of God fell on the altar, burned the ox, the wood, the stones, and even the dirty and water surrounding it! The people were in awe and exclaimed, "God is the true God!" Elijah instructed the people to capture the Baal prophets and kill them all at Brook Kishon.
Elijah told Ahab to eat and drink for rain was coming. While he did this, Elijah climbed Mount Carmel and prayed to God. God told him to look at the sea. On the 7th time he looked, he actually saw a small cloud the size of a hand coming out of the water. Elijah was to tell Ahab to saddle up and he needed get off the mountain before the rain stopped him from doing so. Ahab grabbed his chariot and set out to Jezreel. All the sudden God's might came upon Elijah! He tied his robe around his waist and ran faster than Ahab's chariot until they reached their destination.
Asa, king of Judah, was in his 26th year of reigning when Elah became king. He only reigned for 2 years because Zimri, captain of half the chariot force, knocked him to the ground and killed him. It didn't help that Elah was plastered either. Zimri became king of Tirzah. He cleaned out Baasha's family, killing them off right and left. The reign of these kings seem to get shorter and shorter! Zimri was king for a week and then killed himself by setting the citadel on fire when he realized he was under attack. Half the Israelites liked Tibni and the other half liked Omri. The Omri supporters proved stronger and Tibni ended up dead. Omri ruled Israel for 12 years. Asa was in his 31st year of reigning when he became king. Omri sinned and made Israel sin. He died and was buried in Samaria, whic started as a hill he bought for 150 lbs of silver from Shemar. Ahab, his son, was appointed king and reigned for 22 years. Apparently he took sinning to a whole new level. He committed the sins of Jeroboam, but then he married a Sidonian woman who went by the name Jezebel. They served and worshiped Baal. A temple was built for Baal in Samaria and an altar was set up. Ahab and Jezebel also built a shrine to Asherah. Ahab ticked God off more than all the other kings combined! He ritually sacrificed his 1st born son, Abiram, at the foundation of Jericho and also sacrificed his youngest, Segub, at the city gates just as Joshua predicted years prior. What is the matter w/ these people??
One day, Elijah confronted Ahab and told him a terrible drought was coming. Elijah left quickly as God told him to and went to the Kerith Ravine. God ordered ravens in the area to feed him and he could drink the water from the brook. After the brook dried, God told Elijah to go to Zarephath in Sidon for there was a widowed woman there who was instructed by God to feed him. When he arrived, Elijah asked for a drink and something to eat. The widow told him she only had a handful of flour and a little oil, not enough to even make a biscuit. Elijah found her gathering firewood for her and her son's last meal. He instructed her to make a small biscuit with what she had and make a meal for her and her boy. God said, "The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empnty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought." The widow was able to make food daily like God promised. Unfortunately, her son because very ill and stopped breathing. She exclaimed, "Why did you (Elijah) ever show up here in the first place-a holy man barging in, exposing my sins, and killing my son?" Elijah took the boy and prayed to God, asking him why He had brought this horrible thing upon the diwo and why the boy was dead. He prayed fervently 3 times and God put breath back into the boy's body. The widow said, "I see it all now, you are a holy man. When you speak, God speaks-a true word."
The drought was in it's 3rd year and God's word came to Elijah. He was to go back to Ahab and tell him rain was coming. Ahab summoned Obadiah, a God fearing and devout follower. When Jezebel wanted to kill all the prophets, he hid 100 of them in a cave and gave them food and water to survive. Ahab said to Obadiah, "God through the country;locate every spring and every stream. Let's see if we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules from dying." They parted ways. Obadiah met Elijah on his journey and bowed in reverence. He was instructed to tell Ahab what he saw but feared for his life. Ahab sent out search parties to look for Elijah when he told him about the drought and Obadiah was afraid he would tell Ahab where Elijah was and then he'd disappear, making him look like a liar. However, Obadiah obeyed and Ahab came out to meet Elijah, calling him a troublemaker. Elijah put the blame back on Ahab for ignoring God's commands. Ahab was instructed to assemble the people of Israel at Mount Carmel. The 450 prophets of the local god's, the Baals, and the 400 prophets to the whore goddess Asherah were there. Elijah challenged the people saying, "How long are you going to sit on the fence? If God is the real God, follow him; if it's Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!" Elijah was the only prophet of God left in Israel and challenged the 450 Baal prophets to bring 2 oxen. They were to take one and butcher it, put it on an altar of wood, but not set it on fire. Elijah would take the other ox, do the same thing, but wouldn't light it either. Both sides were to pray to their higher power and the real God would ignite the altar. Nothing happened when the prophets prayed to Baal. By mid day, Elijah taunted them with insults. Perhaps Baal was involved with a project or on vacation..maybe he was meditating or slept in. Their prayers grew louder and louder and they began to cut themselves with swords and knives until they were covered in blood. Apparently this was a common practice. Elijah had everyone gather around, repaired altar, and built 12 stones into the altar, signifying the 12 tribes of Jacob. A wide trench was also dug around the altar. I wonder if God had instructed him prior. The ox was put on the altar. He told the people to fill four buckets with water and pour it on the altar 3 times. Elijah prayed to God and immediately the fire of God fell on the altar, burned the ox, the wood, the stones, and even the dirty and water surrounding it! The people were in awe and exclaimed, "God is the true God!" Elijah instructed the people to capture the Baal prophets and kill them all at Brook Kishon.
Elijah told Ahab to eat and drink for rain was coming. While he did this, Elijah climbed Mount Carmel and prayed to God. God told him to look at the sea. On the 7th time he looked, he actually saw a small cloud the size of a hand coming out of the water. Elijah was to tell Ahab to saddle up and he needed get off the mountain before the rain stopped him from doing so. Ahab grabbed his chariot and set out to Jezreel. All the sudden God's might came upon Elijah! He tied his robe around his waist and ran faster than Ahab's chariot until they reached their destination.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Day 20
Ahijah welcomed Jeroboam's wife, but asked her why she felt she needed to hide her identity. He told her God was very angry with the evil her husband was doing. God ripped the kingdom from David's hands and gave it to Jeroboam, but he pushed God aside and did his own thing. Ahijah went on to say that God would bring doom to their household; ridding of people as if they were garbage. The people in the city who died would be eaten by stray dogs and those out in the country would be eaten by carrion crows. Jeroboam's wife was told her son would die as soon as she entered her village and would be the only one to receive a proper burial. god was going to completely wash his hands of Israel because of Jeroboam's hideous sin.
Rehoboam was 41 years old when he started ruling Judah and ruled for 17 years in the City of David. The people of Judah also majorly sinned before God. They too built Asherah sex and religion shrines. There were male sacred prostitutes. Shishak of Egypt went to war w/ Jerusalem in Rehoboam's 5th year of ruling. He completely cleaned out the Temple of God. For the rest of Rehoboam's life, he was in battle with Jeroboam. Abijah, Rehoboam's son, ruled as king over Judah in the 18th year of the rule of Jeroboam. Some versions of the bible refer to him as Abijam. Jeroboam only ruled 22 years and his son, Nadab, became king when he died. Abijah ruled Jerusalem three years and carried on in his father's footsteps. Even though he was nothing like David, his great grandfather, God gave him a son to succeed him and keep Jerusalem secure. His son's name was Asa. Asa ruled for 41 years in Jerusalem and he was more like David and completely cleaned out the filth that his father and grandfather let into the city. All of the sacred prostitutes and idols were thrown out. Asa even went as far as removing his grandma, Maacah, from her position as queen mother because she built a horribly obscene Asherah pole. It was torn down and burned. I don't know why, but Asa allowed the sex and religion shrines to stay.
Baasha was king of Israel at the time and was at war with Asa. A fort at Ramah was built by Baasha that closed the border of Israel and Judah, forcing people to stay and strangers to stay out. All the silver and gold from the Temple and Asa's palace were given to his servants. He sent them to Beh-Hadad in Damascus with this message, "Let's make a treaty like the one between our fathers. I'm showing my good faith with this gift of silver and gold. Break your deal with Baasha King of Israel so he'll quit fighting against me." Ben-Hadad honored this request and formed an alliance with Asa. His troops were sent to Israel. Baasha pulled back to Tirzah. Asa Ordered everyone is Israel to remove the fort and use the materials to fortify Geba in Bejamin and Mizpah. Asa lived a very long time and gout is what ended his life. Jehoshaphat ruled as king after him.
Back to Nadab, who was king over Israel for 2 years. Baasha son of Ahijah ganged up on him in Gibbethon. The way Baasha became king was by killing Nadab. He then proceeded to kill all of Jeroboam's family. Baasha because king of Tirzah over all of Israel and openly sinned and made Israel sin.
