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Hosea 6:6 For I desired mercy and not sacrifice;
and the knowledge of God more than your burnt offerings.
Bible Chapter Studies
1A0II CHRONICLES CHAPTER 28
Welcome to the early years of seventh century B.C., the year is 632B.C., and we find the Nation of the House of Israel divided into two separate Nations: The House of Israel consisting of ten Tribes—Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Ephraim and Manasseh—occupying the Northern territories; and the House of Judah which comprises two Tribes—Judah and Benjamin—and occupying the southern territories. At present, the House of Israel has as it’s king, king Pekah, and the House of Judah has as it’s king, king Ahaz. As we are reading in the The Books of the Chronicles, we are reading things in the Esoteric, meaning, we are reading things from Father’s point of view or perspective, or in other words, events viewed from the Divine standpoint, and as seen and understood by the spiritual mind, to take that further, you could say, from the moral aspect, and you could go even further and say, for those with the “eyes to see.” The reason Father split the Nation into two separate Nations was because of the actions of Israel’s third man-king, David’s son, Solomon—as can be read in I Kings 11:1-11—taking unto himself many foreign wives, served their false gods and idols, built altars for those false gods and idols on Father’s Holy mountain, turned his back on Father, which angered Father and caused Father to tell him that He was splitting the Nation into two separate Nations, but not until Solomon returned Home to Him and his son Rehoboam took over the reign and rule of the Nation.
II Chronicles 27 brought us 20 year old king Jotham taking over the throne as co-regent for his father Uzziah. Jotham was then 25 when he actually became king of the House of Judah, and we read that his reign lasted for 16 years, meaning that he died and returned Home to Father at the young age of 41. Why so young? Because, though Jotham tried to do that which was right in the eyes of Father in following the Laws Father had given through Moses, we read that he stoped Honoring, Serving and Worshiping Father, and therefore, Father stirred up Pekah, the king of the House of Israel, who enlisted the aid of Rezin, the king of Syria, to come against Jotham. The battle between the two Nations hadn’t yet begun, they just postured and prepared for war. As the Chapter closed, Jotham died and his son Ahaz became king which is where this Chapter begins.
With that introduction being said, let’s go to Father and ask Him for His Blessings on our Study of His Word: “ Father, I come to You right now and ask that You Oh LORD Lead me and Guide me as I try and teach Your Word, don’t allow me to mis-teach or mis-lead Your Children. We, Father, also come to You as a group who desire to Learn Your Word, to thank You for inviting us to Your table in order that we might be able to partake of and receive Your Spiritual Meat, and Father, as we prepare to dine on the sustenance which sustains our inner man, we ask that You Oh LORD open our ears and eyes, that we might be able to hear and see your Truths, open our hearts and minds and prepare us in order that we may receive Your Truth. We Pray for Your Understanding of Your Word, we seek Your Knowledge in Your Word, and most importantly Father, we Pray for and desire Your Wisdom from Your Word, in Jesus’ Precious name we Pray, thank You Father, Amen.”
I Chronicles 10:1-II Chronicles 36:21
HISTORY (UP TO THE CAPTIVITY.)
(Division.)
11:1-II Chronicles 36:21 THE HOUSE
of DAVID. ESTABLISHED. (Division.)
28:1-27 AHAZ. (Introversion and Alternation.)
28:1 Introduction.
28:1 Accession.
1A1
II Chronicles 28:1 Ahaz (possessor; and, possessor) (aw-khawzי) was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem (founded peaceful; or, the habitation of peace) (Yer-oo-shaw-lahי-im): but he did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David (loving; and, well-beloved) (Daw-veedי) his father: —> Much to discuss even before we begin brethren. First, I must mention that this Chapter is complementary and runs parallel with II kings 15:38-16:20.
Unlike his father and grandfather—Jotham and Uzziah—before him; Ahaz was not 16 years old when he came into power, no, he was 4 years older, he was 20 years old. He will only reign and rule the Nation for 16 years. The verse itself is self-explanatory as to the reason he was so young when Father called him Home, it was because he was not a righteous king. As a matter of fact, Ahaz is one of Judah’s worst kings, and we’ll be reading of all the evilness which he did.
Did you notice anything missing while you were reading this verse brethren? If you go back through The Books of the Chronicles and read the opening introduction on the other kings of the House of Judah, you will read the name of their mother. Not so with Ahaz, this Pastor and author of this Study cannot explain why the writers left the name of Ahaz’s mother out, but they did not include her name in the introduction to Ahaz.
…Twenty years old…sixteen=Dr. Bullinger notes in his Companion Bible, in his Companion Notes to this verse the following: “There is no reason for concluding that “there must be an error in one of the passages” (viz. II Kings 16:2 and II Kings 18:2), for Ahaz begins in 622—My note here, 622 is a typographical error, as Ahaz actually began his kingship in 632, Dr. Bullinger in Appendix 50 of his Companion Bible even notes that 632 is when Ahaz began his rule—and reigns till 616. As he was twenty when he began, he was born in 652, and died when thirty-six. Hezekiah begins in 617, and reigns twenty-nine yearsv till 588. As he was twenty-five when he began he was therefore born in 642, and died when he was fifty-four. From this it is clear that Ahaz was between ten and eleven when his son Hezekiah was born. This sounds improbable only to Western ears. But, to Eastern ears and physiological phenomena, there is nothing unusual, and nothing to justify a conclusion that the text is corrupt—the usual excuse for ignorance of the facts.”.
…He Did not that which was right=This phrase is only used of Ahaz in II Kings 16:2 and II Chronicles 28:1. David was obviously not Ahaz’s father, though Ahaz was a descendant of David, he was David’s grand-son to the 12th generation. This verse is just saying that every one of the kings who did righteously were compared against David; whereas, all the kings who wrought evil were compared against Jeroboam. This is not to say that David was perfect and never sinned, as he committed both adultery—with Bathsheba—and murder—of Bathsheba’s husband Uriah—however, he never worshiped any god except Father YHVH, unlike Jeroboam who worshiped the golden calves he had fashioned, and also every false god under the sun, including the sun. Ahaz’s acts of evilness which out-did all the kings before him, were what brought about the Prophesies of Isaiah, Micah, Nahum, and some of the other Prophets of Father.
The LORD=This Title of Father as used here in this verse, is Father in His Role of יְהֹוָה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH, YAHVEH, or YEHOVAH—the sacred and personal name of Father. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YEHOVAH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare II Chronicles 18:31). YEHOVAH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”. We can say “My God,” but not “My YEHOVAH,” for YEHOVAH is “MY God.”.
Ahaz=For a detailed description of Ahaz, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Jerusalem=For a detailed description of Jerusalem, including the Nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
David=For a detailed description of David, including his birth, history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
28:2-4 Events. Personal, evil-doing.
28:2-4 Events. Personal, apostasy.
1A2
II Chronicles 28:2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel (he will rule as YAH; and, the prince that prevails with YAH) (Yis-raw-aleי) (secondary map), and made also molten images for Baalim. —> Yeah, Ahaz took our forefathers—spirituality wise—back to the time before king David, back to the time before man set a king over him, back to the time of the Judges. Let’s continue to the next two verses, and then I’ll remind us just what it was that their and our forefathers were doing, i.e., honoring, serving and worshiping.
Israel=For a detailed description of Israel, including his birth, his and the Nation’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
baalim
baal (baalim)=baal is the masculine, whereas baalim is the feminine of baal. When we speak of baal\baalim, we have to include the worship of asherah, ashtorah, and\or ashtoreth, because they are tied together as a unit. Wherever baal worship exists, the groves are mentioned, as well as the word “asherah.” The word “asherah” in the Hebrew is from the root word “ashar,” and it means “to be straight, erect, or upright.” It is from this word that we get the moral reference, “to be upright,” hence happy and/or prosper. The male part called “asherah”—baal—is distinguished from “ashtoreth” the female goddess, yet the images are worshipped together. The ashtoreth being representative of the productive—or passive—principle of life; and “baal“ or “asherah” being representative of the generative—or active—part of the process for producing life. In other words, this is using the sexual process in a form of worship, and the shaping of the trunks of the trees as the idols and images—groves—are done to excite the worshippers into the practice, and Father hates the practice. It was from this form that the religious practices of “evolution” that we have today came from, giving “chance,” and the reproductive processes of men and women the credit of creation and salvation for mankind. It leaves Father אלהים, ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices,: ELOHIM—the genus God, in other words, Father in His role of Creator of all things. From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4: “ELOHIM occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on II Chronicles 18:31, where it stands in contrast with YEHOVAH as indicating covenant relationship). ELOHIM is God the Son, the living “WORD” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.” In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.”. Dr. Bullinger further notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that “(with Art.) = the [true] God.”, out of the creation process, and man ends up worshipping the creation and himself, rather than the Creator, Who is The ONE and ONLY True Living God. In some religions, symbols mean everything; and the ashrah, or the “phallus” was the symbol for the baal worship. The forming of this symbol in their formed images, made from the topping of a tree, and shaping of it became the image of worship. What started out to be the honoring of the origin of life; became a corrupted form of worshipping of the organs that produce the life. These symbols in turn, became the incentive to all forms of impurity, which in time turned into nothing but sexual orgies. Since the creation of man on the sixth day and no written knowledge of what they were worshipping, we don’t really know when this all started. However, we also can look to what was happening and happened when the fallen angels came in Genesis 6, we know that they were mating with women and doing who knows what else sexually with them; but, suffice it to say, that is was probably perverted, and from it also they were worshipping the reproductive organs. We do know some of this started also in the ancient Canaanite religions, which originated way back in Nimrod’s day, who was the grandson of Noah, the son of Ham. Ham had four sons and their names were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. Canaan was the father of the Canaanites who were the originators of the current baal, and ashtorah. Nimrod was the son of Cush. It was for this reason that Father gave the commandment to Israel that when they entered into the Promised Land — Father told Abram that He was going to allow some of this to come to pass back in Genesis 15, but as soon as they came out of Egypt, they were to kill all of the Canaanites, tare down their images and destroy their groves. That’s right, Father said to utterly destroy all the men, women and children, and even their animals. Sadly, they did not listen to Father; they did not destroy the Canaanites but mixed in with them and also the Gibeonites—Hivites—as we can read of in Joshua 9, because of their disobedience to Father, the Israelites have brought all their troubles upon themselves. † For the etymology of the name Baalim, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “The word Baal is derived from the common Hebrew verb בעל (baיal), meaning to own or possess. New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List translates the name Baal with lord, Possessor, Husband. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary lists an enormous array of meanings but sticks with Possessor where translating the many specific Baal names. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names grimly states lord.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1168, - בַּעַל, - ba‛al, pronounced - bahי-al, and means: The same as H1167; Baal, a Phoenician deity: - Baal, [plural] Baalim. Total KJV occurrences: 81.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “lord. The supreme male divinity—the following emphasis is this Pastor’s and author of this Study—of the Phoenician and Canaanitish nations, as Ashtoreth was their supreme female divinity. Some suppose Baal to correspond to the sun and Ashtoreth to the moon; others that Baal was Jupiter and Ashtoreth Venus. There can be no doubt of the very high antiquity of the worship of Baal. It prevailed in the time of Moses among the Moabites and Midianites, Numbers 22:41, and through them spread to the Israelites, Numbers 25:3-18; Deuteronomy 4:3. In the times of the kings it became the religion of the court and people of the ten tribes, I Kings 16:31-33; 18:19, 22, and appears never to have been permanently abolished among them, II Kings 17:16. Temples were erected to Baal in Judah, I Kings 16:32, and he was worshipped with much ceremony, I Kings 18:19, 26-28; II Kings 10:22. The attractiveness of this worship to the Jews undoubtedly grew out of its licentious character. We find this worship also in Phoenician colonies. The religion of the ancient British islands much resembled this ancient worship of Baal, and may have been derived from it. Nor need we hesitate to regard the Babylonian Bel, Isaiah 46:1, or Belus, as essentially identical with Baal, though perhaps under some modified form. The plural, Baalim, is found frequently, showing that he was probably worshipped under different compounds.”.
1A3
II Chronicles 28:3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom (lamentation; and, lamentation) (hin-nomeי), and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. —> Remember brethren, Ahaz is of the seed-line of David, and as such, this also could have made him in the line to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; however, fortunately for us, that line went not to Solomon; but, his brother Nathan. But, anyway, Ahaz is of the Royal seed-line, and for him to follow after the heathen and paganistic practices of honoring, serving, and worshiping false gods and idols is a poke in Father’s eye. Not since the time of Solomon—I Kings 11:6-8—approximately 250 years, has any king of either House made sacrifices of their children in the fire to molech.
Valley of Hinnom
Valley of Hinnom=Also called or known as “the Valley of the son of Hinnom,” or as Father calls it in Jeremiah 7:32 and 19:6, “the Valley of slaughter.” The first mention of Valley of Hinnom in Father’s Word, is as Father was leading our forefathers into the Promised Land, and we read in Joshua 15:8 and 18:6, that it became part of the inheritance of the Tribe of Judah. The name Hinnom is not of Hebrew origin, and as it was an already established name of a place, we can assume it was named after a Jebusite or Canaanite. We know from Father’s Word, again, Joshua 15:8 and 18:6, that it was in or at the end of “the Valley of the giants.” The valley was a deep and narrow ravine, with steep, rocky sides, and lay to the south-west of the wall of Jerusalem, and was by the entry of the “East Gate”—Jeremiah 19:2. By the accounts of Solomon—I Kings 11:6-8—Ahaz—II Kings 16:2-4 and II Chronicles 28:2-4—and Manasseh in II Kings 21:6 and II Chronicles 33:6, this valley was an evil, vile place in which a particular part of the valley was called Tophet, or the “fire-stove,” where from the time before it came into our forefathers hands, was a place where the heathenist Canaanites worshipped the false god molech and burned their children in the fires in sacrifice to molech. The righteous king Josiah finally put a stop to the abominal, detestable practice, and completely defiled the valley with the bones of the lying, false prophet as can be read in II Kings 23:10,13,14 and II Chronicles 34:3,4. After our forefathers’ Exile to Babylon, in order to show their abhorrence of this locality, they made this valley, the receptacle where they burned all the garbage and refuge for the city. The fires were kept constantly burning there, and in the New Testament times, it became known as “gehenna,” from ge hinnom” or, the land of hinnom. † For the etymology of the name Hinnom, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “The name Ben-hinnom obviously consists of two elementsv the first one being the familiar noun בן (ben), meaning son: The second part of our name is harder to place, because there is nothing in Hebrew that looks like it. Traditionallyv however, the name Hinnom has always been interpreted as part of the cluster of onomatopoeic words—for the definition of this word, click here—that also contain the verbs נהה (naha), to wail or lament, and noun נהם (naham), a suppressed or muffled cry or groan: Late in the second temple period, the valley of Hinnom began to be associated with the Underworld. And since all things spiritual were associated with one’s upper body (off the ground, containing air-breathing lungs, one’s embracing arms and pondering brain), the lower body was associated with all things physical: one’s feelings, emotions, beastly drives and digestive system. This appears to have caused an association between the much discussed Gate to the Underworld, and a woman’s vagina: which only on occasion yields resurrected life (all births are resurrections), and most other times causes the demise of whoever longs for it and the bloodshed of whoever tried in vain to be born out of it. It also caused an unfortunate association between hell and all things pleasurable. In Aramaic (the language of the Targum and Talmud), our name Hinnom and the valley of Hinnom (and thus Gehenna) because synonymous for “the valley which all enter for affairs of vanity (worldly lusts)” (quoting Jastrow’s Aramaic Dictionary), and the word הנם (hinom) began to denote purposelessness, then gratuitousness, and so yielded a whole root full of words like the verb הנא (henaי), to please, profit or enjoy, and the noun הנאה (henaיa), enjoyment, pleasure. Note that the name Gehenna answers to Greek and other pagan traditions who imagined hell, the underworld, and the realm of the dead, a rather lively place. The Jewish tradition, on the other hand, imagined the afterlife to be mostly a place of sleep (Psalm 6:5, Isaiah 38:18), and called it Sheol, which means Desired or Asked For (hence the name Saul, of Israel’s first king). The meaning of name Hinnom and thus Ben-hinnom is lost in time, and most commentators refrain from translating it. Undeterred as always, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Lamentation for Hinnom. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary growls that our name’s derivation and meaning are dubious, but also lists a small army of colleagues who translated our name with Wailing, and related it to an Arabic noun conveniently meaning “cries of children”, and further declares “this improbable” (albeit without argumentation). The name Ben-hinnom probably means Son Of Wailing or Son Of Muffled Groaning. See our article on Gehenna for a lengthy look at the reality of this grim place.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2011, - הִנֹּם, - hinnôm, pronounced - hin-nomeי, and means: Probably of foreign origin; Hinnom, apparently a Jebusite: - Hinnom. Total KJV occurrences: 13.. † Now from the Smith’s Bibe Dictionary, where we read: “Lamentation. Valley of. Otherwise called “the valley of the son” or “children of Hinnom,” a deep and narrow ravine, with steep, rocky sides, to the south and west of Jerusalem, separating Mount Zion to the north from the “hill of evil counsel,” and the sloping rocky plateau of the “plain of Rephaim” to the south. The earliest mention of the valley of Hinnom is in Joshua 15:8; 18:16, where the boundary line between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin is described as passing along the bed of the ravine. On the southern brow, overlooking the valley at its eastern extremity, Solomon erected high places for Molech, I Kings 11:7, whose horrid rites were revived from time to time in the same vicinity by the later idolatrous kings. Ahaz and Manasseh made their children “pass through the fire” in this valley, II Kings 16:3; II Chronicles 28:3; 33:6, and the fiendish custom of infant sacrifice to the fire-gods seems to have been kept up in Tophet, which was another name for this place. To put an end to these abominations the place was polluted by Josiah, who rendered it ceremonially unclean by spreading over it human bones and other corruptions, II Kings 23:10,13,14; II Chronicles 34:4,5, from which time it appears to have become the common cesspool of the city, into which its sewage was conducted, to be carried off by the waters of the Kidron. From its ceremonial defilement, and from the detested and abominable fire of Molech, if not from the supposed ever-burning funeral piles, the later Jews applied the name of this valley—Ge Hinnom, Gehenna (land of Hinnom)—to denote the place of eternal torment. In this sense the word is used by our Lord, Matthew 5:29; 10:28; 23:15; Mark 9:43; Luke 12:5.”.
