Bible In One Year Day 177 (2 Kings 9, Hosea 11-14, Psalm 109)

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Day 177:  Return O' Israel 

Agape Bible Study 
2 Kings 9 

Chapter 9: Jehu is Anointed King of Israel

Jezebel was the Queen of Israel but she was also the opponent of Yahweh, the God of her husband's people, and the enemy of His prophets. She became the patroness of the cult of Baal and the builder of Baal's temple in Samaria. Numbered among her many sins that include promoting idol worship in Israel and killing Yahweh's prophets, was the sin of framing innocent Naboth of cursing Yahweh and his king and orchestrating his death with the intention of seizing his ancestral property. King Ahab repented his sins and died in 853 BC, and now, thirteen years later, Jezebel reigned as the queen mother and Ahab's son, Jehoram, was king of Israel.

In the Southern Kingdom of Judah, King Jehoram of Israel's 22 year old nephew Ahaziah succeeded his father as king. He was a Davidic king, but he had been influenced by his mother Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and a follower of Baal.

King Jehoram of Israel was recuperating at the palace in Jezreel from wounds he suffered in battle against King Hazael of Aram-Damascus at Ramoth-Gilead, probably under the supervision of his mother, Queen Jezebel. His nephew Ahaziah, king of Judah, who had also been wounded, was visiting him (2 Kng 8:28-29; 2 Chr 6). It was during this time that Elisha arranged for an assistant to go to Ramoth-Gilead to anoint the army commander Jehu as the new king of Israel and the founder of a new dynasty. 

2 Kings 9:1-10 ~ Jehu is anointed king of Israel at Yahweh's command

The plan God outlined for Elijah at Mt. Sinai in 1 Kings 19:15-18 will now be completed.

Elijah was only able to complete one part, the anointing of Elisha (1 Kng 19:19-21). The second part of the plan to elevate Hazael to kingship was fulfilled by Elisha (2 Kng 8:7-13). Therefore, two parts have been completed and only the last part, to anoint Jehu king of Israel, remained.

Instead of going himself, Elisha sent a young prophet who was a member of the prophetic brotherhood. The Israelites had been successful in regaining control of the Transjordan border town of Ramoth-Gilead, and Jehu was one of the commanders of the army Israel who was stationed there to protect the city. Notice that Jehu is identified not only by his father's name but also by his grandfather's name. This is unusual, but perhaps the reason is to avoid confusion in misidentifying Jehu as a Davidic descendant. Jehu's father's name was Jehoshaphat, the same name as King Jehoshaphat of Judah, son of King Asa. The grandfather's name, Nimshi, eliminates the likelihood of that confusion.

Question: What were the three divinely approved offices in which God's agent was anointed in the Old Testament? See Ex 28:40-29:7; Lev 8:12; 1 Sam 9:16; 10:1; 15:1; 16:1, 12-13; 1 Kng 1:39; 19:16; 2 Kng 9:3.

Answer: The offices of priest, king, and prophet.

Question: How did Jesus fulfill all three holy offices? Dt 18:15-19; Heb 7:22-25; 8:12; Lk 1:32-33; Acts 3:22-23; CCC 436.
Answer:

1. He is the prophet prophesied by Moses.
2. He is the High Priest of the new and eternal covenant.
3. He is the rightful successor of King David and king of the eternal kingdom.

Question: How are Christians anointed into the royal priesthood of believers? See CCC 1547.
Answer: In the Sacrament of Baptism.

The assassination of King Elah of the dynastic house of Baasha and Zimri's short reign that ended in his suicide, made way for the establishment of the House of Omri. Omri was the father of Ahab and grandfather of King Jeroboam of Israel. Remember the name of Zimri, the charioteer captain of King Elah who assassinated his master and came to a bad end. A reference will be made to Zimri later.

Queen Jezebel is included in the young prophet's oracle. She was the Phoenician wife of King Ahab and mother of King Jehoram who introduced Baal worship into Israel and ordered the murder of God's prophets and servants. She was also singled out for destruction. The curse judgment against the House of Omri/Ahab and Jezebel was the same curse judgment delivered by Elijah in 1 Kings 21:21-24 that was delayed until after Ahab's death because of the repentance he demonstrated in 1 Kings 21:27-29. After completing his mission, the young prophet immediately fulfilled Elisha's final instruction and "made his escape"

2 Kings 9:11-13 ~ Jehu is proclaimed king by his military comrades
The key word in 2 Kings 9:11-31 is the Hebrew word for "peace" = "shalom." It is used nine times in verses 11, 17, 18 twice, 19 twice, 22 twice, and 31. Ironically, what is going to take place has nothing to do with "peace." In the symbolic use of numbers in Scripture, nine is the number of finality and also divine judgment. The shofar in verse 13 was a ram's horn trumpet that was used to call the Israelites to war, they were blown in processions, and to make announcements; silver trumpets were used to call the people to worship (Lev 25:9; Num 10:1-4; Josh 6:6-9, 20; Judg 7:20; 1 Kng 1:34, 39). Trumpets also signaled the coming judgment of God (Zeph 1:26; 1 Thes 4:16; Rev 8:1-9:21; 11:16-18).

