Joab was one of the most effective commanders in David's army, albeit somewhat bloodthirsty. Here Joab led the battle in Rabbah and conquered it from the Ammonites. The king of Rabbah's crown was set on David's head and other precious items were taken back to Jerusalem. In addition the people of Rabbah were put to hard labour - it is not written if they were slaves or prisoners or had some been paid. This happened with the other Ammonite cities they David conquered.
Israel also fought the Philistines and a number of Philistines were giants, like Goliath. In the battles, Jonathan, David's nephew also killed one of the giants. A few specific giants who were killed by the Israelites were recorded: Sippai, Lahmi the brother of Goliath and the giants of Gath. The giants were described as having great statures and had six fingers on each hand and six fingers on each toes. This fact makes it difficult to claim that the enormous sizes were genetic anomalies or caused by the environment. If it is any kind of anomaly or mutation, then they may have an extra finger or toe. However for so many giants to have them so regularly, six on each hand and foot, is evidence that the giants are not of the same species as humans and were created differently.
1 Chronicles 20
Rabbah Is Conquered
1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time kings go out to battle, that Joab led out the armed forces and ravaged the country of the people of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. And Joab defeated Rabbah and overthrew it. 2 Then David took their king’s crown from his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it. And it was set on David’s head. Also he brought out the spoil of the city in great abundance. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it, and put them to work[a] with saws, with iron picks, and with axes. So David did to all the cities of the people of Ammon. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
Philistine Giants Destroyed
4 Now it happened afterward that war broke out at Gezer with the Philistines, at which time Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Sippai,[b]who was one of the sons of the giant. And they were subdued.
5 Again there was war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair[c] killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
6 Yet again there was war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, with twenty-four fingers and toes, six on each hand and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant. 7 So when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea,[d] David’s brother, killed him.
8 These were born to the giant in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Showing posts with label Gath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gath. Show all posts
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
David Sacrifices Saul's Descendents, Four Giants Slayed
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Israel was struck by famine for 3 years and David asked God about it. God revealed the great injustice done by Saul who killed many of the Gibeonites. To atone for this David approached the Gibeonites to ask what he can do for them. They replied by asking for the lives of 7 descendents of Saul. David straight away removed Mephibosheth the disabled son of Jonathan from consideration. David chose Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah, Saul's concubine and the five sons of Michal to deliver to the Gibeonites to be executed.
The other interesting thing about this chapter is the detailed account of the killing of four giants. Even in that time in David's kingdom, there were still giants on the Philistines' side. The four giants were Ishbi-Benob, Saph, Goliath's brother and another giant at Gath. They were referred to as sons of giants, which may mean that their fathers were even bigger than them. The description of these sons of giants were: great stature, 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot.
2 Samuel 21
David Avenges the Gibeonites
1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.
3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.”
So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5 Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose.”
And the king said, “I will give them.”
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal[a] the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan,[b] where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.
Philistine Giants Destroyed
15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph,[c] who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim[d] the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 Yet again there was war at GathShimea,[e] David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Israel was struck by famine for 3 years and David asked God about it. God revealed the great injustice done by Saul who killed many of the Gibeonites. To atone for this David approached the Gibeonites to ask what he can do for them. They replied by asking for the lives of 7 descendents of Saul. David straight away removed Mephibosheth the disabled son of Jonathan from consideration. David chose Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah, Saul's concubine and the five sons of Michal to deliver to the Gibeonites to be executed.
The other interesting thing about this chapter is the detailed account of the killing of four giants. Even in that time in David's kingdom, there were still giants on the Philistines' side. The four giants were Ishbi-Benob, Saph, Goliath's brother and another giant at Gath. They were referred to as sons of giants, which may mean that their fathers were even bigger than them. The description of these sons of giants were: great stature, 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes on each foot.
2 Samuel 21
David Avenges the Gibeonites
1 Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 2 So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah.
3 Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?”
4 And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.”
So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”
5 Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, 6 let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the LORD in Gibeah of Saul, whom the LORD chose.”
And the king said, “I will give them.”
