The ancient prophecies/histories of the nations of the Middle East provide background to the conflicts there today. The same adversarial relationships describe Israel's neighbors and herself.
Ezek 12—Ezekiel is instructed about making God’s words relevant, and no more to be postponed
1 The word of the Lord also came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. [Compare Deut 29:4, Isa 6:10, Isa 29:10, Mark 8:14-21, Luke 8:10, Rom 11:8, Eph 4:18, 2 Thes 2:10-12]
The Lord instructs Ezekiel to communicate with the people using a sort of combination of object/symbolic/demonstration lessons . . . lessons that would SIT well, that is, they were Surprising, Interesting, and Troubling.
1. Ezekiel is to pack up during the day and move, in plain sight of all, with the hope the Israelites will take notice and consider
2. Next he is to remove his stuff in the people’s sight, as a person taken into captivity
3. He is to dig a hole in the wall and carry his stuff out through it
4. Further, he is to carry his stuff on his shoulders in the twilight, with his face covered, so he can’t see the ground; all this as a sign/symbol/representation to the Israelites
The next morning the Lord asks Ezekiel if the people didn’t ask him what he was up to. He is to explain that all this was essentially a visual parable of what is to happen to the prince/ruler, the people of Jerusalem, and the Israelites among them. They will be removed and brought into captivity. Their prince will bear his stuff on his shoulder and leave at twilight (an ignominious flight). They’ll dig through the wall for their escape, and the prince’s face will be covered so he can’t even see the ground before him. He will be taken as in a net or with snares/traps and brought to Babylon, but he’ll never see it, even though he’ll die there (Zedekiah fled when Jerusalem fell, but his pursuers caught up with him: he was blinded after they killed his sons before his eyes, and then taken captive to Babylon).
Continuing, the Lord says He will scatter all the king’s helpers to the winds, and his armies will be chased & killed by the sword. The people will acknowledge the Lord, and that He was behind all that happened to them, when they are scattered/dispersed among other nations. God will spare a few Israelite survivors of the wars, famine, and pestilence/disease, to testify of their abominations when they are carried away among the heathen. They will acknowledge their God.
Ezekiel is to eat and drink with quaking and trembling, and fear. It’s a representation of how the residents of Jerusalem and the land of Israel will do as their nation is destroyed because of their violent lifestyles.
The Lord asks, What’s this saying so prevalent in the land of Israel that Life goes on as usual, and all the dire prophecies fail to come about? He says to Ezekiel, Tell them “I will make this proverb to cease, and they shall no more use it as a proverb in Israel . . .” the days are quickly coming when the prophecies will be fulfilled. There won’t be any more foolish “visions” and flattering false prophecies among the House of Israel.
“For I am the Lord: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more prolonged [delayed]: for in your days, O rebellious house, will I say the word, and will perform it, saith the Lord God.”
While people are saying Ezekiel’s prophecies are a long way off in coming, the Lord says, None of My words are to be postponed any longer. All I [God] have said will be done.
(Ezek 17 is covered in part 2, the riddle or parable of the eagles & the cedars; it touches on king Zedekiah’s hopes for an Egyptian alliance which will cause his downfall before the Babylonian king.)
Ezek 19—a parable of lions, and a parable of a vine: the strong taken captive; no rulers left
A “lamentation for the princes of Israel” . . .
What is your mother? A lioness with cubs. One cub grew to a strong young lion, catching prey and devouring people. But the nations heard of him, caught him in a pit. and he was taken in chains to Egypt.
The lioness lost hope in that cub, and took another of her cubs to grow into a strong young lion. He learned to hunt prey, and devoured people. He laid waste to the cities, the palaces, and the land. The land was full of his roaring.
But then the nations all surrounded him on every side, and took him in a net and put him in a pit in chains. They brought him to the king of Babylon to be imprisoned. His voice would no more be heard in the mountains/hills of the land of Israel.
A second parable: thy mother is like a fruitful vine full of branches, planted by the waters. This vine had strong branches that bore rule. She was exalted in her multitude of lofty branches. But then she was plucked up in fury. She was thrown down, and the east wind dried up her fruit. Her strong branches were broken and withered. They were consumed in fire. “ And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground.” The fire of one of her branches has destroyed all her fruit. She is left without a strong branch to bear rule. This is the lamentation.
The first parable (of the lions) would appear to refer to the rule/leadership of Joseph who was taken into Egypt as a slave, yet he (and probably his line) essentially ruled the Children of Israel there. But the leadership/rule of the Children of Israel eventually passed to the tribe of Judah, King David’s line. Under the rule of Judah Israel prospered. But Israel’s jealous neighbors conspired to destroy him, and he was carried away to Babylon. Similarly, in the 2nd parable: Israel prospered like a well-watered (grape) vine by a stream or body of water. But she was pulled up, her branches broken and burned. She is left without an heir to her throne. (Zedekiah, the last king of Judah, saw his heirs killed before his eyes; other Jewish royalty had been imprisoned in Egypt and Babylon.)
Ezek 20—the Lord likens His future rescue of His people to what He did in the Exodus from Egypt
In the 7th year (presumably of captivity, that is, of Zedekiah’s reign—while Ezekiel and the first captives were already in Babylon), the elders of Israel come to the prophet Ezekiel to inquire of the Lord. But the Lord replies, “Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you.” He then lists their history . . .
The language of this chapter is so beautiful and powerful, the following is a just poor summary:
The Lord made Himself known to Jacob/Israel’s posterity in Egypt, and brought them out of slavery. He told them to throw away the idols of Egypt, and gave them the Law of Moses (a law of Justice and Mercy) to live by, including Sabbaths as a sign of the covenant between them and God. But they rebelled against Him in the wilderness, continuing to worship Egypt’s gods (“for their heart went after their idols”), despising His laws, and polluted His Sabbaths. Nevertheless, the Lord yet cared for them (that His name would not be profaned by the heathen nations, who knew He had rescued Israel from Egypt) and brought them into a land the Lord had chosen for them, a land “flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands”. See
https://www.gotquestions.org/Israel-milk-honey.html
https://www.penn.museum/sites/canaan/Climate%26Fauna.html
The Lord admonished Israel not to follow the idolatry of their fathers in Egypt, nor follow their old traditional codes of law, but to follow/keep His laws of Justice and to keep His Sabbaths holy. Still, they rebelled against/despised His laws and polluted His Sabbaths. He warned them of His anger, yet He held back for the sake of His reputation among the heathen. He left them to their abominations (including sacrificing their children in fire to idols).
“Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me . . .” for when He brought them into the Promised Land (by His hand they were able to settle there), they made every hill and all the large trees places of idolatry/idol worship. The Lord asks “Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations?” Aren’t you still going on in those ways? Why should I [God] listen to/answer your inquiries [pleas for care & protection, good fortune—just as the Greeks would go to their oracles]?
And yet, the Lord promises after all that He will bring/gather His people out of captivity among the nations, as He did when He rescued them from Egypt. In the “wilderness of the people” He will plead with His people face to face to put away all their wicked ways and serve Him. In this wilderness/captivity He will purge the rebels and sinners from among them. “For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things.” [Note the great work that Ezra and Nehemiah did among the people to bring them back to God, when He had brought them back {through Cyrus) to their land, Israel].
Then will the Lord accept their sacrifices, and they will honor Him with holiness of thought and behavior before the heathen. Israel will acknowledge and loathe themselves for the evils they [their fathers] committed. They will know the Lord is their God, and has dealt with them in mercy, despite what they as a people deserved.
Ezekiel is to prophesy against the forests south of him (as he was in Mesopotamia, Israel would be south of him), that the Lord would start a fire in those forests to devour all the trees, living or dead, Thus all people will know that the Lord was behind the destruction.
Ezekiel answers, Lord, they say I’m speaking in parables. [Implying either that he is not being direct and clear, or that his stories are like folktales.]
Ezek 36—the gathering of Israel (see also Ezek 28:24-26)
Because Israel’s neighbors considered the conquest of Israel their chance to encroach on Israel’s territory, the Lord says He will bring them to shame. Note that after the Assyrian conquest, Israel & Judah were once again one kingdom (as they had been in the days of King David), ruled by David’s lineage.
6 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen . . .
8 But ye, O mountains of Israel, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come . . .
The Lord promises to prosper Israel. The cities will be repopulated. What had become wasteland will be rebuilt. “And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.”
Before, the House of Israel defiled their own land with their iniquities and idolatries (like an unclean, separated woman), so the Lord poured out His fury on them. He scattered them among the heathen. But then the Lord had pity on them, not for their own sakes (because they profaned/disrespected God’s name among the heathen), but for His own name’s sake. He will make His name holy/reverenced again. He promises to gather them out of all the nations where they are scattered and bring them back to their own land. He will cleanse them from their filthiness and idolatries (He speaks of clean water, as if in washing away their sins, like in baptism).
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes [what is legal and what is not] and ye shall keep my judgments [establishing innocence or guilt, and sentencing Laws], and do them.
28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Ezek 25—vs Ammonites, Moab, Seir/Edom, Philistines
4 Behold, therefore I will deliver thee [Ammonites] to the men of the east for a possession, and they shall set their palaces in thee, and make their dwellings in thee: they shall eat thy fruit, and they shall drink thy milk.
5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels, and the Ammonites a couchingplace for flocks: and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
6 For thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast clapped thine hands, and stamped with the feet, and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of Israel . . .
11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
12 ¶ Thus saith the Lord God; Because that Edom hath dealt against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and hath greatly offended, and revenged himself upon them . . .
14 . . . I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel: and they shall do in Edom according to mine anger and according to my fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God.
15 ¶ Thus saith the Lord God; Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart, to destroy it [the land of Israel] for the old hatred . . . [remember the stories of Samson & Delila, David & Goliath, etc]
17 And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them.
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/ancient-near-eastern-world/ammonites-moabites-edomites-in-the-bible/ Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites
https://www.gotquestions.org/mount-Seir.html Mt Seir belonged to Edom
https://bibleatlas.org/mount_seir.htm map, scriptures, & Encyclopedia entries for Mt Seir/Bozrah
Ezek 35—prophecies vs Mt Seir (Edom) & Idumea
2 Son of man, set thy face against mount Seir, and prophesy against it,
3 And say unto it, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O mount Seir, I am against thee, and I will stretch out mine hand against thee, and I will make thee most desolate.
4 I will lay thy cities waste, and thou shalt be desolate, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
5 Because thou hast had a perpetual hatred, and hast shed the blood of the children of Israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity, in the time that their iniquity had an end . . .
The Lord chastises Edom for gleefully anticipating taking advantage of Israel’s troubles, thinking to take over the land of Israel. Edom will be destroyed and will know that God is the Lord. In the last verse of the chapter Idumea is included in the desolation. Likewise, Idumea is only hardly mentioned in Ezekiel 36 (verse 5) “Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all their heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey.” Idumea, like Edom, joyfully considers the conquest of Israel as a chance to take over the land.
https://www.biblestudy.org/meaning-names/idumea.html valuable info about Idumea & its history
Ezek 26-27—prophecies vs Tyre
In the 11th year (of the Jewish king Zedekiah, and the captivity of the first group carried/taken to Babylon) the Lord speaks to Ezekiel against Tyre. Tyre had a long history with Israel. The king of Tyre was friends with Kings David & Solomon of Judah. But by the time of the Babylonian conquest Tyre had an adversarial relationship to the land & people of Israel.
https://www.worldhistory.org/Tyre/ background info & history of Tyre, a wealthy Phoenician city
2 Son of man, because that Tyrus hath said against Jerusalem, Aha, she is broken that was the gates of the people: she is turned unto me: I shall be replenished, now she is laid waste:
3 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Tyrus, and will cause many nations to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up.
4 And they shall destroy the walls of Tyrus, and break down her towers: I will also scrape her dust from her, and make her like the top of a rock.
5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
6 And her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
7 ¶ For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
Chapter 27 is a lament for Tyre . . . speaking of her rich trade among the islands of the Mediterranean, as well of Egypt, Persia, Syria, Judah, and other lands of the Middle East. “Tyrus, O thou that art situate[d] at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty. Thy borders are in the midst of the seas, thy builders have perfected thy beauty.” This chapter is abundant with details about the products and trade goods of various ancient lands and peoples of the Middle East.
https://bibleatlas.org/tarshish.htm Tarshish, located in what is now Spain
https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/27-13.htm Javan, Tubal, and Meshech (scroll down for commentary)
https://biblehub.com/topical/t/togarmah.htm Togarmah
https://bibleatlas.org/dedan.htm Dedan, in Arabia/Persian Gulf
Ezek 28—prophecies vs Tyre & Sidon
Prophesy against & lament for Tyre (Note the mention of Daniel)
2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:
3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee:
4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures:
5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches:
6 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God;
7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.