In asking if there is "peace," Jehu's friends, who are also army commanders, suspect that something is afoot. Apparently the young prophet is known to them and they consider him a "madman" because of his prophetic utterances which may be like those of the prophets who came across Saul in 1 Samuel 10:5-6, 10. 

2 Kings 9:14-21 ~ Jehu prepares to take the Kingdom of Israel by force

King Jehoram was recovering from his wounds at his palace in the city of Jezreel, a royal city at the east end of the fertile Jezreel Valley (2 Kng 8:29; 2 Chr 22:5b-6). Archaeological excavations at a site identified as Jezreel indicate that it was a fortified city with an administrative center and a large palace.

In Scripture any grouping of three or the number three represents that which is solid, real, substantial, and something in its completeness.  This number also usually indicates something of importance or significance in God's divine plan by identifying an important event in Salvation History.  This number operates as a "sign-post" in Scripture study for the reader to "pay attention" to the significance of the next event, especially in how it pertains to God's divine plan. See the document "The Significance of Numbers in Scripture."

As each horseman arrives and delivers the king's message: "Is all shalom/peace," Jehu challenges the horsemen by saying "What has it to do with you whether all is well [shalom]?" and then gives the command to fall in among his men. That each messenger readily falls in instead of beating a hasty retreat may suggest they discern Jehu's intentions and chose to fall in with the coup, or they realize there is no possibility of escape.

2 Kings 9:22-26 ~ The assassination of King Jehoram of Israel

When Jehoram rode out to meet Jehu, one of his commanders of the garrison at Ramoth-Gilead, accompanied by his nephew Amaziah, king of Judah, Jehu immediately challenged the wicked rule of his family. 22 As soon as Jehoram saw Jehu he asked, "Is all well [shalom], Jehu?" What a question [What shalom/peace]!" he replied, "when all the while the prostitutions and countless sorceries of your mother Jezebel go on." Jehu's reference to the "prostitutions" of Jezebel could be a reference to the introduction of Baal worship. Adultery, harlotry, and claims of prostitution are code words in Scripture for the people of the Old Covenant Church who are collectively the Bride of Yahweh" when they abandoned their One True Lord in the sin of idol worship (see Is 16:8; Ez 16:15). But it also possible that Jezebel was guilty of sexual promiscuity and that accusation along with the claim of sorcery could refer to pagan fertility rites involving the worship of Baal (see Num 25:1-3).

2 Kings 9:27-29 ~ The assassination of Ahaziah

Ahaziah managed to escape in his chariot but was wounded and continued to bleed from his wound as he fled along the road to Megiddo, where he died. His men took his body back to Jerusalem where he was buried, having only ruled Judah less than a year (c. 841 BC).

Queen Jezebel Being Punished by Jehu (Andrea Celesti)

2 Kings 9:30-37 ~ The assassination of Jezebel

Jezebel prepared for her own death by painting her eyes with kohl and having her attendants dress her hair. Kohl was an ancient eye cosmetic traditionally made by grinding galena (lead sulfide) and other ingredients. It was used to contour the eye area, to darken the brows and eyelids, and as a mascara for the eyelashes. In her pride, she intended to die like a queen. It is also possible she might have hoped to seduce Jehu, but she didn't get the opportunity. As Jehu entered the gate of Jezreel, Queen Jezebel, who was looking out of her window, called out defiantly to him, (Hebrew text) "Was it peace [shalom] to Zimri after killing his master?" This is the ninth and final use of the word "shalom."

Looking up at the Queen in the window, Jehu shouted out: "Who is on my side, who?" When two or three eunuchs looked out of a window, Jehu commanded: "Throw her down!" They threw Jezebel down from the window and her "blood spattered on the wall and on the horses." As a sign of his contempt, Jehu let his horses trample her body. Jehu proceeded to take possession of the palace and to have a meal. Remembering Jezebel, he ordered her burial since "she is a king's daughter."

However, his men discovered that her body has been eaten by dogs and there was nothing left to give a proper burial.

Question: Jehu recognized that what prophecy was fulfilled in this discovery? See 1 Kng 21:21-24.
Answer: The condition of her body is just as the prophet Elijah had prophesied for Jezebel: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the Field of Jezreel. Those of Ahab's family who die in the city, the dogs will eat... The location of the city of Jezreel was in the "Field of Jezreel" that was the Valley of Jezreel. The prophecy also was fulfilled for her son who was left out in the open without a proper burial: and those who die in the open country, the birds of the air will eat.

The name "Jezebel" became a code word in Scripture for an evil woman who is an enemy of Yahweh and for a shameless and immoral woman. In the Book of Revelation a "prophetess" in the Christian church of Thyatira in Asia Minor beguiles the congregation "to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols" (Rev 2:20-23). 