1A4
II Chronicles 28:4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. —> Not since the time of Solomon has any of the kings of Judah turned their back so hard on Father. Let’s turn to I Kings 11 and read concerning what Solomon was worshipping: I Kings 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. —> We know that during the first 20 years of Solomon’s reign—from age 19-39—he was focused on Father, the building of Father’s Temple, and then his own house and the palatial complex; however, once all his building appetite was sated, then his lustful appetite took over, and he no longer focused on Father YHVH only. This was the true difference between Solomon and his father David. Yes, they both lusted after the flesh, David with or for Bath-sheba, and now Solomon with or for his hundreds of women, most of whom were foreigners; however, David never turned from following, loving, serving and worshipping Father YHVH only, whereas, as we’re reading, Solomon had turned from following Father only. Brethren, there is nothing wrong with having outside interests and not focusing only on Father and His Word all the time, in fact, I encourage it; as it is healthy, however, with that being said, we should not put those interests before, or allow them to come between us and Father, as that is unhealthy and then becomes an idol. Let’s find out who these lower case “g” gods were that Solomon allowed these women to bring into Israel with them: [11:5] For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. —> Though it has now been almost 100-150 years since Israel served any of these false gods—the last time we read of them was while Israel was still under judges and not kings, we discussed them in Judges 8 and Judges 10—Solomon is now bringing them back into the Nation. It’s funny—in a non-humorous way—how these gods with the lower case “g” always spell big trouble for Israel and any other of Father’s children. Solomon’s foreign wives brought with them the worship of ashtoreth — the goddess of love and increase. They worshipped ashtoreth by having orgies. Read that as — free-for-all sex. And they worshipped milcom, the arabic pronunciation molech—addressed, called, or identified as such, in verse v11:7 below—the fire god. How was molech worshipped? By throwing their infant babies into the fire and burning them alive. Does this sound sort of familiar? It should, as it is exactly what many do in this country today: no, they don’t actually throw them into a fire and burn them alive; but, they do have free-for-all sex, and then the women when the women become pregnant, they abort the child growing in their womb. We’re about to get into some deep teaching; so sharpen up for me. As ashtoreth and milcom are mentioned in this verse, let’s do a deep dive and read all about them: ashtoreth=Ashtoreth is feminine and singular, while ashtaroth is plural. To the heathen, ashtoreth was “the goddess of love and increase;” to the Assyrians she was known as “ishtar” or “the queen of heaven.” The heathen worshipped ashtoreth—Assyrian ishtar—notice the similarity to easter—by participating in sexual orgies; read that, free-for-all sex. The worship of this false man-made god is an abomination to Father! Wherever we read the word “grove” in Father’s Word, we are reading of asherah or ashtoreth worship, and the worship of this false fertility deity was practised by the heathenistic peoples—i.e., the amorites, the assyrians, the canaanites, the edomites, the gibeonites, the girgashites, the hittites, the hivites, the jebusites, the perizzites, and the philistines—who inhabited the land before Father moved our forefathers into the land they inhabited—The Promised Land—today known as Israel. Father told our forefathers to utterly destroy these peoples because of what they were doing, but also because He knew that if our forefathers did not destroy them, then they too would begin to worship their false gods. Just what was grove, ashtoreth or asherah worship? This abominable, detestable practice was performed by the people going out into a grove of trees in a forest during the Spring, they would wear brightly colored clothing, and they would cut or shape the trunks of the trees as the idols and images—phallic in nature—in order to excite the worshippers and get them in the mood to participate in the orgies, and Father hates the practice. It was from this form that the religious practices of “evolution” which we have today came from, thereby giving “chance,” and the reproductive processes of men and women the credit of creation and salvation for mankind. It leaves Father אלהים, ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices,: ELOHIM—the genus God, in other words, Father in His role of Creator of all things—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4: “ELOHIM occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on II Chronicles 18:31, where it stands in contrast with YEHOVAH as indicating covenant relationship). ELOHIM is God the Son, the living “WORD” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.” In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.”. Dr. Bullinger further notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that “(with Art.) = the [true] God.”—out of the creation process, and man ends up worshipping the creation and himself, rather than the Creator, Who is The ONE and ONLY True Living God. In some religions, symbols mean everything; and the ashrah, or the “phallus” was the symbol for the baal worship. The forming of this symbol in their formed images, made from the topping of a tree, and shaping of it became the image of worship. What started out to be the honoring of the origin of life; became a corrupted form of worshipping of the organs that produce the life. These symbols in turn, became the incentive to all forms of impurity, which in time turned into nothing but sexual orgies. Since the creation of man on the sixth day and no written knowledge of what they were worshipping, we don’t really know when this all started. However, we also can look to what was happening and happened when the fallen angels came in Genesis 6, we know that they were mating with women and doing who knows what else sexually with them; but, suffice it to say, that is was probably perverted, and from it also they were worshipping the reproductive organs. We do know some of this started also in the ancient Canaanite religions, which originated way back in Nimrod’s day, who was the grandson of Noah, the son of Ham. Ham had four sons and their names were Cush, Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. Canaan was the father of the Canaanites who were the originators of the current baal, and ashtorah. Nimrod was the son of Cush. It was for this reason that Father gave the commandment to Israel that when they entered into the Promised Land — Father told Abram that He was going to allow some of this to come to pass back in Genesis 15, but as soon as they came out of Egypt, they were to kill all of the Canaanites, tare down their images and destroy their groves. That’s right, Father said to utterly destroy all the men, women and children, and even their animals. Sadly, they did not listen to Father; they did not destroy the Canaanites but mixed in with them and also the Gibeonites—Hivites—as we can read of in Joshua 9, because of their disobedience to Father, the Israelites have brought all their troubles upon themselves. Today, almost the entire Christian Nation continues this abominal practice. No, they do not go out into groves and cut trees, nor do they participate in the orgies of old; but, they do bring forth the symbolism of the old heathen, paganistic ways. How, you ask? Today, because of the tradition of the 18th century Germans who brought their tradition to Pennsylvania, and of Queen Victoria of England, who was known to hold egg hunts for her children on the Thursday before “easter,” Christians celebrate “easter”—Christ’s resurrection, not His death, His sacrifice for us, which is what Father told us to celebrate and is what cleanses us and forgives us of our sins—by teaching the children of an “easter bunny”—rabbits are known for mating—and by holding “easter egg hunts”—symbols of fertility and reproduction—which have nothing to do with Father’s Passover, the Christian nation has stopped teaching the True meaning of Passover and now say that it is Christ’s resurrection which saves us, which is just not true. † For the etymology of the name ashtoreth, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “Ashtoreth (that’s singular; Ashtaroth is plural) is the Hebrew name of a female fertility goddess, which was worshipped from Egypt to Mesopotamia, and by various and often related names. Sometimes these names were phonetic adaptations of originals, grafted on existing verbal stems, which already meant something. Because of this, these adopted names reflected meanings that may not have been the same as the original, and the associated deities might evolve separately into different personalities. Examples of these (semi-)same and similarly named fertility goddesses are Astarte, Attart, Athor, Ishtar—my note here, sadly, this is who today’s Christians are ignorantly worshipping when they celebrate their “easter,” notice the similarity between ishtar and easter, easter is only found in 1 (one) place and time in all of Father’s Word Acts 12:4 and even there, our King James translators mis-translated the word pascha, Greek word number: G3957,—and possibly Isis. On other occasions, the new names were translations or interpretations of the original, which resulted in whole other names but with similar meanings. Examples of this kind are Aphrodite, Juno, Diana and Venus. It’s ultimately unclear which name is the oldest, and which original idea was expressed in the worship of this deity, but she’s often connected with stars, or specifically the evening star or Venus. The similar-sounding names seem to have a common root that has to do with blessedness, and its link to this goddess’ celestial attributes gave us the word star (or vice versa). The singular name Ashtoreth occurs a mere three times in the Bible. In I Kings 11:5 we are told that in his later years, the proverbially wise king Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians. When Jeroboam rebelled against Solomon on account of the latter building the mysterious Millo (I Kings 11:27), the prophet Ahijah informed Jeroboam that the united kingdom of Israel would breach as a result of the worship of, among others, Ashtoreth (I Kings 11:33). The shrines that Solomon built for Ashtoreth would not be demolished until the reforms of king Josiah, almost four centuries later (II Kings 23:13). The “Queen of Heaven” as mentioned by Jeremiah is probably Ishtar, the Assyrian version of Ashtoreth (Jeremiah 7:18, 44:17-19, 44:25). Our name in plural occurs a few more times, first in Judges 2:13, but see our article on Ashtaroth for the details. Our name in plural also belonged to a city in Bashan (Deuteronomy 1:4). There is also a town called Ashteroth-karnaim. It’s mentioned in the story of the War of Four Against Five Kings as the place where the tetrad alliance defeated the Rephaim (Genesis 14:5). , The second part of our name and word could be construed to have to do with the plural word תרת (torot; Jeremiah 44:23), meaning laws, instructions or in this case: customs. It’s the plural of the familiar word תורה (tora): The name Ashtoreth is probably a phonetic rendering of something that meant something else in another language, but the way it was transliterated into Hebrew, it looks like it is a compressed version of עשת תרת ss(יashat torot), meaning something like Cohesiveness Of Instructions, an obvious reference to the one-ness of all natural forces and thus the one-ness of its Creator. Here at Abarim Publications we’re guessing that the phrase עשתרות צאנך (ashtarot soיnek) does not relay the fertility of a herd of sheep, but rather their propensity to stay together as one group. When two or more herds meet, the herds with the weaker cohesion will be assimilated by the one with greater cohesion. It’s that same עשתרות צאנך (ashtarot soיnek) that let the Jews and the Jewish culture survive for 2,000 years while various other famous peoples, from the Scythians to the Medes, are gone for good. Moreover, when YHVH speaks of עשתרות צאנך (ashtarot soיnek), He’s probably not speaking about someone’s life stock.” † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6253, - עַשְׁתֹּרֶת, - ‛ashtôreth, pronounced - ash-toי-reth, and means: Probably for H6251; increase; Ashtoreth, the Phoenician goddess of love (and increase): - Ashtoreth. Total KJV occurrences: 3.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “A star. The principal female divinity of the Phœnicians, called Ishtar by the Assyrians and Astarte by the Greeks and Romans. She was by some ancient writers identified with the moon. But on the other hand the Assyrian Ishtar was not the moon-goddess, but the planet Venus; and Astarte was by many identified with the goddess Venus (or Aphrodite), as well as with the plant of that name. It is certain that the worship of Astarte became identified with that of Venus, and that this worship was connected with the most impure rites is apparent from the close connection of this goddess with Asherah, I Kings 11:5,33; II Kings 23:13.”. milcom=milcom was the false god worshipped by the Ammonites, and was essentially the exact same false god chemosh, worshipped by the ammonites cousins, the moabites. milcom is also called by another name, and that name is the false god molech, the god of fire. milcom and molech were worshipped in Old Testament times, by the abominable and detestable practise of burning peoples children in fires as a sacrifice; today, milcom and\or molechism is worshipped by what we term as abortion, the killing of the babies while still in the mothers womb. † For the etymology of the name milcom, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) states that Milcom is another name for Molech, also an Ammonite god. But note that in II Kings 23:10 Molech is mentioned separately from Milcom in verse 13, and while I Kings 11:5 mentions Milcom of Ammon, verse 11:7 speaks of Molech. The name Milcom comes from the noun מלך (melek), meaning king: Where this name’s final letter ם (mem) comes from is disputed. One possibility is that the name Milcom comes from the Moabite language, and simply ended up like this due to linear transliteration. But to a Hebrew audiencev this final mem may certainly have represented meaning. Alfred Jones (Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) recognizes in the names Malcam and Milcom intensitive forms of our noun מלך (melek), and translates Malcam with Most High King, and, curiously, Milcom with just High King. But this final mem could also be construed as the masculine plural pronominal suffix. That would give the names Malcam and Milcom the meaning of Their King. This latter interpretation is favored by New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary refrains from interpreting these names.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H4445, - מַלְכָּם,ss or מִלְכּוֹם, - malkâm, or milkôm, pronounced - mal-kawmי or mil-komeי, and means: From H4428 king and H4432; molek (that is, king); Malcam or Milcom, the national idol of the Ammonites: - Malcham, Milcom. Total KJV occurrences: 5.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “King. The fire-god Molech was the tutelary deity of the children of Ammon, and essentially identical with the Moabitish Chemosh. Fire-gods appear to have been common to all the Canaanite, Syrianv and Arab tribes, who worshipped the destructive element under an outward symbol, with the most inhuman rites. According to Jewish tradition, the image of Molech was of brass, hollow within, and was situated without Jerusalem. “His face was (that) of a calf, and his hands stretched forth like a man who opens his hands to receive (something) of his neighbor. And they kindled it with fire, and the priests took the babe and put it into the hands of Molech, and the babe gave up the ghost.” Many instances of human sacrifices are found in ancient writers, which may be compared with the description in the Old Testament of the manner in which Molech was worshipped. Molech was the lord and master of the Ammonites; their country was his possession, Jeremiah 49:1, as Moab was the heritage of Chemosh; the princes of the land were the princes of Malcham, Jeremiah 49:3; Amos 1:15. His priests were men of rank, Jeremiah 49:3, taking precedence of the princes. The priests of Molech, like those of other idols, were called Chemarim, II Kings 23:5; Hosea 10:5; Zephaniah 1:4.”. [11:6] And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. —> …Solomon did evil…=Solomon did as his and our forefathers did right after the time of the Judge Gideon whom Father had sent to remove all the evil the Israelites had been doing. As soon as Gideon died, our forefathers went right back to it. Let’s return and review what we had read back in Judges 8:33, which reads: Judges 8:32 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. [8:33] And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god. —> For being obedient to Father and removing all the forms of pagan worship and the false gods and idols which went with that worship, Father blessed Gideon with a long life. But, as soon as he was dead and returned Home to Father; our foolish and sottish forefathers, who were almost chomping at the bit waiting for Gideon to die, turned their hearts away from Father and went back to whoring after baal. Let’s see what, or who, “baal-berith” was. We find, that in the Strong’s Concordance, this is Hebrew word number 1170, - בַּעַל בְּרִית, - Ba'al Beriyth, pronounced - bahי-al-ath beh-ayrי and means: From H1168 and H1285; baal of (the) covenant, Baal Berith, a special deity of the Shechemites: Baal berith. Total KJV occurrences: 2.. Now let’s look at Strong’s numbers H1168 and then 1285: H1168, - בַּעַל, - ba‛al, pronounced - bahי-al, and means: The same as H1167; Baal, a Phoenician deity: - Baal, [plural] Baalim. Total KJV occurrences: 81.. Now H1285, - בְּרִית, - berı̂yth, pronounced - ber-eethי, and means: From H1262 (in the sense of cutting (like H1254)); a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh): - confederacy, [con-]feder[-ate], covenant; league. Total KJV occurrences: 284.. So, in other words, our forefathers whored after “baal-of the covenant.” Several problems in this brethren: in the true sense, there is no baal, as baal is an imaginary false god; and in whoring after baal, they substituted Father YHVH—The One and Only True Covenant Maker and Keeper—and His Covenant which He made as an everlasting Covenant to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, with something that was false and imaginary. They forsook Father—Dr. Bullinger has a note at Judges 2:12 which I like, it states: “Religion is not a gradual evolution to what is higher, but a declension to what is lower.”—and every time they forsook Him, we read that “they did that which was right in their own eyes.” Much like the world today, we too cast Father as far from us, in order to do that which is right in our own eyes. Wherever baal worship exists; the groves are always mentioned, as well as asherah or ashtoreth. As we learned already, the asherah or ashtoreth was where they carved the trees into phallic symbols in the groves and held their orgies. What we saw in The Book of the Judges, was that, all the times that baal, asherah and groves were used in the form of worship, they were all tied together and not separated, and that was for a reason. It deals with a tree with the tops cut off, and the trunk or stump fashioned into a certain shape. We learn in Deuteronomy 16, that the Israelites were not to be like the heathen and worship as they. Let’s trace this all the way back to get the full understanding of it: Deuteronomy 16:21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee. —> As we’ve already read, when we take the word “grove” back into the Hebrew, we see the word “asherah;” and we know this is not talking about just planting trees, but what you make of those trees once they have grown to maturity. It deals with how you shape the trees, and what those shapes are symbols of and represent. We already know they shaped the asherah into phallic symbols, but let’s continue tracing this back. These shaped tree stumps were set erect into the ground. We learn when we go to The Book of Isaiah, that this was going on as well: Isaiah 17:8 And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves or the images. —> Once again, we see the groves and the images are tied together. Likewise again, the Hebrew text refers to the groves as “asherah,” and the images this time, to the “sun.” Again, these groves of shaped tree trunks were set erect in the ground. They were made of wood or sometimes the images were shaped from stone. This is why Gideon was able to cut down those groves as we read in Judges 6:26, where Gideon got his name Jerabbaal — the “cutter down.” He also followed the command of Father to build an altar to Father and worship Him, which was fine. But later, without Father’s command, he built the war memorial and also took the gold earrings and erected an image — the ephod. Continuing our tracing this back, we next find this “asherah” of a living tree coupled with “Mazzeroth” or “pillars of stone,” it is connected directly to baal-worship. The male part called “asherah” is distinguished from the female part called the “ashtoreth” — the female goddess, yet the images are worshipped together. The Ashtoreth being representative of the productive—or passive—principle of life; and baal being representative of the generative—or active—part of the process for producing life. In other words this is using the sexual process in a form of worship, and the shaping of the trunks of trees as the idols and images to excite the worshippers into the practice, and Father hates the practice. Pillars of stone or stones of worship=Baal and asherah worship are set up all over the Semitic world today, even in Arabia. We also find, even the Mohammedan sacred stone, the “kaaba” which is in Mecca, remains an object of reverence. Like every form of pagan religion, the stones and tree trunks have to do with the “flesh,” and then we also have the law of evolution. Evolution is seen as the progress of man’s works, because he considers himself to have begun in the simplest form — in ignorance, and through the development and learning process of mistakes and failures, achieve to the point he is today. We read in Isaiah 57:6: Isaiah 57:6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? —> When you see the phrase “smooth stones,” know and understand that smooth stones were used for “lots,” — “to apportion or separate.” It forms the Greek word for “Stigma,” and it should be a warning to us as: (1) it separates us from Father; and (2) it comes from the number 6-6-6, which has nothing to do with an actual number, but to the word stigma, which is the counting of stones worn smooth over a long period of time. The stones are the number for a man, and that man is satan, and when you know and understand satan, you will know his children. Therefore, this verse is addressing the identity of the kenites. These were written as examples to the generation of the end times, and we today are living in those times. The drink offerings and meat offerings in this verse are those things which you use in your worship service, to seek forgiveness for your sins, and as love offerings to Father. Today, most churches have allowed the kenite traditions—the smooth stones of the stream—and their “lot” or “traditions” to become the drink offering and meat offering to Father; and He is asking, “Should I receive comfort in these?” [57:7] Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifices. [57:8] Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than Me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. —> This bed which Father is speaking of in this verse, is not something that you sleep in, no, it represents something quite religious. Today, instead of painting the door outside and over the top with the Lamb’s blood, which is to say, the blood of Jesus Christ who became our Passover, Christians paint a substitute for the blood on the inside of the door post of their hearts. The Lamb’s blood forces satan, the death angel, to pass over you, and when something other than the blood is on the inside—which is behind the doors and the posts, it means that they have turned back to heathenism. The word for “bed” is in the Strong’s Concordance, Hebrew word number: H4904, - מִשְׁכָּב, - mishkâb, pronounced - mish-kawbי, and means: From H7901; a bed; (figuratively a bier); abstractly sleep; by euphemism carnal intercourse: - bed ([-chamber]), couch, lieth (lying) with. Total KJV occurrences: 46.. So, in other words, “bed,” or “mish-kawb” is a place for “sexual joining.” What it is then saying, is that, you enjoy the heathen religious experiences, and you have not saved yourself as a virgin for Me, but you have given yourself over to another. This is exactly what Jesus taught in Matthew 24:19, which reads: Matthew 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days. —> Jesus expects you to be one of the virgins, spiritually speaking, who remained true to Him, right up to the moment of His return. When you have given yourself over to the first christ, satan in his role of the antichrist, then you have gone a whoring, and are “with child”—spiritually impregnated—from satan. The subject of this verse is the word “bed;” so, as we already looked that word up in the Strong’s Concordance, and saw that it was Hebrew word number H4904, and was taken from H7901, let’s take this word back to its prime root meaning: H7901, - שָׁכַב, - shâkab, pronounced - shaw-kabי, and means: A primitive root, to lie down (for rest, sexual connection, decease or any other purpose): - X at all, cast down, ([over-]) lay (self) (down), (make to) lie (down, down to sleep, still, with), lodge, ravish, take rest, sleep, stay. Total KJV occurrences: 210.. The “covenant” that Father is referring to in Isaiah 57:8, is a “marriage contract” which you have made with satan when you are lying in his bed and doing the work of his world system to draw others to him. Father is saying “thou lovedst their bed,” or in other words — you like to crawl into satan’s bed and do his work. …thou sawest it=This is when you saw satan’s manhood. In other words, satan’s system beckons to you, and in ignorance—because you have not been taught Father’s True Word—you will be drawn to him joyfully, because your church house is training you right now to do so. Christians are supposed to be “the bride of Christ,” however, most of them don’t know how to identify their True husband when He does arrive; sure, they say right now they do, or “they know His voice,” but sadly, they will be deceived by the false who comes first. And then when the True comes, He’ll say, “get away from Me, I never knew you. Symbols mean everything in religious form, and the asherah, or the “phallus” became the symbol for the baal worship. What started out to be the honoring of the origin of life, became corrupted into a form of worshipping the organs which produce the life. These symbols then in turn, became the incentive to all forms of impurity, which in time turned into nothing but sexual orgies. The start of these principle forms started in the ancient canaanite religions, which originated way back in Nimrod’s day, who was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah. Ham had four sons, and their names were Cush, and Mizraim, Phut, and Canaan. Genesis 10:8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. [10:9] He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, “Even as Nimrod the might hunter before the Lord.” —> It is from Ham’s son — Canaan, that the Canaanites came: and the one to first give form to the “one world religious order" was Cush’s son — Nimrod. This family of Canaanites is where the development of baal and ashtoreth took hold and spread. It then spread over the entire face of the earth when Nimrod’s kingdom was split when Father confused the people with different languages after they built the “tower of Babel.” In that ancient Semerian religion, Nimrod was the male form, and believed to have become the sun. Nimrod’s wife Semiremis, took on the goddess form after her death, that at first, she was called Shamash. Then she universally took on the name of Ishtar, as well as other forms such as Diana of Corinth in the time of Paul. Every ancient system of idolatry is connected with astrology and, these were not something which was new, but a twisting and corrupting of what was old, and then accepted from the early days of the Canaanites. There can be no doubt about the origin of all “phallic worship,” pure and simple, for this abomination was common to all the ancient nations, and relics from all over the world are found which prove this fact. What first started by the Canaanites in the world system of Nimrod, spread when Father scattered the people at the tower of Babel. Genesis 11:4 And they said, “Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.” —> In the Hebrew text, this let us make us a great name, reads, “let us provide our own salvation.” These same people lived to hear and remember from those who went through the great flood of Noah’s day. All of the souls which went through the flood, were alive in the day that Nimrod was setting up this new world order. They were banded together to keep from being spread abroad. They also knew that Father had made a covenant with Noah that mankind would never be destroyed by flood waters again. However, they did not believe Father, nor did they trust Him. They knew of Nimrod’s strength, and the people relied on him for their security. They trusted Nimrod. In the 1930s Hitler and the Nazis rose to power under the same conditions — protection, security, law and order. The Germans also had faith in Hitler to bring them peace and prosperity, however, they did not consider the cost. To me, this sounds like our current occupier of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. In the phrase “a name,” this shows that the people desired their independence from Father. [11:5] And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. —> Father has stated in His Word what man has to do to be saved, however, man continues to try, even to this day, to build his towers in order to reach his own false peace and salvation. Man tries to move to bypass the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ and His shed blood on the cross. They have rejected Father’s plan, and instead, substituted their own man made forms of religions. The term “come down,” in the Hebrew, is “anthropopatheia,” it is the ascribing to Father — the things which belong to human and rational beings, irrational creatures, or inanimate things — all which He hates. [11:6] And the LORD said, “Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. [11:7] Go to, let Us go down, and there confounded their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” —> The phrase “let Us go down” in the Hebrew text, shows that Judgment is going to take place to these people. [11:8] So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. [11:9] Therefore is the name of it called Babel: because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. —> Keep in mind that this event is called “Babel;” not the location. The subject is what the people were doing, and that was to create a way on their own, for their own salvation. The word Babel in the Hebrew tongue, means, “confusion.” It was through Father confusing their language, that He scattered the peoples of the earth. It was also the confusion of man substituting Father’s plan and covenants, for their own that man formed his religions. It is from confusion that the word “Babylon” came. These early Canaanites were the founders of the ancient Babylon, the Babylon prior to the Babylon of Nebuchadzeddar’s kingdom of Daniel’s day. This was why Father commanded our forefathers to destroy the Canaanites when He brought them up out of Egypt. These Canaanites were the mixture, and the descendants of the fallen angels which came to earth to breed with women during the second influx after the flood. This is described in The EPISTLE of Jude — the time when the fallen angels left their first estate, or “habitation” and came to earth, disregarding Father’s orders to them. Sadly, our forefathers did not listen to Father and destroy the Canaanites, but instead, made covenants with them their neighbors, and took upon themselves, their false gods. That is what The Book of Judges is all about. Every time a Judge died, our forefathers went right back into baal, asherah and grove worship. As we read, after the death of Solomon, Father split the Nation of Israel into two separate nations or “Houses,” it was also because of the sins of the House of Israel in following these heathen religious forms, that Father separated Himself from the House of Israel. Then, after He became flesh, through His death and resurrection, the way was made so that we of the House of Israel could be drawn back to Him. Though the practices of these heathen forms may not look the same today, the symbols of those ancient forms are just as much present today in the Christian church houses as they were then, only we like to cover them over by redefining what they are. In ignorance, man seems to think that because he can con himself, he can also con Father. Our Heavenly Father hates all forms of those ancient religious practices, and He is a Jealous God, which most Christians can’t and don’t comprehend. Today, much of baal and ashtoreth worship is preserved in veiled language, in secret fraternities, i.e., Freemasonry, Theosophy, and in the Roman Church. The language of these religious forms are so concealed, that those using it probably have little idea at all what it is pertaining to, or what they are perpetuating. In those ancient symbols “I O” proclaims “sex as the true God of Hosts,” as the Jewish Kabala declares. The reason for so deep of detail here on baal, ashtoreth and grove worship, is because we will continue to see these forms of worship throughout the rest of Father’s Word, so we better understand right now, just what it is that Father so hated and despised. Many of those things have come down through the centuries and are appearing in new forms in the church houses today. Solomon told us — “There is nothing new under the sun,” and today, the movement is to drive Father completely out our public schools. Sure, they have cleaned up the orgies and renamed ideas with names like evolution, and darwinismv but, they have also brought in forms of baalism with the condoning sodomy and pedophylia as “different life styles.” Look closely at how they are grooming our children in the “education houses,” otherwise called, schools, heck, even the lutheran church is allowing trans-gender story hour. Returning now to my commentary on I Kings 11:6, we read the phrase, “…went not fully…,” in other words, Solomon split his worship between Father and all the other gods his foreign wives brought in with them, which is why Father told and commanded the Israelites to not mix—marry—with the other races, or peoples. He knew, and even forwarned Moses and had it recorded in The Law, which, Solomon wrote his own copy and therefore: knew, but, did it anyway because of his lust of the flesh. Truly this is was the difference between David and his son Solomon. David stayed true to Father and never served any other gods, Solomon on the other hand, when he became older—and I believe because of an over inflated ego—served any and all gods. [11:7] Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. —> A moment ago we reviewed from Judges 8, let’s now go back and review a little from Judges 10: Judges 10:6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not Him.
—> No sooner had the Judges who kept our forefathers just above the borderline of slipping back into idolatry died, our forefathers fell immediately back into whoredom and worshipping other, false gods: baal and ashtaroth; the gods of the syrians — bel, saturn or jupiter, and astarte; the gods of the Zidonians — ashtaroth, astarte and venus; the gods of moabites — chemosh; the gods of the ammonites — milcom or molech; and the gods of the philistines — dagon. We already covered asherah and ashtoreth, and baalim and baal-berith above; but, since Father is calling our attention to the other false gods here in I Kings 11:7, it’ll be good to go into a deeper study of all these lower case “g” gods: ashtaroth, astarte, baal, chemosh, bel, and dagon. There is no need to get into too much detail of jupiter and saturn, as they are planets, and that is easy enough to understand — planet worship, worshipping Father’s cretion. ashtaroth= As I mentioned doing the deep-dive on ashtoreth above, ashtaroth is just the plural of ashtoreth. Now, exactly how the heathen and our forefathers performed the worship service or what they did is unclear; but, we can only assume and or imagine that they had multiple images set-up in their groves as they performed their orgies. We’ll read below that it is Strong’s Hebrew word number: H6252 and to see also H6255 which was ashtaroth karnahyim, which translated means ashtaroth of (the) double horns, this sounds like the “picture” we have of satan today. † For the etymology of the name ashtatoth, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Ashtaroth is the plural of the name Ashtoreth, which was the Hebrew equivalent of Astarte, the goddess of fertility and all that. This plural form is sometimes used to indicate multiple manifestations of this deity but often to reflect an intense veneration of one. The name Ashtaroth appears on the Biblical stage when Israel has just settled in Canaan. After Joshua died, the Israelites forsook YHVH and began to dedicate themselves to Baal and Ashtaroth (Judges 2:13). Again after the death of the judge Jair, Israel followed the Baals and Ashtaroth (Judges 10:6). During the days of Samuel, Israel rejected Ashtaroth (I Samuel 7:4, 12:10) but when king Saul died on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines took his weapons and placed them in their temple of Ashtaroth (I Samuel 31:10). We don’t hear from Ashtaroth or Ashtoreth, until no other than Solomon reintroduces it during the final days of his life (I Kings 11:5). Our name Ashtaroth is commonly spelled עשתרות but the shorter form עשתרת is applied once to Og’s hometown (Deuteronomy 1:4) and once to a plural of Ashtoreth (I Samuel 7:4). The etymology and meaning of the name Ashtaroth are a bit complicated. Please see our article on ashtoreth for a closer look.. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6252, - עַשְׁתָּרוֹת,ss or עַשְׁתָּרֹת, - ‛ashtârôth, or ‛ashtârôth, pronounced - ash-taw-rothי or ash-taw-rothי, and means: Plural of H6251; Ashtaroth, the name of a Sidonian deity, and of a place East of the Jordan: - Ashtaroth, Astaroth. See also H1045, H6253, H6255. Total KJV occurrences: 12.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Ashיtaroth and once Asיtaroth, A star. A city on the east of Jordan in Bashan, in the kingdom of Og, doubtless so called from being a seat of the worship of the goddess of the same name Deuteronomy 1:4; Joshua 9:10; 12:4; 13:12.”. chemosh= Chemosh Was the sun god worshipped by the Moabites, and the ammonites, and is identified somewhat with baal-peor, of which we read of in Numbers 23 and 25: Numbers 23:28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. —> Balak took Balaam to a high place where they worship baal, thinking that they can worship Father YHVH here as well. He just doesn’t get—like most Christians today—that you cannot Worship Father and any other gods—lower case “g”—at the same time or place. There is only one True God, and He is ELOAH, The One and Only True Living God. Peor was the mountain on which baal was worshipped. What does Peor mean? In the Hebrew, in the Strong’s, it is word number H6465 and means: gap, or opening. † For the etymology of the name chemosh, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “It’s a mystery where the name Chemosh comes from. It’s obviously Semitic but in Hebrew there is no triliteral root כמש (kms), as far as we know. According to recovered Moabite texts, the father of king Mesha (מישע) of Moab was called Chemoshmelek (כמשמלך, an extra-biblical name comparable in form to Biblical names like Elimelech and Abimelech), which seems to suggest that Chemosh (כמוש) may be Che-mesha, formed from the prefix כ (ke): And the verb ישע (yashav) meaning to save: It’s highly likely that the Hebrew authors who wrote down this name knew very well what it was supposed to mean in Moabite, but as they copied it from Moabite into Hebrew, it came to mean something else (something similar would occur with, say, the German word schlimm, meaning bad or terrible, which transliterated into Dutch would be slim, meaning clever or smart, which in English means slender or thin). As is, the name Chemosh in Hebrew looks like it consists of כ (ke) plus an expression of the verb מוש (mush): It’s ultimately unknown what the name Chemosh meant to the Moabites, but to the Hebrew authors it may originally have sounded like As If He Saves, but made to sound like it meant As If He Feels or As If He Moves.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3645, - כּמיש,ss or כּמוש, - kemôsh, or kemı̂ysh, pronounced - kem-osheי or kem-eeshי, and means: From an unused root meaning: to subdue; the powerful; Kemosh, the god of the Moabites: - Chemosh. Total KJV occurrences: 9.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible dictionary, where we read: “Subduer. The national deity of the Moabites Numbers 21:29;Jeremiah 48:7,13,46. In Judges 11:24 he also appears as the god of the Ammonites. Solomon introduced, and Josiah abolished, the worship of Chemosh at Jerusalem I kings 11:7; II Kings 23:13. Also identified with Baal-peor, Baalzebub, Mars and Saturn.”. dagon=This man-made false deity was the fictitious fish-god of the Philistines and was represented as having the torso of a fish, with the hands and head of a man. The first introduction to dagon in Father’s Word was in the story of Samson in Judges 16, where we read: Judges 16:23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, “Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.” —> The Philistines were incorrect, as it was Father who delivered Samson into their hand in order to fulfill His plan; see, through Samson, more Philistines will lose their lives than at any time previous in Father’s Word. We next read—in I Samuel 5—of this false deity in the account of the Philistines capturing Father’s Ark. Again, it was Father Who allowed His Ark to be taken by the Philistines, as our forefathers had taken His Ark to the front-lines in their battle against the Philistines, without first seeking Father. Because they did not seek Him, He gave them into the Philistines hands and the Philistines were allowed to capture His Ark. But, again, this too was part of Father’s Plan, as He was going to show and prove to the Philistines that He is The One and Only True Living God. Let’s turn to I Samuel 5 and read what happened when the Philistines had His Ark: I Samuel 5:1 And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod. —> When the Philistines had captured Father’s Ark, they took it to Eben-ezer. Now, we read here that they then took it to their capital city of Ashdod. Ashdod was one of the five confederate cities of the Philistines, situated about 30 miles from the southern frontier of Palestine, 3 miles from the Mediterranean Sea, and nearly midway between Gaza and Joppa. It was assigned to the tribe of Judah in Joshua 15:47; but, was never subdued by our forefathers. Its chief importance arose from its position on the high road from Palestine to Egypt. [5:2] When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it by Dagon. —> Big, big error here on the part of the Philistines. You don’t take something from The One and Only True Living God, Eloah, and place it in or next to your false god and think things will be OK. Here is how foolish or stupid these Philistines are, for in I Samuel 4:7, they said they knew how He had fought for the Israelites and brought them up out of Egypt. Let’s read it: I Samuel 4:7 And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, “God is come into the camp.” And they said, “Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore. —> These Philistines were afraid of Father, and rightfully so; for, they knew how powerful and mighty He is, listen to what they say in the next verse: [4:8] Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. —> They knew it was Father Who smote the Egyptians with the plagues and yet they are still ignorant enough now, to bring His Ark to their “fortified” city and place it in the house of their “make-believe” god — dagon. What do you think Father will do? [5:3] And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. —> Father was present in that temple in Ashdod; for the Ark of the Covenant was not the presence of Father, but it was His place of abode here on earth. The blessed artifacts that Father had set before man to remind them of His faithfulness and love for us were all stored in the Ark of the Covenant. They were reminders of His Word and Promises which he gave to His People, the Israelites. They were not intended for the heathen; yet, through the failure of the high priest, Eli, and the priesthood—Eli’s sons Hophni and Phinehas—and their indifference, here sat the Mercy Seat of God before the fictitious dagon, and dagon simply could not stand before the True God. The mercy seat is where Father gives His mercy to all those who will call out to Him and ask it. Yet even today, people will not call out to Father for mercy, even when it is there before them to freely ask for. In His presence, these Philistines’ false god fell on its face, and when they entered into the house of dagon the next morning, they saw their god lying there on its face in the dirt before the Ark of YHVH. And they had to set it in an upright position again, for it had no powers to set itself upright. [5:4] And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him. —> All that was left of the image of Dagon was the stump; the human portions were completely cut-off and removed from the fish portion. Do you think these Philistines have gotten the message yet that Father—ELOAH—is The One and Only True Living God? No, sadly for them, they have not. Even though they are seeing with their own eyes, they believe not. All it took was for one non-believer to tell them that they could beat the Israelites and their God; and they gained the courage to stand and fight. Today is no different, for many today still just cannot see Father and His majesty, His splendor. Today, we have those one or two atheists and homosexuals standing and telling the other nonbelievers—“there is no God, only humanism, therefore do as your flesh desires for there are no consequences”—and others just follow along because they now also have courage to stand against Father and His ways. They will find that when they too awaken — open their spiritual eyes either upon death or at Jesus’ return, that their gods of humanism, sodomy and such will likewise be broken. The good news for them, is that when Jesus does return for His Second Advent, they’ll have one thousand years to accept Him and His ways. [5:5] Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon’s house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. —> Father was finally getting their attention that their god dagon could not stand in His presence and after they removed the human portions, no one who from then on entered into the house of dagon stepped on the threshold, they all jumped over it for they were afraid that they too might have their hands and head cut off. [5:6] But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. —> Destroyed them=This translates back to the Hebrew meaning that Father got their attention, He really astonished or scared them because in the Strong’s Concordance, this is Hebrew Word number: H8074, - שָ מֵם, - shâmêm, pronounced - shaw-mameי, and means: A primitive root; to stun (or intransitively grow numb) , that is, devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense): - make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish (-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate (-ion, places) , be destitute, destroy (self) , (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder. Total KJV occurrences: 89.. Yes, it could also have meant that He destroyed them; but, when combined with the rest of the verse, you see that Father did not kill them, only truly got their attention so that they no longer wanted His Ark in their presence. How did Father amaze them? By giving every one of them emerods, or what we today call hemorrhoids. And, I mean, they were deep, painful hemorrhoids; so bad, that none of them any longer wanted His Ark in their city. [5:7] And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, “The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for His hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.”