Rehoboam was 41 years old when he started ruling Judah and ruled for 17 years in the City of David. The people of Judah also majorly sinned before God. They too built Asherah sex and religion shrines. There were male sacred prostitutes. Shishak of Egypt went to war w/ Jerusalem in Rehoboam's 5th year of ruling. He completely cleaned out the Temple of God. For the rest of Rehoboam's life, he was in battle with Jeroboam. Abijah, Rehoboam's son, ruled as king over Judah in the 18th year of the rule of Jeroboam. Some versions of the bible refer to him as Abijam. Jeroboam only ruled 22 years and his son, Nadab, became king when he died. Abijah ruled Jerusalem three years and carried on in his father's footsteps. Even though he was nothing like David, his great grandfather, God gave him a son to succeed him and keep Jerusalem secure. His son's name was Asa. Asa ruled for 41 years in Jerusalem and he was more like David and completely cleaned out the filth that his father and grandfather let into the city. All of the sacred prostitutes and idols were thrown out. Asa even went as far as removing his grandma, Maacah, from her position as queen mother because she built a horribly obscene Asherah pole. It was torn down and burned. I don't know why, but Asa allowed the sex and religion shrines to stay.
Baasha was king of Israel at the time and was at war with Asa. A fort at Ramah was built by Baasha that closed the border of Israel and Judah, forcing people to stay and strangers to stay out. All the silver and gold from the Temple and Asa's palace were given to his servants. He sent them to Beh-Hadad in Damascus with this message, "Let's make a treaty like the one between our fathers. I'm showing my good faith with this gift of silver and gold. Break your deal with Baasha King of Israel so he'll quit fighting against me." Ben-Hadad honored this request and formed an alliance with Asa. His troops were sent to Israel. Baasha pulled back to Tirzah. Asa Ordered everyone is Israel to remove the fort and use the materials to fortify Geba in Bejamin and Mizpah. Asa lived a very long time and gout is what ended his life. Jehoshaphat ruled as king after him.
Back to Nadab, who was king over Israel for 2 years. Baasha son of Ahijah ganged up on him in Gibbethon. The way Baasha became king was by killing Nadab. He then proceeded to kill all of Jeroboam's family. Baasha because king of Tirzah over all of Israel and openly sinned and made Israel sin.
Day 19
Reheboam (Solomon's son) went to Shechem for the Israelites to appoint him king. Jeroboam heard about King Solomon's death and left Egypt. The people of Israel claimed King Solomon overworked them and asked Rehoboam to give them a break. Rehoboam's counsel of elders told him to be a servant of the people, considerate of their needs and and showing compassion. Rehoboam rejected this suggestion and talked to his peers. His peers said, "These people who complain 'Your father was to hard on us; lighten up'-well, tell them this: 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. If you think life under my father was hard, you haven't seen the half of it. My father thrashed you with ships; I'll beat you bloody with chains!" After promising the people a response in 3 days, he went with his peers counsel. Apparently God was behind this because of the promise Jeroboam received that he would be king.
A good majority of the people left but Rehoboam ruled over those who stayed in Judah. Adoniram was the head of the workforce and the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem. The people of Israel appointed Jeroboam as their king. The only tribe left out was Judah left to the Davidic dynsty. Once hundred and eighty thousand soldiers were summoned by Rehoboam to go to war with the Israelites. God used Shemaiah to give Rehoboam this message: "Don't march out; don't fight against yourbrothers the Israelites, go back home, every last one of you; I'm in charge here." Thankfully they listened to God's word. Jeroboam was convinced that his followers would be reunited with Rehoboam's people as soon as they worshiped at the Temple of God; they'd kill him. He had the bright idea to make 2 golden calves and put one in Bethel and one in Dan. He claimed they were there for the people of Israel to worship so they didn't have to make the long trip to Jerusalem. He also made forbidden shrines and to make matter worse, created a holy New Year festival. The festival was held on the 14th day of the 8th month to replace the one in Judah. An altar was set up at Bethel. Jeroboam himself lead worship. When he was at the altar, a holy man from Judah preached these words from God: "Altar, Altar! God's message! A son will be born into David's family named Josiah. The priests from the shrines who are making offerings on you, he will sacrifice-on you! Human bones burned on you! This is the proof God gives-the altar will split into pieces and the holy offering spill into the dirt." Jeroboam reached out to grab the holy man to have him arrested but his arm was pralyzed. The altar did what God projected. The king asked the holy man to pray for healing for his arm and it was restored. The king offered a meal and gift for the holy man but he refused emphatically!
An old prophet traveled after the holy man. The holy man affirmed his identity and the prophet suggested coming home with him for a meal. The holy man said he was under strict orders from God not to go to anyone's house and not to eat a crumb don't drink a drop and don't come back the way he came. The old prophet lied, saying an angel told him this message from God: "Bring him home with you, and give him a good meal!" The holy man went with him and had a meal. At the table, the word of God came to the prophet and confronted the holy man saying, "You disobeyed God's command; you didn't keep strict orders your God gave you; you came back and sat down to a good meal in the very place od told you, 'Don't eat a crumb; don't drink a drop.' For that you're going to die far from home and not be buried in your ancestral tomb." The prophet saddled the holy man's donkey for him and a lion met the holy man on his way and killed him. The corpse lay in the road with the donkey on one side and lion on the other side. A passerby saw the corpse and loaded it on the holy man's donkey and returned to the village. The prophet gave the holy man a decent burial and put the body in his tomb. The prophet told his sons that when he died, to put his bones alongside the holy man. The prophet preached against the altar at Bethel and the sex and religion shrines.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Jeroboam kept doing evil deeds and sinning against God. Anyone could waltz in and be a priest of the local shrines. Jeroboam's son, Abijah, became ill and he told his wife to disguise herself and go see a Ahijah. He was the prophet in Shiloh who told Jeroboam he'd be king one day. She took 10 loaves of bread, sweet rolls, and a jug of honey. God had already warned the the now old and blind Ahijah that she would be paying him a visit regarding her sick son.
A good majority of the people left but Rehoboam ruled over those who stayed in Judah. Adoniram was the head of the workforce and the Israelites stoned him to death. King Rehoboam fled to Jerusalem. The people of Israel appointed Jeroboam as their king. The only tribe left out was Judah left to the Davidic dynsty. Once hundred and eighty thousand soldiers were summoned by Rehoboam to go to war with the Israelites. God used Shemaiah to give Rehoboam this message: "Don't march out; don't fight against yourbrothers the Israelites, go back home, every last one of you; I'm in charge here." Thankfully they listened to God's word. Jeroboam was convinced that his followers would be reunited with Rehoboam's people as soon as they worshiped at the Temple of God; they'd kill him. He had the bright idea to make 2 golden calves and put one in Bethel and one in Dan. He claimed they were there for the people of Israel to worship so they didn't have to make the long trip to Jerusalem. He also made forbidden shrines and to make matter worse, created a holy New Year festival. The festival was held on the 14th day of the 8th month to replace the one in Judah. An altar was set up at Bethel. Jeroboam himself lead worship. When he was at the altar, a holy man from Judah preached these words from God: "Altar, Altar! God's message! A son will be born into David's family named Josiah. The priests from the shrines who are making offerings on you, he will sacrifice-on you! Human bones burned on you! This is the proof God gives-the altar will split into pieces and the holy offering spill into the dirt." Jeroboam reached out to grab the holy man to have him arrested but his arm was pralyzed. The altar did what God projected. The king asked the holy man to pray for healing for his arm and it was restored. The king offered a meal and gift for the holy man but he refused emphatically!
An old prophet traveled after the holy man. The holy man affirmed his identity and the prophet suggested coming home with him for a meal. The holy man said he was under strict orders from God not to go to anyone's house and not to eat a crumb don't drink a drop and don't come back the way he came. The old prophet lied, saying an angel told him this message from God: "Bring him home with you, and give him a good meal!" The holy man went with him and had a meal. At the table, the word of God came to the prophet and confronted the holy man saying, "You disobeyed God's command; you didn't keep strict orders your God gave you; you came back and sat down to a good meal in the very place od told you, 'Don't eat a crumb; don't drink a drop.' For that you're going to die far from home and not be buried in your ancestral tomb." The prophet saddled the holy man's donkey for him and a lion met the holy man on his way and killed him. The corpse lay in the road with the donkey on one side and lion on the other side. A passerby saw the corpse and loaded it on the holy man's donkey and returned to the village. The prophet gave the holy man a decent burial and put the body in his tomb. The prophet told his sons that when he died, to put his bones alongside the holy man. The prophet preached against the altar at Bethel and the sex and religion shrines.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Jeroboam kept doing evil deeds and sinning against God. Anyone could waltz in and be a priest of the local shrines. Jeroboam's son, Abijah, became ill and he told his wife to disguise herself and go see a Ahijah. He was the prophet in Shiloh who told Jeroboam he'd be king one day. She took 10 loaves of bread, sweet rolls, and a jug of honey. God had already warned the the now old and blind Ahijah that she would be paying him a visit regarding her sick son.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Day 18
Solomon told Hiram of Tyre he wanted to build a temple following the promise God gave to his father, David. He asked Hiram to give orders for cedar trees to be cut down in the Lebanon forest. His loggers would work beside Hiram's men, they would all get paid with a workforce of 30,000 men from Israel. Ten thousand of them went monthly to the forest. They'd work for a month and then be off 2 months. Seventy thousand men were unskilled laborers and another 80,000 were stone cutters. There were 3,300 project managers.