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A Daily Defense 

DAY 177 Sola Scriptura and 2 Timothy 3:16 –17

CHALLENGE: “The Bible teaches sola scriptura. For example, it says: “All scripture (Greek, pasa graphē) is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).”

DEFENSE: There are multiple problems with this challenge.

First, pasa graphē ordinarily would be translated “every scripture” (pasa generally means “every” rather than “all” before a singular noun like graphē). “Every scripture” would be a reference to each individual book of Scripture. Further, in the Bible the word “scripture” (singular) refers to an individual book or passage. The inspired books as a whole are “the scriptures” (plural), not “scripture.” But Paul couldn’t mean each individual book is sufficient for doctrine. Otherwise, you could do theology by “Genesis alone,” “Isaiah alone,” and so forth.

Second, Paul says the books are useful toward certain goals, including teaching. But being useful merely means that something makes a contribution—not that it is uniquely and exclusively sufficient.

Third, although the scriptures contribute to the goal of making the man of God “complete, equipped for every good work,” they aren’t the only things he needs. He also needs holiness, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, the correct understanding of the texts, and so on. The texts are not sufficient by themselves.

Fourth, sola scriptura would only have been applicable after the apostles’ deaths (see Day 5), but Paul is not telling Timothy something new and meant to apply only after his death. He is saying something that was true then and had been true all along. He articulates this principle immediately after reminding Timothy that he had known the sacred scriptures (plural) from his youth (v. 15). This referred to the Old Testament, and Paul’s principle was true when only the Old Testament existed, before any New Testament books were written.

Christians living before any New Testament book was penned were still obliged to accept the elements of the Christian faith not found in the Old Testament. They didn’t only become obligatory upon being written (2 Tim. 2:15).

It is likely 2 Timothy was not the last New Testament book written, yet Paul expected Timothy to apply the principle immediately—not wait until after Paul and all the other apostles were dead.

Jimmy Akin, A Daily Defense: 365 Days (Plus One) to Becoming a Better Apologist

Bible In One Year Day 176 (2 Kings 8, Hosea 8 -10, Psalm 108)

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Day 176:  Choosing Eternal Life 

Agape Bible Study 
2 Kings 8 

2 Kings 8:1-6 ~ Epilogue to the story of the woman of Shunem
The epilogue to the story of the Shunammite woman who was Elisha's benefactress interrupts the story of Elisha's dealings with the Aramaeans and provides the information that seven years have passed since the last Aramaean war. Elisha's warning to his friend concerning the famine is another example of his gift to see into the future. Famines were not uncommon in the ancient Near East. They were often the result of a lack of rainfall in the crop growing season, destructive hail storms, rain out of season, insect infestation, and the burning of crops during invasion. For example:

There were famines that were the result of natural causes:

• During the lifetime of Abraham (Gen 12:10)
• During the lifetime of Isaac (Gen 26:1)
• During the lifetime of Joseph son of Jacob (Gen 41:56)
• During the lifetime of Ruth (Ru 1:1)

While other Old Testament famines occurred because of divine judgment or war:

• During the lifetime of David (2 Sam 21:1)
• During the lifetime of Elijah (1 Kng 17:1; 18:2)
• During the lifetime of Elisha (2 Kng 6:25; 8:1)
• During the time of Jeremiah (Jer 14:15-16; 52:6-7)
• During the lifetime of Nehemiah (Neh 5:3)

It is not mentioned by the inspired writer, but it is likely that this famine began as a result of the war with the Aramaeans who ravaged the countryside during the siege. They would have prevented the local population from getting into the fields to either plant or harvest crops and then burned the fields during their retreat from Israel. But the famine continued as a result of God's divine judgment, probably because of the failure of the people to repent their sinful practices after God saved them from their enemy.

The king has been hearing stories of Elisha's great deeds, including the story of the resurrection of her son, just as she approaches the king with her petition. Just having heard her story inclines the king to a favorable decision concerning not only the return of her ancestral lands but the revenue collected from those years being paid to her.

Notice that it is Elisha's servant Gehazi who was telling the kings the stories of Elisha's mighty works. Despite the judgment against him for greed, lying and the resulting skin disease he carried, he has apparently continued in Elisha's service. Also notice that because of this and his access to the king, the skin condition of Naaman that he acquired in penance for his sins could not have been leprosy.

 Russian Icon of Elisha 

2 Kings 8:7-15 ~ Elisha and Hazael of Damascus

The mission Yahweh gave Elijah in 1 Kings 19:15-18 was only partially fulfilled in the anointing of Elisha. The other two parts were left uncompleted and will be fulfilled by Elisha and a disciple of Elisha. The Aramaean king is Ben-Hadad II, the same king in 1 Kings 20:1 and the probably the king of Aram who sent the letter to King Jehoram concerning Naaman (5:1-5).