7 But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the LORD’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. 8 So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal[a] the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; 9 and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10 Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.
11 And David was told what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done. 12 Then David went and took the bones of Saul, and the bones of Jonathan his son, from the men of Jabesh Gilead who had stolen them from the street of Beth Shan,[b] where the Philistines had hung them up, after the Philistines had struck down Saul in Gilboa. 13 So he brought up the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from there; and they gathered the bones of those who had been hanged. 14 They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land.
Philistine Giants Destroyed
15 When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”
18 Now it happened afterward that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob. Then Sibbechai the Hushathite killed Saph,[c] who was one of the sons of the giant. 19 Again there was war at Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare-Oregim[d] the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20 Yet again there was war at GathShimea,[e] David’s brother, killed him.
22 These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
David Allied with the Philistines
Tired of being chased by Saul, David decided to lead his men out of Israel. They came to the land of Gath and was able to stay there under King Achish. It appeared that Gath is part of the land of Philistines. David requested a piece of land from Gath so that his band of men can live there and not in the capital city. Achish agreed and gave him Ziklag.
While in Philistine, it appeared that David and his men conducted raid on the towns within the border of Israel. This may seem like David had switched sides, but in fact the towns he raided were of the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. These were the inhabitants before the tribes of Israel settled on the land. The Israelites had failed to eliminate these nations as God intended, so now David destroyed these cities including all the male and female inhabitants. In addition of completing God's work, David also used this as a second advantage where he would tell Achish that he raided Israel, thus gaining the trust of Achish that David had indeed become an enemy of Israel,
1 Samuel 27
David Allied with the Philistines
1 And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow. 4 And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; so he sought him no more.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have now found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 Now the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months.
8 And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites,[a] and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. 9 Whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish. 10 Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.” 11 David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. 12 So Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever.”
While in Philistine, it appeared that David and his men conducted raid on the towns within the border of Israel. This may seem like David had switched sides, but in fact the towns he raided were of the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. These were the inhabitants before the tribes of Israel settled on the land. The Israelites had failed to eliminate these nations as God intended, so now David destroyed these cities including all the male and female inhabitants. In addition of completing God's work, David also used this as a second advantage where he would tell Achish that he raided Israel, thus gaining the trust of Achish that David had indeed become an enemy of Israel,
1 Samuel 27
David Allied with the Philistines
1 And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines; and Saul will despair of me, to seek me anymore in any part of Israel. So I shall escape out of his hand.” 2 Then David arose and went over with the six hundred men who were with him to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 So David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal’s widow. 4 And it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath; so he sought him no more.
5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have now found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So Achish gave him Ziklag that day. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 Now the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was one full year and four months.
8 And David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites,[a] and the Amalekites. For those nations were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as you go to Shur, even as far as the land of Egypt. 9 Whenever David attacked the land, he left neither man nor woman alive, but took away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the apparel, and returned and came to Achish. 10 Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.” 11 David would save neither man nor woman alive, to bring news to Gath, saying, “Lest they should inform on us, saying, ‘Thus David did.’” And thus was his behavior all the time he dwelt in the country of the Philistines. 12 So Achish believed David, saying, “He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; therefore he will be my servant forever.”
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
David gets Holy Bread from Ahimelech and pretends to be insane for King Achish
David continues to be on the run from Saul. He came to the land of Nob where he sought refuge from Ahimelech the priest. To be precise, David and his men were in need of food and convinced Ahimelech to give the the Showbread which was considered holy and taken from the place of worship. Many centuries later, our Lord Jesus fed his disciples on the Sabbath from the grain of the field. When being challenged about gathering food to eat on the Sabbath, the LORD used David as an example that holy ceremonies should not take precedence when survival is in question.
On a side note, interesting to note that Ahimelech gave David the sword of Goliath when David made a request for weapons.
In the second part of this chapter, David reached the land of Gath and went to its King, Achish. Not exactly clear what Achish meant when he repeated the saying about Saul killed thousands but David killed ten thousands. Whatever the intention of Achish, David's reaction was that he needed to protect himself from Achish and he did so by pretending to be insane.