Tyre is described as a garden like Eden, with all sorts of precious stones: sardius, topaz, diamond, beryl, onyx, jasper, sapphire, emerald, carbuncle, gold. Finely crafted musical instruments: tabrets and pipes (tambourines or small drums, and flutes) that would be played for joyous occasions. But the prosperity of trade brought violence (no doubt robbery & theft).
Prophesy vs Zidon/Sidon (sister Phoenician city to Tyre)
22 And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Zidon; and I will be glorified in the midst of thee: and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have executed judgments in her, and shall be sanctified in her.
23 For I will send into her pestilence, and blood into her streets; and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side; and they shall know that I am the Lord.
Ezek 29-32—prophecies vs Egypt
In the 10th year (of King Zedekiah in Judah, and the 1st group of Captives in Babylon, where Ezekiel was), the Lord gives a prophesy against Pharaoh and all Egypt:
3 Speak, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.
4 But I will put hooks in thy jaws, and I will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales, and I will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers, and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales.
5 And I will leave thee thrown into the wilderness, thee and all the fish of thy rivers: thou shalt fall upon the open fields; thou shalt not be brought together, nor gathered: I have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven.
6 And all the inhabitants of Egypt shall know that I am the Lord, because they have been a staff of reed to the house of Israel.
7 When they took hold of thee by thy hand, thou didst break, and rend all their shoulder: and when they leaned upon thee, thou brakest, and madest all their loins to be at a stand.
The kingdom of Judah had hoped for help from Egypt against Babylon, and Pharaoh didn’t come through. “Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will bring a sword upon thee, and cut off man and beast out of thee. And the land of Egypt shall be desolate and waste; and they shall know that I am the Lord: because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it.” The prophesy is that Syene to Ethiopia will be wasted & desolate for 40 years, perhaps other cities as well, but after 40 years the Lord will gather them from where they have been scattered and bring them back to their land, though they will not be so high and mighty. Pathros is a name for southern Egypt.
https://bibleatlas.org/syene.htm interesting info about Syene, including a Jewish colony there; click on the map to enlarge it.
In the 27th year the Lord tells Ezekiel that Nebuchadrezzar and his army’s wages for their service against Tyre, He will give them the land of Egypt and its spoil. All this to convince God’s people that He is Lord [when these prophecies come to pass].
Not only Egypt, but her allies to the south (Ethiopia, Libya, Lydia, various mixed peoples, and Chub) will fall by the sword of the Babylonians. Zoan (in the Nile delta) and other cities will be burned and destroyed.
https://bibleatlas.org/lud.htm an explanagion of Lydia/Lud in Ezek 30:5
https://bibleatlas.org/memphis.htm about Noph (Memphis)
https://bibleatlas.org/dispersion.htm interesting info about the scattering of Israel over the centuries
https://bibleatlas.org/zoan.htm about Zoan (Tanis) in the Nile Delta
https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/30-14.htm No is the city of Thebes
https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/30-15.htm Sin is another city in the Nile Delta
In the 11th year the Lord says metaphorically that He has broken Pharaoh’s arm(s) and it (they) won’t be bound and healed in order to hold a sword. God will scatter the Egyptians among the nations. He will strengthen the king of Babylon and allow him to conquer Egypt. Even the Egyptians will recognize that God is Lord (Ruler, Master, the Superior Authority).
Two months later, in the 11th year, the Lord gives Ezekiel a parable about Assyria for Egypt to take heed: Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon (famous for exceptional trees). He was tall and thick with long branches. He grew in a well-watered place. The birds of the air made nests among his branches, and raised their young. In the shade of his branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young. The great nations lived in his shadow. The firs and the chestnut trees were nothing next to him. He was so beautiful that all the trees in the Garden of Eden envied him. But because he was so full of himself, God brought his downfall at the hand of a heathen [the Babylonian Empire], who would drive him out for his wickedness. “I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.” All of his allies will fall with him. (Compare the fall of Babylon: Rev 14:8, Rev 18, Isa 13:19, Isa 14, Isa 21:9, Isa 47:5) Egypt/Pharaoh’s egotism is like Assyria’s before his fall.
Near the end of the 12th year Ezekiel is to take up a lament/mourning for Pharaoh: You are like a young lion among the nations, a whale in the sea. You walked through their rivers and befouled them. But God will spread His net over you by the hands of many people. You’ll be brought up onto the land, tossed out in an open field where you will be food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth. Your flesh will lay on the mountains, your blood will fill the valleys. Your blood will water the land where you used to swim, and the land and rivers will be full of you. God will blanket the heavens to darken the stars and moon, and cover the sun with a cloud [likely a description of the smoke of burning cities when Babylon conquers Egypt]. “Yea, I will make many people amazed at thee, and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee, when I shall brandish my sword before them; and they shall tremble at every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of thy fall . . .”
A couple weeks later the Lord again tells Ezekiel to make a wailing for Egypt. Egypt will join other nations in hell, who were or would be conquered/destroyed by Babylon’s armies: Asshur (Assyria), Elam (Persia), Meshech, Tubal, Edom, and Zidon/Sidon (sister Phoenician city of Tyre).
https://biblehub.com/ezekiel/32-26.htm regarding Meshech & Tubal, click back & forward for the other nations listed.
Category: Ammonites
Lamentations, Habakkuk, Obadiah
2 Kings 23:39-25:30 History recap/outline
--On the death of king Josiah, his 23 yr old son Jehoahaz is made king
After 3 mos Pharaoh-nechoh took him captive to Egypt, made Jerusalem tributary
--Pharaoh makes 25 yr old Jehoiakim, brother of Jehoahaz king in Jerusalem
11 yr reign; Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes him tributary
After 3 years he rebels, Chaldees/Syrians/Moabites/Ammonites sent vs Judah
--at the death of Jehoiakim, his 18 yr old son Jehoiachin made king
(Babylon has taken all Egypt’s holdings from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates)
Reigned 3 mos, Nebuchadnezzar’s servants besiege Jerusalem
8th year of Nebuchadnezzar, Jehoiakim, the elites, the Temple & king’s treasures, & craftsmen:
10K carried away to Babylon.
https://biblehub.com/2_kings/24-12.htm
--21 yr old Zedekiah (Jehoiachin’s uncle) is made king by Nebuchadnezzar
11 yr reign; rebels vs Nebuchadnezzar, 9th yr Jerusalem besieged by Babylonians
11th year no bread/famine, city broken up, Chaldees are surrounding the city
Zedekiah & soldiers flee, but he is captured, his army scattered
Zedekiah’s sons killed in front of him, then his eyes are put out; he is taken to Babylon
--The Temple, the king’s house, and all the great houses in Jerusalem are burned, the walls broken
The rest of the people in Jerusalem, and the fugitives that joined the Babylonians are carried
to Babylon. The poor are left to work the vineyards. Gedaliah is made governor.
A conspiracy kills Gedaliah, the people flee in fear to Egypt.
--37th year of captivity, Jehoiachin is released from prison & lives on the king of Babylon’s allowance
the rest of his life.
2 Chron 36 History recap/outline (there are a few differences to that above)
--the people make 23 yr old Jehoahaz king after Josiah’s death
Reigned 3 mos, king of Egypt takes him captive to Egypt; makes Jerusalem tributary
--king of Egypt makes Jehoahaz’ 25 yr old brother Jehoiakim king of Judah/Jerusalem
Reigned 11 yrs; Nebuchadnezzar carries him & the Temple treasures to Babylon
--8 yr old Jehoiachin, son of Jehoiakim, reigns 3 mos; carried captive to Babylon
--Nebuchadnezzar makes 21 yr old Zedekiah (Jehoiachin’s brother) king of Judah/Jerusalem
Reigned 11 years, wouldn’t humble himself before Jeremiah, speaking for the Lord
Rebelled vs his oath & vs Nebuchadnezzar
14 ¶ Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the Lord which he had hallowed in Jerusalem.
15 And the Lord God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:
16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
Temple & king’s treasures, the king & princes taken captive to Babylon
The Temple & palaces in Jerusalem are burned, the walls broken down
--Those who weren’t killed were taken captive to Babylon & served there until Persia arose
Jeremiah’s prophecies fulfilled, the land enjoyed sabbaths, for 70 years
--1st year of Cyrus, king of Persia Jeremiah’s prophecies accomplished:
The Lord inspired Cyrus to proclaim that God had given him the kingdoms of the earth
And charged him to build God’s house in Jerusalem. Whoever of the Jews wish to, can go.
(it is most probable that someone presented Cyrus with God’s word/Jeremiah’s prophecies).
Lamentations, 5 chapters mourning the suffering of Judah & Jerusalem in the Babylonian conquest
Lam 1 The kingdom of Judah, Jerusalem as the capital, is likened to a bereft woman
1 How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
2 She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers [allies and idols] she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
4 The ways [streets/roads] of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn feasts: all her gates are desolate: her priests sigh, her virgins are afflicted, and she is in bitterness. [Priests & virgins would be employed in celebrations/holy days.]
5 Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
6 And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts [deer] that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
In such a way the Lamentations continue, personifying Judah/Jerusalem as a woman remembering what life was like for her before her desolation, which the Lord allowed to come upon her for her wickedness. “The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things . . .”, that is, her enemies have grabbed/looted all her treasures. “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger.”
17 Zion spreadeth forth her hands, and there is none to comfort her: the Lord hath commanded concerning Jacob, that his adversaries should be round about him: Jerusalem is as a menstruous woman among them. [There was just about nothing that was considered as disgusting to the ancients as a menstruous woman or her clothing.]
18 ¶ The Lord is righteous; for I have rebelled against his commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
19 I called for my lovers [allies & idols], but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls. [They died in the famine associated with siege warfare.]
Judah/Jerusalem is put to shame and laments that there is no one to comfort her. All her enemies laugh at her troubles, and are glad for them. She retorts that they will be just like her, punished for their sins/transgressions.
Lam 2 The Lord has finally had enough, and brings the curses He promised via Moses in The Law
“How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool [Jerusalem] in the day of his anger!”
In grief/mourning the elders have put dust on their heads and dressed in sackcloth. Their innards are full of grief. Children cry for hunger in their mothers’ embrace. Instead of teaching the people to repent and avoid calamity, the prophets pretended to vain and foolish visions, that would cause the people to be banished from their homeland.
“The Lord hath done that which he had devised; he hath fulfilled his word that he had commanded in the days of old: he hath thrown down, and hath not pitied: and he hath caused thine enemy to rejoice over thee, he hath set up the horn [that calls people to battle] of thine adversaries.” Each night was divided into “watches” (shifts) for the soldiers—and now they are full of prayers/petitions/pleadings with the Lord for the sake of starving children in the streets. Starving women become willing to eat their own infants (the unit of measure called a “span” is the widest that a hand can stretch out from tip of thumb to pinky, perhaps about 9”).
Lam 3 Lamenting all the Lord has done in consequence of wickedness, the prophet remembers that God is merciful and compassionate.
21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22 ¶ It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24 The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25 The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
A man will put his face in the dust (in prayer), with the hope of God’s mercy. He puts up with physical abuse from those who accuse him, trusting that “the Lord will not cast [him] off for ever . . .”
32 But though he [God] cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.
Like a good parent, God doesn’t delight in punishing the bad deeds of His children, yet He knows He must hold them accountable, for their own sakes.
Jeremiah asks rhetorically of God’s all-powerfulness. Whatever He says, good or bad, will happen. And why should a man complain at being punished for his own sins. In suffering, God’s people ought to do some soul-searching and turn to the Lord, praying for His mercy/pardon/forgiveness. Jeremiah recalls his experience in prison, and how he called on the Lord for help. God listened to him then, so he calls on Him again to recompense his enemies.
Lam 4 A lament for the horrors of a besieged city.
“The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!” Gold lasts, pottery is temporary. Gold is precious, pottery is not.
Even mother whales give milk to their babies, yet women of God’s people have become as careless of their young as ostriches. Young children go hungry and thirsty in the besieged city. Those who used to eat all sorts of delicacies are now desolate. Those who used to dress so fine sit in poop. Sinful Sodom didn’t suffer this much, because it was destroyed quickly. The people of Jerusalem, who used to have every sign of health are now skin and bones. Those that were killed by the sword were better off than those dying of hunger, and women cook their own children to eat. No one would have believed that Jerusalem would be overrun so by its enemies.