Elisha has come to Damascus to fulfill the mission mentioned in 1 Kings 19:15. King Ben-Hadad knows of Elisha's miracles (as in the case of the Aramaean army commander Naaman), and he also knows that the prophet has the gift of knowing future events. Therefore, he sends his minister, Hazael, with a costly present along with his request for the prophet to reveal his future.

Elisha has the foreknowledge that Ben Hadad will not die of his illness, but he will die.

Question: What happens to Elisha as he is conversing with Hazael?
Answer: Elisha receives a vision concerning Hazael's future and the destruction he will bring on Israel.

The next day Hazael assassinated King Ben-Hadad II by smothering him with a wet cloth. Elisha's prophecy was fulfilled.

Hazael is one of the over 50 people named in the Bible whose existence is supported by ancient secular inscriptions. Hazael is named as the king of Damascus in Assyrian records where the Assyrians sources called him "son of nobody" because of his non-royal background. 

2 Kings 8:16-24 ~ The reign of Jehoram in Judah (848 - 841 BC)

See the parallel passage in 2 Chronicles 21:1-20. Jehoram of Judah was co-regent with his father, King Jehoshaphat for the last 4-5 years of Jehoshaphat's reign. He became the sole ruler after his father's death in c. 848 BC, ruling as the fifth Davidic king of Judah from 848-841 BC. 

The "lamp" is a Davidic heir to carry on the Davidic line. For the sake of God's covenant promise to David, He will not destroy David's dynasty. It is a dynasty over which a Davidic king is to rule forever, and that promise is fulfilled in Jesus, son of Mary, son of David, Son of God and "Light" of the world.

During the reign of Jehoram of Judah, both the Philistines and the Arabians invaded the kingdom and brought great hardship on the people. All Jehoram's sons were killed with the exception of his youngest son (2 Chr 21:16-17). Jehoram died of a terrible sickness of the bowels (2 Chr 21:18-20) in c. 841 BC and was succeeded by his youngest son, a grandson of Ahab and Jezebel of Israel; his name was Ahaziah (also called Jehoahaz).

2 Kings 8:25-29 ~ The reign of Ahaziah in Judah (841 BC)
See 2 Chronicles 22:1-9 for the parallel passage on the history of Ahaziah. In c. 841 BC, Ahaziah, Jehoram's only surviving son, succeeded his father as king of Judah (2 Chr. 21:17). His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab of Israel of the "House of Omri." In some passages she is referred to as a "daughter of Omri" (2 Chr 22:2), meaning she was of the lineage of Omri, her grandfather and the founder of the dynastic house. Like her father Ahab, she promoted pagan worship and influence her son, Ahaziah, to apostatize from Yahweh.⁽³⁾ Notice that once again the mother of the king of Judah, who holds the office of Gebirah (Queen Mother), is named by the inspired writer.

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A Daily Defense

DAY 176 Scientific Foreknowledge and the Bible 

CHALLENGE: “The Bible would be more credible if it contained scientific knowledge that wasn’t known when it was written (e.g., if it said, ‘There are no rivers longer than the Amazon,’ ‘The atomic theory of matter is true,’ or ‘Epidemics are caused by germs’).”

DEFENSE: God could do this if he chose, but it doesn’t appear he has. Scripture is a religious rather than scientific text, and God has given us other evidence for our faith.

Some think Scripture contains scientific foreknowledge. For example, Isaiah 40:22 says God “sits above the circle of the earth,” which some think refers to earth’s spherical shape. This isn’t convincing (the passage is poetry—God doesn’t literally “sit” anywhere—and a circle is not a sphere; “the circle of the earth” might be envisioned as the horizon or as a flat disk).

Putting scientific foreknowledge in Scripture would be of limited use. It wouldn’t help the original audience—only people living after the relevant science was discovered, perhaps thousands of years later. It would even be an apologetic distraction if the science of one age disagreed with it.

If Scripture said, “Epidemics are caused by germs,” people living after Galen, who thought epidemics were caused by bad air, would have their confidence in Scripture weakened rather than strengthened. Even once the correct science was discovered, this wouldn’t guarantee people would see it as foreknowledge. 

There’s a limit to how advanced the science in Scripture could be since the biblical languages lacked technical scientific terms. Without these, only basic concepts could be described, but basic concepts could be attributed to ancient knowledge rather than foreknowledge.

Suppose the Bible said, “The longest river is in a southern land on the other side of the world” (the Israelites had no knowledge of or name for the Amazon, so a definite description would be needed). After the Amazon’s discovery, would that convince people Scripture contained supernatural information or would they conclude there must have been ancient contact between the Old and New Worlds?

Similarly, if the Bible endorsed the atomic theory of matter, people would simply conclude there were ancient Hebrew atomists, just as there were ancient Greek atomists (e.g., the philosophers Leucippus and Democritus).

Finally, we don’t know that Scripture doesn’t contain such foreknowledge. Maybe the relevant science hasn’t been discovered yet.