—> These Philistines took a beating for their taking the Ark of the Covenant as one of their spoils of war and bringing it to Ashdod. They knew exactly where their trouble was coming from, and Who was at the cause of their discomfort. The fact that dagon’s head and hands were broke off showed that dagon had no power for them anymore; and with all the inhabitants having their hemorrhoids, it shows us that Father does have a sense of humor. † For the etymology of the name dagon, we read the following in Abarim-Publications: “Dagon of the Philistines is often assumed to be a kind of fish-god, which was known with some degree of variation from Babylon to Egypt. This fish-god, with the body of a fish but human hands and head, appeared under different names (for instance Odakon), even to the extent that it becomes difficult to establish where one deity ends and the next one begins. Sometimes he is a fertility god, sometimes a storm god and sometimes a maritime god. There was a fish-god named Dagan in Assyria and Babylon and scholars generally agree that this name came from a root dgn, meaning grain. But in his article on the Philistine Dagon in Hastings Dictionary of the Bible, N. Koenig states that “an identification of this god [Dagon] with the Babylonian Dagan is doubtful”. In his book The Cosmology of the Babylonians, Peter Jensen even stated that the Assyrian deity Dagan had nothing to do with a fish-man named Odakon. The Jewish Encyclopedia, on the other hand, declares by no means certain that Dagon, Odakon and the Assyrian Dakan/Dagan were unrelated. All these sources are somewhat archaic, and Harris Archer Waltke (HAW) Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament helpfully submits that “no modern scholar since the turn of the century [that’s 1900] follows Jerome and Kimchi who suggested on the basis of popular etymologizing that he was a fish-god. Many moderns [...] view him as a grain god”. The reason for all this confusion is that the Hebrew rendering of the name of this Philistine deity, דגון, appears to be derived from either the Hebrew word for fish, דג, or grain, דגן, and there’s a good chance that these two words are related and both in essence express a multitudinousness: For a meaning of the name Dagon, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Fish and Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes a rather elaborate Honored Fish. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of this name. In light of the above, however, it seems obvious that the Hebrews (or even the Philistines for that matter) wouldn’t understand the name Dagon as “fish” but rather as Abundance. And there’s much more to this: The historical parts of the Bible aren’t merely stories that sum up legendary facts, but much rather a commentary on how Yahvism won from the competing religions. By the time the Hebrew Bible was written, Yahvism experienced competition mostly from religions based on celestial deities, and abundance was a proverbial quality of stars (Genesis 15:5). Star-gazing was done by people who lived in darkness (Isaiah 9:2), the people who received the Word of God through parables, whereas the people of Israel received the great light of the Word of God as clearly as light of day (MARK 4:11). This tension between metaphorical stars and sun is clearly expressed in the stories concerning Dagon. This deity was first destroyed by Samson (whose name means Sun), and secondly by the Ark, which returned to Israel via Beth-shemesh (which means House Of The Sun). In that sense, the name Dagon means Astrology, or even more general: Polytheism, which was defeated by the slow but sure progress in theological thought that resulted in the advance of monotheism. By the time the Biblical Dagon stories received their final form, the Greeks were telling myths about the constellation Pisces (Fish; and the Philistines were most probable of Aegean descent). Their stories told of Aphrodite and Eros who escaped the hundred dragon-headed “father of all monsters” Typhon by jumping into the sea and transforming into the fish that are still visible in the night sky as the constellation Pisces. As noted by Joseph Campbell, the story of the final defeat of Typhon by Zeus finds it Biblical reflections in the story of YHVH defeating Leviathan (Job 41) and Rahab (Isaiah 51:9). But remember that the victories of YHVH aren’t the victories of man. Since revelation occurs gradually, human understanding evolves equally gradually from the darkness of ignorance (hence wars, sickness and poverty) to the light of understanding (hence peace, health and prosperity). The stories of Abraham leaving Ur of the Chaldeans and Israel leaving Egypt tell besides an obvious difference also of a shared origin. Immature understanding must always make way for a mature understanding, but as long as the immatures don’t declare war on the matures, the matures will always respectfully remember their ancestry. Note that the name Jesus is closely related to the name Joshua, and Joshua’s father was named Nun, which also means fish and also comes from a root that reflects abundance.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1712, - דָּגוֹן, - dâgôn, pronounced - daw-gohnי, and means: From H1709; the fish-god; Dagon, a Philistine deity: - Dagon. Total KJV occurrences: 13.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “A fish. Apparently the masculine, I Samuel 5:3,4, correlative of Atargatis, was the national god of the Philistines. The most famous temples of Dagon were at Gaza, Judges 16:21-30, and Ashdod, I Samuel 5:5,6; I Chronicles 10:10. The latter temple was destroyed by Jonathan in the Maccabæan wars. Traces of the worship of Dagon likewise appear in the names Caphar-dagon (near Jamnia) and Beth-dagon in Judah, Joshua 15:41, and Asher, Joshua 19:27. Dagon was represented with the face and hands of a man and the tail of a fish, I Samuel 5:5. The fish-like form was a natural emblem of fruitfulness, and as such was likely to be adopted by seafaring tribes in the representation of their gods.”. So, this takes us through some of the different false gods which Ahaz and our forefathers served; and as, verses v28:3 and 28:4 tell us, Ahaz was serving every false god “under every green tree,” and as such, he did just that, he worshipped every one of these false gods and caused the Nation to do the same.
Let’s return now to II Chronicles 28:5.
28:5-15 Defeat by Syria and Israel.
1A5
II Chronicles 28:5 Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria (From the same as H758 the highland; Aram; and, elevated; to be high) (arawmי); and they smote him, and carried away a great multitude of them captives, and brought them to Damascus (neither the Strong’s Concordance nor the Smith’s Bible Dictionary provide a meaning of the name Damascus) (dam-mehי-sek). And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. —> …LORD his God…=The verse and the statement within the verse are correct, Father was and is The LORD his God! The problem was Ahaz refused to acknowledge Him as such. Just like many people today, they too refuse and reject Father as their Maker and Creator; however, refusing and rejecting doesn’t change the fact, He is The Creator of all things. Like it or not, accept it or not, Father ELOHIM Created every natural thing we see.
For refusing, rejecting and forsaking Father; Father, as this verse states, delivered him and Judah into the hand of Rezin, the king of Syria and Pekah, the king of the House of Israel, and we’ll read in the next few verses, just how bad it was; though, we do read here in this verse, that they “smote him with a great slaughter.”
Where did Rezin and Pekah come from? And I don’t mean what country, I mean how and when did they start to come against Judah? Our answer to that question can be found in II Kings 15:37 which reads: II Kings 15:37 In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. —> In what days? During the reign and rule of Ahaz’s father, Jotham. So, their coming against Judah isn’t something which just cropped-up, it had already been in the works. However, had Ahaz not forsaken Father, Father could and would have changed their course, or He could have delivered them into Ahaz’s hand.
What else do we know concerning these events of Rezin and Pekah coming against Ahaz and Judah? Let’s turn to The Book of the Prophet Isaiah and read what Father told Isaiah to tell Ahaz: Isaiah 7:1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. —> Father is about to tell Isaiah to go to Ahaz and tell him that Rezin and Pekah are about to come against him and the House of Judah. Father will also tell Isaiah to tell Ahaz to fear not for they shall not prevail. [7:2] And it was told the house of David, saying, “Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. —> …the house of David…=This prophesy of Father’s to Ahaz, concerns not only the House of Judah, but the entire House of Israel. [7:3] Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, “Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field; —> …the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the Fuller’s field=This conduit of the upper pool, which Father told Isaiah to take his son with him and meet Ahaz at, had several different names, it was also known as the Fountain En-rogel, which is also known as “The Virgin’s Fount,” or Gihon, which was on the East side of Ophel; the Brook En-rogel flowed in this conduit which was on the East-side and a channel was cut through to the lower pool Gihon on the West, and also south to Siloam, and then a shaft also ran water down to Zion. [7:4] And say unto him, ‘Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. —> …the two tails of these smoking firebrands…=Here is Father telling Isaiah to tell Ahaz to not fear Rezin and Pekah, as Father will protect he and the House of Judah, but what is not mentioned is the caviot that Ahaz had to first put away his evilness of forsaking and rejecting Father, and he must put his faith and trust in Father. [7:5] Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, [7:6] ‘Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:’ —> Rezin and Pekah wanted to overcome Ahaz and Judah and set Rezin as king, thus making all the territories of Judah part of Syria; however, though they beseiged Judah, they could not overcome Judah.
Why could these two smoking firebrands not overcome Judah? Because Father would not allow it because of His Promise to David. What was this Promise? We find our answer to this question in I Kings 11, so let’s turn there and read it; but before we do, let me set the stage so to speak. I Kings 11 is where we read that because of Solomon accumulating so many wives and concubines, many of which we foreigners, and allowing them to bring into Israel their false gods, and Solomon not only allowing them to serve their false gods, but his builing altars to them, some of those altars on the Holy Mount of Father, Father had His Prophet Ahijah the shilonite clothe himself with a new garment and go see Jeroboam. When the two of them were alone in a field, Ahijah rent his new garment into twelve pieces and gave ten to Jeroboam, signifying that he would be king over ten tribes of the soon to be divided House of Israel, thus leaving Solomon’s son Rehoboam with two Tribes—this was recorded in I Kings 11:30-31, so now let’s pick it up with verse vI Kings 11:32, which reads: I Kings 11:32 (But he (Rehoboam) shall have one tribe for My servant David’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:) —> Father would not divide the Nation of the House of Israel into two separate Nations until the death of Solomon, then, until Jesus’ return for His Second Advent, the Nation would be divided into two separate Houses — The House of Israel consisting of ten Tribes and the House of Judah consisting of two Tribes. Father, though both Houses forsook Him in order to chase after other false gods, would not destroy Israel completely; however, He did send the Nation of the House of Israel into captivity to the Assyrians and they would later be scattered up over the Caucas Mountains and are scattered to this day; the House of Judah would go into captivity to the Babylonians for 70 years and then be brought back to Israel and in the year 1948A.D. would be granted Statehood. [11:33] Because that they have forsaken Me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in My ways, to do that which is right in Mine eyes, and to keep My statutes and My judgments, as did David his father. —> David was a man in the flesh and just like each and every one of us, he too fell short and sinned—and Father chastised and punished him for his sins—but David never served any false gods or idols, therefore David was righteous in Father’s eyes, and as such, He was, did, and will forever Keep His Promise to David. [11:34] Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David My servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept My commandments and My statutes: [11:35] But I will take the kingdom out of his son’s (Solomon’s) hand, and will give it unto thee (Jeroboam), even ten tribes. —> Sharpen up for me, for the next verse is why we came here: [11:36] And unto his son (Rehoboam) will I give one tribe, that David My servant may have a light alway before Me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen Me to put My name there. —> …that David My servant may have a light alway before Me…=This points back to both II Samuel 21 and Genesis 15; so, let’s review both of those: II Samuel 21:17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, “Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.”
—> After Abishai saved his uncle’s life by stepping between he—David—and the giant and slaying the giant, all the other warriors then came together to tell David that this was his last battle, he can no longer join in, he must now stay behind and allow his Army to take care of business. …Quench not the light of Israel…=This is a beautiful saying of David, as, it will be through his loins that The Light of the World: The Messiah, Jesus Christ will be born. As we’ll see, this also refers back to Genesis 15:17 when Abram was being told by Father what would become of his offspring, of which he had none yet: Genesis 15:17 And it came to pass, that when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. —> A burning lamp=Though spoken and prophesied by Father over 500 years earlier, David Had become “The Light,” symbolic of Israel’s Deliverance. Genesis 15:17 points directly to II Samuel 21:17; also in I Kings 11:36; and future to this writing in I Kings 15:4; and Isaiah 62:1, we’ll read first from I Kings 15:4-5, which reads: I Kings 15:4 Nevertheless for David’s sake did the LORD his God give him a lamp in Jerusalem, to set up his son after him, and to establish Jerusalem: [15:5] Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite., and now from Isaiah 62:1, which reads: Isaiah 62:1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.. We can also look to the New Testament in John 8:12, which reads: John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. —> …He that followeth me…shall have the light of life=This is The Divine Purpose, that we all have eternal life with our Father; sadly, however, we know that this isn’t going to happen, as if none else, the 7,000 fallen angels go into the Lake of Fire on the first day of the Millennium, and satan also on the last day of the Millennium during the Great White Throne satan will and all those who follow him will also be cast into the Lake of Fire. What a sad thing for Father to know that He’ll have to destroy some of His Children, He’ll have to live with that memory forever; but, we who have eternal life with Him, will not.
God=As used in this verse, this is אלהים, ELOHIM—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices,: ELOHIM—the genus God, in other words, Father in His role of Creator of all things. From Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible, Appendix 4: “ELOHIM occurs 2,700 times. Its first occurrence connects it with creation, and gives it its essential meaning as the Creator. It indicates His relation to mankind as His creatures (see note on II Chronicles 18:31, where it stands in contrast with YEHOVAH as indicating covenant relationship). ELOHIM is God the Son, the living “WORD” with creature form to create (John 1:1; Colossians 1:15-17; Revelation 3:14); and later, with human form to redeem (John 1:14). “Begotten of His Father before all worlds; born of His mother, in the world.” In this creature form He appeared to the Patriarchs, a form not temporarily assumed.”. Dr. Bullinger further notes in his Companion notes to this verse, that “(with Art.) = the [true] God.”.
Syria=For a detailed description of Syria, including the Nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Damascus=For a detailed description of Damascus, including the city’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A6
II Chronicles 28:6 For Pekah (watch; and, open-eyed) (pehי-kakh) the son of Remaliah (YAH has bedecked; and, YAH has adorned) (rem-al-yawי-hoo) slew in Judah (celebrated; and, praised, celebrated) (yeh-hoo-dawי) an hundred and twenty thousand in one day, which were all valiant men; because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. —> …because they had forsaken the LORD God of their father’s=It was for this reason Father delivered Ahaz and Judah into the hands of Rezin and Pekah. See, it wasn’t just Ahaz who forsook Father, it was all Judah, this included the Priests too. Of course, as the old saying goes, “so goes the king, so go the people;” in other words, because Ahaz was an ungodly man, he led his Nation away from Father. Don’t get me wrong, the People of Judah were most likely, more than willing to forsake Father, they just needed an excuse, and Ahaz was their excuse. But, this is the lesson of The Book of the Chronicles — forsake Father and He will also forsake you.
…an hundred and twenty thousand…=One hundred and twenty thousand war-fighters killed in one day. Brethren, I don’t care how large your army is, that’s a lot of war-fighters to lose in one day. The last count we had of Judah’s army was during the reign and rule of Uzziah, where we read that he was mustering 307,500 war-fighters, then under Amaziah Judah had 300,000. Father’s Word doesn’t say how many war-fighters were being mustered during Ahaz’s reign and rule; but my guess is that he just lost a big portion of his war-fighting capability, this was pretty much a crushing defeat to him. Again, why did Judah suffer such a crushing blow? Because they had forsaken Father.
Pekah
Pekah=Pekah was the son of a man named Remaliah of whom there is nothing written of in Father’s Word. Pekah himself was the 18th king of the divided House of Israel, he was also the second to last man to rule the Nation before going into captivity to the Assyrians. He came into power when he murdered Pekahiah who reigned and ruled Israel for two years. Pekah was called by Father through His Prophet Isaiah, one of the two “smoking fire-brands” to come against Ahaz and the House of Judah, because of Ahaz’s and Judah’s forsaking Father. At the time of Pekah taking the reigns of the House of Israel, the Nation was only nine years away from being invaded by Tiglath-pileser, who as we read in II Kings 15:29, the following: II Kings 15:29 In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.. So, as we see, he lost seven cities and all the territory of Naphtali, and he himself also went into captivity. Not too long after being taken into captivity to the Assyrians, a man named Hoshea—the last man to rule the House of Israel, before they were scattered up over the Caucasus Mountains and “lost” forever—they aren’t really, they just forgot who they are—came and slew Pekah. † For the etymology of the name Pekah, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Pekah derives from the verb פקח (paqah), to open the eyes or ears: For a meaning of the name Pekah, both New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List and Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary read Opening (Of The Eyes). Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Open-Eyed.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6492, - פֶּקַח, - peqach, pronounced - pehיkakh, and means: From H6491; watch; Pekach, an Israelite king: - Pekah. Total KJV occurrences: 11.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Open-eyed. Son of Remaliah, originally a captain of Pekahiah king of Israel, murdered his master, seized the throne, and became the 18th sovereign of the northern kingdom. Under his predecessors Israel had been much weakened through the payment of enormous tribute to the Assyrians (see especially II Kings 15:20), and by internal wars and conspiracies. Pekah seems to have steadily applied himself to the restoration of its power. For this purpose he contracted a foreign alliance, and fixed his mind on the plunder of the sister kingdom of Judah. He must have made the treaty by which he proposed to share its spoil with Rezin king of Damascus, when Jotham was still on the throne of Jerusalem, II Kings 15:37; but its execution was long delayed, probably in consequence of that prince’s righteous and vigorous administration, II Chronicles 27. When, however, his weak son Ahaz succeeded to the crown of David, the allies no longer hesitated, but entered upon the siege of Jerusalem. The history of the war is found in II Kings 16 and II Chronicles 28. It is famous as the occasion of the great prophecies in Isaiah 7–9. Its chief result was the Jewish port of Elath on the Red Sea; but the unnatural alliance of Damascus and Samaria was punished through the complete overthrow of the ferocious confederates by Tiglath-pileser. The kingdom of Damascus was finally suppressed and Rezin put to death, while Pekah was deprived of at least half his kingdom, including all the northern portion and the whole district to the east of Jordan. Pekah himself, now fallen into the position of an Assyrian vassal, was of course compelled to abstain from further attacks on Judah. Whether his continued tyranny exhausted the patience of his subjects, or whether his weakness emboldened them to attack him, is not known; but, from one or the other cause, Hoshea the son of Elah conspired against him and put him to death.”.