The temple was started in Solomon's 4th year of reigning over all of Israel. It was 90 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, 45 ft. high with a 15 ft. porch. God's words came to Solomon saying it was important for him to live the way God set out for him and follow His instructions carefully and obediently. God must've known Solomon needed that reminder, I know I do! The inner sanctuary housed the Chest of the Covenant of God and was a 30x30 ft cube. The walls were gold plated. The cedar altar was also gold plated. I've got to get the name of their decorator! :) The cherubim on the chest were made of olive wood and stood 15 ft. high. Their wingspan was also 15 ft. Solomon carved palm trees and flower blossoms on the walls of the inner and main sanctuary. All the floors were gold plated. The doors to the inner sanctuary were engraved with palm trees and flower blossoms and covered in gold leaf. The main doors were identical. It took Solomon 7 years to complete God's Temple. Thirteen yeras after that, he finished his palace complex. The palace was located in the forest of Lebanon.
All the leaders of Israel were summoned by Solomon to bring the chest of the Covenant of God to Jerusalem for the autumn festival. Solomon and the leaders were there as the priests carried the chest and the Tent of Meeting. Huge amounts of sheep and cattle were sacrificed as they worshiped. The priests brought the chest to the inner sanctuary. A cloud filled the temple when the priests left the Holy of Holies. Solomon said, "God has told us that he lives in the dark where no one can see him; I've built this splendid temple, O God, mark your invisible presence forever." Solomon prayed to God and blessed the people. He offered peace offerings sacrificing 22,000 cattle and 220,000 sheep. Solomon set apart the central part of the courtyard in front of the temple and sacrificed whole burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offering. They feasted for 14 days! God appeared to Solomon again saying,"I've listened to and received all your prayers, your ever so passionate prayers. I've sanctified this temple that you have built; My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always...But if you or your sons betray me, ignoring my guidance and judgments, taking up alien gods by serving and worshiping them, then the guarantee is off; I'll wipe Israel off the map and repudiate this temple I've just sanctified to honor my Name..." At the end of 20 years, Solomon gave Hiram 20 villages in the district of Galilee. This is all he got in exchange of 4.5 tons of gold and he was displeased.
Pharoah came and captured Gezer, killing all the Canaanites. He gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter who married Solomon. Solomon then rebuilt Gezer. He also built Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tamar and classified them as country storehouse villages and villages for chariots and horses. Solomon's slave laborers consisted of Ammorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. They people of Israel were used in the army, the government, and commanders of chariots. They managed projects and 550 of them were in charge of the workforce. Hiram sent sailors to assist Solomon's fleets. The sailors went to Ophir and brought back 16 tons of gold for king Solomon. They also brought fragrant sandelwood and gems.
The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon and wanted to challenge his great reputation. Her entrance was a huge production with camels carrying spices, a huge amount of gold, and gems. Solomon answered all her questions and she was impressed saying, "It's all true! Your reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself; they didn't exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance-far more than I could ever have imaged..." The queen gave King Solomon her gold, spices, and gems. He used the sandelwood from Ophir for fine cabinetry in the Temple of God and his palace. Solomon also made harps and dulcimers for musicians. The Queen of Sheba got whatever she wanted and they parted ways.
Every 3 years, the fleet of ships would bring back gold/silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. King Solomon collected 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. A chariot cost 15 lbs of silver and a horse was worth 3 3/4 lbs of silver.
Women were King Solomon's downfall. He was obsessed with them! Pharoah's daughter was first of a lot of foreign women he loved. He took women from surrounding pagan countries consisting of Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidionians, and Hittites. God clearly warned Israel's men back in the day not marry women from these countries. The women would seduce the men into infatuations with their gods. King Solomon refused to give his women up. He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines. Talk about excessive. God was right, they did seduce him away from Him. It probably happened b/c he couldn't keep it in his robe and was trying to keep up with 1,000 women!!! That's a LOT of drama!! You wouldn't have time for anything else! King Solomon took up Ashtoreth, the whore goddess of the Sidonians and Molech, the horrible god of the Ammonites. He built a shrine to Molech and Chemosh, the horrible god of Moab on a hill east of Jerusalem. The countryside was polluted with all the smoke and stench from their sacrifices to false gods. As you can imagine, God was furious with Solomon. He told Solomon He was going to rip the kingdom from him and give it to someone else. Solomon's son was going to pay for this sin. God would leave him one tribe out of the 12 tribes of Israel in honor of David and Jerusalem.
Hadad, a descendant of the king of Edom, took hostile actions against Solomon. During David's reign, Edom was massacred. Hadad was just a boy at the time, but escaped with some of the people who worked for his father. They picked up some men in Paran and went to the Pharoah in Egypt. The Pharoah found favor in Hadad and gave him a house, food, and land. He also gave him his sister, Queen Tahpenes, to him to be his wife. They had Genubath, who was raised as if he were part of the royal family. After hearing about the death of David and Joab, Hadad got Pharoah's blessing to go back to his homeland.
Rezon was also pitted against Solomon. He collected outlaws after David slaughtered the Arameans. They settled in Damascus and Rezon became king. Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon as well even though Solomon noticed he was a good worker and put him in charge of the workforce of the tribe of Joseph. Ahijah, the prophet of Shiloh, met Jeroboam on the road one day. Ahijah took off his new cloak and ripped it into 12 pieces. Jeroboam was instructed to take 10 pieces for himself for it was God's order. God was showing that He was ripping the kingdom away from Solomon. Jeroboam was to succeed Solomon as king of Israel and rule to his heart's content. God said He would stick by him if he obeyed him. Solomon ordered the assassination of Jeroboam, but he fled to Egypt and stayed with king Shishak. He stayed there until Solomon died. King Solomon ruled a total of 40 years and was buried in Jerusalem. Rehoboam, his son, was the next king.
The temple was started in Solomon's 4th year of reigning over all of Israel. It was 90 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, 45 ft. high with a 15 ft. porch. God's words came to Solomon saying it was important for him to live the way God set out for him and follow His instructions carefully and obediently. God must've known Solomon needed that reminder, I know I do! The inner sanctuary housed the Chest of the Covenant of God and was a 30x30 ft cube. The walls were gold plated. The cedar altar was also gold plated. I've got to get the name of their decorator! :) The cherubim on the chest were made of olive wood and stood 15 ft. high. Their wingspan was also 15 ft. Solomon carved palm trees and flower blossoms on the walls of the inner and main sanctuary. All the floors were gold plated. The doors to the inner sanctuary were engraved with palm trees and flower blossoms and covered in gold leaf. The main doors were identical. It took Solomon 7 years to complete God's Temple. Thirteen yeras after that, he finished his palace complex. The palace was located in the forest of Lebanon.
All the leaders of Israel were summoned by Solomon to bring the chest of the Covenant of God to Jerusalem for the autumn festival. Solomon and the leaders were there as the priests carried the chest and the Tent of Meeting. Huge amounts of sheep and cattle were sacrificed as they worshiped. The priests brought the chest to the inner sanctuary. A cloud filled the temple when the priests left the Holy of Holies. Solomon said, "God has told us that he lives in the dark where no one can see him; I've built this splendid temple, O God, mark your invisible presence forever." Solomon prayed to God and blessed the people. He offered peace offerings sacrificing 22,000 cattle and 220,000 sheep. Solomon set apart the central part of the courtyard in front of the temple and sacrificed whole burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fat from the peace offering. They feasted for 14 days! God appeared to Solomon again saying,"I've listened to and received all your prayers, your ever so passionate prayers. I've sanctified this temple that you have built; My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always...But if you or your sons betray me, ignoring my guidance and judgments, taking up alien gods by serving and worshiping them, then the guarantee is off; I'll wipe Israel off the map and repudiate this temple I've just sanctified to honor my Name..." At the end of 20 years, Solomon gave Hiram 20 villages in the district of Galilee. This is all he got in exchange of 4.5 tons of gold and he was displeased.