The prophets and priests (who should be the epitome of Justice) shed the blood of just/good/righteous people. Thus the Lord caused that the conquering army gave the prophets and priests no special treatment (as they would be used to). People waited for help from another nation (Egypt) in vain. The conquerors hunt out and pursue those that flee to the mountains or wilderness, including the king (the Lord’s anointed), whom they thought would still be over them even in captivity.
Speaking ironically, Jeremiah invites Edom to be glad at Jerusalem’s destruction, because Edom will drink from the same cup and offer all she has to the conquerors. There will at last come an end to Zion’s punishment, and it will be Edom’s turn to be punished for her sins.
Lam 5 Jeremiah lists the things his people have suffered, and his belief in God, but ends on a sad note
Jeremiah tells the things his people have suffered, asking “Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us: consider, and behold our reproach . . .” Strangers have taken their inheritances, the people are orphaned/fatherless (left without protectors/providers), their mothers widowed. Instead of gathering wood and bringing water from the well, they have to pay for both. They no longer have the benefits employees would, rather, they work like slaves. They’ve paid the Egyptians & Assyrians for help with the money that could have bought them food.
The people of Judah suffer for the wickedness of their fathers. Instead of being governed by people with the right to rule, they are ruled over by servants (of Nebuchadnezzar). No one is delivering them from their fate. They’ve suffered terrible famine. Their women, even young women, were raped. Princes were hanged by their hands. The elders/elderly were given no respect. Young men and children were set to work grinding grains and gathering wood (chores they would have thought beneath them). The elders no longer sit at the gates of the city (a sign of wealth/leisure and honor/importance), and the young men no longer party or dance to the music. All joy is ceased and turned to mourning. Instead of living like kings, they are full of woes, suffering because of their sins. Their hearts are faint, their eyes dim (vs bright with hope/energy/anticipation . . .) Their precious Zion is become a wilderness where foxes live. Jeremiah pleads,
19 Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.
20 Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever, and forsake us so long time?
21 Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
But then he laments, “thou hast utterly rejected us; thou art very wroth [angry] against us.”
Thus ends this set of Jeremiah's writing. It doesn't mean that it's the last he thought or wrote.
The Book of Habakkuk
“He spoke often of an imminent Babylonian invasion (Habakkuk 1:6; 2:1; 3:16), an event that occurred on a smaller scale in 605 BC before the total destruction of Judah’s capital city, Jerusalem, in 586 BC. The way Habakkuk described Judah indicates a low time in its history. If the dating is to remain close to the Babylonian invasion, Habakkuk likely prophesied in the first five years of Jehoiakim’s reign (609–598 BC) to a king who led his people into evil.” https://www.insight.org/resources/bible/the-minor-prophets/habakkuk
The book of Habakkuk has only 3 chapters. He bemoans the wickedness of his time, “Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” He speaks of the rise of the Chaldeans (Babylonians). While their king thinks his god has given him his power, Habakkuk says that God is using him as a form of correction for His people. He uses fishing metaphors to capture the attention of his hearers/readers. As far as God’s character/nature, he says, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?” In other words, though God is too pure to countenance evil, yet He postpones judgment/punishment (until the time is right). Habakkuk describes himself as a watchman on the tower. God tells him to write his vision, and when it is time, it’s truth will be revealed. The conqueror is greedy to expand his empire, but “Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!”
Highlights: “the just shall live by his faith,” and “the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”
The third chapter is a prayer/psalm, which some have thought indicates he could have been a Temple priest. (see reference cited above). In his psalm of praise Habakkuk refers to God’s hand in Israel’s history, especially in the Exodus. No matter what disasters occur, Habakkuk says, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
The Book of Obadiah
The book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Old Testament, only 1 chapter. “The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom . . .” The time is unreferenced, except that the Edomites thought to profit by the calamities befallen the Jewish nation. The Lord through Obadiah promises that Zion/the House of Jacob will one day be delivered and re-possess their lands, and the kingdom of Esau/Edom will be destroyed. The rule of the enemies of the Jews will be overturned. Holiness will return to the Jewish nation.
Jeremiah part 4–various prophecies concerning the Israelites and other Middle Eastern nations
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian-w-scott/4621985308/
Compare Jer 27 (Babylon will conquer all)
“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lord . . .” Jeremiah is to put on yokes (used for carrying burdens, or for animals used in plowing) and fetters. He is to send them to the kings of Edom, Moab, Tyre, Zidon, and the Ammonites via the messengers they have sent to Zedekiah in Jerusalem, along with a message from God: I am the Creator of the earth and all the people and beasts upon it, and I give control of it to whomever I want. I have given all your lands and animals to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. All nations will serve him, and his son, and his grandson. When their time is up, other nations and kings will conquer Babylon. Any nation that refuses to serve Babylon will be killed by the sword (war), famine, and pestilence/disease. So don’t listen to your prophets, diviners, dreamers, enchanters, and sorcerers who say it won’t be so. They are prophesying lies to you. But those nations willing to be tributary to Babylon will be able to remain in their own lands.
Jer 22 Jeremiah is sent to the king of Judah, calling for repentance & pronouncing consequences
3 Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
4 For if ye do this thing indeed, then shall there enter in by the gates of this house kings sitting upon the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, he, and his servants, and his people.
5 But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation.
Though the king’s house is beautiful as Gilead (noted for healing balm) and Lebanon (noted for its cedars), it will become a wilderness and desolate. Passers by will ask one another, Why did God do this to this great city (Jerusalem)? The answer: “Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.”
The Lord says not to weep for those who were killed, but for those that were carried captive, who would never see their native land again. Then he references Shallum the son of Josiah, king of Judah “which reigned instead of Josiah his father, which went forth out of this place; He shall not return thither any more . . .” For a discussion of Shallum, see https://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_chronicles/3-15.htm , which references 1 Chron 3:15, four sons of king Josiah.
The Lord tells the king,
13 ¶ Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour’s service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;
14 That saith, I will build me a wide house and large chambers, and cutteth him out windows; and it is ceiled with cedar, and painted with vermilion.
15 Shalt thou reign, because thou closest thyself in cedar?...
17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
The Lord extols the virtues of king Josiah: “did not thy father eat and drink, and do judgment and justice, and then it was well with him? He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord.”
Verses 18-19 & 24 specify Jehoiakim, who inherited his father Josiah’s throne. This once again calls into question who Shallum was. Could it have been another name for Jehoiakim? Could either this writer or the writer of 1 Chron 3:15 have confused the identities?
The Lord speaks again of Lebanon and its cedars in verses 20-23. The context seems to be idolatry committed there, as ancients used forested hills (“high places”) for idolatrous parties. Those false gods are often referred to as the lovers whom the wife (the Israelites) committed adultery with. The destruction of the land is often compared in simile or metaphor to the pains of childbirth.
Even if the king’s son was God’s signet ring, the symbol of His authority, he would still not save him from the disaster to come. The king will be given into the hands of his most feared enemy, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and his Chaldean warriors. He will be carried away captive, never to return to his birthplace. The king’s son Coniah is as despised as a broken idol or an unwanted piece of pottery. He and his children are to be cast out/taken away to die in a foreign land. The king and his son might as well be childless, as far as having heirs to the throne of Judah.
Jer 23 Woe to the pastors, the shepherds who should have cared for God’s flocks; yet God will gather and save them—the promise of a Messiah
1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.
2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.
5 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
One day, instead of looking back at the Exodus as proof of the existence, power, and mercy of God, people will speak of the gathering of the house of Israel from the north, and from all the countries of the diaspora.
9 ¶ Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.
10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.
The Lord through His prophet Jeremiah pronounces the consequences to the false prophets (particularly the prophets of Baal in Samaria) and religious leaders: they will fall as if walking on slippery paths in the dark. “I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.” They will be fed with bitterness. The Lord warns the people not to listen to these prophets who speak from their own heart/interest, not the word of the Lord. They reassure the wicked that they will have peace and nothing ill will come to them. But the anger of the Lord will fall on the wicked like a whirlwind, and His anger will not die down until His purposes are fulfilled. In the last days people will perfectly understand.
I, the Lord, did not send those prophets, yet they went; I did not speak to them, and yet they prophesied. If they had stood in God’s counsel, and caused the people to hear His words, they would have turned the people from their evil ways. He asks, Am I a God only in the present? “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth?”
The Lord rebukes the prophets that tell lies in His name, claiming to have dreamed dreams from the Lord. “. . . yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart; Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name [replacing it] for Baal. The prophet that hath a dream [from God], let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. ” (Maybe this was the Lord's word to Jeremiah.) False prophets are as useless as chaff compared to the nutrition of kernels of wheat.
God’s word is like a purifying fire, like a hammer that breaks ore in pieces. He is against prophets that steal their neighbor’s words (Jeremiah’s words), and that say, “The burden of the Lord . . .[as if God had given them the words to say].” He is against those that prophesy false dreams, and in telling those dreams, “cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.” The Lord warns these false prophets/priests/people from pretending to speak for Him, who have perverted “the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.” “I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.”
Jer 24 Jeremiah’s vision after Nebuchadrezzar took Jehoiakim’s son, princes, craftsmen captive
Jeremiah’s vision from the Lord: 2 baskets of figs in front of the Temple—one of very good figs, the other inedible. The Jews carried captive to the land of the Chaldeans are symbolized by the good figs. “For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” The inedible figs are symbolic of Zedekiah and those left in Jerusalem/Judah, and those that go to Egypt. “And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them. And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers." We may be surprised by who the Lord considers the good figs and the bad figs; we may be surprised by what God tells/counsels us to do. What may seem like a disaster may be what God wants us to do (and we know what He asks turns out to be best), and what we think will save us from disaster may prove our foolish insistence that we know better than Him.
Jer 25 The Lord through Jeremiah about the people of Judah, 4th year of Jehoiakim, 70 yrs in Babylon
Jeremiah tells all the people of Judah & Jerusalem: from the 13th year of king Josiah to this day (the 23rd year since) “I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.”
4 And the Lord hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.
5 They said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the Lord hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
6 And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
7 Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the Lord; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
Because they have not listened, the Lord says He will bring “all the families of the north” and Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon (His servant—that is, he serves God’s purpose in this instance) against Judah and all the neighboring nations, and utterly destroy them. The joyous sounds of weddings, of grinding the harvest, and celebrations will no more be heard. The nations will serve the king of Babylon 70 years.
At the end of 70 years the king of Babylon, his nation, and the Chaldeans will be punished for their iniquities with perpetual desolations. “For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.”
Jeremiah is to give the cup of destruction for the nations to drink: Jerusalem/Judah, Pharaoh/Egypt, the kings/people of Uz, the Philistines (including Azzah/Gaza, Ekron, Ashdod), Ashkelon (seaport just north of Gaza), Edom, Moab, the descendants of Ammon, Tyre & Sidon/Zidon, kings of Arabia including the city of Dedan, Tema (a city of the Ishmaelites), Buz (possibly people living near Edom), Zimri (possibly a city in the land inheritance of Simeon), Elam (land east of Babylonia), Medes (east of Babylonia), all the kings of the north (around Babylon), all the kingdoms of the [middle eastern] world, including “the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea”. And after all these have drunk from the cup of God’s wrath, Sheshach/Babylon will then be made to drink of it as well. All these will be destroyed in war. He says they will fall and rise no more, but He has promised that eventually the nation of Israel will return and rise again, so perhaps this is a hyperbolic, exclamatory punctuation to emphasize the seriousness of the situation, or refers only to the current kings of those nations. “And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.”
https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Sheshach.html
Jeremiah likens the Lord to a roaring lion, which brings fear to all who hear. He likens the kings of the earth to shepherds, who certainly would fear to hear the roar of a lion. The shepherds will have no way to flee, nor any way to save their flocks (people). The peaceful pastures/lands will be destroyed. Like a lion leaving his den the Lord will come out to wreak destruction on the corrupted nations of the earth.
Jer 30 God promises to bring Israel & Judah back to the land He promised to their Founding Fathers
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
3 For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
The Lord recognizes the fear in the hearts of His people. Interestingly, He asks rhetorically if men give birth, so why are the they acting like women in the throes of labor? He acknowledges the troubled times, but promises that the Israelites will be brought out of it. The yoke of bondage/captivity will be broken off their necks, and they will serve God and the rightful heir of David the king, whom God will raise up.
