Today is something of a milestone (or a millstone, depending on your perspective). This is the 100th blog entry of On Jacob's Ladder! And they said it wouldn't last!!
Elisha is the key figure in the victory over Ben-hadad and the Arameans. Samaria is attacked, but saved through Elisha's miracles. Elisha weeps for Israel as he foretells the death of Ben-hadad to the king's servant, Hazael, because he sees that Hazael will succeed the current king and bring gray suffering upon the people of Israel. Jehoram and then his son, Ahaziah, become king of Judah in turn. They are evil and displease God, as Ahab had before them.
Elisha, at the Lord's instruction, anoints Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, the king of Israel. Jehu leads men loyal to him to Jezreel, where both kings--of Judah and of Israel--are staying. He kills them both. He then sees to it that Jezebel is killed, and her body is left in the street to be torn apart and eaten by dogs. As Elisha had foretold, Jehu has the entire line of Ahab's descendants killed. Indeed 70 of them are killed, their heads put in baskets, and the baskets sent to Jehu. Soon after, Jehu oversees the destruction of the Temple of Baal, and the slaughter of all the Baal worshipers within it.
So very Quentin Tarantino!
Showing posts with label Ahaziah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ahaziah. Show all posts
Monday, May 6, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
1 Kings 20-22
Ahab continues to displease the Lord, failing to follow His instructions and commands, worshipping Baal, and taking the vineyard of a good man, Naboth.
Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil in the sight of the Lord as did Ahab, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He became completely abominable by following idols, just as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.
When he is confronted (again) by Elijah, Ahab is (finally) repentant and humbles himself. The Lord shows mercy by deciding that He will not punish Ahab directly, but rather will deliver justice to Ahab's son.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, join together to make war on the Aramites, despite the prophetic warning of Micaiah. Ahab is killed in the battle, and is succeeded by his son, Ahaziah. Ahaziah follows in his parents' dishonorable footsteps, further displeasing the Lord. Jehoshaphat follows the righteous path blazed by his father, Asa, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
I love the name of Asa's son. I seem to remember some TV show (a cartoon?) or a movie when I was younger where a character would say "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!!" I wish I could remember what it was.
One other thing I found humorous in this passage is Ahab's response to the threat of Ben-hadad to slaughter the Israelites in battle (relayed to Ahab by the king of Aram's messenger):
It is not for the man who is buckling his armor to boast as though he were taking it off.
I guess that's the Old Testament way to say: "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched."
Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil in the sight of the Lord as did Ahab, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He became completely abominable by following idols, just as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.
When he is confronted (again) by Elijah, Ahab is (finally) repentant and humbles himself. The Lord shows mercy by deciding that He will not punish Ahab directly, but rather will deliver justice to Ahab's son.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, join together to make war on the Aramites, despite the prophetic warning of Micaiah. Ahab is killed in the battle, and is succeeded by his son, Ahaziah. Ahaziah follows in his parents' dishonorable footsteps, further displeasing the Lord. Jehoshaphat follows the righteous path blazed by his father, Asa, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
I love the name of Asa's son. I seem to remember some TV show (a cartoon?) or a movie when I was younger where a character would say "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!!" I wish I could remember what it was.
One other thing I found humorous in this passage is Ahab's response to the threat of Ben-hadad to slaughter the Israelites in battle (relayed to Ahab by the king of Aram's messenger):
It is not for the man who is buckling his armor to boast as though he were taking it off.
I guess that's the Old Testament way to say: "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched."
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