Pharoah came and captured Gezer, killing all the Canaanites. He gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter who married Solomon. Solomon then rebuilt Gezer. He also built Lower Beth Horon, Baalath, and Tamar and classified them as country storehouse villages and villages for chariots and horses. Solomon's slave laborers consisted of Ammorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. They people of Israel were used in the army, the government, and commanders of chariots. They managed projects and 550 of them were in charge of the workforce. Hiram sent sailors to assist Solomon's fleets. The sailors went to Ophir and brought back 16 tons of gold for king Solomon. They also brought fragrant sandelwood and gems.
The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon and wanted to challenge his great reputation. Her entrance was a huge production with camels carrying spices, a huge amount of gold, and gems. Solomon answered all her questions and she was impressed saying, "It's all true! Your reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself; they didn't exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance-far more than I could ever have imaged..." The queen gave King Solomon her gold, spices, and gems. He used the sandelwood from Ophir for fine cabinetry in the Temple of God and his palace. Solomon also made harps and dulcimers for musicians. The Queen of Sheba got whatever she wanted and they parted ways.
Every 3 years, the fleet of ships would bring back gold/silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks. King Solomon collected 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses. A chariot cost 15 lbs of silver and a horse was worth 3 3/4 lbs of silver.
Women were King Solomon's downfall. He was obsessed with them! Pharoah's daughter was first of a lot of foreign women he loved. He took women from surrounding pagan countries consisting of Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidionians, and Hittites. God clearly warned Israel's men back in the day not marry women from these countries. The women would seduce the men into infatuations with their gods. King Solomon refused to give his women up. He had 700 royal wives and 300 concubines. Talk about excessive. God was right, they did seduce him away from Him. It probably happened b/c he couldn't keep it in his robe and was trying to keep up with 1,000 women!!! That's a LOT of drama!! You wouldn't have time for anything else! King Solomon took up Ashtoreth, the whore goddess of the Sidonians and Molech, the horrible god of the Ammonites. He built a shrine to Molech and Chemosh, the horrible god of Moab on a hill east of Jerusalem. The countryside was polluted with all the smoke and stench from their sacrifices to false gods. As you can imagine, God was furious with Solomon. He told Solomon He was going to rip the kingdom from him and give it to someone else. Solomon's son was going to pay for this sin. God would leave him one tribe out of the 12 tribes of Israel in honor of David and Jerusalem.
Hadad, a descendant of the king of Edom, took hostile actions against Solomon. During David's reign, Edom was massacred. Hadad was just a boy at the time, but escaped with some of the people who worked for his father. They picked up some men in Paran and went to the Pharoah in Egypt. The Pharoah found favor in Hadad and gave him a house, food, and land. He also gave him his sister, Queen Tahpenes, to him to be his wife. They had Genubath, who was raised as if he were part of the royal family. After hearing about the death of David and Joab, Hadad got Pharoah's blessing to go back to his homeland.
Rezon was also pitted against Solomon. He collected outlaws after David slaughtered the Arameans. They settled in Damascus and Rezon became king. Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon as well even though Solomon noticed he was a good worker and put him in charge of the workforce of the tribe of Joseph. Ahijah, the prophet of Shiloh, met Jeroboam on the road one day. Ahijah took off his new cloak and ripped it into 12 pieces. Jeroboam was instructed to take 10 pieces for himself for it was God's order. God was showing that He was ripping the kingdom away from Solomon. Jeroboam was to succeed Solomon as king of Israel and rule to his heart's content. God said He would stick by him if he obeyed him. Solomon ordered the assassination of Jeroboam, but he fled to Egypt and stayed with king Shishak. He stayed there until Solomon died. King Solomon ruled a total of 40 years and was buried in Jerusalem. Rehoboam, his son, was the next king.
Day 17
I started 1 and 2 Kings today....
David grew older and his servants thought it would be a good idea to have a virgin climb into bed with him to arouse him. Like that was going to make him age slower. The girl they found was Abishag the Shunammite and she was very beautiful. She looked after the king but they didn't sleep together. All I can think about is Hugh Hefner now. Eww!
Haggith's son, Adonijah was next in line for the throne since Absalom was dead. Only Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar were pulling for him. Zadok, Benaiah, Nathan, Shimei nor Rei supported him. Adonijah held a coronation feast, inviting his brothers and everyone in Judah who had influence. David didn't know Adonijah had taken over, so Nathan went to Bathsheba. He told her to go to the king and speak up about David's promise to make her son, Solomon, king. Nathan came in when she approached the old king and corroborated her story. David assured Bathsheba Solomon would be king after he died. Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah were summoned by King David. Servants were to be gathered and Solomon was to be put on the royal donkey and lead procession to Gihon. Zadok and Nathan were to anoint Solomon as king. Adonijah and his guests heard the ram's horn trumpet and people shouting, "Long live King Solomon!" They quickly left when they learned what was happening. Adonijah fled to the sanctuary for he was fearful Solomon would end his life. Solomon had Adonijah brought to him and he bowed down and honored him. Solomon told him to go home. David died and was buried in Jerusalem.
Adonijah went to Bathsheba and asked her to ask Solomon if he could have Abishag as his wife. Solomon wasn't pleased when he found out about this. He said to his mother, "Why don't you just ask me to hand over the whole kingdom to him on a platter since he is my older brother and has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side." King Solomon had Benaiah kill Adonijah for this request. Abiathar was stripped of his priesthood and exiled to Anathoth. Benaiah was sent to kill Joab. He was in the santuary clinging to the altar. Benaiah struck and killed him. Abiathar was replaced by Zadok and Joab was replaced by Benaiah. Shimei was instructed to build a house in Jerusalem but not to leave the area. However, 3 years later, 2 of his slaves ran away to Achish, king of Gath. Shimei hopped on his donkey, went to Gath, and brought them back. Behaiah killed him for breaking Solomon's orders.
Solomon married Pharoah's daughter and brought her back to Jerusalem to live until his royal palace, the Temple of God, and the wall around the city was built. The people of Jerusalem had been worshiping shrines. Solomon continued to live a God honoring life and although he loved God, he too worshiped these shrines and took part in offering sacrifices and offerings. God appeared to Solomon in a dream when he went to Gibeon. God asked what he could give Solomon. Solomon asked God for a God-listening heart so he could lead his people well. He felt inadequate as king, not knowing the ropes yet. God was delighted by Solomon's response. Because Solomon didn't ask for riches or doom to his enemies, God said He would give him what he asked for...a wise and mature heart. God would also give him wealth and glory as a bonus. If Solomon lived as David did, honoring God, he'd live a long life. Solomon returned home to Jerusalem and sacrificed a whole burnt offering and peace offering to the Chest of the Covenant of God.
King Solomon laid out a banquet for everyone who served him. Two prostitutes came to the king. One of them said they lived in the same house and she had a baby. Three days after she gave birth, the other one had a baby. One of the women killed her baby by rolling over him in the middle of the night. I knew co-sleeping was a bad choice. This woman got up in the middle of the night and snatched the other prostitutes son and placed her dead son by the breast of the other woman. When she woke up, she knew the baby wasn't hers. The prostitute not telling the story denied everything. King Solomon asked for his sword and said, "Cut the baby in two-give half to one and half to the other." The true mother came forward and told Solomon to give the living baby boy to the other woman and not to harm him. Solomon's decision was to give the baby to the first woman because she was the real mother. The people of Israel realized God's wisdom enabled Solomon to judge difficult situations well.
Everyone in Israel and Judah were safe and at peace. The area was highly populated but everyone had what they needed. On an average day, the food supply was:
185 bushels of flour
375 bushels of meal
10 grain fed cattle
20 range cattle
100 sheep
Miscellaneous deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl
Twelve regional managers were distributed around Israel and each of them were in charge of bringing supplies one mouth out of the year. God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding and a huge heart. He was wiser than anyone. This all made him famous. Solomon created 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. People came from all over the land to listen to his wisdom.
David grew older and his servants thought it would be a good idea to have a virgin climb into bed with him to arouse him. Like that was going to make him age slower. The girl they found was Abishag the Shunammite and she was very beautiful. She looked after the king but they didn't sleep together. All I can think about is Hugh Hefner now. Eww!