Remaliah
Remaliah=There is only one man named Remaliah in all of Father’s Word, and he is only mentioned in connection with his son Pekah, the 18th king of the divided House of Israel. As he is only mentioned in conncetion with his son, we know nothing else of the man. † For the etymology of the name Remaliah, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Remaliah is actually Remaliahu (רמליהו); names that end on יה (yah) often also occur as the יהו (yahu) variant, and although this variant is rarer, on occasion only the yahu-variant survives. English translations maintain a naming convention that omits the yahu-variant all together, which is why we speak of Remaliah while it’s actually Remaliahu. The name Remaliah consists of two elements, the final one being יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH—or YAHVEH, (the sacred and personal name of Father). The first part of our name comes from a verb רמל (ramal), which does not occur in the Hebrew of the Bible but probably did exist at the time. In Arabic a similar verb means to adorn, and is used either in the sense of to deck with gems or to stain with blood (according to Gesenius). For a meaning of the name Remaliah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Whom Yahveh Has Adorned and Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has the similar Adorned Of The Lord. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not offer a translation of our name but does list it under the otherwise unused verb רמל (ramal) and refers to the Arabic cognate.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H7425, - רְמַלְיָהוּ, - remalyâhû, pronounced - rem-al-yawי-hoo, and means: From an unused root and H3050 (perhaps meaning to deck); Yah has bedecked; Remaljah, an Israelite: - Remaliah. Total KJV occurrences: 13.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Protected by YHVH. The father of Pekah, captain of Pekahiah king of Israel, who slew his master and usurped his throne, II Kings 15:25-37; 16:1,5; II Chronicles 28:6; Isaiah 7:1-9; 8:6.”.
Judah=For a detailed description of Judah, including the Territories history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
The events of verses v28:7-15 are not written of in The Books of the Kings.
1A7
II Chronicles 28:7 And Zichri (memorable; and, memorable) (zik-reeי), a mighty man of Ephraim (double fruit; and double fruitfulness) (ef-rahי-yim) (territory), slew Maaseiah (work of YAH; and, work of YAH) (mah-as-ay-yawי-hoo) the king’s son, and Azrikam (help of an enemy; and help against the enemy) (az-ree-kahmי) the governor of the house, and Elkanah (EL has obtained; and EL-provided) (el-kaw-nawי) that was next to the king. —> …Maaseiah the king’s son…=Remember brethren, there is no Hebrew word at this time for either uncle or cousin. My point is this, either Zichri went specifically looking for a child to kill—remember also, Ahaz was only 20 years old when he had taken over the Nation of the House of Judah, so this is taking place in his 2nd or 3rd year, making him either 22 or 23 years old, and as such, if he had a son by this time, that son would still be an infant—or he killed an uncle or maybe a cousin of Ahaz’s who would have been old enough to serve as a war-fighter.
Anyway, after slaying Maaseiah, Zichri continued on his path of destruction and slew Azrikam and Elkanah, both who were a part of the administrative staff of Ahaz. We’ll see that things in Judah will get much worse before they get better.
Zichri
Zichri=Zichri was a mighty man of valor serving in the army of the Nation of the House of Israel under the reign and rule of Pekah. He is noted in II Chronicles 28:7 for his slaying Ahaz’s “son,” which is most likely a mis-nomer, as Ahaz was only 22 or 23 years old at the time, therefore, the man Zichri most likely slew was either Ahaz’s uncle or maybe a cousin who was serving in the Nation of the House of Judah’s army. Zichri also slew at the same time, Azrikam and Elkanah, both who were a part of the administrative staff of Ahaz, king of the House of Judah. This is all that is recorded of Zichri in Father’s Word, therefore, we know nothing else of the man, not his genealogy or any other acts which he might have performed. † For the etymology of the name Zichri, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Zichri comes from the verb זכר (zakar), meaning to remember: The letter י (yod) upon which our name ends, may either create an adjective (commemorative), a possessive form (my remembrance), or may be a remnant of יה (YAH) = יהו (YAHU) = יו (YU), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH—from Dr. Bullinger’s Companion Bible Appendices: YHVH, YAHVEH, or YEHOVAH—the sacred and personal name of Father. While Elohim is God as the Creator of all things, YEHOVAH is the same God in covenant relation to those whom He has created (compare II Chronicles 18:31). YEHOVAH means the Eternal, the Immutable One, He Who WAS, and IS, and IS TO COME. The Divine definition is given in Genesis 21:33. He is especially, therefore, the God of Israel; and the God of those who are redeemed, and are thus now “in Christ”. We can say “My God,” but not “My YEHOVAH,” for YEHOVAH is “MY God.” For a meaning of the name Zichri, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List goes with the adjective and reads Famous. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names takes the yod to be a sign of the Divine name but still just reads Remembered, and only adds “of the Lord”. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of this name but does list it under the verb זכר (zakar), meaning to remember.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2147, - זִכְרִי, - zikrı̂y, pronounced - zik-reeי, and means: From H2142; memorable; Zicri, the name of twelve Israelites: - Zichri. Total KJV occurrences: 12.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Memorable. An Ephraimite hero in the invading army of Pekah the son of Remaliah, II Chronicles 28:7.”.
Ephraim=For a detailed description of Ephraim, including his history, the etymology of his name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of his name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Maaseiah
Maaseiah=Maaseiah is called “the king’s son” in II Chroniles 28:7; however, this Pastor and author of this Study believes—and I truly hate using that phrase whenever we discuss anything concerning Father’s Word, as we should never rely on that phrase, we should always verify, or find a second witness, though in some instances we cannot—that this is an error, as the king being spoken of is Ahaz and he was only 22 or 23 years old at the time of the mentioned reference, which would have made Maaseiah either 2 or 3 years old; and we read in the referenced verse, that Maaseiah was killed by a man named Zichri. Therefore, this Pastor believes that this Maaseiah was either an uncle or possibly a cousin to king Ahaz, and he was killed by Zichri while serving in the army of the House of Judah. † Abarim Publications does not provide an etymology for the name Maaseiah, and as such, neither can I. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H4641, - מַעֲשֵׂיָה, ssמַעֲשֵׂיָהוּ, - ma‛ăśêyâh, or ma‛ăśêyâhû, pronounced - mah-as-ay-yawי or mah-as-ay-yawי-hoo, and means: From H4639 and H3050; work of YAH; Maasejah, the name of sixteen Israelites: - Masseiah. Total KJV occurrences: 23.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Work of YHVH. The “king’s son,” killed by Zichri the Ephraimitish hero in the invasion of Judah by Pekah king of Israel, during the reign of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:7.”.
Azrikam
Azrikam=Azrikam was either the “Govenor of the house,” “Perfect of the Palace,” or the “Chief of Staff” during the reign and rule of Ahaz, king of the House of Judah. Father’s Word does not provide a genealogy for Azrikam so we do not know his lineage, and Father’s Word does not provide any other information of the man except to say that he was murdered by a man named Zichri, who was a valiant mighty warrior of the army of the House of Israel. † For the etymology of the name Azrikam, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Azrikam consists of two elements. The first part comes from the Hebrew verb עזר (azar), meaning to help or support: The post-fixed letter י (yod) creates a possessive, so the first part of our name would mean My Help, or Helpful, or even Help Of ... The second part of the name Azrikam comes from the verb קום (qum), meaning to rise up or stand: For a meaning of the name Azrikam, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads My Help Has Arisen. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names assumes that the rising part has to do with the rising of or against an enemy and reads Help Against An Enemy. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not offer a translation.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H5840, - עַזְרִיקָם, - ‛azrı̂yqâm, pronounced - Az-ree-kawmי, and means: from H5828 and an active particle of H6965; help of an enemy; Azrikam, the name of four Israelites: - Azrikam. Total KJV occurrences: 6.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Help against the enemy. Governor of the house, or prefect of the palace, to King Ahaz, who was slain by Zichri, an Ephraimite hero, in the successful invasion of the southern kingdom by Pekah king of Israel, II Chronicles 28:7.”.
Elkanah
Elkanah=Elkanah was an officer, most likely a Prime minister, during the reign and rule of Ahaz, king of the House of Judah. Father’s Word does not provide a genealogy for Elkanah so we do not know his lineage, and Father’s Word does not provide any other information of the man except to say that he was murdered by a man named Zichri, who was a valiant mighty warrior of the army of the House of Israel. † For the etymology of the name Azrikam, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Elkanah consists of two parts: The first part is אל (El), the common abbreviation of Elohim, the genus God: The second part comes from the root קנן (qanan), to weave strands into webs: For a meaning of the name Elkanah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads God Has Possessed. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads God Has Redeemed, and submits a lengthy defense on why the name Elkanah cannot mean God Has Created because the verb קנה never means to create. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary is not impressed with Jones and renders God Has Created or God Has Taken Possession. Here at Abarim Publications we like to emphasize the commercial element of this name go with God Has Acquired.” † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H511, - אֶלְקָנָה, - 'elqânâh, pronounced - el-kaw-nawי, and means: From H410 and H7069; EL has obtained; Elkanah, the name of seven Israelites: - Elkanah. Total KJV occurrences: 21.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “EL-provided. An officer in the household of Ahaz king of Judah, who was slain by Zichri the Ephraimite when Pekah invaded Judah, II Chronicles 28:7.”.
1A8
II Chronicles 28:8 And the children of Israel carried away captive of their brethren two hundred thousand, women, sons, and daughters, and took also away much spoil from them, and brought the spoil to Samaria (watch station; and, watch mountain) (sho-mer-oneי). —> …two hundred thousand…=We read two verses ago that when Rezin and Pekah invaded Judah, they slew 120,000 war-fighters; now we’re reading of the mop-up action and we see that they are taking captive the wives, daughters and sons of those they slew. What is Israel’s intent for these women and children? They plan to take them back to the House of Israel and take some of the widows and elder daughters to wife or make prostitutes, and the sons they plan on making slaves out of. Remember brethren, these are their brothers and sisters, meaning they are kin, and for them to make slaves out of their own kin is a big no-no according to Father, He will not be pleased.
Samaria=For a detailed description of Samaria, including the city’s, history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A9
II Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded (reiteration; and, restoring) (o-dadeי): and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, “Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, He hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven. —> …Oded…=Not only Oded was there prophesying, but so were Father’s Prophets Hosea and Isaiah as well, as Father was trying to get the attention of the People of Samaria.
…He hath delivered them into your hand…=Why was the House of Israel so easily able to overcome the House of Judah? Because Father delivered Judah into Israel’s hand because they had forsaken Father and began to serve false gods and idols.
…ye have slain them in a rage…=Check out this word slain in your Strong’s Concordance brethren, when we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2026, - הָרַג, - hârag, pronounced - haw-ragי, and means: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent: - destroy, out of hand, kill, murder (-er), put to [death], make [slaughter], slay (-er), X surely. Total KJV occurrences: 166.. So, as we see, they didn’t just kill the Judah war-fighters for engaging them in battle, no, they went in and massacred them, they had deadly intent in their hearts. The rest of the statement—…in a rage…—proves this out.
…that reacheth up unto heaven=A rage on the part of the House of Israel which would be heard and seen by Father. Again, this is something He is not pleased with brethren. He surely meant to deliver Judah into Israel’s hand, He surely decided that it was time for some of the People of Judah to return to Him in heaven; but, he did not intend for them to slaughter them in a rage and then take the widows and children captive.
Oded
Oded=Oded was a prophet who prophesied against the People of Samaria for taking 200,000 women and children captive when Israel invaded Judah during the reign and rule of king Ahaz. The People of Samaria had planned to take some of the widows and elder daughters to wife or make prostitutes, and the sons they plan on making slaves out of. † For the etymology of the name Oded, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Oded comes from the verb עדד ss(יadad) meaning to return or repeat. For a meaning of the name Oded, Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads a curious Setting Up, Established and Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary proposes Restorer. New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List does not interpret this name. Here at Abarim Publications we surmise that this name probably aims to commemorate the act of perpetual witnessing.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H5752, - עוֹדֵדss or עֹדֵד, - ‛ôdêd or ‛ôdêd, pronounced - o-dadeי or o-dadeי, and means: From H5749; reiteration; Oded, the name of two Israelites: - Oded. Total KJV occurrences: 3.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Restoring. A prophet of Yehovah in Samaria, at the time of Pekah’s invasion of Judah, II Chronicles 28:9.”.
1A10
II Chronicles 28:10 And now ye purpose to keep under the children of Judah and Jerusalem for bondmen and bondwomen unto you: but are there not with you, even with you, sins against the LORD your God? —> Oded continues, telling the Israelite war-fighters returning from Judah, that they too have committed many great sins against Father; and even now, they purpose to commit an even greater sin by making slaves of the women and children they brought back from Judah. This was strictly against Father’s Law of which we read in Leviticus 25:39-42, which reads: Leviticus 25:39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: —> These women and their children weren’t sold into their brother’s hand, but, they were delivered by Father into their hand, as such, they—especially knowing that they too were sinners and not following the Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances, and Statutes of Father—should never have made slaves out of their brothers and sisters. [25:40] But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: —> So, if someone had sold them, or they sold themselves, or they hired themselves out as an employee, that was fine; the key operative being employee, not slave. It would be no different then today when someone works as an employee for another relative. In either case, the servitude could only last until the jubilee year. [25:41] And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. —> At the beginning of the jubilee year they were to be set free. Why? First and foremost because Father said so, and also because of what we read in the next verse: [25:42] For they are My servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. —> We are all Father’s Children, there is none better than another, therefore, none of us should enslave another. Sadly, man gets the big-head and thinks he is better, and therefore, does enslave his fellow man. But as Father says, even then he is supposed to let his fellow-man free during the jubilee, in other words, they were to be set free after serving no more than seven years.
1A11
II Chronicles 28:11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you. —> …deliver again…=Here Oded is telling the People of the House of Israel to set free the women and their children which they have unjustly taken from their homes in Judah.
…for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you=As we read in verse v28:9 above, Father is already angry with Israel for first forsaking Him, for massacring the war-fighters of Judah, and for basically kidnapping these women and their children. They are further angering Him by now trying to make slaves and such out of them.
1A12
II Chronicles 28:12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah (YAH has helped; and, whom the LORD helps) (az-ar-yawי-hoo) the son of Johanan* (YHVH-favored; or, whom YHVH gave) (yeh-ho-khaw-nawnי), Berechiah (knee (that is,) blessing of YAH; or, blessed of YHVH) (beh-rek-yawי-hoo) the son of Meshillemoth (reconcillations; or, recompence) (mesh-il-lay-mohthי), and Jehizkiah (strengthened of YAH; or, YHVH strengthens) (yekh-iz-kee-yawי-hoo) the son of Shallum (a requital (that is,) secure; and, retribution) (shal-loomי), and Amasa (a burden; or, a burden) (am-aw-sawי) the son of Hadlai (idle; or, rest of YHVH) (khad-lahי-ee), stood up against them that came from the war, —> These four men took Oded’s prophesy to heart. They knew what he was saying was from Father and would come to pass exactly as He said it would; so they too started speaking against the war-fighters who brought the women and children from Judah.
*=The reason for the asterisk behind the name Johanan is bcause there is some controversy as to this man’s name. This Pastor and author of this Study believe our King James 1611 translators mis-translated this name. I say this because several Biblical scholars—namely, Dr. Strong click here, Dr. Easton click here, and Abarim Publications click here—write that the name should have been translated Jehohanan and not Johanan. I have sided with Dr. Strong, Dr. Easton and Abarim Publications and used the definition and pronunciation for Jehohanan, both in the verse and below.
Azariah
Azariah=The son of a man named Jehohanan and a head of the Tribe of Ephraim during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Azah of the House of Judah. Azariah joined in with Oded and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Azariah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Azariah or Azariahu consists of two elements. The first part comes from the verb עזר (azar), meaning to help or support: The final bit of the name Azariah is formed from the appellative יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton; the name of the Lord: YHVH or Yahveh. The name Azariah means Helped Of God (Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names), or Yahveh Has Helped (New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List, Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary), or more commonly The Lord Has Helped (Harris Archer Waltke (HAW) Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament).”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H5838, - עֲזַרְיָה, ssעֲזַרְיָהוּ, - ‛ăzaryâh, or ‛ăzaryâhû, pronounced - az-ar-yawי or az-ar-yawי-hoo, and means: From H5826 and H3050; YAH has helped; Azarjah, the name of nineteen Israelites: - Azariah. Total KJV occurrences: 48.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Whom YHVH helps. Son of Johanan, one of the captains of Ephraim in the reign of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
Jehohanan
Jehohanan=An Ephraimite and father of Azariah who was a head of the Tribe during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Ahaz of the House of Judah. Jehohanan’s son Azariah joined in with Oded and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Jehohanan, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Jehohanan consists of two distinct elements, the first one being יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH, or Yahveh. The second element of our name comes from the verb חנן (hanan), meaning to be gracious: For a meaning of the name Jehohanan, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Yahveh Is Gracious. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes The Lord Graciously Gave. And Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary has Yah Hath Been Gracious.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3076, - יְהוֹחָנָן, - yehôchânân, pronounced - yeh-ho-khaw-nawnי, and means: From H3068 and H2603; YHVH-favored; Jehochanan, the name of eight Israelites: - Jehohanan, Johanan. Compare H3110. Total KJV occurrences: 9.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Whom YHVH gave. The father of Azariah, an Ephraimite in the time of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
Berechiah
Berechiah=Berechiah was the son of a man named Meshillemoth and a head of the Tribe of Ephraim during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Azah of the House of Judah. Becechiah joined in with Oded and Azariah and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Berechiah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Berechiah consists of two elements. The final part is יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH, or Yahveh. The first part of the name Berechiah comes from the verb ברך (barak), meaning either to kneel or to bless: For a meaning of the name Berechiah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Blessed By Yahveh. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Blessed Of The Lord. And Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary proposes Yah Blesseth.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1296, - בֶּרֶכְיָה,ss or בֶּרֶכְיָהוּ, - berekyâh, or berekyâhû, pronounced - beh-rek-yawי or beh-rek-yawי-hoo, and means: from H1290 and H3050; knee (that is,) blessing of YAH; Berekjah, the name of six Israelites: - Berachiah, Berechiah. Total KJV occurrences: 11.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Blessed of YHVH. One of the tribe of Ephraim in the time of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
Meshillmoth
Meshillemoth=An Ephraimite and father of Berechiah who was a head of the Tribe during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Ahaz of the House of Judah. Meshillemoth’s son Berechiah joined in with Oded and Azariah and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Meshillemoth, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Meshillemoth seems to be a plural form of a participle derived from the verb שלם (shalem), to be or make whole or complete: For a meaning of the name Meshillemoth, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Acts Of Recompense. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names proposes Those Who Repay. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not offer an interpretation of the name Meshillemoth but does list it under the verb שלם (shalem).”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H4919, - מְשִׁלֵּמוֹת, - meshillêmôth, pronounced - mesh-il-lay-mohthי, and means: Plural from H7999; reconcillations; Meshillemoth, an Israelite: - Meshillemoth, an Isr: - Meshillemoth. Compare H4921. Total KJV occurrences: 2. † Now form the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Recompence. An Ephraimite, one of the chiefs of the tribe in the reign of Pekah, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
Jehizkiah
Jehizkiah=Jehizkiah was the son of a man named Shallum and a head of the Tribe of Ephraim during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Azah of the House of Judah. Jehizkiah joined in with Oded, Azariah and Berechiah and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Jehizkiah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name יחזקיהו (Yehizkiyahu, in English known as Jehizkiah is assigned to a son of Shallum of Ephraim (II Chronicles 28:12). The name Yehizkiah consists of two elements. The final part is formed by the appellative יה (Yah) = יהו (Yahu) = יו (Yu), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH, or Yahveh. The first part of the name Yehizkiah comes from the verb חזק (hazaq), meaning to be or become strong: For a meaning of the name Yehizkiah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Yahveh Strengthens. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary has the similar Yah Hath Strengthened and Yah Strengthens, to account for the two different tenses this name comes in. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Strength Of The Lord.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3169, - יְחִזְקִיָּה,ss or יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, - yechizqı̂yâh, or yechizqı̂yâhû, pronounced - yekh-iz-kee-yawי or yekh-iz-kee-yawי-hoo, and means: From H3388 and H3050; strengthened of YAH; Jechizkijah, the name of five Israelites: - Hezekiah, Jehizkiah. Compare H2396. Total KJV occurrences: 44.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “YHVH strengthens. Son of Shallum, one of the heads of the tribe of Ephraim in the time of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:12; compare 8, 13, 15.”.