10 ¶ Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
“All thy lovers [false allies and idolatries] have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.” But why cry about it? The injury seems incurable, a just injury for the nation’s wickedness.
16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Israel’s cities will be rebuilt, and “out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them . . . Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.”
And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Jer 31 God makes a new covenant with Israel & Judah; mention of Ramah, Justice, God in our hearts
“At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people . . . The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
The Lord uses the metaphor of a virgin dressed for a party with music and dancing. This is curious, because He has already accused the House of Israel of being metaphorically an adulterous wife. There’s more than one way to explain this, from translating issues to the miracle of God’s forgiveness. One option might be that the adulterous wife will have been put away (divorced), and her youthful daughter (those whom the Lord will gather from afar and return to the land of Israel) will once again be able to find joy, dancing and singing.
Then the Lord paints a picture of the returning Israelites: vineyards will be replanted and produce plentifully. The watchmen (prophets & leaders) of Israel will proclaim, Let’s arise and go to (worship) our God in Jerusalem (where the Temple is). “For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.” The Lord says He will bring His people from the North and the ends of the earth, and evinces the inclusivity of the gathering by specifying even the blind, the lame, and the pregnant (even those giving birth) . . . all who would find the travel difficult, and might have been left behind if God didn’t insist. It will be a huge gathering.
9 They shall come with weeping [for joy], and with supplications [gentle urging] will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn [Joseph’s son Ephraim inherited the right of firstborn when Jacob’s firstborn lost his birthright through sin].
10 ¶ Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he [Jacob/Israel].
The remnant of Israel will come to the hills of Jerusalem with “the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.” Young and old alike will dance for joy, and God will take away their sorrows. The people and the priests, who depend upon the people for their sustenance, will be satiated with the goodness/blessings of the Lord (implying the abundant fruitfulness of the land).
Here is found the much quoted scripture, “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel [Rachel] weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.” Ramah was a place about 5 mi north of Jerusalem (while Bethlehem was about 5 mi south of Jerusalem). Rachel gave birth to her last son Benjamin (Joseph’s only full brother) as the family was traveling to Bethlehem, and Rachel died there in childbirth. Rachel’s name for Bejamin was Ben-oni, “son of my sorrow”, but his father Jacob called him Benjamin. The place Ramah has other importance in the Old Testament story, but my interest here is mainly about Rachel’s symbolic lament. Ramah was part of the tribe of Benjamin’s land inheritance. Apparently either in the Assyrian or Babylonian conquest the place suffered particular destruction. It seems to have been an important defense site for the kingdom of Judah.
https://www.theholyscript.com/where-is-ramah-in-the-bible/ about Ramah
https://www.gotquestions.org/Ramah-in-the-Bible.html about Ramah
https://www.gotquestions.org/voice-heard-in-Ramah.html Ramah vs Bethlehem
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/2-18.htm Matt 2:18 vs Jer 31:15, Rachel’s death etc
https://biblehub.com/jeremiah/31-15.htm scroll down to the commentaries
But then the Lord says, No longer weep, for they (Rachel’s/Israel’s) children/descendants will be brought back from the land of their enemies. Hope is restored. Symbolically, Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel) had been bemoaning the Lord’s chastisement for his iniquity, and says he has repented. The Lord calls Ephraim his dear son, whom He still remembers and will have mercy for him. The Lord tells Israel to again set up the waymarks (road signs, so to speak), for they will use those roads to return to their cities.
The prophet says that the Lord has brought about something new: a woman encompassing a man. This would have reference to the usual way of considering men to be in charge of sex. In other words, human ideas of how things are or how they go will be tossed upside down. No doubt the expectation was that once you were carried away captive, you would never return (including your posterity). When the captives are brought back people will say, “The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.” The land and cities of Judah will once again support agriculture, both crops and flocks. The Lord will refresh the weary and worried.
After this happy dream Jeremiah awakens with sweet memories.
The Lord promises that the Israelites & Jews, and their animals, will bear plentiful offspring. Just as the Lord has seen to their destruction, He will see to their re-construction.
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge. [compare Ezek 18]
The Lord will make a new covenant with Israel & Judah, not the old one of the Exodus (which they broke, despite the Lord’s care for them).
“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
The Lord who made the sun to light the day, and the moon & stars to light the night, who causes the storms of the sea to roar, who marshals armies of angels, declares that His power over all those would cease sooner than His decree that Israel will never cease to exist as a nation. It’s just as impossible to measure the Universe or to understand the founding of the earth as for God to cast off Israel, despite all his culpability/guilt.
All the environs of Jerusalem will be holy, and never destroyed again. Though the Jews/Israelites returned from the Babylonian captivity, they were scattered again by Rome. So this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled entirely.
Jer 47 Woes to come to the Philistines, Tyre & Sidon; spoken before the Pharoah attacked Gaza
Babylon is likened to a flood inundating all the land. The noise of the horses’ hooves, the rumbling of chariot wheels will put such fear in the people that even fathers will flee without looking back for their children. Gaza & Ashkelon will be made bald (desolate). How long will they be in mourning? (One of the rituals of mourning was to cut oneself.) Poetically Jeremiah asks how long before the Lord’s sword (the king of Babylon) is put back in its scabbard. But it can’t be stilled because the Lord has given it a command against the kingdoms of the coast: the Philistines & the Phoenicians. These are at least in part the modern countries of Gaza and Lebanon.
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Philistine-people
https://www.britannica.com/place/Phoenicia
Jer 48 Woe to the Moabites
4 Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.
6 Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.
7 ¶ For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh [the Moabite god] shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.
8 And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the Lord hath spoken.
9 Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.
10 Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.
11 ¶ Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees [dregs, the bottom of the cup/barrel], and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity [before] . . .
The chapter mentions various Moabite cities, descriptions and metaphors of the calamities of being conquered, and condemnation for how the Moabites delighted over the ills that happened to Israel, making Israel the subject of their derision. “We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart . . . Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the Lord . . . Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives..” Yet Jeremiah still mourns over the destruction of Moab as one who cares about the suffering of others. And God promises that in the latter days He will rescue Moab from captivity.
Jer 49 Prophecies against Ammon, Edom, Syria, Kedar, Hazor, Elam (comp Obadiah & Jer 27)
Apparently the Ammonites decided to take advantage of Israelite troubles and fill the void, that is, take over territories the Israelites could not hold. But the Ammonites will have their own share of troubles/conquest. “Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord God of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth.” Yet the Ammonites will also return from captivity one day.
When grapes ae harvested some are left on the vine. Thieves take their limit, but something is still left. “But I have made Esau [Edom] bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not [that is, he is annhilated].” Though proud guerillas fight from the hills & caves, they’ll be conquered. Still, the Lord invites the widows to put their trust in Him, and promises to watch over the fatherless.
Damascus, the Syrian capital, has/will become weak “and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail. How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy! Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord of hosts. And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Ben-hadad [this famous king of Syria became its symbol].
Kedar, an Arabian tribe descended from Ishmael the half brother of Isaac, will also be conquered. “Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.”
Counterpoint to Kedar in the south, the ancient Canaanite city of Hazor in the north would be overthrown by Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon. “Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation [Babylon], that dwelleth without care, saith the Lord, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone. And their [Hazorite] camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the Lord. And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons [some lizard species], and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.”
Jeremiah prophesies against Elam, Babylon’s neighbor, “I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them . . .” The Elamites will be scattered to the 4 winds and into every country. But eventually, they too will return to their lands.
Jer 50 God vs Babylon & Chaldea; Israelites will return to their land
1 The word that the Lord spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
2 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel [a Babylonian idol] is confounded, Merodach [another god of Babylon] is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.
3 For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.
And in those days the Israelites & Jews will go forth weeping for joy, seeking the Lord their God, returning to Zion/Jerusalem, saying, “Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.”
God’s people have been lost sheep, and it’s their shepherds that caused them to go astray. All their adversaries justified themselves in doing them harm because they had sinned against the Lord (in whom Justice dwells and the hope of their fathers/ancestors).
But God will raise up an alliance from the north against Babylon. Note that the Persian/Medean empire (“an assembly of great nations”) was north of the Babylonian/Chaldean empire. And why would the Lord turn on Babylon, whom He had called his servant? Because they had grown fat and full of pride. War will come to Babylon, archers will shoot at her, her foundations & walls will be thrown down, her agriculture will fail because the peoples who were forced to work the land will flee to their own countries.
Israel was like a flock of sheep scattered by lions: first the Assyrians, then the Babylonians. Just as the Lord punished the Assyrian king, He will punish Babylonian king. Those who look for sin in Israel and Judah will not find it, for the Lord will pardon those who are left.
Merathaim is another word for Babylon, meaning “double bitterness” and “double rebellion”. Pekod is used to depict the Chaldeans, perhaps meaning “punishment”. Babylon is metaphorically called “the hammer of the whole earth”, but astonishingly, it will be broken. Babylon is caught in a snare by the Lord, in a sense of it’s own making, because it has contended with Him. No doubt this refers to the pride of the Babylonian/Chaldean empire. Babylon is to be recompensed, meaning that it’s not innocent: it will get what it deserves. “Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.” (Comp Isa 14:4-22, Isa 42:5-25, Rev 14:8) Verse 36 also mentions liars. Verse 38 speaks of Babylon/Chaldea being a land of graven images, and that “they are mad upon their idols.” That is, they go crazy with all kinds of idols and the veneration they give them.
39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
A brief outline of the history & fate of Babylon:
https://history.howstuffworks.com/history-vs-myth/babylon.htm
https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/where-was-babylon-and-what-happened-to-it.html
In light of the history of Babylon through the centuries, as outlined in the links above, the passage “many kings shall be raised up from the coasts [ends] of the earth. They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea [that is, the noise of the battlefield], and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon” could refer to Alexander's empire with its one-time capital Babylon. One empire after another conquered Babylon until it became just an archaeological site. No doubt those who had been conquered and carried captive by the Babylonians were anxious to see it never again inhabited, and obliterated as Sodom & Gomorrah (which we are uncertain as to their exact location still), and probably they looked for the fulfillment of that prophecy in the relative short term. We, too, must recognize that God fulfills His word, but not necessarily on our timeline or in our expected timeframe.
Jer 51 the Lord continues against Babylon—prophesied in the 4th year of Zedekiah when he went to Babylon (on an errand to Nebuchadnezzar, presumably, before being taken captive in his 11th year)
At the end of this chapter it’s explained that this prophecy was sent with “a quiet prince” when he accompanied Zedekiah to Babylon in the 4th year of his reign. Jeremiah tells this prince that as he reads the prophecy when he gets there, he should exclaim Babylon’s downfall (presumably quietly, to himself), and then tie a rock to it and toss it into the Euphrates, likening it to the eventual destruction of that place. We might wonder why take all the trouble to write the prophecy in a book, send it with a guy to Babylon (a very dangerous thing to do), then toss it in the river. One theory: this quiet prince may have been commanded to be brought as a prisoner/hostage to “ensure” Zedekiah’s compliance to Babylonian demands/suzerainty. One might even speculate that he could have been a companion of the young Zedekiah (who was only in his 20s), or he could have been a disciple of Jeremiah. How discouraged he would be feeling! Jeremiah thus offers him some hope that this will not last forever. And maybe he could even share this hope with the previous captives who had been taken to Babylon under the reign of Jehoiachin, but the actual evidence was destroyed, so that they could not be charged (nor Jeremiah charged) with the damning document.
The conquerors of Babylon are likened to a powerful wind, even those that fan the fire of a furnace/smelting operation. When Babylon is attacked it seems her neighbors whom she had conquered will also rise up against her. This will signify to the Israelites that God has not forgotten them, despite that they had filled their land with sinning against Him. This will be their chance to flee Babylon.
Babylon had served as a golden cup from which the Lord had made the whole earth (the middle easterners would consider that as the middle east) to get “falling down drunk.” But now suddenly Babylon is fallen/destroyed, wounded such that she seeks a remedy for the pain and for her injury. Those who care for her will howl (mourn aloud) for her mortal wounds. They would have healed her, but it’s hopeless, so they go to their own countries with shrugging shoulders that she got what she deserved. Verse 11 foretells that it will be the Medes that will come against Babylon. One might be tempted to see in verse 13 the end of Alexander the Great in Babylon.
The power of the Lord is His wisdom & understanding, by which He created the earth and the heaven or atmosphere, the waters above (as clouds), the volcanic vapors & evaporated waters, the rain/lightning/weather. By comparison men are brutes, worshipping inert/impotent/passive/false gods of their own making.