Haggith's son, Adonijah was next in line for the throne since Absalom was dead. Only Joab son of Zeruiah and Abiathar were pulling for him. Zadok, Benaiah, Nathan, Shimei nor Rei supported him. Adonijah held a coronation feast, inviting his brothers and everyone in Judah who had influence. David didn't know Adonijah had taken over, so Nathan went to Bathsheba. He told her to go to the king and speak up about David's promise to make her son, Solomon, king. Nathan came in when she approached the old king and corroborated her story. David assured Bathsheba Solomon would be king after he died. Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah were summoned by King David. Servants were to be gathered and Solomon was to be put on the royal donkey and lead procession to Gihon. Zadok and Nathan were to anoint Solomon as king. Adonijah and his guests heard the ram's horn trumpet and people shouting, "Long live King Solomon!" They quickly left when they learned what was happening. Adonijah fled to the sanctuary for he was fearful Solomon would end his life. Solomon had Adonijah brought to him and he bowed down and honored him. Solomon told him to go home. David died and was buried in Jerusalem.
Adonijah went to Bathsheba and asked her to ask Solomon if he could have Abishag as his wife. Solomon wasn't pleased when he found out about this. He said to his mother, "Why don't you just ask me to hand over the whole kingdom to him on a platter since he is my older brother and has Abiathar the priest and Joab son of Zeruiah on his side." King Solomon had Benaiah kill Adonijah for this request. Abiathar was stripped of his priesthood and exiled to Anathoth. Benaiah was sent to kill Joab. He was in the santuary clinging to the altar. Benaiah struck and killed him. Abiathar was replaced by Zadok and Joab was replaced by Benaiah. Shimei was instructed to build a house in Jerusalem but not to leave the area. However, 3 years later, 2 of his slaves ran away to Achish, king of Gath. Shimei hopped on his donkey, went to Gath, and brought them back. Behaiah killed him for breaking Solomon's orders.
Solomon married Pharoah's daughter and brought her back to Jerusalem to live until his royal palace, the Temple of God, and the wall around the city was built. The people of Jerusalem had been worshiping shrines. Solomon continued to live a God honoring life and although he loved God, he too worshiped these shrines and took part in offering sacrifices and offerings. God appeared to Solomon in a dream when he went to Gibeon. God asked what he could give Solomon. Solomon asked God for a God-listening heart so he could lead his people well. He felt inadequate as king, not knowing the ropes yet. God was delighted by Solomon's response. Because Solomon didn't ask for riches or doom to his enemies, God said He would give him what he asked for...a wise and mature heart. God would also give him wealth and glory as a bonus. If Solomon lived as David did, honoring God, he'd live a long life. Solomon returned home to Jerusalem and sacrificed a whole burnt offering and peace offering to the Chest of the Covenant of God.
King Solomon laid out a banquet for everyone who served him. Two prostitutes came to the king. One of them said they lived in the same house and she had a baby. Three days after she gave birth, the other one had a baby. One of the women killed her baby by rolling over him in the middle of the night. I knew co-sleeping was a bad choice. This woman got up in the middle of the night and snatched the other prostitutes son and placed her dead son by the breast of the other woman. When she woke up, she knew the baby wasn't hers. The prostitute not telling the story denied everything. King Solomon asked for his sword and said, "Cut the baby in two-give half to one and half to the other." The true mother came forward and told Solomon to give the living baby boy to the other woman and not to harm him. Solomon's decision was to give the baby to the first woman because she was the real mother. The people of Israel realized God's wisdom enabled Solomon to judge difficult situations well.
Everyone in Israel and Judah were safe and at peace. The area was highly populated but everyone had what they needed. On an average day, the food supply was:
185 bushels of flour
375 bushels of meal
10 grain fed cattle
20 range cattle
100 sheep
Miscellaneous deer, gazelles, roebucks, and choice fowl
Twelve regional managers were distributed around Israel and each of them were in charge of bringing supplies one mouth out of the year. God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding and a huge heart. He was wiser than anyone. This all made him famous. Solomon created 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. People came from all over the land to listen to his wisdom.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Day 16
David continued to grieve over Absalom's death. Joab talked some sense into him though. Even though Absalom was his son, he didn't need to neglect his people who fought and lost their lives. Their families were grieving too. Doubt grew amongst the people because David fled the country due to Absalom gaining power. David replaced Joab with Amasa as permanent commander in the army. Zadok and Abiathar were to give the elders of Judah a message from David asking, "Why are you so laggard in bringing the king back home?" The people embraced David and he returned home to Jerusalem. They welcomed him, even Shimei, the Benjamanite who hurled insults at him. Mephibosheth arrived to welcome the king. He hadn't combed his hair, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since David left. When asked why he didn't come along when David fled, he said his servant, Ziba, betrayed him. Mephibosheth told Ziba to saddle the donkey so he could ride it and go with David. David suggested they divide up the property between them. Mephibosheth let Ziba have everything because all he cared about was the king's return. Barzilai from Gilead gave his servant Kimham to go with David since he was almost 80 years young.
There was great conflict between the men of Judah and the men of Israel. A trouble maker, Sheba son of Bicri, blew his ram's horn trumpet and called out, "We've got nothing to do with David, there's no future for us with the son of Jesse! Let's get out of here Israel-head for your tents!" All the men of Israel left to follow Sheba.
Side note:The 10 concubines who were left at the palace were put into seclusion under guard. They stayed there until they died.
Amasa reported to David that what Sheba did was worse than what Absalom tried to pull. David gave Amasa the order to hunt him down and kill him. Joab met Amasa in Gibeon and asked how he was. At the same time, he grabbed his beard as if to kiss him but stabbed him in the belly with his sword. Abishai and Joab continued to chase Sheba. One of Joab's soldier's took his post and stated everyone who sides Joab was a supporter of David. Amasa's corpse was very bloody and in the middle of the road. The soldier took the corpse to a field and threw a blanket over him so the whole army wouldn't stop and check him out. Joab's army sized Sheba's army in Abel Beth Maacah. A woman from the city called out for Joab. The woman said, "If it's answers you want, come to Abel and get it straight. We're a peaceful people here and reliable. And here you are, trying to tear down one of Israel's mother cities. Why would you want to mess with God's legacy like that?" Joab stated he wasn't there to hurt anyone or destroy anything, just kill Sheba for revolting against King David. The woman replied, "Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from the wall." The whole city agreed with the woman's strategy and kept their word. All of Joab's soldiers left for home. Joab was commander again. Benaiah was over the Kerethites and Pelethites. Adoniram was over work crews and Zadok and Abiathar remained priests. Jehoshaphat remained the clerk and Ira was David's chaplain. Unfortunately a 3 year famine came upon them. God told David the reason for the famine was because there was blood on Saul and his house from the time he massacred the Gibeonites. Saul tried to kill them off because he wanted honor of Israel and Judah. David consulted with the Gibeonites and they stated Saul let 7 of his sons be handed over to them for execution. King David spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, but Armoni and Mephibosheth, sons of Rizpah plus the 5 sons of Saul's daughter Merab were turned over and hanged. The beginning of the barley harvest started after their death. The 7 bodies along with Saul and Jonathan's bones were taken back to Benjamin and put in Kish's tomb (Saul's dad).
War broke out again between the Philistines and Israel. Ishbi-Benob announced he'd kill David but Abishai killed him instead. A giant from Gath had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. He was a descendent of Rapher. He insulted Israel and David's son Jonathan, born to Shemeah, killed him.
David's top men were: Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. They were like the 3 Musketeers. David joined them in a cave in Adullam. They crossed enemy lines at the Philistine's camp in Bethleham. They drew water from the well because David had a craving for it although he didn't drink it. Instead he poured it out and offered it as an offering to God. Benaiah because David's body guard.
Side note: This is a really great book if you get a chance to read it: http://www.amazon.com/Pit-Lion-Snowy-Day-Opportunity/dp/1590527151
God's anger fell upon Israel and David was tested. God told David to take a census of Israel and Judah. Joab resisted David's orders saying, "May your God multiply by the hundreds right before the eyes of my master the king, but why on earth would you do a think like this?" David insisted and Joab took his officers and left to do the census. They arrived back in Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days. They concluded there were 800,000 able bodied men of Israel and 500,000 in Judah. David felt guilty because he counted the people, replacing his trust with statistics. He confessed his sin to God. A prophet sent by God delivered a message to David telling him he had 3 options:
1. 3 years of famine
2. 3 months of running from their enemies
3. 3 days of an epidemic
David told the prophet he'd rather be punished by God than fall into human hands. God let loose an epidemic from morning to suppertime. Seventy thousand people died from Dan to Beersheba. When the angel came to Jerusalem to destroy it, God felt the pain of terror and told the angel, "Enough's enough! Pull back!" David looked up and saw the angel with his sword drawn. The elders along with David bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap. God came to David and told him to build an altar where he saw the angel. It so happened to be at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David offered to buy it but Araunah gave him an ox for the burnt offering. David insisted he had to buy it for the a good price. He bought the threshing floor and the ox for 50 shekels of silver. God was moved by the sacrifice of burnt and peace offerings.