Shallum
Shallum=Shallun was an Ephraimite and father of Jehizkiah who was a head of the Tribe during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Ahaz of the House of Judah. Shallum’s son Jehizkiah joined in with Oded, Azariah, and Berechiah and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls, and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Shallum, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Shallum is spelled and pronounced the same as the noun שלום (shillum), meaning recompense, and is spelled the same as but pronounced slightly different from the familiar word שלום (shalom), meaning peace. Both these words come from the verb שלם (shalem), meaning to be unbroken or whole: For a meaning of the name Shallum, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Recompense and Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Retribution. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary doesn’t interpret the name Shallum but does list it under the verb שלם (shalem).”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H7967, - שַ לּוּם, or שַ לֻּם, - shallûm, or shallûm, pronounced - shal-loomי, or shal-loomי, and means: The same as H7966; a requital, that is, (secure) retribution, (venal) a fee: - recompense, reward, Shallum, the name of fourteen Israelites: - Shallum. Total KJV occurrences: 27.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “retribution. Father of Jehizkiah, an Ephraimite, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
Amasa
Amasa=Amasa was the son of a man named Hadlai and a head of the Tribe of Ephraim during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Azah of the House of Judah. Amasa joined in with Oded, Azariah, Berechiah, and Jehizkiah and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls, and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † For the etymology of the name Amasa, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “It’s not immediately clear where the name Amasa comes from, but there are a few possibilities. The name Amasa may come from the Hebrew verb עמש (amas), which may also be spelled with a sin instead of a samekh. Either form of the verb amas means to load or carry a load: Following this line of reasoning, the name Amasa means Burden (Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names), or Burden Bearer (New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List). Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary lists another possibility, namely ישיעם; a combination of the Hebrew name ישי (Jesse) and the Hebrew word עם ss(יam), kinsman (on the father’s side): Following this line of thought, the name Amasa would mean Kin To Jesse, or Jesse’s People.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H6021, - עֲמָשָׂא, - ‛ămâśâ', pronounced - am-aw-sawי, and means: From H6006; burden; Amasa, the name of two Israelites: - Amasa. Total KJV occurrences: 16.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “A burden. A prince of Ephraim, son of Hadlai, in the reign of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
Hadlai
Hadlai=Hadlai was an Ephraimite and father of Amasa who was a head of the Tribe during the reign and rule of Pekah of the House of Israel and Ahaz of the House of Judah. Hadlai’s son Amasa joined in with Oded, Azariah, Berechiah and Jehizkiah and stood against the war-fighters of Israel who brought the widows and their children back to Israel to make wives and or prostitutes of the women and elder girls, and slaves of the boys as we read in II Chronicles 28:8-15. † Abarim Publications does not provide an etymology for the name Hadlai, as such neither can I. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H2311, - חַדְלַי, - chadlay, pronounced - khad-lahי-ee, and means: From H2309; idle; Chadlai, an Israelite: - Hadlai. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Rest of YAH. A man of Ephraim, II Chronicles 28:12.”.
1A13
II Chronicles 28:13 And said unto them, “Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD already, ye intend to add more to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” —> Azariah, Berechiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa repeat what Oded told the war-fighters of Israel from verse 28:11 above: that Father is already angry with them for massacring the war-fighters of Judah and for bringing the widows and their children back to Israel with them, and if they now proceed to make wives and prostitutes of the widows and their elder girls and slaves of their sons, Father’s anger will only increase and He will punish them greatly. This is a place or condition you never want to find yourself in brethren, where Father’s anger is fierce against you for something you have done.
1A14
II Chronicles 28:14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation. —> The warning and plea of Oded and the other four men has finally hit home to Israel’s war-fighters, and they agreed to-a-man to relinquish their bounty of the widows and their children and also the spoils of war which they had brought back from Judah.
This is a significant step from these war-fighters brethren. Why? Because, just like our military today, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are not paid very well; and for these war-fighters to give back what they had taken from Judah—which is how the war-fighters usually got most of their pay and benefits, from the booty they captured from those they were warring against—means that they were giving back their means of support for their families.
1A15
II Chronicles 28:15 And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho (fragrant; or, place of fragrance) (yer-ee-khoי), the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria. —> This verse gives us a pretty descriptive condition of the widows and their children whom the Israelite war-fighters brought back from Judah with them. We read here that they had stripped some of them naked, they gave them no food and very little, if any, water to drink. Remember, Jerusalem is approximately 30 miles south of Samaria, and they made these women and children walk that 30 or so miles, naked and without shoes on their feet.
…men which were expressed by name…=Oded, Azariah, Berechiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa, when the war-fighters released their captives, clothed them, fed them, and gave them water to drink; and they then put those who were unable to walk all the way back to Judah, they put them on asses and the rest who could walk did. They took them to Jericho which was located within the Tribe of Benjamin in the northern portion of Judah, where they could at least be among their own people and in safety — if you want to call it that; remember, the Israelite war-fighters just slaughtered 120,000 of Judah’s war-fighters, and as such, they were pretty vulerable to pretty much anybody else who desired to attack Judah at this time.
Samaria=Brethren, we can compare the good works of these five men with the account of the “Parable of the Good Samaritan” our Lord Jesus teaches us in Luke 10:25-37, where we read that Jesus was confronted by a “lawyer” who was asking—read that, challenging Jesus, or as it is stated in verse 10:25 “tempting Him”—what the requirement was in order to be able to inherit eternal life; Jesus replied that a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and he fell among theives who robbed him and beat him and left him for half dead. A priest came by him, saw him and went out of his way to pass-by the man, then a Levite came by, looked upon him, and he too went out of his way to pass-by the man. Then a Samaritan came by, saw the man, had compassion on him, bound up his wounds, poured wine and oil upon him, assisted him to his feet and set him upon his own ass and then took him to an inn where he paid the owner of the inn to see to his well-being. The next morning before the Good Samaritan left, he gave the inn keeper more money to further take care of the man and told the inn keeper that if the man needed further care then the money he gave him, when he returned he would pay that money as well. Jesus then asked the “lawyer” which of the three men was a better neighbor to the man? the “lawyer” replied that the Good Samaritan was, Jesus then told the “lawyer” that his answer was correct and that he should go and do likewise and he too would inherit eternal life.
Jericho
Jericho=There is very, very much history with our forefathers and the city of Jericho. The first time our forefathers had any association\dealings with the city was when Father was leading them up, out of Egypt toward the Promised Land while they wandered the wilderness for those 38 years. several times they were “in the plains of Moab near—on this side, the western side—Jordan, by Jericho.” According to Deuteronomy 32:49, it stood opposite Nebo, while in Deuteronomy 34:3, it is called a “city grove of palm trees.” It was surrounded with a wall Joshua 2:15—this wall though, was no match for our Father, as He told our forefathers to march around the city wall once every day for six days, then, on the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times and then blow the horns and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, and our forefathers went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city—and provided with a gate which was closed at night Joshua 2:5, and was ruled over by a king. When the city was taken, there were vessels of brass and iron, large quantities of silver and gold, and “the accursed thing” which a man named Achan thought to be “a goodly Babylonish garment” found in Joshua 7:21—for which Achan and his family paid a heavy price—i.e., their lives. It was on the western side of the Jordan, not far from the camp of Israel at Shittim, before crossing the river Joshua 2:1. The city—and its wall—was on the “plains” Joshua 4:13, but so close to “the mountain” on the West—probably “the high mountain” satan took Jesus up to in Luke 4, the traditional scene of Jesus’ temptation—that it was within easy reach of the spies, whom Rahab lowered down in order to effect their escape. It was given to the Tribe of Benjamin as an inheritance Joshua 18:21, and border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven Joshua 18:12. † For the etymology of the name Jericho, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The meaning of the name Jericho is unclear, and that’s probably because in the Old Testament, the name Jericho comes in three differing variations: As ירחו (Jerיcho) in Numbers, Deuteronomy, II Samuel, II Kings 25, I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Jeremiah. As יריחו (Jericho) in Joshua and II Kings 2. As יריחה (Jerichah) in I Kings 16:34. There’s no way to say which form was the original one, and which two are playful variations, or even whether there aren’t two different names for the same city (forms 2 and 3 are linguistically related). Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary and New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List appear to assume that forms 2 and 3 are the original and take the name Jericho from the noun ריח (reah) meaning scent or fragrance: And Jericho is indeed called Ir-hatamarim, or the City Of Palms (Deuteronomy 24:3, II Chronicles 28:15) and apparently its district was ‘abounding in palms, rose-gardens, balsam, etc’ (says BDB Theological Dictionary). Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names, on the other hand, appears to be most enthusiastic about form 1, and relates the name Jericho to the noun ירח (yareah) meaning moon as time indicator; month. The etymology of this word is lost but some scholars suggest it has to do with the verb ארח ss(יarah), meaning to wander or journey, as the moon is the most ambulant body in the night sky: The name Jericho may mean City Of The Moon (Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names) or Place Of Fragrance ([NOBSE] Study Bible Name List). And of course, the authors of the Bible probably were very much aware that they gave Jericho its two different names, suggesting that this city was known for both moon worship and fragrances.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3405, - יריחו, ssירחו,ss or יריחה, - Yerı̂ychô, Yerêchô or Yerı̂ychôh, pronounced - Yer-ee-khoי, Yer-ay-khoי or Yer-ee-khoי, and means: Perhaps from H3394; its month; or else from H7306; fragrant; Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine: - Jericho. Total KJV occurrences: 57.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “place of fragrance. A city of high antiquity, situated in a plain traversed by the Jordan, and exactly over against where that river was crossed by the Israelites under Joshua Joshua 3:16. It was five miles west of the Jordan and seven miles northwest of the Dead Sea. It had a king. Its walls were so considerable that houses were built upon them Joshua 2:15. The spoil that was found in it betokened its affluence. Jericho is first mentioned as the city to which the two spies were sent by Joshua from Shittim Joshua 2:1-21. It was bestowed by him upon the tribe of Benjamin Joshua 18:21, and from this time a long interval elapses before Jericho appears again upon the scene. Its second foundation under Hiel the Bethelite is recorded in I Kings 16:34. Once rebuilt, Jericho rose again slowly into consequence. In its immediate vicinity the sons of the prophets sought retirement from the world; Elisha “healed the spring of the waters;” and over against it, beyond Jordan, Elijah “went up by a whirlwind into heaven” II Kings 2:1-22. In its plains Zedekiah fell into the hands of the Chaldeans II Kings 25:5; Jerremiah 39:5. In the return under Zerubbabel the “children of Jericho,” 345 in number, are comprised Ezra 2:34; Nehemiah 7:36. Under Herod the Great it again became an important place. He fortified it and built a number of new palaces, which he named after his friends. If he did not make Jericho his habitual residence, he at last retired thither to die, and it was in the amphitheater of Jericho that the news of his death was announced to the assembled soldiers and people by Salome. Soon afterward the palace was burnt and the town plundered by one Simon, slave to Herod; but Archelaus rebuilt the former sumptuously, and founded a new town on the plain, that bore his own name; and, most important of all, diverted water from a village called Neaera to irrigate the plain which he had planted with palms. Thus Jericho was once more “a city of palms” when our Lord visited it. Here he restored sight to the blind Matthew 20:30, Mark 10:46; Luke 18:35. Here the descendant of Rahab did not disdain the hospitality of Zaccaeus the publican. Finally, between Jerusalem and Jericho was laid the scene of his story of the good Samaritan. The city was destroyed by Vespasian. The site of ancient (the first) Jericho is placed by Dr. Robinson in the immediate neighborhood of the fountain of Elisha; and that of the second (the city of the New Testament and of Josephus) at the opening of the Wady Kelt (Cherith), half an hour from the fountain. (The village identified with jericho lies a mile and a half from the ancient site, and is called Riha. It contains probably 200 inhabitants, indolent and licentious and about 40 houses. Dr. Olin says it is the “meanest and foulest village of Palestine;” yet the soil of the plain is of unsurpassed fertility. --ED.)”.
28:16 Embassy, sent to Syria.
1A16
II Chronicles 28:16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him. —> …kings…=There was only one king—and at this time it was Tiglath-pileser—the use of the word kings indicates, the “great king,” and it is also plural, indicating majesty.
After taking this major thumping from Pekah and Rezin, Ahaz decided he needed help, so what does he do? Did he repent and seek Father? No he does not. We read in II Kings 16 what he does: II Kings 16:7 So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, “I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.” [16:8] And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. —> Not only does he not seek Father; but, he seeks the help of Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria, and in doing so, he steals the Dedicated items made of gold and silver out of Father’s House, and the gold and silver out of his own treasuries and gives them to Tiglath-pileser, and tells him that he is his servant, meaning that he will be vassal to him—in other words, Ahaz just told Tiglath-pileser that he will render homage and fealty to Tiglath-pileser and will be subordinate to him, basically he just turned the Nation of the House of Judah over to a foreigner who is not of the House of Judah—Father is not be pleased for his stealing from His House and with this decision to turn His Nation over to a foreigner.
We’ll read in the next couple verses that the Edomites and the Philistines had also come against Ahaz and they put a further whoopin on Judah and they too carried away captives, this will be Father’s doing for his turning the kingdom over to a foreigner.
28:17-19 Defeat by the Edomites
and the Philistines.
1A17
II Chronicles 28:17 For again the Edomites (red; and, red) (ed-omeי) had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives. —> The last we read of the Edomites was during the reign and rule of king Amaziah which has now been between 110-120 years ago. At that time, Amaziah had put a major whoopin on the Edomites, his army had even marched 10,000 of them to the top of the great rock in Arabia and cast them off the top of that rock. After doing so, he gathered their gods—that’s with a lower case “g,” meaning they were false gods—and took them back to Judah with him and then started worshipping those false gods, greatly angering Father, as it was He Who gave Amaziah the victory over the Edomites. Now, we see that they have grown in both numbers and strength and have again come to war against Judah; not only have they come, but we see that they are victorious over Judah, taking many captives back to Edom with them. Again, this is Father’s doing for Ahaz and Judah forsaking Him.
Edomites=For a detailed description of the Edomites, including the nations history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
1A18
II Chronicles 28:18 The Philistines (rolling; that is, migratory; or, immigrants) (pel-ehי-sheth) also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh (house of the sun ; and, house of (the) sun) (leb-aw-nohnי), and Ajalon (deerfield); and, place of gazelles) (ah-yaw-loneי), and Gederoth (walls; and, sheepfolds) (ghed-ay-rohthי), and Shocho (to entwine, that is, shut in (for formation, protection or restraint); and, hedge or fence) (so-koי) with the villages thereof, and Timnah (a portion assigned; and, portion) (tim-nawי) with the villages thereof, Gimzo (fertile in sycamores; and, a place fertile in sycamores) (ghim-zoי) also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. —> The last we read Israel’s arch enemies the Philistines, was when Ahaz’s grandfather Uzziah had made war against them. Uzziah’s army had marched all the way into Ashdod, Gath and Jabneh, breaking down the walls of all three cities, and then building his own cities about them in order to prevent any uprising from the Philistines.
Father’s Prophet Isaiah spoke concerning this in the Book named for him. We read in Isaiah 9 the following: Isaiah 9:11 Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; [9:12] The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. —> Just like the Edomites had regrown in both numbers and strength, we see that the Philistines have done the same, and they too came against Ahaz and Judah; defeating and capturing many of the cities in southern Judah. They went so far as moving their people right into the houses of the Judians they defeated.
…low country…=When we look this phrase up in our Strong’s Concordance brethren, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1450, - שְׁפֵלָה, - shephêlâh, - pronunced: shef-ay-lawי, and means: From H8213; lowland that is, (with the article) the maritime slope of Palestine: - low country, (low) plain, vale (-ley). Total KJV occurrences: 20., in other words, as we read, in the lowlands, foothills, plains or valley.
…Ajalon…Shocho…=We read in II Chronicles 11:7 and II Chronicles 11:10, that Shoco and Aijalon were two of the 15 cities which Rehoboam had re-fortified when he was king over Judah.
…and the villages thereof…=It was quite common back in Old Testament times, that a region was known as being a part of the larger city which they were close to. It reminds me of my earlier years in the US Navy, as when I was in apprenticeship training for the F-14—I didn’t have a car at the time—I used to walk off-base to a friend and his wife’s apartment on the weekends, and one day as I was walking out the front-gate of the Base, a car stopped to pick me up and give me a ride. As I grew closer to the car, I noticed the License Plate was from the same State I grew up in, so when I got in the car, I asked the driver where he was from and he named the city I grew up in, when I pressed him further, he stated that he was not really from the city, he was from the smaller city right next to mine, I pressed him further, and he again stated that he wasn’t from that smaller city, but the even smaller city next to it. I told him I was familiar with that city as well, as that was where I learned to snow ski at. My point being, like as here where we’re reading the name of a city and then the following phrase, “and the villages thereof,” the villages thereof were known as being a part of the larger city.
Philistine(s)=For a detailed description of the Philistine(s), including his/their history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Beth-shemesh=For a detailed description of Beth-shemesh, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Ajalon=For a detailed description of Ajalon, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Gederoth
Gederoth=The first encounter with Gederoth in Father’s Word, is as He was leading our forefathers into the Promised Land, and we read in Joshua 15:41, that it was given to the Tribe of Judah as an inheritance. Gederoth lay in the shephelah—strong’s Concordance, Hebrew word number: H1450, - שְׁפֵלָה, - shephêlâh, - pronunced: shef-ay-lawי, and means: From H8213; lowland that is, (with the article) the maritime slope of Palestine: - low country, (low) plain, vale (-ley). Total KJV occurrences: 20., in other words, as we read, in the lowlands, foothills, plains or valley—in the southern portion of the territory of Judah. The only other encounter actually mentioned in Father’s Word with Gederoth, is when the Philistines captured it during the reign and rule of Ahaz of which we read of in II Chronicles 28:18. † For the etymology of the name Gederoth, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name גדרות is a plural form of the noun גדרה (gedera), meaning wall: For a meaning of the name Gederoth, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Sheepfolds (the noun גדרה, gedera, sometimes denotes a sheepfold; Numbers 32:24). Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names has Folds or Fortifications. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary does not translate our name but does list it under the noun גדרה (gedera), meaning wall.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1450, - גְּדֵרוֹת, - gedêrôth, - pronounced: ghed-ay-rohthי, and means: plural of H1448; walls; Gederoth, a place in Palestine: - Gederoth. Total KJV occurrences: 2.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Sheepfolds. A town in the low country of Judah, Joshua 15:41; II Chronicles 28:18.”.