“The portion of Jacob”, meaning God, is not like those false gods. He created all things. Jacob/Israel is the branch of His inheritance (He has made Israel His heir.) He is called “the Lord of hosts”, that is, He commands hosts/armies of angels. With God’s might He, or Israel/His people, can conquer all other nations and armies.
The Lord is against those conquerors that destroy all the earth. He will destroy them. He references the tendency of people to take the stones of a ruined city or building to build or rebuild, saying there won’t be anything left of Babylon to use for building/re-building. He references setting up a flag, blowing a trumpet to call together the armies of nations to war against Babylon. Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz were provinces in the ancient kingdom of Uratu, a particular adversary of Assyria, but also of the Babylonians. It’s an area in the present convergence of Turkey, Armenia, and Iran. The Medes were also north of Babylon. From this chapter we get a view of the end of Babylon by competing countries/empires in which the soldiers were afraid to even come out of their holds. The passes were blocked, the reeds of the wetlands were burned. Babylon’s enemies overflow them like a flood (v. 42).
https://biblehub.com/topical/a/ashchenaz.htm
https://www.worldhistory.org/Urartu_Civilization/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6F2ZAlVOIc&ab_channel=HistorywithCy 10.5 min video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsI2EYwrD5A&ab_channel=Saelind 48 min video
Jeremiah speaks for a few verses as the embodiment of the Israelites, saying, “Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon [large lizard], he hath filled his belly with my delicates [organs], he hath cast me out. The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.” In response, the Lord promises to advocate for His people, to take vengeance for their sake, to cause drought in the land.
An interesting phrase is “like lambs to the slaughter”, see also Isa 51:40, Isa 53:7, Jer 11:19, Acts 8:32.
“My people, go ye out of the midst of her [Babylon], and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the Lord.” Another phrase or thought of interest: “go ye out of the midst” of wickedness, see Isa 6:9-12 (wicked Israel is removed from the land), Is 52:9-12 (Assyria), Jer 6:1 (Jerusalem, fleeing Babylonian destruction thereof), Jer 50:8 (Babylon & Chaldea), Ezek 7:4 (recompense for abominations), Ezek 14:8 (idolaters to be taken out of the midst of God’s people), Ezek 20:10 (Egypt at the Exodus), Micah 6:4 (out of Egypt), Lev 16:16 (atone for uncleanness among God’s people), Psalm 137 (by the rivers of Babylon Israelites wept),
“And lest your heart faint,” the Lord foretells of rumours of wars, violence in the land, leaders contending with each other, violence in the overthrow of wicked Babylon. But these are to be followed by singing in heaven and earth for the conquest of Babylon (symbolic epitome of evil). The Lord enjoins His people to remember Him and the holy city Jerusalem. Although the sanctuary has been defiled by strangers (causing shame to His people), the days will come that God will “do judgment”. No matter how high & mighty Babylon (the wicked) gets, the Lord will bring spoilers to her. Her leaders & rulers, drunken with (power and) lacking (fore-)sight will be put to bed forever by the Lord. Despite her impregnable appearance, she will be broken up and burned.
(see Jer 52 under part 3 of the Book of Jeremiah)
Jeremiah part 3–history chapters, roughly Jer 26-46 (comp 2 Kings 24-25, 2 Chron 36)
2 Kings 24 & 2 Chron 36:5-13 background
Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, had been made a tributary king of Judah by the Egyptian Pharaoh (2 Kings 23:31-37). Then Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, makes Jehoiakim his tributary. After 3 years Jehoiakim rebels. A consortium of the Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites, and the people of Ammon come against the kingdom of Judah (probably under orders from Nebuchadnezzar). Jehoiakim is succeeded by his 18 yr old son Jehoiachin. (2 Chron 36:9 says Jehoiachin was only 8 years old)
Babylon has conquered Egypt, now Nebuchadnezzar lays siege to Jerusalem. In the 8th year of Jehoiachin’s reign the Babylonians take him, his household, princes, and officers to Babylon, along with the treasures pillaged from the king’s house and the Temple. Ten thousand captives, including the best of the army and the craftsmen, are carried away leaving only the poorest people. The king of Babylon makes Zedekiah king of Judah at age 21.
After some years, Zedekiah rebels, and near the end of his 10th year as king Nebuchadnezzar comes and lays another siege against Jerusalem, as described in 2 Kings 25 & 2 Chron 36:17-20.
From the days of Jehoiakim on, Jeremiah is in and out of prison, accused of treason.
Note: I have tried to put the following chapters in some sort of chronological order, but have managed, no doubt, very imperfectly.
Jer 26 Jeremiah is tried & acquitted under the reign of Jehoiakim
“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord . . .” The Lord tells Jeremiah to stand in the court of the Temple, and if the people will listen and repent, He will change his intended punishments for their sins. If not, the Temple will be destroyed just as Shiloh was (the site of the Tabernacle before the Temple was built). The Lord reminds them He has continually sent prophets, but they refused to listen.
The priests, prophets, and everyone has heard Jeremiah preaching in the Temple. They all threaten him with death. The princes come from the king’s house to inquire what’s happening. The priests and prophets say, “This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.”
Jeremiah defends himself by saying that the Lord has sent him, “Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you. But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.”
The princes and the people tell the priests & prophets that Jeremiah isn’t worthy of death, because he has spoken in the Lord’s name. The elders bring up the example of the prophet Micah in the reign of Hezekiah that had prophesied Zion/Jerusalem would be plowed like a field, tossed up in heaps—that is, destroyed. Did Hezekiah and the people put him to death? No, Hezekiah took Micah’s words to heart and went to the Lord to plead for the nation. The Lord was willing to change what would occur. If we kill Jeremiah we might jeopardize our souls.
Another prophet, Urijah, also prophesies against Jerusalem and the nation, just as Jeremiah had done. When Jehoiakim and his princes and powerful men hear him, Jehoiakim looks for an opportunity to have him put to death. Urijah flees to Egypt, but Jehoiakim sends men to Egypt and they bring him back to be killed. They toss his body into a common grave.
One guy, Ahikam, saves Jeremiah from that fate.
Jer 35 in the days of Jehoiakim (son of king Josiah) Jeremiah contrasts the obedience of one lineage (possibly of priests) vs the disobedience of the nation of Judah
“The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah . . .”
The following is such a good summary of this chapter, I have nothing further to add. May we be as faithful as the Rechabites.
https://bibleask.org/who-were-the-rechabites-in-the-bible/
https://www.gotquestions.org/Rechabites.html
In the last verse of this chapter the Lord promises that because of the faithfulness of the Rechabites there will never lack a man of the descendants of Jonadab “to stand before” the Lord forever. I take that phrase to mean serving in the office of a priest.
Jer 45 The Lord’s promise to Baruch, 4th year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah
Baruch was feeling low, “Woe is me now! for the Lord hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” The Lord sends Jeremiah to tell Baruch, I will destroy this land that I built & planted. Do you want great things for yourself [such as land and its wealth]? Don’t seek those things, because the land will be destroyed. But I will save your life, no matter where you go. (Later Baruch would be taken, along with Jeremiah, by the leaders of the remnant of the Jews, to Egypt).
Jer 46 in the 4th yr of Jehoiakim, Jeremiah prophesies the eventual conquest of Egypt
Pharaoh-necho of Egypt is at the river Euphrates, feeling pretty full of himself. “Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.” Amongst his army are Ethiopians and Libyans (skilled in hand-to-hand battle), and Lydians (skilled archers). Jeremiah prophesies their defeat, which will cause a lasting Egyptian military weakness. Pharoah is beaten by , king of Babylon. Jeremiah goes on to prophesy that eventually Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, will come even to Egypt and conquer it.
25 The Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him:
26 And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the Lord. [After being conquered, Egypt will once again rise as a nation.]
But the Lord promises the Children of Israel that they will one day be gathered again to live in the land of Israel.
27 ¶ But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.
28 Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the Lord: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.
Jer 36 Baruch writes for Jeremiah in Jehoiakim’s 4th yr as king; Jeremiah is in prison at the time
“And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from the Lord . . .” Jeremiah is to write the words of the Lord on a scroll in the possibility that the house of Judah (either the kingly lineage or the nation of Judah) will hear all the prophecies of trouble ahead, and will choose to repent and be forgiven. Jeremiah calls on Baruch to act as his scribe, since Jeremiah is in prison. Baruch writes for him, and Jeremiah sends him to read it in the Temple on an official day of fasting that had been called for all the people of the cities of Judah to come. Perhaps this has given rise to the hope that the people might be willing to listen. Baruch is faithful to the task (though it must have been a dangerous thing to do). This is evidence that God has given men free will to choose their own path, but must live with the consequences. People always have the possibility to choose good, and the Lord gives them the benefit of that possibility as He warns them of the consequences and holds out the opportunity to be forgiven if they repent/change their ways & come to Him in truth.
One of the Temple officials goes to the king’s house to tell the princes all Baruch has read in the Temple. They call for Baruch to bring the scroll to them. He does so, perhaps with great hopes. They tell him to read the scroll to them, which he does. They are filled with fear, and tell Baruch to take Jeremiah and hide. They then hide the scroll, but tell the king all it said. The king sends for the scroll and has it read to him and all the princes. The king cuts up the scroll and tosses it in the fire (it was winter and there was a fire going in the hearth). Only three have the courage to protest, but the king doesn’t listen. The scriptures specifically mention that no one tore their clothes in anguish at the blasphemy of burning God’s word. The king sends officers to take Jeremiah and Baruch, “but the Lord hid them.”
The Lord tells Jeremiah to rewrite the words of the scroll. He is to tell king Jehoiakim that because he burnt the warning words of the Lord (that the king of Babylon would come and destroy the land of Judah), the king will not have an heir to sit on the throne, and his own dead body will be tossed out into the elements. The king and his posterity, and his servants, will be punished for their iniquities. All the trouble prophesied against the kingdom will be fulfilled. So Jeremiah and Baruch do as the Lord has told them, and even more prophetic words are added by the Lord to the 2nd scroll.
Jer 27 Jeremiah tells both Jehoiakim and Zedekiah that they must accept Babylonian rule or be destroyed
“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lord . . .” Jeremiah is to put on yokes (used for carrying burdens, or for animals used in plowing) and fetters. He is to send them to the kings of Edom, Moab, Tyre, Zidon, and the Ammonites via the messengers they have sent to Zedekiah in Jerusalem, along with a message from God: I am the Creator of the earth and all the people and beasts upon it, and I give control of it to whomever I want. I have given all your lands and animals to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. All nations will serve him, and his son, and his grandson. When their time is up, other nations and kings will conquer Babylon. Any nation that refuses to serve Babylon will be killed by the sword (war), famine, and pestilence/disease. So don’t listen to your prophets, diviners, dreamers, enchanters, and sorcerers who say it won’t be so. They are prophesying lies to you. But those nations willing to be tributary to Babylon will be able to remain in their own lands.
Likewise, Jeremiah tells Zedekiah the same thing when he is made king. He tells the priests and people not to listen to prophets who are pretending to be sent by the Lord, that the treasures of the Temple will shortly be brought back from Babylon (maybe they have some emissaries working toward/negotiating for that end?). If they really ae prophets of the Lord, let them intercede with the Him that whatever treasures are left in the Temple and the king’s house should not be taken as well to Babylon (as they were under Jehoiakim’s son, along with the captives). And yet, they will be carried away to Babylon, and remain there until the Lord brings them back again (when Babylon’s ascendancy it broken).
Jer 29 Jeremiah sends a letter to those carried away into Babylon under Jehoiachin
After Nebuchadnezzar carried away the “best” of the kingdom of Judah (in the reign of Jehoiachin) as captives into Babylon, Jeremiah sends a letter to their elders. He tells them to settle for the long run: build houses, plant gardens, take wives and have families (so your population can continue to grow) where you are. Seek the peace of the city where you are—in other words, don’t foment rebellion. In the peace of that city you will find peace. Don’t listen to any who pretend to be prophets that say anything different, for “I have not sent them, saith the Lord.”
10 ¶ For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
The Lord tells them not to look to the king (Zedekiah) and the remnant still in Jerusalem and the land around it, because they will yet be destroyed by sword (war), famine, and pestilence (disease). They will also be conquered and carried away captive, because they have not listened to the prophets I have sent to them. They have committed villany, adultery, lied in God’s name. Don’t listen to the false prophets who prophesy lies in the name of God. Zedekiah and the false prophet of his time, named Ahab (remember wicked king Ahab at the time of Elijah!), will be killed before your eyes, and roasted with fire.