1 Samuel 21
David and the Holy Bread
1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?”
2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”
4 And the priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.”
5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”
6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.
8 And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”
9 So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.”
And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
David Flees to Gath
10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying:
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”[a]
12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
On a side note, interesting to note that Ahimelech gave David the sword of Goliath when David made a request for weapons.
In the second part of this chapter, David reached the land of Gath and went to its King, Achish. Not exactly clear what Achish meant when he repeated the saying about Saul killed thousands but David killed ten thousands. Whatever the intention of Achish, David's reaction was that he needed to protect himself from Achish and he did so by pretending to be insane.
1 Samuel 21
David and the Holy Bread
1 Now David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And Ahimelech was afraid when he met David, and said to him, “Why are you alone, and no one is with you?”
2 So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place. 3 Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”
4 And the priest answered David and said, “There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women.”
5 Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”
6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the showbread which had been taken from before the LORD, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day when it was taken away.
7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.
8 And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”
9 So the priest said, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.”
And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”
David Flees to Gath
10 Then David arose and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David the king of the land? Did they not sing of him to one another in dances, saying:
‘Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands’?”[a]
12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Samuel Judges Israel
Samuel was the last judge of Israel before Israel changed into a kingdom. At the time, the Philistines seem to have dominion over Israel. Israel had lost many battles to the Philistines up to that point. The Ark was just returned to Kirjath Jearim by the Philistines who captured it.
Unlike other judges, Samuel was not known for his physical strength nor his skills as a warrior. Instead the impression of Samuel would be more like a priest or prophet. Yet it was Samuel as a judge, like other judges, who was instrumental in delivering Israel from the Philistines, of course the full honour goes to God. Like a prophet, Samuel warned the Israelites of their sin and commanded them to turn their hearts back to the Lord and destroy all the foreign idols. When they repented, Sameul led the Israelites into fervent prayer.
Hearing that the Israelites were repenting and unifying in their prayers, the Philistines deceided to attack. Samuel encouraged the Israelites not to stop praying and when he made a burnt offering to the Lord, the Philistines attacked. The LORD intervened and caused such confusion for the Philistines with thunder, that the Israelites were able to defeat the Philistines easily.
From then on the Philistines were ejected from Israel and the Israelites reclaimed all their land including Gath and Ekron. For as long as Samuel was the judge of Israel, the LORD ensured that the Philistines was not able to come against Israel, and there was peace in Israel. As a judge, Samuel went from city to city around Israel.
1 Samuel 7
1 Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
Samuel Judges Israel
2 So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths[a] from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths,[b] and served the LORD only.
5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
7 Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer,[c] saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Unlike other judges, Samuel was not known for his physical strength nor his skills as a warrior. Instead the impression of Samuel would be more like a priest or prophet. Yet it was Samuel as a judge, like other judges, who was instrumental in delivering Israel from the Philistines, of course the full honour goes to God. Like a prophet, Samuel warned the Israelites of their sin and commanded them to turn their hearts back to the Lord and destroy all the foreign idols. When they repented, Sameul led the Israelites into fervent prayer.
Hearing that the Israelites were repenting and unifying in their prayers, the Philistines deceided to attack. Samuel encouraged the Israelites not to stop praying and when he made a burnt offering to the Lord, the Philistines attacked. The LORD intervened and caused such confusion for the Philistines with thunder, that the Israelites were able to defeat the Philistines easily.
From then on the Philistines were ejected from Israel and the Israelites reclaimed all their land including Gath and Ekron. For as long as Samuel was the judge of Israel, the LORD ensured that the Philistines was not able to come against Israel, and there was peace in Israel. As a judge, Samuel went from city to city around Israel.
1 Samuel 7
1 Then the men of Kirjath Jearim came and took the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.
Samuel Judges Israel
2 So it was that the ark remained in Kirjath Jearim a long time; it was there twenty years. And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.
3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths[a] from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths,[b] and served the LORD only.
5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.” 6 So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.