Shocho=For a detailed description of Shocho, including the town’s history, the etymology of the name, the Strong’s Concordance definition of the name, and the Smith’s Bible Dictionary information, click here.
Timnah
Timnah=The town of Timnah—Strong’s Concordance Hebrew word number: H8553—is the same as Timnath, which was a town on the northern border of Judah—Joshua 15:10—lying between Beth-shemesh and Ekron. The first encounter in Father’s Word with Timnah, is when Father is leading our forefathers into the Promised Land, and we read in Joshua 15:10, that it was allotted to the Tribe of Judah as part of their inheritance. The larger, or more significant encounter, is found in Judges 14, where we read of the story of Samson. The last we read of Timnah is during the reign and rule of Ahaz, king of the divided House of Judah, and we read in II Chronicles 28:18, that it was recaptured by the Philistines. † For the etymology of the name Timnah, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The names Timnah and Timnathah come most probably from the verb מנה (mana) meaning to count or assign: For a meaning of the name Timnah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Allotted Portion (NOBSE works off the New American Standard which completely ignores the variant Timnathah and reads Timnah consistently). Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names also doesn’t acknowledge the variant spelling, and reads Portion Assigned for Timnah. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary lists both Timnah and Timnathah under the verb מנה (mana), and reads “prob.=” Portion, Territory for both.” † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H8553, - תִּמְנָה, - timnâh, - pronunced: tim-nawי, and means: From H4487; a portion assigned; Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine: - Timnah, Timnath, Thimnathah. Total KJV occurrences: 12.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Portion. A place which formed one of the landmarks on the north boundary of the allotment of Judah, Joshua 15:10. It is probably identical with the Thimnathah of Joshua 19:43, and that again with the Timnath, or, more accurately, Timnathah, of Samson, Judges 14:1–2,5, and the Thamnatha of the Maccabees. The modern representative of all these various forms of the same name is probably Tibneh, a village about two miles west of Ain Shems (Bethshemesh). In the later history of the Jews, Timnah must have been a conspicuous place. It was fortified by Bacchides as one of the most important military posts of Judea.”.
Gimzo
Gimzo=Our only encounter with the town named Gimzo in Father’s Word—II Chronicles 28:18—is when it is mentioned as being captured by the Philistines during the reign and rule of Ahaz, king of the divided House of Judah. † Abarim Publications does not provide an etymology for the name Gimzo, and as such, neither can I. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H1579, - גִּמְזוֹ, - gimzô, - pronunced: ghim-zoי, and means: Of uncertain derivation; Gimzo, a place in Palestine: - Gimzo. Total KJV occurrences: 1.. † Easton’s Bible Dictionary lists A place fertile in sycamores as the meaning for Gimzo. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “Fertile in sycamores. A town which with its dependent villages was taken possession of by the Philistines in the reign of Ahaz, II Chronicles 28:18. The name (Jimzu) still remains attached to a large village between two and three miles southwest of Lydda, south of the road between Jerusalem and Jaffa.”.
1A19
II Chronicles 28:19 For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD. —> …For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel…=This is said in bitter satire brethren, as we know Ahaz was not the king of Israel; but, because he was walking in the footsteps of all the kings of Israel. In other words, he was doing all the evil which the kings of Israel were doing in forsaking Father in order to serve other false man-made gods.
…Ahaz king of Israel…=Again, as we know, Ahaz was not the king of Israel, he was the king of the House of Judah. The reason for the error, is because the 1611 king James translator who was transcribing this from the Codex, mistranslated the abbreviation י (i or y), which was read for both “Israel” and “Judah.” Something else to also consider though brethren, is the fact that, Father may have had His influence on the writer; I say this because, it could be, that Father thought of all the kings of Judah—as prophesied in Genesis 49:10, which reads: Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be., and was the seed-line of David—as the only true kings within the borders of the Promised Land, in other words: Israel. King Jehoshaphat was also mentioned as being “king of Israel” in II Chronicles 21:2.
…he made Judah naked…=In other words, Ahaz stripped Judah of the Service and Worship of Father YHVH. As things were not going well in Judah, Ahaz knew there needed to be change; however, Ahaz could never grasp what those changes needed to be, i.e., that it was his own doing—his serving and causing Judah to serve false gods and idols—which was causing Father to bring about the destruction of Judah, therefore he never effected those changes.
28:20 Embassy, failure.
1A20
II Chronicles 28:20 And Tilgath-pilneser (my trust is in the son of Ashur; and, hinders, binds, or my strength is the god ninib) (tig-lathי pil-ehי-ser) king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not. —> There is very much meat and much to discuss concerning this verse brethren, so let’s take it slow and get into it:
…Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria…=Before I get into the name, first understand that this is the same king who Ahaz had sent money to back in verse v28:16. Secondly, notice that the verse tells us that this king of Assyria refused to assist Ahaz—…and distressed him, but strengthened him not—this tells us that after Ahaz had sent him the monies he was initially willling to send, this king—whose actual name was Pul or Pulu, pronounced Pool, in the Assyrian cuniform his name was tukulti-apil-esarra—decided that since Ahaz was willing to send money, he should be just as willing to send more, and if not, then this king would muster his army to come against Ahaz and Judah. Now, let’s get into the name itself. Tilgath-pilneser is not really a name, it is more a Title, just as Pharaoh is in Egypt. There are two different spellings of this title, i.e., as we’re reading it here: Tilgath-pilneser—also in I Chronicles 5:6,26—and Tiglath-pileser—with the “g” and the “l” in the first part of the name swapped, and the “n” in the second part of the name dropped as we read in II Kings 15:29 and II Kings 16:7,10.
…Tilgath-pilneser…=What else was Tilgath-pilneser doing at this time? We read in II Kings 15:29, that while Pekakh was focusing on his waging war on his brothers in Judah, behind him came Tilgath-pilneser who made an expedition against the House of Israel and had overrun all the land of Gilead, and the region beyond Jordan—on the eastern side of Jordan where the Tribes of Reuben and Gad were—and the adjoining country, which is called Galilee, and Kadesh, and Hazor, he made the inhabitants prisoners, and transplanted them into his own kingdom. This then is the beginning of the captivity which would continue on over a twenty year time period. This deportation took place in approximately 734B.C., it is recorded and referred to by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 9:1-2, and even Tiglath-Pileser mentioned the names of these cities in his own inscriptions. As the Israelites are removed from their lands, the Assyrians took peoples of other lands and relocated them into the territories of the ten northern tribes thereby replacing the people of the House of Israel. Once the Israelites removed from their land and then later scattered, they became known by many other names, such as: Saxons, Brits, Gauls, Scythians, and so on; however, they were also known as Celts. Even with all these names, they still became known, even to today, as Caucasians, which is not a race, but named after the event of migrating through the Caucasus Mountains. These people of the tribes are very easily traced, if you want to spend a little time on the matter. The tribe of Napthali was at this time no longer part of the house of Israel, nor were those other areas of the land. Today most people think the House of Israel is gone and lost forever; however, they are not lost to Father, He knows right where they are, and if you are a true studier of Father’s Word and history, you too can know right where they are, you can trace their scattering here. Pekah was the second to last king of the Nation of the House of Israel, there will only be one more king, his name is Hosea, and it will be under Hosea that the Nation will be taken into captivity. Keep in mind also brethren, that our adversary, satan himself, is also referred to as “the Assyrian,” in reference to end time prophecy. Satan in his role as the Assyrian is the type of antichrist that shall rule the earth very shortly, as is prophesied in Isaiah 14:23-24.
…but strengthened him not…=As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, this verse states that Tilgath-pilneser refused to assist Ahaz; however, we read in II Kings 16:5-9, the following: II Kings 16:5 Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him. [16:6] At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day. [16:7] So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me. —> This part we’re reading of here in this Chapter, the next few verses are why we came here: [16:8] And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. [16:9] And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin. —> What did Tilgath-pilneser do? He went to Syria and made war against it, capturing its capital city and slaying Rezin in the process. Biblical Historian Josephus writes of this incident in his article Antiquities Of The Jews: “Now this king, upon the reception of those ambassadors, came to assist Ahaz, and made war upon the Syrians, and laid their country waste, and took Damascus by force, and slew Rezin their king, and transplanted the people of Damascus into the Upper Media, and brought a colony of Assyrians, and planted them in Damascus. He also afflicted the land of Israel, and took many captives out of it. While he was doing thus with the Syrians, king Ahaz took all the gold that was in the king’s treasures, and the silver, and what was in the temple of God, and what precious gifts were there, and he carried them with him, and came to Damascus, and gave it to the king of Assyria, according to his agreement. So he confessed that he owed him thanks for all he had done for him, and returned to Jerusalem. Now this king was so sottish and thoughtless of what was for his own good, that he would not leave off worshipping the Syrian gods when he was beaten by them, but he went on in worshipping them, as though they would procure him the victory; and when he was beaten again, he began to honor the gods of the Assyrians; and he seemed more desirous to honor any other gods than his own paternal and true God, whose anger was the cause of his defeat.”. Back in verse v28:5, we read that it was Father Who sent Pekah and Rezin against Ahaz, but we also read from Isaiah 7:4, where Father told Ahaz to not worry about the two smoking firebrands, as He would take care of them; well, we see now who Father used to take care of them, it was Tilgath-pilneser.
Tilgath-pilneser
Tilgath-pileser=Tilgath-pilneser is not really a name, it is more a Title, just as Pharaoh is in Egypt. There are two different spellings of this title in Father’s Word: Tilgath-pilneser—in I Chronicles 5:6,26 and I Chronicles 5:20—and Tiglath-pileser—with the “g” and the “l” in the first part of the name swapped, and the “n” in the second part of the name dropped as we read in II Kings 15:29 and II Kings 16:7,10. Tilgath-pilneser was king of Assyria during the reign and rule of Pekah, king of the House of Israel; and Ahaz, king of the House of Judah—the king’s actual name was Pul—II Kings 15:19, I Chronicles 5:26 and Isaiah 66:19—or Pulu, pronounced Pool, in the Assyrian cuniform his name was tukulti-apil-esarra, which translates to “my trust/support is in the son of Esharra,” which refers to Ninurta, the god of war and hunting. Tilgath-pilneser’s reign was a very active, important, and by all accounts, an extremely successful one. He probably died when making one of his expeditions against another kingdom. The reader should consult both Biblical and secular history for a full account of this Assyrian king’s exploits; but we read in Father’s Word that Father used Tilgath-pilneser to come against Pekah and the People of the House of Israel for his and Israel’s forsaking Him in order to serve and worship false gods and idols. If interested in reading more secual history concerning this king, I’ve provided several links: Abarim Publications has a good write up here, All Mesopotamia Wordpress Article: click here, Biblicalcyclopedia Article: here, and Encyclopedia Britannica Article: here. † For the etymology of the name Tilgath-pilneser, we read the following from Abarim Publications: “The name Tiglath-pileser was inspired by (or gives a commentary on) the original Tukulti-apil-Esarra, which means My Trust Is In The Son Of Ashur (Ashur being both the eponymous and chief deity of Assyria, and its capital city). But that’s obviously not the meaning of the name Tiglath-pileser in Hebrew. In Hebrew our name is like a mini-poem; a highly condensed intersection of multiple verbs and ideas: The difference between the spelling תגלת פלאסר (tiglath-pilיeser) that’s used in II Kings 15:29 and 16:10, and תגלת פלסר (tiglath-pileser) that occurs in II Kings 16:7 flirts with the signature difference between Hebrew and Aramaic spelling. That is certainly deliberate as the author of the story deploys the same trick with the name Shebna(h) (שבנא/שבנה), and see our article on that name for a more detailed look at this literary device. The name Shebna(h) belonged to the scribe who withstood the propaganda of the Aramean-speaking Rabshakeh, who switched to Hebrew for the (in)convenience of the people of Jerusalem. At that time these people spoke only Hebrew and no Aramaic, but after their stint in Persia, they only spoke Aramaic and no Hebrew, and Ezra had to instate translators to bridge the gap between the Torah and the people (Nehemiah 8:8). These translators would grow into the modern rabbis. All three versions of the name Tiglath-pileser consists of the same three elements. The first element can be related to the verb גלה (gala), to expose, remove or go into exile (the letter ת serves as prefix and suffix in several grammatical functions): The second part of our name relates to the nickname of Tiglath-pileser, namely Pul, which relates to the verb פלל (palal), to distinguish or discern: The third part of our name comes from the verb אסר ss(יasar), to bind or tie up. The form נאסר (nיasar), which the Chronicler favors, employs a common grammatical form that expresses a passive verbal voice (it was bound) or a resultative form (to be in a state of bondage). Rather strikingly, the term אסר נאסר ss(יasar nיasar) means “to bind very tightly” or “to bind certainly” and occurs in Judges 15:13. The literary name Tiglath-pileser relates to the historical name Tukulti-apil-Esarra the way any fictional discussion of the doctrines of racial purity and survival of the fittest (anything from Heidi to Mary Poppins) relates to the historical figure of Adolf Hitler. The name Tiglath-pileser represents intellectual usurpation, that is the claim to authority by merit of excellence in an unrelated discipline: a nuclear physicist who writes a book that explains why sociologists are wrong about society, an evolutionary biologist who writes a book that explains why theologians are wrong about God, a fast-food company that sponsors a sporting event, a government that makes no money and tells people who do make money how to make money. And so on. Combating this kind of silliness takes a trick or two, but as Einstein once said, “you can’t solve a problem by means of the system that caused it, and any aspiring reformers should certainly not succumb to the temptation of embracing the methods used by the system they aim to topple.” In order to restore our natural economy based on merit rather than rank, aspiring reformers cannot usurp but must genuinely outperform the usurpers. An economy based on scarcity depends on people being unhappy and willing to spread misery. An economy based on abundance depends on people being happy and willing to spread joy. The Assyrians were diverted from Judah with the assistance of Tirhakah, the king of Cush, and Judah weathered the storm by hiding within Babylon and Persia. The ten-tribal kingdom of Israel, on the other hand, was sucked into the black hole that is Assyria. The name Tiglath-pileser means Those Who Went Into Exile Now Realize That They Will Be In Eternal Bondage, and represents not merely an Assyrian individual but a caustic mindset of social usurpation that tends to arise naturally within a complex society.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H8407, - תִּגְלַת פִּלְאֶסֶר,ss or תִּלְגַּת פִּלְנְאֶסֶר, - tiglath pil'eser, or tilgath pilne'eser, pronounced - tig-lathי pil-ehי-ser, (more not shown); and means: Of foreign derivation; Tiglath-Pileser or Tilgath-pilneser, an Assyrian king: - Tiglath-pileser, Tilgath-pilneser. Total KJV occurrences: 6.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “ (In I Chronicles 5:26, and again in II Chronicles 28:20, the name of this king is given as Tilgath-pilneser.) Tiglath-pileser is the second Assyrian king mentioned in Scripture as having come into contact with the Israelites. He attacked Samaria in the reign of Pekah, probably because Pekah withheld his tribute, and, having entered his territories, he “took Ijon, and Abel-beth-maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria,” II Kings 15:29. The date of this invasion cannot be fixed. After his first expedition a close league was formed between Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah, having for its special object the humiliation of Judah. At first great successes were gained by Pekah and his confederate, II Kings 15:37; II Chronicles 28:6–8; but on their proceeding to attack Jerusalem itself, Ahaz applied to Assyria for assistance, and Tiglath-pileser, consenting to aid him, again appeared at the head of an army in these regions. He first marched, naturally, against Damascus, which he took, II Kings 16:9, razing it to the ground, and killing Rezin, the Damascene monarch. After this, probably, he proceeded to chastise Pekah, whose country he entered on the northeast, where it bordered upon “Syria of Damascus.” Here he overran the whole district to the east of Jordan, carrying into captivity “the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,” I Chronicles 5:26. Before returning into his own land, Tiglath-pileser had an interview with Ahaz at Damascus, II Kings 16:10. This is all that Scripture tells us of Tiglath-pileser. He reigned certainly from b.c. 747 to b.c. 730, and possibly a few years longer, being succeeded by Shalmaneser at least as early as b.c. 725. Tiglath-pileser’s wars do not, generally, appear to have been of much importance. No palace or great building can be ascribed to this king. His slabs, which are tolerably numerous, show that he must have built or adorned a residence at Calah (Nimrud), where they were found.”.
28:21 Embassy, failure.
1A21
II Chronicles 28:21 For Ahaz took away a portion out of the house of the LORD, and out of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave it unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not. —> Ahaz still hasn’t figured out that all he had to do was turn to Father with a True heart, and Father would have given him relief from all his troubles; instead, what does he do? He steals from the Treasuries of Father’s House, he takes more out of the treasuries of the Nation’s wealth, and he places a higher tax burden on the princes; and still the king of Assyria demands more tribute from him without providing the assistance he seeks.
This reminds me of the situation we find ourselves in today. We went from a President who trusted in Father and therefore were completely energy independant, he lowered the tax burden on businesses thereby they could hire more people and our ecconomy thriving, more people had jobs and as such were prospering, and the stockmarket was booming; to a man who claims to be a Christian but yet advocates for the murder of children while still in the mother’s womb, he pushes his, his demoncratic congress and senate, and his demonic supporters ungodly policies of homosexualism and transgenderism, even on young elementary school aged children, on his first day in office he signed into legislation the stoping of all oil drilling and oil-transporting pipe-lines, which resulted in the highest gas prices this Country has ever had and people losing their employment, and because of these policies, we find ourselves where the transportation of goods has come to a stop, whereby we find ourselves having food shortages like this country has never seen before, he is pushing his “green-energy” agenda which is killing more jobs and raising our energy rates to the highest levels, our ecconomy and employment numbers have tanked, and the stockmarket is spiraling out of control, wiping out people investments and livelyhood. Yeah, this guy who sits in the office of the President is just like Ahaz, he just cannot figure out what is wrong, he just cannot figure out that he is the cause.
28:22-25 Personal evil-doing.
28:22-25 Ahaz’s idolatry.
1A22
II Chronicles 28:22 And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this is that king Ahaz. —> …this is that king Ahaz…=This phrase specifically brands Ahaz as one of the worst transgressors against Father and His Commandments, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances and Statutes of all time to this point in history. There were only three others in Father’s Word who were also specifically mentioned as being such: Cain in Genesis 4:15; and Dathan and Abiram who joined with Korah in trying to rebel against Father, Moses and Aaron as we read in Numbers 26:9. Ahaz, seeing things are not getting any better for him or the Nation, instead of seeing things for what they were, i.e., coused by his own actions, could not figure out that all he had to do was turn to Father, repent of his evil-doing, and ask Father’s forgiveness and things would indeed have turned around for the good; but no, he more-or-less doubled down on his evilness and things continually got worse.