Shemaiah sends a letter from Babylon to the people left in Jerusalem attacking Jeremiah for sending his letter to the captives in Babylon telling them to settle down for a long captivity. He says Jeremiah ought to be arrested and put in prison.
Shemaiah’s letter is read to Jeremiah. “Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie: Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.”
Jer 20 Jeremiah is arrested by a Temple authority
Pashur, a governor of the Temple, hears of Jeremiah’s prophesies. He whacks Jeremiah and locks him up next to the Temple (in the high gate of Benjamin, Jeremiah’s tribe(. Next day he brings him out, presumably for “questioning”, and Jeremiah says his name is not Pashur, but an all-around terror, “For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will make thee a terror to thyself, and to all thy friends: and they shall fall by the sword of their enemies, and thine eyes shall behold it . . .”
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/20-1.htm explanation of who Pashur was
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/20-2.htm Pashur arrests Jeremiah, explanation
https://biblehub.com/topical/m/magor-missabib.htm Magor-missabib
“ . . . and I will give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall carry them captive into Babylon, and shall slay them with the sword.
5 Moreover I will deliver all the strength of this city, and all the labours thereof, and all the precious things thereof, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah will I give into the hand of their enemies, which shall spoil them, and take them, and carry them to Babylon.
6 And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
Jeremiah pours out his heart to God. He feels like he’s been ill-used by the Lord, because people make fun of him constantly. He has spoken God’s word, but it’s got him nothing but trouble. So he thought he’d just quit speaking in God’s name, but His word was like a fire in him, until he couldn’t hold back from speaking. Even his old friends conspire to report on him if he says (or if they can entrap him into saying) anything they don’t want people to hear, in order to destroy him.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/20-10.htm
But then Jeremiah takes heart, remembering that the Lord is behind him. All his persecutors will stumble into shame (or, be found out for what they are), which won’t ever be forgotten. “But, O Lord of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.” That is, Jeremiah has laid his case before God. He knows that the Lord tests the righteous to prove what’s in their heart and what they are made of. “Sing unto the Lord, praise ye the Lord: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers.”
And yet Jeremiah struggles. He alternates between praising God and cursing the day he was born.
Jer 21 Zedekiah sends to Jeremiah for a message of hope, and Jeremiah prophesies destruction
King Zedekiah sends the priests Pashur (see Jer 20) and Zephaniah to Jeremiah to inquire of the Lord (or, to try to get him to intercede on behalf of the nation). Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, has his armies and his allies the Chaldeans besieging Jerusalem, capital of the kingdom of Judah. But Jeremiah only has bad news to send back—that the city will be taken, and that those who survive the siege, the fighting, the famine, the pestilence will be killed by the conquerors. The Lord will hand them over to their enemies, who will have no pity nor mercy on them.
Jeremiah tells them, “Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.” The way of life is to leave the city and surrender. Those that remain in the city will die. As for the king, if he doesn’t execute justice against the oppressor, he will find God’s justice executed on him for his ill deeds. This seems in reference to Jeremiah’s own case of unjust treatment by his enemies.
(Jer 22-25 to be covered in Jeremiah part 4 to come; Jer 26 & 27 above)
Jer 28 the false prophet Hananiah speaks in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah
Hananiah, son of Azur the prophet, speaks to Jeremiah in the Temple, in front of the priests and people. Hananiah says, “I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon: And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.” [Perhaps Hananiah has spies or allies in Babylon that pass on the rumors there?]
Jeremiah responds in front of everyone basically, that plenty of prophets in the past have likewise made such claims against other countries and kingdoms. Whose words come to pass, those are the ones who were in truth sent by God.
Hananiah takes the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck and breaks it. (ref Jer 27) He says in such a way the Lord will break the yoke of Babylon from all the nations he’s conquered within 2 years. Jeremiah leaves.
The Lord sends Jeremiah to confront Hananiah and tell him, “Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.” Jeremiah says to Hananiah, as well, “Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie. Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.”
Hananiah dies the same year.
Jer 37 Jeremiah imprisoned in a dungeon, then the court of prison early in Zedekiah’s reign
Following Nebuchadrezzer/Nebuchadnezzer’s carrying away Jehoiakim & all to Babylon (but the nation of Judah still wouldn’t listen to Jeremiah), Pharoah’s army from Egypt comes to help Jerusalem vs the Chaldeans (who leave). Zedekiah sends Jeremiah to pray for his people. But the Lord tells Jeremiah to tell the king that the Pharaoh’s army will leave and the Chaldeans will return, take Jerusalem, and burn it with fire. Don’t kid yourselves, thinking the Chaldean’s will leave. They won’t. And even if you could beat the Chaldeans so that only their wounded were left, they would come and burn the city.
When the Chaldeans leave the siege of Jerusalem at the coming of Pharaoh’s army, Jeremiah leaves Jerusalem to go back to his people, the tribe of Benjamin. But just as he is at the gate of his hometown, he is taken back to Jerusalem under a charge of treason, accused of being an ally of the Chaldeans, because of what he prophesied. Jeremiah denies the accusation, but he is imprisoned in a dungeon nevertheless.
After Jeremiah has been imprisoned a long time, Zedekiah brings him secretly to his own house and asks if there’s any word from the Lord. Jeremiah says, Yes, you will be delivered into the hand of Babylon’s king. Then Jeremiah asks the king, What’s my crime, for which I’ve been put in prison? Where are those “prophets” who told you the king of Babylon wouldn’t come against you? (essentially, I told you the truth, so why have you put me in prison?) Jeremiah petitions the king not to send him back to prison, lest he die there. Zedekiah makes Jeremiah’s imprisonment less harsh, has him put in less austere confinement, and orders that he be given bread from the bakers until it is all gone. And that’s where Jeremiah stays. One would think that after all these warnings that the king would follow Jeremiah's (the Lord's) counsel. But it seems evident to me that Zedekiah was weak and intimidated by the princes/elders of the people.
(Jer 29 above; 30-31 to be covered in part 4, ch 32 below; Jer 35-36 in the days of Jehoiakim above; 37 early in Zedekiah’s reign)
Jer 32 Jeremiah imprisoned in the 10th year of Zedekiah, while Jerusalem is under siege; destruction is reiterated, but then a return to the Land of Promise in the future—a beautiful chapter
“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar. For then the king of Babylon’s army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah’s house.”
Jeremiah has been prophesying impolitic predictions that Jerusalem will be conquered by Babylon and King Zedekiah will be taken to Babylon.
The Lord tells Jeremiah that his cousin will come to him in prison and offer to sell him some of his land inheritance in Anathoth (in the land of the tribe of Benjamin), as is his right by the laws of inheritance. (Remember from the Law of Moses and the Book of Ruth that the nearest of kin had first right to buy an inheritance for sale). When this happens, Jeremiah knows he wasn’t just dreaming it up himself. He has the means to buy it, and does (17 silver shekels, apparently a small sum; see commentary linked below) The transaction is lawfully witnessed by Baruch, Jeremiah’s scribe/ally/friend. Jeremiah tells Baruch to put these evidences in a earthenware pot/jar and bury it for long term safe keeping, because God has promised that His people will one day return to possess the land.
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/jeremiah/32-9.htm
Jeremiah then prays and praises God as the powerful Creator of all, and “there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them . . . Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings . . .”
There is a seeming inconsistency in these words, that God recompenses the iniquities of the fathers on their posterity, but He gives everyone according to his own behavior. We see this in our society/culture: children and even generations suffer the consequences of their parents’ poor choices, such as alcoholism, law breaking, abuse. The opposite is true as well, children and posterity benefit from the wise choices and good lives of their parents. And yet in our court/Justice system people are tried for their own crimes, not for their parents’ or any others’. It’s a difficult reconciliation of this life. We trust, however, that all will be made right in the end—Judgment Day. Otherwise, it would be too difficult to live, it has seemed to me.
Jeremiah continues, referencing God bringing the Children of Israel out of Egypt, “with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror; And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey . . .” And yet the people didn’t obey God’s voice (through the prophets), nor the Law of Moses (the Law of God). Thus, God has brought the consequences down on the people. God had promised them that if they would honor their parents (implying that they would honor their parents’ teachings: the parents were enjoined/obligated to teach the Law of Moses to their children), they would live long on the land. Such is the natural rise and fall of every nation/culture/civilization, when they live faithfully by just laws they prosper over time, and when they are corrupt they eventually weaken themselves and fall.
Jeremiah puts it to the Lord that he knows his nation is to be destroyed, how can it rise again (the buried evidence of the sale of the land contract testifies)? The Lord replies, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”
The Lord reiterates the destructions that will come upon the city, including the burning of it by the Chaldeans in recompense for the inhabitants burning incense & making offerings to Baal on their rooftops. They have provoked Him, turned their backs on Him, despite that “I taught them [via the prophets], rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.” They have defiled the Temple with their false gods, they have sacrificed their children by fire unto Baal/Molech. The city will be given to the sword, famine, and pestilence.
And yet, He promises to gather them again from the lands they have been scattered, and brought back to live in safety in the Land of Promise. The desolate land will be inhabited, as God has promised. Lands will once again be bought and sold, and life return to normal.
38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
Jer 33 while Jeremiah was still in prison the Lord calls for repentance, offering forgiveness—He seems to be speaking of the future when the people return from the Babylonian captivity
“Moreover the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison . . .” The lord says “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not . . . Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first. And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.”
9 ¶ And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
10 Thus saith the Lord; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
11 The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the Lord.
12 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
The Lord promises that as sure as day and night continue, so will His promises be fulfilled.
15 ¶ In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
16 In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The Lord our righteousness.
17 ¶ For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18 Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
Jer 34 Jerusalem is yet under siege by Nebuchadnezzar, Jeremiah calls for a proclamation of liberty
The Lord sends Jeremiah with dire warnings of destruction, but holds out hope for a reprieve, if only Zedekiah will Proclaim Liberty to those in servitude. So Zedekiah, the princes, and the people make a covenant to set their Jewish servants free (proclaiming a Jubilee, as in the Law of Moses). And they do so! But then they have second thoughts, and press them back into service.
The Lord sends Jeremiah to rebuke the people, reminding them that in the Law of Moses, after 6 years of service, Hebrew servants were to be freed in the 7th year. But their ancestors failed to live the Law, and they have also broken their Temple covenant to live that law. So will the Lord return them to the sword, and famine, and pestilence, and scattering among all the kingdoms of the earth. They will be given into the hands of their enemies, and become carrion for the scavenging birds and beasts.
It appears that Nebuchadnezzar had drawn back from the siege, and perhaps that is when Zedekiah and the wealthy went back on their word and repressed their servants.
(see above for Jer 35-36 in the days of Jehoiakim; 37 early in Zedekiah’s reign)
Jer 38 Jeremiah, in the muck & mire, is rescued by an Ethiopian Eunuch; counsel to Zedekiah
A group of princes, hearing Jeremiah’s prophecies that all who remain in the city Jerusalem will die by the sword, famine, and pestilence (but those that join the Chaldeans will survive), petition the king to put Jeremiah to death, because he is weakening the will of the defenders of the city. Zedekiah gives them leave to do as they like. It is clear that Zedekiah feels intimidated by the princes of the people, who may be his seniors in age and power. So they take Jeremiah from the less austere part of the prison he has been kept in, and toss him in the dungeon: “and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.”
An Ethiopian Eunuch of the king’s household (who was not just a nobody servant) goes to the king and speaks up for Jeremiah: he will die there, as there is no bread left in the city. The king gives the man permission to take 30 soldiers and rescue Jeremiah. They take a bunch of old yucky rags and a cord to pull Jeremiah up from the pit. They lower the cord and toss in the rags, telling Jeremiah to put the rags in his armpits so the cords won’t cut into him while they pull him up. Jeremiah does so, and they pull him up. He then stays in the less austere confinement of the court of the prison.
Zedekiah, still only in his 30s or so, sends again for Jeremiah, this time to the inner chambers of the Temple. He says, I’m going to ask you a question, and I want you to tell me the truth, not hiding anything from me. Jeremiah says, If I tell you, you’ll surely put me to death, and you won’t follow any counsel I give anyway. The king swears (secretly) that he won’t have Jeremiah put to death, nor put into the hands of his enemies. So Jeremiah tells the king, If you put yourself in the hands of the Babylonians you will live and the city won’t be burned. But if you don’t, they will take the city and you will not escape them. Zedekiah replies, But what about the Jews that have already gone over to the Chaldeans? They will take me before the Chaldeans and ridicule me (implying that they will encourage the king’s demise). But Jeremiah promises him that if the king does what he says, he will be ok. If the king doesn’t follow his counsel, Jeremiah tells him that all the women and children left of his household, as well as himself, will be taken to Babylon and he, the king, will have caused Jerusalem to be burned.