Jimmy Akin, A Daily Defense: 365 Days (Plus One) to Becoming a Better Apologist

Bible In One Year Day 175 (2 Kings 6-7, Hosea 4 -7 Psalm 103)

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Day 175: Knowledge of God 

Agape Bible Study 
2 Kings 6 - 7 

Of all the Old Testament prophets, none of them can compare to Elisha for the volume of his recorded miracles or his gifts of prophecy and clairvoyance. The Fathers of the Church saw a number of typological parallels between Elijah and St. John the Baptist and between Elisha and Jesus Christ. The Catechism teaches: "The Church, as early as apostolic times, and then constantly in her Tradition, has illuminated the unity of the divine plan in the two Testaments through typology, which discerns in God's works of the Old Covenant prefigurations of what he accomplished in the fullness of time in the persons of his incarnate Son (CCC 128, also see 129-130). See for example St. Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11 on the typological link between the Israelites crossing the Red Sea and Christian baptism, and in Hebrews 10:1-18 where the inspired writer makes the typological comparison between the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant and the sacrifice of Christ, which they prefigured. There is also St. Peter's teaching in 1 Peter 3:21 where he makes the typological comparison between the Great Flood and Christian baptism.

Typology of Elijah and John the Baptist	Typology of Elisha and Jesus Christ
St. John was given the spirit and power of Elijah from the womb.	Jesus succeeded the ministry of John the Baptist and became a greater prophet in the same way Elisha succeeded and became greater than Elijah.
John like Elijah lived apart from the people.	Jesus like Elisha lived among the people.
Both John and Elijah stressed obedience to the Law, judgment and repentance.	Both Jesus and Elisha emphasized grace, faith and hope.
John adopted a manner of dress like Elijah and ate a restricted diet.	Jesus and Elisha enjoyed communal meals with their disciples and with others.
John baptized on the east bank of the Jordan River where Elijah was translated into heaven.	Jesus like Elisha was a compassionate friend of the common people.
John like Elijah challenged the sins of a corrupt king and his wife.	Jesus and Elisha cured the sick, made feeding miracles, defended the poor and raised the dead.
Michal E. Hunt Copyright © 2015

2 Kings 6:1-7 ~ Elisha recovers the lost axe head
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The community of prophets has grown to the point that they need more living quarters and so they petition Elisha, as their leader, for permission to cut wood to build more housing. He gives his permission and accompanies them to the construction site. An accident occurs when a valuable axe head falls into the river, but Elisha retrieves it by a miracle. This is the prophet's 11^th miracle. It is another demonstration how Elisha takes care of the community of prophets in even the smallest ways and how they acknowledge him as their leader.

Chapters 6 - 7 ~ Elisha and the Aramaeans

The Aramaeans were a Semitic people who lived in ancient Syria and were originally descended from Aram, a son of Shem and grandson of Noah (Gen 10:1, 22-23; 1 Chr 1:17), just as the Israelites were descended through Abram/Abraham who was also a descendant of Shem (Gen 10:1; 11:10-30). All Semitic peoples are descendants of Shem. The Aramaean people held several small city-states that formed a confederation at the beginning of the first millennium, but never united sufficiently to create an empire. The most important of these Aramaean kingdoms was the city-state of Damascus, but there were also the smaller Aramaean kingdoms of Zobah (Aram-zobah north of Damascus; 1 Sam 14:47; 2 Sam 8:5; 1 Chr 18:3-9), and Geshur (2 Sam 3:3; 13:37-38). The Aramaean kingdoms were conquered by the Assyrians under Tiglath-Pileser III in 732 B.C. The defeat and conquest of the Aramaean states removed the buffer between Israel and the advancing Assyrian empire.

The Kings of Aram in Damascus

Kings of Aram	Dates	Scripture
Herizon (Rezon)	c. 990 - 930 BC	1 Kng 11:23, 25; 15:18
Tabrimmon	c. 930 - 885 BC	1 Kng 15:18
Ben-Hadad I (son of Tabrimmon)	c. 885 - 860 BC	1 Kng 15:18, 20
Ben-Hadad II	c. 860 - 841 BC	1 Kng Chapter 20; 2 Kng 6:24; 8:7, 9, 14
Hazael	c. 841 - 801 BC	1 Kng 19:15, 17 2 Kng Chapter 8; 9:14, 15; 10:32; 12:17, 18; 13:3, 22, 24, 25
Ben-Hadad III (son of Hazael)	c. 807 - 780? BC	2 Kng 13:3, 24, 25
Rezin	c. 780? - 732 BC	2 Kng 15:37; 16:5, 6, 9 Is 7:1, 4, 8; 8:6; 9:11
Michal E. Hunt Copyright © 2015

2 Kings 6:8-14 ~ A king of the Aramaeans threatens Elisha

This Aramaean king remains unnamed unlike the Aramaean king in the next episode (Ben-Hadad II in verse 24). It is likely that this king is not Ben-Hadad II of Damascus, the master of Naaman, the Aramaean general who was cured by Elisha. This king is likely one of the kings of one of the other Aramaean city-states (see 6:23b and verse 24).
Question: This episode reveals which one of Elisha's unique prophetic gifts that is not mentioned as a gift of the prophet Elijah?
Answer: He has the gift of clairvoyance.