…trespass…=Let’s check out this word trespass in our Strong’s Concordance brethren, when we do, we find that it is Hebrew word number: H4603, - מָעַל, - mâ‛al, pronounced: maw-alי, and means: A primitive root; properly to cover up; used only figuratively to act covertly, that is, treacherously: - transgress, (commit, do a) tresspass (-ing). Total KJV occurrences: 36.. This does properly express Ahaz’s actions, as he did indeed act treacherously towards Father, he committed blatant sins and was grievously unfaithful towards Father.
1A23
II Chronicles 28:23 For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, “Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, therefore will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel. —> …which smote him…=Ahaz falsely believed that it was the gods—that’s gods with a lower case “g,” meaning they were man-made, false gods—of the Syrians who were smiting him, and he therefore gave credit to something false; when, all along, it was Father smiting him because of his forsaking Father. Remember brethren, Father’s Prophets were telling Ahaz why things were going poorly for him, but, he refused to listen to them.
What really happened brethren? Let’s turn to II Kings 16:10-18 and read what truly happened: II Kings 16:10 And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof. —> So in other words, after king Pul of Assyria killed Retzin of Syria and secured the victory for Ahaz, Ahaz then went to meet with Pul in Damascus—the place he had just sacked—in order to finalize payment of the gold and silver he had promised him. While Ahaz was there in Damascus, he saw the altar the Syrian’s used in the worship of their false gods, and he sent a messenger back home to meet with his high priest Urijah who told him, that, he was to make an altar for Ahaz, one which was after the pattern he was sending, one identical to the one the Syrian’s used to worship their false gods, so that as soon as Ahaz arrived home, he too worship the Syrian’s gods, even though those false gods could not even save the Syrians from being defeated by Pul. Did Urijah send that messenger back to Damascus to tell Ahaz that he could not do as requested by Ahaz brethren? No. So, just what kind of priest was Urijah? Certainly not one of Father YHVH, as he was more concerned with pleasing man and not Father. Will he do as commanded by Ahaz? [16:11] And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus. —> Brethren, remember when Ahaz’s grandfather Azariah told the High Priest of the same name, that he no longer needed him to worship Father in Father’s Temple, and the Azariah along with 80 of the Levitical Priests told him, that he needed to step-away from the Holiest of Holies before Father struck him with some sort of malignancy? Those Priests at least had the intestinal fortitude to stand up to the king; here, though, this priest, Urijah—probably appointed by Ahaz, much the same way in the future, the high priest Caiaphas will be appointed by the Romans—is not standing up to his king; but, bowing and caving to his desires and wishes, and is going to build this abomination of an altar for him to worship at. [16:12] And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon. —> We see that Urijah did indeed listen to his king and makes that altar Ahaz told him to make, and probably no sooner had Urijah finished making the altar for Ahaz, when in he walks and immediately starts to worship and offer sacrifice on that abominitable altar, possibly even sacrificing one of his own children, much to the chagrin, displeasure, and anger of Father. [16:13] And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar. —> Here we see Ahaz is acting much like his grandfather Azariah, and deciding that he no longer needs his own appointed high priest to act in that capacity; as, he’ll even do the priestly duties himself. Father’s Word doesn’t say that he offered any of his own children at this time; however, we know that he served and worshiped molech, so it would stand to reason that he indeed did do it at this time as well. Let’s return to II Chronicles 28:24 and read it, and then we’ll come back here to finish II Kings 16:14-18.
1A24
II Chronicles 28:24 And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem. —> Ahaz now gets really stupid, he not only removed the dedicated things in Father’s House—which had been dedicated to Father—but, he also cuts them up, and then he even goes so far as to katy-bar the doors of Father’s House so that nobody could enter in. Then, he turns around and places idolatrus altars all throughout Jerusalem and has the People of Judah go and worship at them. It’s pretty ironic; as, the first act of his son Hezekiah when he takes over the kingdom will be to reopen Father’s House in order that he and all the People can come in and worship Father.
Let’s turn again to II Kings 16:14: II Kings 16:14 And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar. —> In his mind, since Father isn’t with him—which He isn’t, only because of Ahaz’s own actions—Ahaz figures he’ll just create a “new religion.” Sounds pretty much like some of the preachers we have today with their “prosperity,” “rupture, I mean rapture,” and other such non-sense doctrines, traditions and denominational dogmas. [16:15] And king Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, “Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king’s burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the People of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.” —> We saw a minute ago where Ahaz was acting in the place of the High Priest; now, he trying to fulfill Father’s shoes by telling his priest how to offer sacrifices. There is only one problem brethren, and that problem—and I sure hope you all don’t think it a small problem—is that, there is only One Who is supposed to command anything of the Priests, and that One, is Father; and here, Ahaz thinks that he has authority over the Priests and their liturgical duties. So, though Urijah is not a high priest, but a man-made priest, after the “order of Ahaz,” and not Father YHVH, ole Ahaz tells him, that when he has all these sacrifices in place; then you just leave them there, and I’ll tell you what to do with them. Urijah was told to put Father’s offering aside, and wait until I tell you what to sacrifice. Ahaz is putting the nails in his own coffin, for Father will not allow him to remain in the flesh very much longer. Brethren, Father is always in control, and the moment that you anger Him to the point that Ahaz has here, your life will turn into a mess. Father gave His instructions about the altar to Aaron back in Exodus 29, and we read in verses Exodus 29:42-46, that Father had made a promise to Aaron and the priesthood, let’s turn there and read it: Exodus 29:42 This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak unto thee. —> Do you think that after Ahaz has brought in this heathen alter and rearranged Father’s House that He would be there for His people? No, I think that Father has nothing more to say to Ahaz while he is yet in the flesh, regardless what sacrifices Ahaz decides to make for himself. Pay attention brethren, as, this is done in many of the church houses today, and it is being done by people who are not careful to obey Father at His Word. Jesus became our offering for one and all times, so stop allowing heathen traditions and teachings into Father’s House, which is exactly what Ahaz did. There is only one way to prevent this, and that would be to Study Father’s Word in order to know for sure what pleases Him, and what He hates. [29:43] And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. [29:44] And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to Me in the priest’s office. —> Here, Father is saying that only He would chose the Priests, and the ministering to Him from that office; however, Ahaz is trying to force his high priest to conform to those heathen altar rituals from Damascus. [29:45] And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. —> When anyone turns their back on Father, then, though He is still YHVH, He no longer is there for them; unless, and until they come to Him in Repentance. [29:46] And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, That brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God. —> The whole time that Ahaz did those things, it was not Father Who was sanctifying the altar, or any part of His House, but Ahaz. [16:16] Thus did Urijah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded. —> Urijah, unlike Azariah the High Priest, did as his king commanded him. He would have actually been wise to not obey his king; but, rather, listen to Father. Sure, king Ahaz could and probably would have killed his flesh life; however, Father can kill both the flesh and the soul, and then take away Urijah’s eternal life. What do we read in I Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?. And what do we read in Matthew 10:28? Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. —> Yes brethren, I realize that neither I Peter nor Matthew were written before or during the days of Ahaz and Urijah, but they did still have the Ten Commandments at that time, and they did also have the example of Nadab and his brother Abihu, Aaron’s sons. [16:17] And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones. —> Ahaz was showing and telling Father YHVH that He didn’t know how to design His Temple; so, Ahaz was going to show Him by redesigning Father’s Temple to his own liking. In making these changes, Ahaz was actually destroying Father’s Temple. Ahaz even went so far as to take the 10,000-12,000 gallon water-filled brasen sea from off of the 12 oxen—symbolic of each of the 12 Tribes of Israel—and place it upon stones. [16:18] And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king’s entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria. —> According to Father’s Prophet Isaiah, as we read in the Book named after him: Isaiah 14, the “king of Assyria is the pretend-to-be jesus: antichrist, and his name was ‘lucifer, the bright morning star.’i” It is symbolic of satan himself; as, satan will come presenting himself as Jesus, he will look like the people expect Jesus to look, and say the things that they expect Jesus to say; but, he will be satan in the role of antichrist. So, this is a type of what we shall see shortly in our generation at the arrival of satan; for, satan will come to make major changes, and end most of the things that Jesus Christ taught us to do. One of the most important changes will be the “end of the oblation,” for people will stop taking Communion because they will think that Jesus Christ is here. He will come to deceive all the Christians who have not done their homework and prepared themselves for the latter days of this earth Age.
1A25
II Chronicles 28:25 And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers. —> If there was anything which Ahaz was good at, it was angering Father because of his forsaking Him in order to serve and worship false gods and idols.
28:26 Conclusion.
1A26
II Chronicles 28:26 Now the rest of his acts and of all his ways, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. —> Yes, they are written of, and we read of them back in II Kings 15; II Kings 16 and here in II Chronicles 28. Thus ends the reign of the man who completely and totally despised Father, all He stands for, His Commandmnets, Judgments, Laws, Ordinances and Statutes.
There really and truly is nothing positive to say concerning this evil nasty king; but, with that being said, I can say that the one good thing about him, is his son, Hezekiah, who is about to inherit the Nation.
28:27 Conclusion.
1A27
II Chronicles 28:27 And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, even in Jerusalem: but they brought him not into the sepulchres of the kings of Israel: and Hezekiah (the strength of YAH; and, the might of YHVH) (yekh-iz-kee-yawי) his son reigned in his stead. —> The evil, vile king is now dead and Home with Father, and now his son Hezekiah is taking hold of the reins of the House of Judah. Ahaz being in the seed-line of David, and a king of the House of Judah, afforded him the right to be buried in Jerusalem with the other kings of the House of Judah; however, as he was a very unrighteous king, he was not buried with the other kings, he was buried away from them in a separate location, most likely out in a field somewhere.
Hezekiah
Hezekiah=Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz, king of the Nation of the House of Judah, and his wife Abi—II Kings 18:2—also called Abijah—II Chronicles 29:1. Hezekiah was married to Hephzibah, and his son’s name was Manasseh. He was 25 years old when he took over the Nation after his father Ahaz died and returned Home to Father, he was the 16th king of the divided Nation, and he reigned and ruled for 29 years. Behind David, Hezekiah was the most pious and righteous king of Judah—all the kings of the Nation of the House of Judah were compared against David—and there is much written of him in Father’s Word—II Kings 18; II Kings 19; and II Kings 20; II Chronicles 29; II Chronicles 30; II Chronicles 31; and II Chronicles 32; Isaiah 36; Isaiah 37; Isaiah 38; and Isaiah 39. Let’s turn to II Chronicles 29 and read how Hezekiah began his reign: II Chronicles 29:3 He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. —> Hezekiah immediately went to work re-opening the doors to Father’s House which his father had had katy-barred and locked; this was an amazing feat considering his father had put a complete stop to the Honoring, Serving and Worship of Father YHVH. [29:4] And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the east street, [29:5] And said unto them, “Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. —> After having the locks on the doors to Father’s House cut and removed, Hezekiah next called all the Levites—both the Priests and the non-Priests, every Priest was a Levite; but, not every Levite could be a Priest, that was reserved for the sons of Aaron who was a grandson of Kohath—to a large open area on the east where he could speak to them and give them their instructions for first sanctifying themselves and making themselves clean—Reformation must begin with the Ministry—then cleaning up Father’s House and get it ready for reopening. [29:6] For our fathers have trespassed, and done that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD our God, and have forsaken Him, and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD, and turned their backs. —> This was and was not only and totally the Priests fault. Remember, the king ruled the Nation and when Hezekiah’s father Ahaz ruled the Nation, he hated everything of Father YHVH; and had the Priests and the Levites tried to keep the Ministry going, he’d most likely have had the Priests and the Levites murdered, but, I’m pretty sure that the Priesthood was pretty happy to forsake Father on their own, and don’t forget also brethren, the Priesthood had allowed itself to be taken over by the nethinim—the Temple servants, who had been installed back in Joshua 9—the offspring of satan. [29:7] Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. —> Notice the number of “and(s)” in this and the last verse brethren? This is known as a polysyndeton—The repetition of the word “and” at the beginning of successive clauses, each independent, important, and emphatic, with no climax at the end. Here, Hezekiah is telling the Priesthood, that because of his father Ahaz, the entire Nation turned their backs on Father and had forsaken Him. [29:8] Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes. [29:9] For, lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. [29:10] Now it is in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us. [29:11] My sons, be not now negligent: for the LORD hath chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that ye should minister unto Him, and burn incense.” —> So it was now time to restore Father YHVH as the God of Israel, to again begin the Honoring, Serving and Worship of Him. Hezekiah next began removing all the evilness which his father had re-introduced into the Nation: i.e., he put a stop to asherah and baal worship by cutting down the groves; he removed all the high places where the people went to hold their illegal worship services, he destroyed all their false idols and images; he put a stop to molechism; he put an end to moon, star and sun worship; and he also brake in pieces the brasen serpent which was made back in the days of Moses when Father was leading and guiding our forefathers into the Promised Land. When all Priests and the Levites were sanctified, we read in II Chronicles 30:1, that Hezekiah sent out letters to all the People of both Judah and the House of Israel to come to Jerusalem to keep the Passover. II Chronicles 30:2-25 record the events of this Passover, and then we read in II Chronicles 30:26, the following: II Chronicles 30:26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem: for since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there was not the like in Jerusalem.. Over the next several years, things went well for Hezekiah and Judah, at some point though—namely, the death of Sargon, the king of Assyria and the rise of his son Sennacherib—Hezekiah deceided he was no longer going to pay a tribute to the king of Assyria. Sennacherib took great offense at this and attacked and invaded Judah, thereby causing Hezekiah to submit to the demands of Sennacherib. Sennacherib later demanded more tribute, and when Hezekiah balked, Sennacherib again invaded, however, this time Sennacherib was not successful because Hezekiah made a beautiful prayer to Father seeking His help, Father delivered by going throughout the camp of the Assyrians and destroying 185,000 soldiers in one night. Hezekiah not only knew to pray to Father for military assistance; but, in personal matters as well; for when he became ill with a fatal sickness, he again prayed to Father and Father sent His Prophet, Hezekiah’s friend, Isaiah, who told him that he would not die, but live for another fifteen years. Hezekiah asked Isaiah how he would know this was true and Isaiah responded by asking Hezekiah if he would likke the shadow of the sun to go forward or backward by ten degrees? Hezekiah replys in II Kings 20:10: II Kings 20:10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.” —> We read in the very next verse what next transpired: [20:11] And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. —> News of Hezekiah’s miraculous recovery spread all throughout the land and when Berodach-baladan, king of Babylon heard of this news, he sent a delagation to Hezekiah with letters and a present and to see for themselves if Hezekiah had recovered. Foolishly, Hezekiah received Berodach-baladan’s ambassadors with open-arms and he invited them into his kingdom, gave them a grand-tour and even showed them all the Kingdom’s and his own personal treasurers. Upon hearing of this, Isaiah returned, telling Hezekiah in II Kings 20:16-18: II Kings 20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD. [20:17] Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. [20:18] ‘And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’i”. As Hezekiah had not yet had an heir to the throne, it was a good thing for him that Father had indeed extended his life by those fifteen years, however, as we read in II Kings 20:18, his heirs would be taken into captivity to the Babylonians. This didn’t happen in his son Manasseh’s reign and rule, but it did come to pass. It wasn’t long after the events of II Kings 20:18 came to pass, that Hezekiah died and returned Home to Father. When he died, they gave him a royal funeral and buried him in the chiefest sepulchres of the sons of David, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor. † For the etymology of the name Hezekiah, we read the following in Abarim Publications: “The name Hezekiah consists of two elements. The final part is formed by the appellative יה (YAH) = יהו (YAHU) = יו (YU), which in turn are abbreviated forms of the Tetragrammaton יהוה, YHVH or YAHVEH. The first part of the name Hezekiah comes from the verb חזק (hazaq), meaning to be or become strong: For a meaning of the name Hezekiah, New Open Bible Study Edition (NOBSE) Study Bible Name List reads Yahveh Strengthens. Brown Driver Briggs (BDB) Theological Dictionary has the similar Yah Hath Strengthened and Yah Strengthens, to account for the two different tenses this name comes in. Jones’ Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names reads Strength Of The Lord.”. † Now from the Strong’s Concordance, where we find that it is Hebrew word number: H3169, - יְחִזְקִיָּה, or יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, - yechizqı̂yâh, or yechizqı̂yâhû, - pronounced: yekh-iz-kee-yawי or yekh-iz-kee-yawי-hoo, and means: From H3388 and H3050; strengthened of YAH; Jechizkijah, the name of five Israelites: - Hezekiah, Jehizkiah. Compare H2396. Total KJV occurrences: 44.. † Now from the Smith’s Bible Dictionary, where we read: “The might of YHVH. Twelfth king of Judah, son of the apostate Ahaz and Abi or Abijah, ascended the throne at the age of 25. Hezekiah was one of the three most perfect kings of Judah, II Kings 18:5; Ecclus. 49:4. His first act was to purge and repair and reopen with splendid sacrifices and perfect ceremonial the temple. He also destroyed a brazen serpent, said to have been the one used by Moses in the miraculous healing of the Israelites, Numbers 21:9, which had become an object of adoration. When the kingdom of Israel had fallen, Hezekiah invited the scattered inhabitants to a peculiar passover, which was continued for the unprecedented period of fourteen days, II Chronicles 29:30,31. At the head of a repentant and united people, Hezekiah ventured to assume the aggressive against the Philistines; and in a series of victories not only rewon the cities which his father had lost, II Chronicles 28:18, but even dispossessed them of their own cities, except Gaza, II Kings 18:8, and Gath. He refused to acknowledge the supremacy of Assyria, II Kings 18:7. Instant war was imminent, and Hezekiah used every available means to strengthen himself, II Kings 20:20. It was probably at this dangerous crisis in his kingdom that we find him sick and sending for Isaiah, who prophesies death as the result, II Kings 20:1. Hezekiah’s prayer for longer life is heard. The prophet had hardly left the palace when he was ordered to return and promise the king immediate recovery and fifteen years more of life, II Kings 20:4-6. An embassy coming from Babylon ostensibly to compliment Hezekiah on his convalescence, but really to form an alliance between the two powers, is favorably received by the king, who shows them the treasures which he had accumulated. For this Isaiah foretells the punishment that shall befall his house, II Kings 20:17. The two invasions of Sennacherib occupy the greater part of the Scripture records concerning the reign of Hezekiah. The first of these took place in the third year of Sennacherib, and occupies only three verses, II Kings 18:13-16. Respecting the commencement of the second invasion we have full details in II Kings 18:17, seq.; II Chronicles 32:9, seq.; Isaiah 36. Sennacherib sent against Jerusalem an army under two officers and his cupbearer, the orator Rabshakeh, with a blasphemous and insulting summons to surrender; but Isaiah assures the king he need not fear, promising to disperse the enemy, II Kings 19:6,7. Accordingly that night “the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred fourscore and five thousand.” Hezekiah only lived to enjoy for about one year more his well-earned peace and glory. He slept with his fathers after a reign of twenty-nine years, in the 56th year of his age.”.
June 2022.
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