Zedekiah says, Don’t let anyone know what you’ve told me, and you won’t die. If the princes hear about your coming and talking to me and try to get you to tell them all (promising they won’t kill you if you do), tell them you presented your petition not to be returned to prison. As the king predicted, the princes send for Jeremiah, and Jeremiah tells them what the king had advised. They don’t press him any further, and Jeremiah is left to live in the court of the prison until Jerusalem is taken.
Jer 39, 52 Jerusalem is captured, the nobles & heirs are killed, Jeremiah & the Ethiopian are spared
1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.
2 And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up. [about a year and a half of siege; life became desperate for the besieged]
Jerusalem is captured by the Babylonian army. Zedekiah and his army flee by night, but the Chaldeans catch up with them in the plains of Jericho. They take Zedekiah and entourage to the Babylonian king who has Zedekiah’s sons/heirs and all the nobles killed right in front of him. Then he has Zedekiah’s eyes put out and takes him in chains to Babylon. The Chaldeans burn the city and break down the walls of Jerusalem. All but the poorest people of Judah are carried away captive to Babylon. Those poor are given fields and vineyard in the land.
Nebuchadrezzar, the Babylonian king, orders that Jeremiah be set free from his prison and taken to his home. While he was in prison, the Lord had told Jeremiah to tell his Ethiopian friend/protector that despite the destruction of Jerusalem, the Lord would deliver him from his enemies “For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.”
Jeremiah 52 just gives more details of the destruction of Jerusalem. It also mentions that Jehoiachin was taken from prison in Babylon and the Babylonian king elevated him among other captured kings there, feeding and clothing him with honor the rest of his life. This was no doubt meant to be another slap in the face for Zedekiah. It’s a clue as to the relative wealth of the rulers of these kingdoms and empires, the number of people they fed, clothed, and housed; not only their personal household (numerous wives, concubines, children) and attendants, as well as princes and bureaucracies, but the rivals and foreigners they wanted to keep tabs on.
Jer 40 Jeremiah is freed, Gedaliah made governor over remnant in Judah
“Nebuzar-adan the [Babylonian] captain of the guard [while at] Ramah, when he had taken [Jeremiah] being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon . . . took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The Lord thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place . . . I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go . . . So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.”
Gedaliah had been made governor over those left in Judah. Jeremiah goes to live among those people. The Jews left in Judah are augmented by Jews that had been living in the countries of Moab, Edom, among the Ammonites and other countries, who came back to Judah to live under Gedaliah. They were able to gather a good harvest from the land. A plot to kill the governor is alleged, but he doesn’t put any stock in it.
Jer 41 Governor Gedaliah is assassinated, but the conspiracy is overpowered
It turns out that the conspiracy to assassinate Governor Gedaliah was real. He and his guard (both Jewish & Chaldean) are killed on the sly. When 80 men from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria come to make an offering to the Lord at Mizpah where Gedaliah’s court was, the assassins come out to meet them and bring them into the city, where they kill them also—except 10 who offer a bribe. The leader of the assassins, named Ishmael, takes the court and people of Mizpah captive and heads over to the Ammonites. A man named Johanan leads a force after them, and the captives manage to join him. Ishmael and 8 of his followers escape to the Ammonites. Johanan leads the captives he’s freed to a place near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt for fear of reprisals for Ishmael’s killing of Chaldeans.
Jer 42 The Jews that are left consult Jeremiah and ask for his blessing in fleeing to Egypt
Johanan and his followers come to Jeremiah and ask for his blessing. They promise that whatever the Lord says to do, whether to stay or to go into exile in Egypt. Jeremiah promises to tell them whatever the Lord says to do.
After 10 days Jeremiah returns to them with the Lord’s answer: they should stay in the land of Judah, and the Lord will bless them. He will deliver them from the hand of the king of Babylon, that is, cause him to have mercy on them, so they can remain in peace. But if they refuse the voice of the Lord and go to Egypt anyway (thinking they will be spared from war and hunger), they will find the war, famine, and pestilence they were trying to flee. They will die, never to see their homeland again. The Lord has seen the deception of their hearts in promising to do whatever the Lord counsels.
Jer 43 The leaders of the remnant of Judah go to Egypt, taking Jeremiah & Baruch with them
After having promised Jeremiah that they would do whatever the Lord said, whether to stay in the land of Judah or to go to Egypt, the leaders accuse Jeremiah of lying, and being influenced by the scribe Baruch (who had previously written for Jeremiah, see Jer 36) in order to turn them in to the Chaldeans. They take Jeremiah and Baruch along with all the remnant of Judah and move to Egypt.
The Lord tells Jeremiah to hide large stones in the clay of a brickkiln (or pavement) by the entry of one of) Pharoah’s houses (that in Tahpanhes), in front of the men of Judah, and to prophesy that Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, will come, conquer, and burn Egypt and her gods with fire.
https://bibleatlas.org/full/tahpanhes.htm Tahpanhes: city in the Nile delta of Egypt, on the caravan route
Jer 44 Jeremiah vs the Jews in Egypt: they worship the gods of Egypt, despite Jeremiah’s warnings
“The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which dwell in the land of Egypt, which dwell at Migdol, and at Tahpanhes, and at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying . . .” You’ve seen all that Judah & Jerusalem have suffered because of their wickedness, though I sent prophets from early in the day to plead with them not to turn to abominations, but they wouldn’t listen. So why are you committing the same evil? You burn incense to the gods of Egypt; have you forgotten the wickedness of the women/wives in Judah, and what it cost you? The destruction of your nation and land. “They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers.”
12 And I will take the remnant of Judah, that have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they shall all be consumed, and fall in the land of Egypt; they shall even be consumed by the sword and by the famine: they shall die, from the least even unto the greatest, by the sword and by the famine: and they shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach.
13 For I will punish them that dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence:
14 So that none of the remnant of Judah, which are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall escape or remain, that they should return into the land of Judah, to the which they have a desire to return to dwell there: for none shall return but such as shall escape.
But in this large gathering the men, who knew their wives had been burning incense to other gods, and the women themselves, tell Jeremiah, As for what you have to say to us in the name of the Lord, we’ll do whatever we want, “to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine.”
In a classic case of people seeing the same facts and coming to different (even opposite) conclusions, Jeremiah sees the worship of false gods as the cause of the destruction of Judah, while the women (with their men’s backing) see all their troubles brought on by failing to worship gods other than God. This points to the importance of educating women in the truth, and the influence women have on not only their children but their men.
Jeremiah then prophesies that because of their idolatrous worship He will see they are punished for their unfaithfulness to Him, “Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.” [Possibly Jeremiah & Baruch were among those that made it back to Judah, where Jeremiah had a pot buried with a land deed in it? Jeremiah was known by the Babylonians as counselling Judah and the other nations to submit to Babylonian rule. He had been saved from captivity in Babylon before, so it would be consistent for him to be saved again.]
29 ¶ And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil:
30 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.
(see above for Jeremiah 45 & 46, under the reign of Jehoiakim)
Israel & Judah leading to the Assyrian Captivity
This is a pivotal time in the history of the House of Israel. It’s the beginning of the end for the northern kingdom of Israel. It includes some of the most powerful prophets of the Old Testament: Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Job. Some of the better kings reigned in the southern kingdom of Judah, and one of the worst. Ok, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” can be said of almost any time in the history of humankind, but powerful things were happening to Abraham’s seed, and the nations of what we call the Middle East as the Assyrian Empire rose to power.
It is also a difficult time to reconcile the relative dates of the kings of Israel and Judah. I tried with a year by year chart. It’s possible some of the gaps were periods of turmoil when no one was powerful enough to claim kingship in Israel
2 Kings 14:23-29—Jeroboam II, king of Israel
23 ¶ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.
This 2nd Jeroboam followed the example of the first Jeroboam, who set up golden calves in 2 places of worship for the northern kingdom of Israel, lest they be drawn back into the fold of the Davidic line of kings in Judah. Yet God worked through Jeroboam and helped him gain back some territory, and some victories over the kingdom of Judah (recovered the Syrian capital of Damascus to his rule).
And here we hear of Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet—see the Book of Jonah 1:1. Hosea was prophet during at least part of Jeroboam’s reign, as well as Amos. See Hosea 1:1, and Amos 1:1. Note the mention of an earthquake. It must have been a noteworthy occurrence. References to the darkening of the skies (the sun, moon, and stars) occur in Job 3:9, Job 9:7, Amos 8:9, Isa 13:10, Joel 2:10, Joel 2:31, Joel 3:15, Ezek 32:7-8, beside the references in the New Testament: Matt 24:29, Mark 13:24, Luke 21:25 (Luke 23:45 mentions an earthquake and obscuring of the sun at the death of Jesus), Acts 2:20, Rev 6:12. There’s a reference way back in Eccl 12:2 about the sun and moon darkened, which might have been influenced by a previous occurrence (the plagues of Exodus were not forgotten in all those hundreds of years, for example). See https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Darkening-Sun-Moon-And-Stars
2 Kings 15:1-7 and 2 Chron 26:1-22—Azariah/Uzziah, king of Judah
Hosea, Amos, and Isaiah (son of Amoz) were all prophets during the reign of Azariah, variously called Uzziah.
2 Chron 26
3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem…
4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah did.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah [not the same as the writer of the Book of Zechariah], who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.
Uzziah’s father Amaziah had turned away from God at the end of his reign (2 Chron 25:27-28), and had been killed by a conspiracy. “Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king [in place] of his father Amaziah.”
The “high places” were still a pernicious problem, where people went on worshipping.
Uzziah reconquered/restored Eloth on the Red Sea, in the land of Edom, where Solomon had a navy (1 Kings 9:26, 2 Chron 8:17). He warred successfully against the Philistines and took the city of Gath, built cities around Ashdod after he broke its walls. God helped him against the Philistines and the Arabians. The Ammonites were tributary to him. He had a reputation for strength all the way to Egypt. He rebuilt and fortified Jerusalem, and set engines of war on the walls. He built towers and dug wells in the desert to accommodate his extensive herds in the lowland plains. He loved grape agriculture, and had vineyards in the mountains (hill countries) and around Mt Carmel. His army officers numbered 2600, and his army was 307,500 fighting men strong, well-armed with armor, bows, and slings. But all this power went to his head.
16 ¶ But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
Azariah the priest [could this be a source of the confusion over the name of Uzziah?] along with 80 priests (“valiant men”—probably meaning they were Temple soldiers) confronted him. The sons of Aaron were consecrated to burn incense in God’s house, they reminded him. Uzziah was angry. While he was angry there in the Temple, leprosy arose on his forehead. The priests forced him out, and he was just as anxious to take his leave. He was a leper the rest of his days, had to live in a separate house, and his son Jotham reigned the last 4 years of his life, as co-regent. When he died, he was buried in a field with other kings, but not in the royal burial place, because he was a leper. (2 Kings 15:30 speaks of the 20th year of Jotham, son of Uzziah/Azariah, while the other citations say he was king 16 years).
2 Kings 15:8-31—a series of short reigning kings in Israel (the longest 20 years); Assyria flexes its muscles.
Meanwhile, in the 38th year of king Uzziah/Azariah in Judah, Jeroboam (the second)’s son Zachariah’s reign only lasted 6 months when he was killed by the conspirator Shallum. This fulfilled the prophecy made to Jehu that only 4 generations of his line would rule Israel. Shallum claims the kingship, but is only in power for a month before he is killed by Menahem, who takes his place. Menahem wreaks vengeance on the city of Tirzah because it wasn’t open to him, conquers it, and rips up the pregnant women. Not a nice guy. Menahem’s rule lasts 10 years. Pul, king of Assyria, comes against him, whom he buys off with the money of his wealthy citizens.
Menahem’s son Pekahiah only reigns 2 evil years when his captain/military leader Pekah conspires against him, kills him, and takes over the kingdom in the last year of Azariah/Uzziah’s rule in Judah. Pekah reigns for 20 years. As we shall see, he allies with the Syrian king against Judah. During his reign Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, carries a good part of his kingdom away captive. Hoshea conspires against him, but he will lose the rest of the rest of the northern kingdom of Israel to Assyria, as described below.