There was great conflict between the men of Judah and the men of Israel. A trouble maker, Sheba son of Bicri, blew his ram's horn trumpet and called out, "We've got nothing to do with David, there's no future for us with the son of Jesse! Let's get out of here Israel-head for your tents!" All the men of Israel left to follow Sheba.
Side note:The 10 concubines who were left at the palace were put into seclusion under guard. They stayed there until they died.
Amasa reported to David that what Sheba did was worse than what Absalom tried to pull. David gave Amasa the order to hunt him down and kill him. Joab met Amasa in Gibeon and asked how he was. At the same time, he grabbed his beard as if to kiss him but stabbed him in the belly with his sword. Abishai and Joab continued to chase Sheba. One of Joab's soldier's took his post and stated everyone who sides Joab was a supporter of David. Amasa's corpse was very bloody and in the middle of the road. The soldier took the corpse to a field and threw a blanket over him so the whole army wouldn't stop and check him out. Joab's army sized Sheba's army in Abel Beth Maacah. A woman from the city called out for Joab. The woman said, "If it's answers you want, come to Abel and get it straight. We're a peaceful people here and reliable. And here you are, trying to tear down one of Israel's mother cities. Why would you want to mess with God's legacy like that?" Joab stated he wasn't there to hurt anyone or destroy anything, just kill Sheba for revolting against King David. The woman replied, "Sounds good. His head will be tossed to you from the wall." The whole city agreed with the woman's strategy and kept their word. All of Joab's soldiers left for home. Joab was commander again. Benaiah was over the Kerethites and Pelethites. Adoniram was over work crews and Zadok and Abiathar remained priests. Jehoshaphat remained the clerk and Ira was David's chaplain. Unfortunately a 3 year famine came upon them. God told David the reason for the famine was because there was blood on Saul and his house from the time he massacred the Gibeonites. Saul tried to kill them off because he wanted honor of Israel and Judah. David consulted with the Gibeonites and they stated Saul let 7 of his sons be handed over to them for execution. King David spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, but Armoni and Mephibosheth, sons of Rizpah plus the 5 sons of Saul's daughter Merab were turned over and hanged. The beginning of the barley harvest started after their death. The 7 bodies along with Saul and Jonathan's bones were taken back to Benjamin and put in Kish's tomb (Saul's dad).
War broke out again between the Philistines and Israel. Ishbi-Benob announced he'd kill David but Abishai killed him instead. A giant from Gath had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot. He was a descendent of Rapher. He insulted Israel and David's son Jonathan, born to Shemeah, killed him.
David's top men were: Josheb-Basshebeth, Eleazar, and Shammah. They were like the 3 Musketeers. David joined them in a cave in Adullam. They crossed enemy lines at the Philistine's camp in Bethleham. They drew water from the well because David had a craving for it although he didn't drink it. Instead he poured it out and offered it as an offering to God. Benaiah because David's body guard.
Side note: This is a really great book if you get a chance to read it: http://www.amazon.com/Pit-Lion-Snowy-Day-Opportunity/dp/1590527151
God's anger fell upon Israel and David was tested. God told David to take a census of Israel and Judah. Joab resisted David's orders saying, "May your God multiply by the hundreds right before the eyes of my master the king, but why on earth would you do a think like this?" David insisted and Joab took his officers and left to do the census. They arrived back in Jerusalem after 9 months and 20 days. They concluded there were 800,000 able bodied men of Israel and 500,000 in Judah. David felt guilty because he counted the people, replacing his trust with statistics. He confessed his sin to God. A prophet sent by God delivered a message to David telling him he had 3 options:
1. 3 years of famine
2. 3 months of running from their enemies
3. 3 days of an epidemic
David told the prophet he'd rather be punished by God than fall into human hands. God let loose an epidemic from morning to suppertime. Seventy thousand people died from Dan to Beersheba. When the angel came to Jerusalem to destroy it, God felt the pain of terror and told the angel, "Enough's enough! Pull back!" David looked up and saw the angel with his sword drawn. The elders along with David bowed in prayer and covered themselves with rough burlap. God came to David and told him to build an altar where he saw the angel. It so happened to be at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. David offered to buy it but Araunah gave him an ox for the burnt offering. David insisted he had to buy it for the a good price. He bought the threshing floor and the ox for 50 shekels of silver. God was moved by the sacrifice of burnt and peace offerings.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Day 15
Today I started at 2 Samuel 15..
Absalom had a new post at the city gate and would meet people who had matters for the king. He was a charmer and the people of Israel found favor in him. Absalom went to Hebron and sent undercover agents to all the tribes of Israel. When the trumpet sounded, they were to shout "Absalom, king of Hebron!" Two hundred men went with him but didn't know they were going along with this plan. Someone reported to David that Absalom had followers. The king and his entire household fled the palace on foot. Ten concubines were left behind to tend to the palace. As king David crossed Brook Kidron, the army (Kerethites, Pelethites, and 600 Gittites) headed for the wilderness. Abiathar and Zadok (priests) took the Chest of God to Jerusalem. David went up to the Mount of Olives and wept. He told Hushai, his servant, to go back to the city and offer himself as a servant to Absalom, hoping this would confuse Ahithopel's counsel. Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met David with pack animals, bread, raisin cakes, fresh fruit, and wine. He told the king the donkey was for him to ride and the food was for the servants. Mephibosheth was still in Jerusalem and told Ziba, "This is the day Israel is going to restore my grandfather's kingdom to me." As far as David was concerned, everything Mephibosheth had belonged to Ziba now.
David met a man at Bahrim who had connections to Saul's family. His name was Shimei and he hurled insults and rocks at David and his people. The man went on to say that God was paying David back for all his dirty work in Saul's family and for stealing his kingdom. Abishai wanted to behead him for behaving like this but David told him the bigger picture was that his own son was trying to kill him.
Hushai met up with Absalom at Jerusalem and suggested he be his servant. Ahithophel told Absalom to go sleep with his father's concubines that were at the palace. This way people would know he openly disgraced his father and it would boost his morale. Absalom slept with the 10 concubines on the roof of the palace. The counsel of Ahithopel was treated as though God himself had spoken to him. Ahithopel later advised Absalom to let him hand pick 12,000 men to attack David. He confidently said the whole army would run off but he would only kill David. The elders of Israel and Absalom though this was a great idea. Idiots! Hushai told Absalom it was a bad idea because his father and his men were very brave and angry. He went on to say king David was an experienced fighter and wouldn't be caught sleeping at a time like this. Hushai advised getting an army so big that it stretched from Dan to Beersheba. They'd smoke David and his men out and there wouldn't be a single survivor. God was determined to discredit Ahithophel and bring ruin to Absalom. Absalom and his men listened to Hushai. Zadok and Abiathar were told by Hushai what Absalom was planning but wanted to send a message to David not to spend the night on this side of the river. The priests sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, were sent to give this message. Unfortunately, a soldier saw the boys and told Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz quickly left for Bahurim and climbed into a man's well. The wife of the man covered it with a rug and grain so no one would suspect anything when Absalom's servant came looking for them. David and his people crossed the Jordan. Ahithopel realized no one listened to his counsel, so he went to his hometown, made a will, and hung himself.
David organized his troops and deployed them. A third of them went under Joab's command, 1/3 went to Abishai, and the last 1/3 went to Joab's brother, Ittai. The leaders were told by David to be gentle with Absalom. David's soldiers took out 20,000 of Absalom's men. Some of David's men saw Absalom riding a donkey. The donkey ran under an oak tree branch, catching Absalom's head in the branches. He was left dangling as the donkey ran off. A soldier told Joab and when he did, Joab told him he'd get a reward for killing Absalom. The solider said he wouldn't dare lay a hand on the king's son. Joab wasted no time and stabbed Absalom in the heart. So much for being gentle. Ten of Joab's armor bearers surrounded Absalom, hacking away at him as he died. Joab officially called off the pursuit of Absalom. Absalom's corpse was dumped in a large pit in the forest and a mound of rocks was piled on top. Joab instructed a Cushite to tell the king what he saw. Ahimaaz (Zadok's son) kept begging to tell the king so Joab let him go. He told the king," Blessed be your God; he has handed over the men who rebelled against my mater, the king." David asked how Absalom was and Ahimaaz said he saw a huge ruckus just as Joab sent him off, but he didn't know what happened. The Cushite said,"Would that all of the enemies of my master the king and all who maliciously rose against you end up like that young man?" David was shocked and wept for he knew Absalom was dead.