The Catholic Dictionary defines clairvoyance as "... the gift of seeing or knowing events occurring at a distance without the use of sensibly perceptible means of communication. As with telepathy, the available evidence indicates that this is a rare but natural phenomenon.... (Etym. French clairvoyant, clear seeing)." Catholic Dictionary, "clairvoyance", page 78-79. Elisha has the ability to see hidden events like the planned ambush of the Aramaeans made in the private rooms of the Aramaean king (verses 10-12) and the fiery cavalry of Yahweh (verse 17b).

In Elisha's role as an advisor to the King of Israel, he warns the Israelites every time the Aramaeans plan a raid and the Israelites are able to avoid ambush and entrapment. The king of the Aramaeans thinks there is a traitor among his staff, but is informed that it must be the prophet Elisha who is thwarting their efforts to take the Israelites by surprise.
Question: What does the king decide to do to solve his problem?
Answer: When he discovers where Elisha is staying, he sends soldiers into Israelite territory to capture Elisha, probably with the intent of killing the pesky prophet.

2 Kings 8:15-23 ~ Elisha captures the Aramaeans

Elisha appears to be made of sterner stuff than his predecessor.
Question: What did Elijah do when threatened with death by Queen Jezebel? See 1 Kng 19:1-3.
Answer: Elijah ran away when faced with the possibility of capture and death, but not Elisha. Perhaps he has more confidence because of his gift of clairvoyance. He knows the outcome in advance.

When his life is threatened, Elisha chooses not to run away but to outsmart the enemy by inflicting them with sun-blindness. Confused with sun-blindness, Elisha leads the raiders into the capital city of Israel that is about ten miles away. When he opens their eyes and they discover that they are surrounded by the enemy, the Aramaeans surrender.

Elisha asks the king to give them bread and water, but taking his cue from the prophet, the king graciously makes a feast for his "guests" and then releases them.

23b Aramaean raiding parties never invaded the territory of Israel again.
The end of the raids was either an act of reciprocity in response to the Israelites' mercy or their respect for the powers of Yahweh and His prophet. In any event, Elisha likely spared them expressly so they could, like Naaman, spread the word of the greatness of Yahweh and His prophets among their own people.

2 Kings 6:24-31 ~ The Siege of Samaria and resulting famine
The events in this part of the narrative take place in the seven years between 848 BC and 841 BC. 841 BC was a momentous year for the states of Israel, Judah, and Aram-Damascus, but in the worst possible way:

• The seven year famine ends
• Hazael assassinates Ben-Hadad II and becomes king of Aram in Damascus
• King Jehoram of Judah dies
• His son Ahaziah becomes king of Judah
• King Ahaziah of Judah and King Jehoram of Israel go to war against Hazael of Damascus
• Jehoram and Ahaziah are wounded in the battle for Ramoth-Gilead
• Hazael commissions a stela to boast of his success in defeating the combined army of Israel and Judah at Ramoth-Gilead (Tel Dan Stele mentions the "House of David")
• King Jehoram of Israel is assassinated by Jehu
• Queen Jezebel of Israel is assassinated
• The heirs of the house of Omri are assassinated
• Jehu becomes King of Israel
• Ahaziah is captured and murdered by Jehu
• The heirs of the house of David are assassinated (with one survivor)
• Gebirah (Queen Mother) Athaliah (dau. of Ahab) begins her rule of Judah

A woman cried out to the king Jehoram for help. His response was that unless Yahweh helped her there can be no help since he cannot bring her food, mentioning two sources of food: the threshing floor and the winepress. When he discovered that the people were resorting to cannibalism, he was truly distressed and ripped apart his royal robes, a sign of mourning and grief, to reveal that underneath he was wearing sackcloth, a course, itchy material.

Cannibalism was apparently a terrible consequence of cities under siege. In the covenant judgments of Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28, sieges, famine, and cannibalism are prophesized for those who apostatize from the covenant as a consequence of God lifting His hand of divine protection (Lev 26:14-16, 23-29 and Dt 28:15, 53). The Jewish priest-historian Flavius Josephus records that cannibalism occurred during the Roman siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD (Jewish Wars, 6.3.4 [201-07]).

2 Kings 6:32-7:2 ~ The King of Israel blames Elisha and Elisha's reply

Notice that Elisha has remained in the city of Samaria. Elisha knows the king is coming for him, but he calmly awaits his arrival, telling the elders of the city who are in his company, "Do you see how this son of a murderer has given orders to cut off my head?"

Since the equerry is probably the one charged with killing Elisha, the prophet tells his companions to pin the military guard between the wall and the door so he will be unable to attack those present.