7 Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”
9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him. 10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and drove them back as far as below Beth Car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer,[c] saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
13 So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 Then the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; and Israel recovered its territory from the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. 16 He went from year to year on a circuit to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places. 17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Ark Returned to Israel
Having captured the Ark of God, the Philistines found that they had great misfortunes including many men struck with tumors and boils. The Philistines were knowledgeable enough to suspect that it is the God of Israel who was displeased with them having the Ark. So they tried to get rid of them.
Very interesting that even when they had decided to get rid of the Ark, they had enough fear and honour of the Ark of God, that they did not just discard by the countryside. Instead they sought for the correct way to return or at least send the Ark way in a respectful way. Very funny and ironic that the sworn enemy of Israel had so much respect and fear of the Ark.
So the Philistines asked their pagan priests of how to send the Ark away. Again surprisingly, the pagan Philistine priest knew a thing or two about trespass offering. Although the priests did not get the content of the trespass offerings correct, (in Israel, offerings usually consist of rams, bulls, lamb, grain, etc, while the Philistine priests suggested five golden tumors and five golden rats), nevertheless perhaps God would not be too angered by their ignorance, since they were putting an effort.
The Philistines also knew the Exodus story as the priest warned the Philistines not to go against the will of God, and should return the Ark instead. The final plan was to send the Ark along with the offerings on a cart to be led by two cows. The test was to led the cows take the cart down the road and if they turned to Beth Shemesh, then they would know that God was responsible for the misfortunes to the Philistines but if the cows turned the other way, then it wasn't God after all. As it turned out, the cows and the cart when to Beth Shemesh, thus confirming for the Philistines that God was responsible.
The city of Beth Shemesh appeared to belong to Israel because the people were happy to see the Ark, and they had Levites there to take the Ark down. However, perhaps because the Ark was not meant to reside there permanently, so even the Israelites had done wrong in wanting to keep it. Consequently, God struck over fifty thousand males there. Finally, they called for people from Kirjath Jearim to take possession of the Ark, perhaps they knew that that was the rightful place.
1 Samuel 6
The Ark Returned to Israel
1 Now the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”
3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”
4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”
They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart? 7 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. 8 Then take the ark of the LORD and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. 9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”
10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15 The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth ShemeshEkron the same day.
17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; 18 and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
19 Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men[a] of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
The Ark at Kirjath Jearim
20 And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”
Very interesting that even when they had decided to get rid of the Ark, they had enough fear and honour of the Ark of God, that they did not just discard by the countryside. Instead they sought for the correct way to return or at least send the Ark way in a respectful way. Very funny and ironic that the sworn enemy of Israel had so much respect and fear of the Ark.
So the Philistines asked their pagan priests of how to send the Ark away. Again surprisingly, the pagan Philistine priest knew a thing or two about trespass offering. Although the priests did not get the content of the trespass offerings correct, (in Israel, offerings usually consist of rams, bulls, lamb, grain, etc, while the Philistine priests suggested five golden tumors and five golden rats), nevertheless perhaps God would not be too angered by their ignorance, since they were putting an effort.
The Philistines also knew the Exodus story as the priest warned the Philistines not to go against the will of God, and should return the Ark instead. The final plan was to send the Ark along with the offerings on a cart to be led by two cows. The test was to led the cows take the cart down the road and if they turned to Beth Shemesh, then they would know that God was responsible for the misfortunes to the Philistines but if the cows turned the other way, then it wasn't God after all. As it turned out, the cows and the cart when to Beth Shemesh, thus confirming for the Philistines that God was responsible.
The city of Beth Shemesh appeared to belong to Israel because the people were happy to see the Ark, and they had Levites there to take the Ark down. However, perhaps because the Ark was not meant to reside there permanently, so even the Israelites had done wrong in wanting to keep it. Consequently, God struck over fifty thousand males there. Finally, they called for people from Kirjath Jearim to take possession of the Ark, perhaps they knew that that was the rightful place.