Absalom had a new post at the city gate and would meet people who had matters for the king. He was a charmer and the people of Israel found favor in him. Absalom went to Hebron and sent undercover agents to all the tribes of Israel. When the trumpet sounded, they were to shout "Absalom, king of Hebron!" Two hundred men went with him but didn't know they were going along with this plan. Someone reported to David that Absalom had followers. The king and his entire household fled the palace on foot. Ten concubines were left behind to tend to the palace. As king David crossed Brook Kidron, the army (Kerethites, Pelethites, and 600 Gittites) headed for the wilderness. Abiathar and Zadok (priests) took the Chest of God to Jerusalem. David went up to the Mount of Olives and wept. He told Hushai, his servant, to go back to the city and offer himself as a servant to Absalom, hoping this would confuse Ahithopel's counsel. Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met David with pack animals, bread, raisin cakes, fresh fruit, and wine. He told the king the donkey was for him to ride and the food was for the servants. Mephibosheth was still in Jerusalem and told Ziba, "This is the day Israel is going to restore my grandfather's kingdom to me." As far as David was concerned, everything Mephibosheth had belonged to Ziba now.
David met a man at Bahrim who had connections to Saul's family. His name was Shimei and he hurled insults and rocks at David and his people. The man went on to say that God was paying David back for all his dirty work in Saul's family and for stealing his kingdom. Abishai wanted to behead him for behaving like this but David told him the bigger picture was that his own son was trying to kill him.
Hushai met up with Absalom at Jerusalem and suggested he be his servant. Ahithophel told Absalom to go sleep with his father's concubines that were at the palace. This way people would know he openly disgraced his father and it would boost his morale. Absalom slept with the 10 concubines on the roof of the palace. The counsel of Ahithopel was treated as though God himself had spoken to him. Ahithopel later advised Absalom to let him hand pick 12,000 men to attack David. He confidently said the whole army would run off but he would only kill David. The elders of Israel and Absalom though this was a great idea. Idiots! Hushai told Absalom it was a bad idea because his father and his men were very brave and angry. He went on to say king David was an experienced fighter and wouldn't be caught sleeping at a time like this. Hushai advised getting an army so big that it stretched from Dan to Beersheba. They'd smoke David and his men out and there wouldn't be a single survivor. God was determined to discredit Ahithophel and bring ruin to Absalom. Absalom and his men listened to Hushai. Zadok and Abiathar were told by Hushai what Absalom was planning but wanted to send a message to David not to spend the night on this side of the river. The priests sons, Jonathan and Ahimaaz, were sent to give this message. Unfortunately, a soldier saw the boys and told Absalom. Jonathan and Ahimaaz quickly left for Bahurim and climbed into a man's well. The wife of the man covered it with a rug and grain so no one would suspect anything when Absalom's servant came looking for them. David and his people crossed the Jordan. Ahithopel realized no one listened to his counsel, so he went to his hometown, made a will, and hung himself.
David organized his troops and deployed them. A third of them went under Joab's command, 1/3 went to Abishai, and the last 1/3 went to Joab's brother, Ittai. The leaders were told by David to be gentle with Absalom. David's soldiers took out 20,000 of Absalom's men. Some of David's men saw Absalom riding a donkey. The donkey ran under an oak tree branch, catching Absalom's head in the branches. He was left dangling as the donkey ran off. A soldier told Joab and when he did, Joab told him he'd get a reward for killing Absalom. The solider said he wouldn't dare lay a hand on the king's son. Joab wasted no time and stabbed Absalom in the heart. So much for being gentle. Ten of Joab's armor bearers surrounded Absalom, hacking away at him as he died. Joab officially called off the pursuit of Absalom. Absalom's corpse was dumped in a large pit in the forest and a mound of rocks was piled on top. Joab instructed a Cushite to tell the king what he saw. Ahimaaz (Zadok's son) kept begging to tell the king so Joab let him go. He told the king," Blessed be your God; he has handed over the men who rebelled against my mater, the king." David asked how Absalom was and Ahimaaz said he saw a huge ruckus just as Joab sent him off, but he didn't know what happened. The Cushite said,"Would that all of the enemies of my master the king and all who maliciously rose against you end up like that young man?" David was shocked and wept for he knew Absalom was dead.
Day 14
God wasn't happy with David so he sent Nathan to give him a message. Nathan told him about a rich man and a poor man from the same town. The rich man had huge amounts of animals, but the poor man had only one female lamb. The lamb was part of the family, eating from the poor man's plate and sleeping in his bed. A traveler came by the rich man's house but he was too stingy to butcher an animal from his own flock for dinner. The rich man took the poor man's lamb instead and prepared a meal for his guest. David was outraged by this story. He said,"As surely as God lives, the man who did this out to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and stinginess!" Nathan confronted David saying he was the rich man in the story. God through Nathan said because of the evil David did by having Uriah killed and taking Bathsheba as his wife, killing and murder would plague David's family..."You did your deed in secret. I'm doing mine with the whole country watching!" David admitted his sin and God forgave him but because of his behavior, his son born to Bathsheba would die. A sickness came on the child and he died after 7 days. David fasted the whole time thinking God would show mercy but after his child died, David cleaned himself up and went to the sanctuary to worship. He knew he couldn't bring his son back. David comforted Bathsheba and they slept together. Guess it's true what they say about sex and funerals. Bathsheba got pregnant and bore David a son. His name was Solomon. God sent word through Nathan that He had a special love for Solomon and wanted him named Jedidiah (God's beloved).
Absalom=David's son
Tamar=Absalom's sister who was very beautiful
Amnon=David's son, in love with Tamar and obsessive about it
Jonadab=Amnon's good friend, son of Shimeah (David's brother)
Jonadab told Amnon to pretend he was sick and tell his father to have Tamar prepare dumplings for him. Amnon didn't eat the food she prepared. He told her he wanted to eat them in the privacy of his bedroom. Nice move idiot and shame on you Tamar for not seeing the writing on the wall. Anyway, Amnon grabbed Tamar and told her to go to bed with him. She said, "No brother. Don't hurt me. This kind of thing isn't done in Israel! Don't do this terrible thing! Where could I ever show my face? And you-you'll be out on the street in disgrace. Oh please! Speak to the king-he'll let you marry me." Amnon goes into jerk mode and rapes her anyway. He then had an intense hatred for her. Apparently during this time period, virgin princesses used to wear long sleeved gowns from adolescence on. Tamar poured ashes on her head, ripped her gown, and walked away sobbing. Absalom took her into his home and wanted to keep this family matter quiet. When King David heard this story, he was enraged! However, Amnon wasn't punished because he had special favor with his father for being the first born. Absalom cut off contact with Amnon because of what he did. Two years passed. Absalom threw a sheep shearing party and invited David and his servants. Absalom told his servants, "When Amnon is well into the sauce and feeling no pain, I give you the order 'strike Amnon', kill him." After Amnon died, all the other son's fled the scene. David heard what happened, ripped his clothes and threw himself on the floor. Jonadab gave David the whole story, that it was only Amnon that died, not ALL the king's sons. Absalom fled to Talmai's house for 3 years. King David eventually gave up trying to get back at Absalom because he had grieved over and came to terms with Amnon's death.
Joab knew David still cared about Absalom a great deal so he sent for a wise woman in Tekoa. She was to dress as if she were grieving and ask the king for help. She was to tell him her husband died, one of her son's killed her other son, and her family ganged up on her making her life miserable. The king agreed to help her and told her to bring the man who was harassing her and he would see to it that it didn't happen anymore.
The woman: "Let the king invoke the name of God so this self styled vigilante won't ruin everything, to say nothing of killing my son."
David: "As surely as God lives, not so much as a hair on your son's head will be lost."
The women: "Why then have you done this very thing against God's people?...God does not take away life. He works out ways to get the exile back."
When asked by David, the woman told him Joab was behind all this. Joab brought Absalom back from Talmai's house but he wasn't permitted to see the king. Absalom tried desperately to see the king, but Joab wouldn't budge so his servants set his field on fire. He didn't see the point of being allowed back in the city if he couldn't see his father. David summoned him and Absalom honored him by bowing and David kissed him.