The end of the Aramaean War and the end of the Famine

2 Kings 7:3-8 ~ The Aramaean camp

The four men probably suffer from leprosy since they have to remain outside the city gate (Lev 13:46; Num 5:2-3). Such outcasts had to rely on the kindness of family members or the charitable generosity of strangers to bring them food outside the city walls; however, with the siege of the city and the famine, there is no one to help them and they are starving. They decide it is worth the risk to go and beg at the Aramaean camp and approach the camp "at dusk." The word translated "dusk" in our passage is in Hebrew the word that is also translated as "twilight." It is a time marker that can mean either the morning twilight just before dawn or the evening twilight just before sunset. In this case, it is just before sunset that they arrive at the camp (see verse 9). When they arrived, they discovered that the Aramaean camp had been abandoned.

Question: What happened to the Aramaeans?
Answer: Because of God's intervention, they heard what sounded to them like the arrival of a great army, and they assumed the king of Israel had made a treaty with the Hittites and Egyptians who had come to his aid.

2 Kings 7:9-15 ~ The Israelites discover the Aramaeans have retreated

It is probably the second consideration that motivates them to announce the news to the people in Samaria. The king believes it is a trap set by the Aramaeans to lure them out of the city. But when he allows two scouting parties to investigate, it is discovered that the enemy have indeed abandoned the siege and fled across the Jordan River back into Aramaean territory. In this miracle, God worked without witnesses to the event with the exception of the Aramaeans who did not understand it was a miracle. Something similar will happen to fulfill the prophecy Elisha made concerning the king's officer who accompanied the king to Elisha's house.

2 Kings 7:16-20 ~ The end of the siege and the end of the famine
Everything prophesized by Elisha in 7:1-2 has been fulfilled including the death of the equerry who had been assigned the task as commander of the men guarding the gate. However, just as no one witnessed God's miracle that caused the Aramaeans to abandon their camp, the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the equerry was also probably overlooked.

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A Daily Defense

DAY 175  666 and the Pope 

CHALLENGE:“The pope’s title “Vicar of the Son of God” in Latin is Vicarius Filii Dei. When you add up the Roman numerals in this title, you get 666. Therefore, the pope is the Antichrist mentioned in Revelation 13.”

DEFENSE: Vicarius Filii Dei is not one of the pope’s titles, and this method of calculation is unreliable.

Some have referred to the pope as “vicar of the Son of God,” but this is not one of his official titles. These are listed in the Annuario Pontificio (“Pontifical Yearbook”), published annually by the Vatican press. They are:

Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the servants of God.

The closest title is “Vicar of Jesus Christ” (Latin, Vicarius Iesu Christi), but this does not add up to 666. Some claim that the phrase Vicarius Filii Dei is printed on the papal tiara (a special kind of crown worn by past popes). These reports are false. None of the tiaras had this phrase, and popes today do not use tiaras.

One might argue the pope can still be described as the vicar of the Son of God, even if it isn’t one of his titles, but this produces an unreliable methodology. All kinds of people and things can be described in ways that add up to 666. The children’s TV character Barney may be a cute purple dinosaur, but that doesn’t mean he’s the Antichrist (CVte pVrpLe DInosaVr = C+V+V+L+D+I+V = 100+5+5+50+500+1+5 = 666).

Ironically, this argument is often made by Seventh-day Adventists, whose founding prophetess was Ellen Gould White (ELLen GoVLD VVhIte = 50+50+5+50+500+5+5+1 = 666).

Finally, while you can get 666 by taking each Roman numeral as an individual digit, out of its immediate context (VICarIVs fILII DeI = V+I+C+I+V+I+L+I+I+D+I = 5+1+100+1+5+1+50+1+1+500+1 = 666), Roman numerals need to be read in context. Placing a smaller number to the left of a larger one results in it being subtracted, not added. Thus “IV” means 4, not 6. In the same way, “IC” and “IL” mean 99 and 49, not 101 and 51. Read this way, Vicarius Filii Dei is 660, not 666.

Jimmy Akin, A Daily Defense: 365 Days (Plus One) to Becoming a Better Apologist

Bible In one Year Day 174 (2 Kings 5, Hosea 1-3, Psalm 101)

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Agape Bible Study 
2 Kings 5 

Chapter 5 ~ Elisha Heals Naaman the Aramaean

 

2 Kings 5:1-7 ~ Naaman the Aramaean seeks help in curing his skin disease
Naaman is an Aramaean and the commander of the army of Ben-Hadad II, the king of Damascus. He is a very important man, but he suffers from a skin disease. The Hebrew word sara'at, translated as lepra in the Septuagint, refers to a wide variety of skin diseases (Cogan and Tadmor, II Kings, page 63). 

A captured Israelite girl who is the slave of Naaman's wife mentions the healing powers of the Northern Kingdom's great prophet. Naaman approaches his king who willingly writes to Israel's king on his behalf. The Israelite king is King Jehoram. From the beginning of the story, the inspired writer shows us that it is God who is guiding events, even events outside of Israel.