1 Samuel 6
The Ark Returned to Israel
1 Now the ark of the LORD was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how we should send it to its place.”
3 So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.”
4 Then they said, “What is the trespass offering which we shall return to Him?”
They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden rats, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines. For the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your rats that ravage the land, and you shall give glory to the God of Israel; perhaps He will lighten His hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. 6 Why then do you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? When He did mighty things among them, did they not let the people go, that they might depart? 7 Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them. 8 Then take the ark of the LORD and set it on the cart; and put the articles of gold which you are returning to Him as a trespass offering in a chest by its side. Then send it away, and let it go. 9 And watch: if it goes up the road to its own territory, to Beth Shemesh, then He has done us this great evil. But if not, then we shall know that it is not His hand that struck us—it happened to us by chance.”
10 Then the men did so; they took two milk cows and hitched them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they set the ark of the LORD on the cart, and the chest with the gold rats and the images of their tumors. 12 Then the cows headed straight for the road to Beth Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and did not turn aside to the right hand or the left. And the lords of the Philistines went after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.
13 Now the people of Beth Shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley; and they lifted their eyes and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 Then the cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh, and stood there; a large stone was there. So they split the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD. 15 The Levites took down the ark of the LORD and the chest that was with it, in which were the articles of gold, and put them on the large stone. Then the men of Beth ShemeshEkron the same day.
17 These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned as a trespass offering to the LORD: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron; 18 and the golden rats, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and country villages, even as far as the large stone of Abel on which they set the ark of the LORD, which stone remains to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth Shemesh.
19 Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men[a] of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
The Ark at Kirjath Jearim
20 And the men of Beth Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? And to whom shall it go up from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”
Monday, March 28, 2011
Philistines and the Ark
If the villains in the Raiders of the Lost Ark (Indiana Jones) have read 1 Samuel 4 and 5 carefully, they may decide not to pursue the Ark of God. In the previous chapter we saw how even the enemies of Israel, such as the Philistines, learned from history that when the Ark of God was with the Israelites, they were victorious. Like the Israelites, the Philistines may incorrectly believe that it was the sacredness of the object that brought victory, rather than the reality that it was God behind the victories.
In the latest battle, the Philistines defeated Israel and captured the Ark of God. The Philistines first brought the Ark back to Ashdod, a city with their god Dagon. Miraculously the idol of Dagon was broken and the people began to fear the Ark. They moved the Ark to Gath and then to Ekron. Wherever the Ark went in the Philistines territory, the people were afflicted by tumors (emerods).
It seemed that the Philistines perhaps had more fear of the God of Israel than the Israelites themselves. For here we see that the Philistines knew the power of the God of Israel and fear Him. They also knew that their god Dagon was powerless against the God of Israel. Perhaps we will never know but there must be some Philistines who may even fear the God of Israel to the point of submitting to Him?
1 Samuel 5
The Philistines and the Ark
1 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon[a] and set it by Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. 4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso[b] was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors,[c]both Ashdod and its territory. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.” 8 Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away. 9 So it was, after they had carried it away, that the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumors broke out on them.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” 11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
In the latest battle, the Philistines defeated Israel and captured the Ark of God. The Philistines first brought the Ark back to Ashdod, a city with their god Dagon. Miraculously the idol of Dagon was broken and the people began to fear the Ark. They moved the Ark to Gath and then to Ekron. Wherever the Ark went in the Philistines territory, the people were afflicted by tumors (emerods).
It seemed that the Philistines perhaps had more fear of the God of Israel than the Israelites themselves. For here we see that the Philistines knew the power of the God of Israel and fear Him. They also knew that their god Dagon was powerless against the God of Israel. Perhaps we will never know but there must be some Philistines who may even fear the God of Israel to the point of submitting to Him?
1 Samuel 5
The Philistines and the Ark
1 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon[a] and set it by Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again. 4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon’s torso[b] was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors,[c]both Ashdod and its territory. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god.” 8 Therefore they sent and gathered to themselves all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?”
And they answered, “Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried away to Gath.” So they carried the ark of the God of Israel away. 9 So it was, after they had carried it away, that the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction; and He struck the men of the city, both small and great, and tumors broke out on them.
10 Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. So it was, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, “They have brought the ark of the God of Israel to us, to kill us and our people!” 11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go back to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people.” For there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. 12 And the men who did not die were stricken with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to heaven.
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