Absalom=David's son
Tamar=Absalom's sister who was very beautiful
Amnon=David's son, in love with Tamar and obsessive about it
Jonadab=Amnon's good friend, son of Shimeah (David's brother)
Jonadab told Amnon to pretend he was sick and tell his father to have Tamar prepare dumplings for him. Amnon didn't eat the food she prepared. He told her he wanted to eat them in the privacy of his bedroom. Nice move idiot and shame on you Tamar for not seeing the writing on the wall. Anyway, Amnon grabbed Tamar and told her to go to bed with him. She said, "No brother. Don't hurt me. This kind of thing isn't done in Israel! Don't do this terrible thing! Where could I ever show my face? And you-you'll be out on the street in disgrace. Oh please! Speak to the king-he'll let you marry me." Amnon goes into jerk mode and rapes her anyway. He then had an intense hatred for her. Apparently during this time period, virgin princesses used to wear long sleeved gowns from adolescence on. Tamar poured ashes on her head, ripped her gown, and walked away sobbing. Absalom took her into his home and wanted to keep this family matter quiet. When King David heard this story, he was enraged! However, Amnon wasn't punished because he had special favor with his father for being the first born. Absalom cut off contact with Amnon because of what he did. Two years passed. Absalom threw a sheep shearing party and invited David and his servants. Absalom told his servants, "When Amnon is well into the sauce and feeling no pain, I give you the order 'strike Amnon', kill him." After Amnon died, all the other son's fled the scene. David heard what happened, ripped his clothes and threw himself on the floor. Jonadab gave David the whole story, that it was only Amnon that died, not ALL the king's sons. Absalom fled to Talmai's house for 3 years. King David eventually gave up trying to get back at Absalom because he had grieved over and came to terms with Amnon's death.
Joab knew David still cared about Absalom a great deal so he sent for a wise woman in Tekoa. She was to dress as if she were grieving and ask the king for help. She was to tell him her husband died, one of her son's killed her other son, and her family ganged up on her making her life miserable. The king agreed to help her and told her to bring the man who was harassing her and he would see to it that it didn't happen anymore.
The woman: "Let the king invoke the name of God so this self styled vigilante won't ruin everything, to say nothing of killing my son."
David: "As surely as God lives, not so much as a hair on your son's head will be lost."
The women: "Why then have you done this very thing against God's people?...God does not take away life. He works out ways to get the exile back."
When asked by David, the woman told him Joab was behind all this. Joab brought Absalom back from Talmai's house but he wasn't permitted to see the king. Absalom tried desperately to see the king, but Joab wouldn't budge so his servants set his field on fire. He didn't see the point of being allowed back in the city if he couldn't see his father. David summoned him and Absalom honored him by bowing and David kissed him.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Day 13 Continued....
David took on more concubines and wives and had 11 more sons and daughters:
Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
He went to Baalah to recover the chest of God, which was called by the Name God of the Angel Armies who was enthroned over the pair of angels on the chest. On their journey back, an ox stumbled and Uzzah reached out and grabbed the chest. God blazed in anger and struck him dead because he profaned the chest. David got angry at God because of His deadly outburst, but grew fearful of God and moved the chest to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for 3 months. God prospered Obed and his entire household. Wanting God's blessings, David set out to retrieve the chest. When Michal saw David parading the chest in the streets, singing and dancing, her heart was filled with scorn. She referred to David as a burlesque dancer, exposing himself to servants. David replied, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!" Michal was barren for the rest of her life.
David took control of the Philistines and Moabites. He defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah and killed 22,000 Arameans. Toi of Hamath gave him many gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.
Remember in my last post how I wasn't sure why Jonathan's son was mentioned?? Well here's the rest of his story. David asked Ziba if there was anyone left in Saul's family. He said Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, with the lame feet was living at the home of Makir in Lo Debar. Mephibosheth was sent for and David returned to him all the properties that belonged to his grandpa and told him to take all his meal's at the king's table. All who were part of Ziba's household were servants to Mephibosheth.
The Ammonite king died and David sent his condolences to his son, Hanun. However, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun that David was just trying to snoop and size up the city so he could take it over. Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half their beards, cut their robes half way up their butts, and sent them packing. David sent someone to the humiliated men and told them to stay in Jericho until their beards grew out.
David woke from his nap and took a walk on the roof of his palace. He saw a beautiful woman bathing and was told her name was Bathsheba, wife to Uriah the Hittite. David sent for her and had sex with her during her time of purification after her period. She returned home but sent word to David that she was pregnant. Ain't that a kick in the head! Joab sent Uriah to David and he asked for battle news. It was suggested to him to go home, take a bath, and get some rest. I'm speculating that David wanted Uriah to go home and have sex with his wife so that they could say it was his baby instead of David's. Uriah didn't go home that night. Instead, he slept amongst David's servants at the palace entrance. His response to David asking why he didn't return home was, "The chest of God is out there with the soldiers of Israel and Judah in tents. My master, Joab and his servants are roughing it out in the fields. So, how can I go home and eat and drink and enjoy my wife. On your life I'll not do it!" The next day David got Uriah drunk but he slept with the servants again. Joab received a letter from David asking him to put Uriah on the front lines of battle because he knew he would die. Joab's messenger reported to David that the enemy was too much for them and advanced on them in the open field and the fighting was pushed back to the city gate. Eighteen of the soldiers died. Angry with Joab, David referred to the story of Abimelech dying because a woman dropped a millstone on him from the wall. The messenger then casually mentioned Uriah was one of the soldiers that died. David says, "Oh, I see. Tell Joab don't trouble yourself over this. War kills-sometimes one, sometimes another-you never know who's next." Bathsheba grieved over Uriah. David sent for her and she had a son.
Ok let's recap. David has tons of wives and concubines to choose from. Does he REALLY need to hit that with Bathsheba? I mean c'mon man! I wonder what was going through his head. David realized Uriah wasn't some schmuck but a loyal soldier. He knew he did something wrong and then tried to cover it up by having Bathsheba's husband killed. Isn't this what Saul was trying to do with David earlier? Saul wanted the Philistines to take care of killing David so he'd be in the clear.
Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.
He went to Baalah to recover the chest of God, which was called by the Name God of the Angel Armies who was enthroned over the pair of angels on the chest. On their journey back, an ox stumbled and Uzzah reached out and grabbed the chest. God blazed in anger and struck him dead because he profaned the chest. David got angry at God because of His deadly outburst, but grew fearful of God and moved the chest to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for 3 months. God prospered Obed and his entire household. Wanting God's blessings, David set out to retrieve the chest. When Michal saw David parading the chest in the streets, singing and dancing, her heart was filled with scorn. She referred to David as a burlesque dancer, exposing himself to servants. David replied, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!" Michal was barren for the rest of her life.
David took control of the Philistines and Moabites. He defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah and killed 22,000 Arameans. Toi of Hamath gave him many gifts of gold, silver, and bronze.
Remember in my last post how I wasn't sure why Jonathan's son was mentioned?? Well here's the rest of his story. David asked Ziba if there was anyone left in Saul's family. He said Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth, with the lame feet was living at the home of Makir in Lo Debar. Mephibosheth was sent for and David returned to him all the properties that belonged to his grandpa and told him to take all his meal's at the king's table. All who were part of Ziba's household were servants to Mephibosheth.
The Ammonite king died and David sent his condolences to his son, Hanun. However, the Ammonite leaders warned Hanun that David was just trying to snoop and size up the city so he could take it over. Hanun seized David's men, shaved off half their beards, cut their robes half way up their butts, and sent them packing. David sent someone to the humiliated men and told them to stay in Jericho until their beards grew out.
David woke from his nap and took a walk on the roof of his palace. He saw a beautiful woman bathing and was told her name was Bathsheba, wife to Uriah the Hittite. David sent for her and had sex with her during her time of purification after her period. She returned home but sent word to David that she was pregnant. Ain't that a kick in the head! Joab sent Uriah to David and he asked for battle news. It was suggested to him to go home, take a bath, and get some rest. I'm speculating that David wanted Uriah to go home and have sex with his wife so that they could say it was his baby instead of David's. Uriah didn't go home that night. Instead, he slept amongst David's servants at the palace entrance. His response to David asking why he didn't return home was, "The chest of God is out there with the soldiers of Israel and Judah in tents. My master, Joab and his servants are roughing it out in the fields. So, how can I go home and eat and drink and enjoy my wife. On your life I'll not do it!" The next day David got Uriah drunk but he slept with the servants again. Joab received a letter from David asking him to put Uriah on the front lines of battle because he knew he would die. Joab's messenger reported to David that the enemy was too much for them and advanced on them in the open field and the fighting was pushed back to the city gate. Eighteen of the soldiers died. Angry with Joab, David referred to the story of Abimelech dying because a woman dropped a millstone on him from the wall. The messenger then casually mentioned Uriah was one of the soldiers that died. David says, "Oh, I see. Tell Joab don't trouble yourself over this. War kills-sometimes one, sometimes another-you never know who's next." Bathsheba grieved over Uriah. David sent for her and she had a son.
Ok let's recap. David has tons of wives and concubines to choose from. Does he REALLY need to hit that with Bathsheba? I mean c'mon man! I wonder what was going through his head. David realized Uriah wasn't some schmuck but a loyal soldier. He knew he did something wrong and then tried to cover it up by having Bathsheba's husband killed. Isn't this what Saul was trying to do with David earlier? Saul wanted the Philistines to take care of killing David so he'd be in the clear.
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