That is about 750 pounds of silver and about 150 pounds of gold. Silver and gold, then as now, were highly valued in commercial exchange. They were measured by weight since coinage did into come into existence until the seventh century BC in the ancient Near East.

                                             Elisha refusing the gifts of Naaman, by Pieter de Grebber

2 Kings 5:8-14 ~ Elisha heals Naaman
Again God's prophet comes to the aid of the king of Israel without being invited. God sent him not for the sake of an apostate king but for the sake of the Gentile general.

Naaman's servants intercede with him, calling him "father", the usual title for a leader by men who respect and serve him.

There are two points that show Naaman is not a disagreeable or unapproachable man. He listened to his wife concerning consulting the Israelite prophet, and he listened to his servants and decided to do as the prophet told him. His faith and trust, even though small at this point in the story, is enough to heal him of his affliction.

2 Kings 5:15-19 ~ Naaman offers Elisha a reward

The general had to be obedient in submitting to the plan for his healing through the waters of the Jordan River. The general is truly humbled by his experience and realizes that it is not the waters of the Jordan that healed him but the God of Israel. As a sign of his newly found humility, he refers to himself as Elisha's "servant." The Fathers of the Church saw the healing of Naaman as prefiguring Christian Baptism, the sacrament in which, through the water and obedience in Christ's word, mankind is cleansed from sin and given the gift of faith and new life.

Question: What is the essence of Naaman's statement in verse 15?
Answer: It is his personal profession of faith in Yahweh is the One True God.

Question: Why does Elisha refuse Naaman's gift?
Answer: Serving Yahweh in the man's conversion from a pagan to a monotheist is his reward.

Naaman asks for earth from the land God gave Israel in order to make a clean offering to Yahweh and not a profane offering on pagan soil. Elisha agrees since Naaman is not a member of the Sinai Covenant and therefore the Laws of the Covenant do not apply to him concerning only offering sacrifice at the altar of the Jerusalem Temple. Elisha even accepts his confession that he must accompany his king into a pagan temple. Rimmon was the national god of Aram, evidently a storm-god.

2 Kings 5:20-27 ~ The deception of Gehazi and his punishment

Gehazi became susceptible to the sin of greed. He asked Naaman for about 75 pounds of silver, but Naaman in his generosity gave him twice that amount.

Question: How many times does Gehazi sin?
Answer: He sins three times: first there is his sin of greed and then he lies twice: first in lying to Naaman and a second time in lying to Elisha.

Question: What is ironic about Ghazi's judgment

Answer: It is ironic that the unfaithful, lying Israelite is now afflicted with the condition that had formerly plagued the converted Gentile.

The condition cannot be leprosy since Gehazi will continue as Elisha's servant.

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A Daily Defense 

DAY 174 “God of the Bible” versus “God of the Philosophers ”

CHALLENGE: “In Scripture, God has a physical form, doesn’t know things, learns new things, changes his mind, and so on, but modern philosophers and theologians portray God as immaterial, changeless, and perfect.”

DEFENSE: The early portions of Scripture describe God using anthropomorphic language accommodated to the original audience.

Divine revelation was given to mankind over a period of more than a thousand years. When God began to guide the Israelites, he initiated a “divine pedagogy” in which he “communicates himself to man gradually. He prepares him to welcome by stages the supernatural revelation that is to culminate in the person and mission of the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ” (CCC 53).

This is similar to helping children learn a subject. At an early stage, children are only able to grasp the rudiments of a field—whether theology or anything else. We thus must accommodate our explanations to what children are capable of understanding. But as they develop intellectually, we can give them a more sophisticated presentation of the topic.

The original Israelites were not culturally and intellectually prepared to understand God in the sophisticated way that the history of thought later made possible. They would have no more been able to understand the details of modern theology than they would have been able to understand the technical aspects of modern science. The needed concepts had not yet been developed.

Thus, particularly in Genesis, we find anthropomorphic images used to communicate things about God to the Israelites. He is described as walking in the garden (Gen. 3:8), asking questions (Gen. 3:9–13), “learning” things (Gen. 22:12–13), changing his mind (Gen. 6:6–7), and so on.

This mode of language involves symbols, but it conveys real truths about God (cf. CCC 42, 390). It therefore points beyond itself to the more refined understanding that God led his people to discover, ultimately giving them his definitive word in the person of Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1–2; Jude 3). We see this process unfolding in Scripture itself, which elsewhere makes clear that God is immaterial (John 4:24; cf. Luke 24:39), all-knowing (Ps. 147:5; 1 John 3:20), and changeless (Num. 23:19; James 1:17).

In the 2,000 years since public revelation ended, further reflection has led to an ever-more refined understanding of the deposit of faith (John 14:26, 16:13).

Jimmy Akin, A Daily Defense: 365 Days (Plus One) to Becoming a Better Apologist