2 Kings 15:30, 32-38 and 2 Chron 27:1-9 Jotham reigns in Judah
As mentioned above, 2 Kings 15:30 speaks of the 20th year of Jotham, yet every other reference says that he ruled Judah for 16 years. I take this to mean that the first 4 years of his reign he was co-regent with his father Azariah/Uzziah, who had leprosy.
2 Chron 27
1 Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Jerushah, the daughter of Zadok.
2 And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the Lord. And the people did yet corruptly [still sacrificing in the high places].
Jotham also has his building projects: at the Temple, as well as more cities, castles, and towers in the mountains/hills and forests of Judah. These are perilous times. Assyria is a rising superpower. The Ammonites try to rebel against Jotham, but are put back under tribute. Verse 7 speaks of wars, as though there were other battles to fight. 2 Kings 15:37 says, “In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah [king of Israel].” But, “Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God.” One wonders at his early death, at the age of 41. Though the scriptures don’t say what he died of, could it have been death in battle?
2 Kings 16:1-20 and 2 Chron 28:1-27—Ahaz the wicked son of good king Jotham reigns in Judah
Ahaz is only 20 years old when he begins his 16 year reign of terror & trouble, in the 17th year of the Israelite king Pekah. Hosea is still active as a prophet. Isaiah seems to have succeeded Amos (Isa 1:1 says he is son of Amoz) since the time of Uzziah/Amaziah, king of Judah. Jonah was mentioned in the reign of Jeroboam II, probably before Assyria became quite so high and mighty, because Ninevah repented, but there's no mention of him now.
2 Chron 28:1-4
1 Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem: but he did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord, like David his father: [David is still considered the epitome of a righteous king].
2 For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made also molten images for Baalim.
3 Moreover he burnt incense in the valley of the son of Hinnom, and burnt his children in the fire, after the abominations of the heathen whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.
4 He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
So, God did not back up Ahaz. The Syrian king Rezin carries away “a great multitude” of captives, retakes the city of Elath. Israel’s king Pekah kills 120,000 Jewish soldiers in one day, carries away 200,000 women and children, and booty to boot. They kill 1-2 of king Ahaz’s sons and the senior cabinet member(s). See also Isa 7.
But a prophet named Obed (seemingly living in Samaria, Israel’s capital) confronts the Israelite army as they arrive at Samaria with all their booty and captives, and they heed his words—one of the few good anecdotes from the northern kingdom of Israel:
2 Chron 28
9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded: 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.
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?
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.
12 Then certain of the heads of the children of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, and Jehizkiah the son of Shallum [remember Shallum who had conspired and killed Jeroboam (the second)’s son Zachariah—they were probably a military family], and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against them that came from the war,
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.
14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.
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, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.
Even the Edomites came and carry away captives from the previously strong kingdom of Judah, and the Philistines invade the southern cities of Judah.
So, Ahaz sends to Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria for help. He gifts him the treasures of the Temple, his own house, and the princes of the people. The king of Assyria conquers the king of Syria, Rezin, and takes away the people of Damascus as captives. King Ahaz meets the Assyrian king in Damascus and admires the altar there, sends the pattern of it to Urijah the priest, who has it built for him in Jerusalem. When Ahaz returns, he offers sacrifices on it. He moves the brass altar from the Temple, alters the brass “sea”, and orders how the sacrifices are to be done. Urijah accommodates his wishes. Ahaz makes a gift of the holy fixtures of the Temple of God to the king of Assyria.
2 Chron 28:21 says that the king of Assyria didn’t help Ahaz. And in the verses following, it says, “And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the Lord: this is that king Ahaz. 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. 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. 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.”
When he dies, they bury him in Jerusalem, but not in the sepulchres of the kings.
2 Kings 17:1-41—Hoshea is king of Israel, Shalmaneser King of Assyria takes Israel captive and replaces the inhabitants of Samaria with other people, who worship their own gods, as well as the Lord God
“In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah began Hoshea the son of Elah to reign in Samari over Israel nine years.” He wasn’t a good guy, but not as bad as those before him. Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, comes against him, and he buys him off, becoming tributary to Assyria. But he sends messengers to So, king of Egypt, looking for an alliance. He quits paying tribute to Assyria, so Shalmaneser besieges Samaria 3 awful years. “In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.”
Verses 7-23 recounts all the wickedness of the kingdom of Israel over the years, and Judah as well—even sacrificing their own children to false gods.
“And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.” At first these newcomers don’t think anything of the Lord God of Israel, but after trouble with lions in the land, they figure they need to learn about the God of the land, and ask the Assyrian king for help. He sends priests of God back to them to teach them about Him in Beth-el. They continue to honor their own gods, but make allowance for the God of Israel. “They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the Lord, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. . . So these nations feared the Lord, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children’s children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.”
Thus, the beginning of the enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans, and the end of the 10 tribes as a recognizable group—see Hosea 9:17 (the kingdom of Israel is also called “Ephraim”: the first Jeroboam who split the 10 tribes away from Rehoboam (son of Solomon and king of Judah) was from the tribe of Ephraim. There was a rivalry between Judah and Ephraim for hundreds of years).
The Assyrians conquered not just the Israelites, but all the nations around them (see Isa 15-16 Moab, Isa 19-20 Egypt, Isa 23 Tyre; Amos 1 the house of Hazael/Damascus is Syria, Gaza/Ashdod/Ashkelon/Ekron are Philistine cities, Tyrus is Tyre, and then there are the nations of Edom and Ammon). They came right to the gates of Jerusalem under king Hezekiah, but Hezekiah was a good man (despite his father), and God saved His people from the Assyrians. What was left of Israel was reunited under the lineage of David once again. More about Hezekiah next post.
The Book of Psalms
An excellent choice for daily devotionals, the Book of Psalms has nearly enough for a half a year (note that Psalm 119 has 22 parts), and one could read them over and over. Rather than comment about each one by one, I have organized them below, with some helpful explanations. Not all the psalms were written by King David: some were written by others and some have no specified author.
Psalms specific to events in David's life:
59 Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.
52 A Psalm of David, when Doeg the Edomite told Saul, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.
56 Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.
34 A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed
"The title says Abimelech rather than Achish because Abimelech was the traditional dynastic name title for Philistine
kings (see Genesis 20, 21:22-34 and 26)."
see https://jaymack.net/ay-david-pretended-to-be-insane-before-abimelech-psalm-34-1-22/
54 A Psalm of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Doth not David hide himself with us?
57 Michtam of David, when he fled from Saul in the cave.
142 Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.
63 A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
18 A Psalm of David . . . that the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul
30 A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David
51 A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.
60 After battles with Mesopotamians & their allies, when Joab returned, and smote 12,000 of Edom in the valley of salt
3 A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son
72, 127 For Solomon, David's successor as King of Israel
General Psalms
17, 86 Prayers of David
145 David’s Psalm of praise.
38, 70 Psalms of David, to bring to remembrance
15, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35, 37, 101, 103, 108, 110, 138, 141, 143, 144 simply labeled "A Psalm of David"
11, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 31, 36, 40, 41, 64, 65, 68, 109, 139 "to the Chief Musician", no doubt for setting to music
Author not specified
1, 2, 10, 33, 43, 66, 71, 91, 93-99, 104-107, 111-118, 135-137, 146-150
92 (for the Sabbath), 100 (of praise), 102 (prayer of the afflicted)
Labeled as "Songs of Degrees", perhaps sung while traveling
see https://biblehub.com/topical/s/songs_of_degrees.htm
120-134 (attributed to David: 122, 124, 131, 133; for Solomon 127)
Psalm 119--verses written by the Hebrew alphabet
for more info, scroll to the bottom of https://biblehub.com/psalms/119.htm
Other people mentioned in the labels
--Jeduthun: music master under King David, Psalms 39, 62, 77
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/jeduthun/
--Korah was a Levite, cousin of Moses, the "sons of Korah" would be his descendants;
Psalms 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, 88
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korahites
--Asaph was a Levite, leader of King David's choir; Psalms 50, 73-83
https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/asaph/
--Heman the Ezrahite, a sage of the time, https://jewish_bio.en-academic.com/1303/Heman_the_Ezrahite Psalm 88
--Ethan the Ezrahite, a wise man https://bibleportal.com/articles/who-was-ethan-the-ezrahite-in-the-bible Psalm 89
--Moses the man of God wrote a prayer, Psalm 90 . . . someone must have kept it over all those years, as well as other songs of Moses & his sister Miriam recorded in Exodus 15 & Deuteronomy 32 (Deut 31:30 labels it)
Other terms in the labels of the Psalms have to do with the instruments, purposes, and tunes
--Neginoth: Psalms 4, 6, 54, 55, 61 (Neginah singular), 67, 76 Neginoth=songs accompanied by stringed instruments;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/neginoth/
-- Nehiloth: Psalm 5 songs accompanied by flutes/wind instruments;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/nehiloth/
--Higgaion: Psalm 7 Shiggaion, an ode; https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/shiggaion/
only mention of Cush the Benjaminite;
see https://ebible.com/questions/20306-who-was-cush-and-what-had-he-done-to-david-psalm-7-title
--Gittith: Psalms 8, 81, 84 a stringed instrument, perhaps a harp;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/gittith/
--Muth-labben: Psalm 9 unknown reference;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/muth-labben/
-- Sheminith: Psalm 12 possibly a certain type of air;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/sheminith/
--Michtam: Psalms 16, 56, 57, 60 possibly "precious",
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/michtam/
--Aijeleth Shahar: Psalm 22 alluding to the dawn, perhaps referring to the style, a particular instrument, or other
allusion; see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/aijeleth-shahar/
--Maschil: Psalms 32, 42, 44, 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 74, 78, 88, 89, 142 a wisdom/instructive song
--Mahalath: Psalm 53 perhaps to be played on a lute or lyre;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/mahalath/
--Jonath-elem-rechokim: Psalm 56, perhaps a well known tune;
see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/jonath-elem-rechokim/
--Al-taschith: Psalms 57-59, 75 see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/al-tas
--Shoshannim: Psalms 45, 69, 80 see https://biblehub.com/topical/s/shoshannim.htm
and https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7802.htm title of a popular song
--Alamoth: Psalm 46 to be sung by sopranos; see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/alamoth/
--Mahalath Leannoth: Psalm 88 see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/mahalath-leannoth-maschil/
David–part 5, his final days
David—part 5, Kingship's end 2 Sam 20-24, 1 Kings 1-2, 1 Chron 20-29 2 Sam 20—more battles against Benjaminites, and Joab kills another rival for the Generalship Once again the rivalry between David and the tribe of Benjamin arises, King Saul having been a Benjaminite. This time “a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba . . . blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his [war] tents, O Israel.” Amazingly, all but the tribe of Judah listen to him. About Belial, “The word means worthless in Hebrew, and later came to represent the personification of the devil.” For more discussion, see https://mythology.net/demons/belial/ King David had called on Amasa to take Joab’s place as General of the armies, and he sent him to gather an army from the tribe of Judah and meet the king in 3 days. But Amasa didn’t get it together, so David called on Abishai (Joab’s brother) to take the lead. Joab meets and greets Amasa with a kiss, and kills him. Thus Joab and Abishai take over the army in pursuit of Sheba. Joab with the army comes to besiege Sheba’s army in a city called Abel of Beth-maachah. They cast up a bank and a trench, and begin to batter down the walls. A wise woman from the city calls to Joab to confer with him. She says, “I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?” Joab repies that he doesn’t want to destroy, and will leave if the city will just hand over Sheba. She says they’ll toss his head over the wall, the city does so, and Joab goes back to Jerusalem. 2 Sam 21—famine & Philistines A 3 year famine oppresses David’s kingdom. He inquires of the Lord (through the priests, no doubt), and is answered that it is because King Saul had killed the Gibeonites that were a remnant of the Amorites that the Israelites had sworn not to kill—see Josh 9. King David asks the Gibeonites what they want, as atonement for the sin “that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?” The Gibeonites don’t want silver or gold from the house of Saul, nor to kill the Israelites, except 7 of Saul’s sons (descendants?) to be delivered to them to be hanged. David agrees, but saves Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son, for the oath he had made with Jonathan. One of King Saul’s concubines stays by the bodies to keep the birds and beasts from bothering them. When King David hears about it, he gathers their bones, as well as the bones of Saul and Jonathan that had been saved from the Philistines, and has them buried in the sepulchre of Kish, the father of Saul. “And after that God was entreated for the land”—the famine was done. The Philistines decide it’s an advantageous time to attack, no doubt figuring that King David has been weakened by civil war and age. David goes with the army. The son of the giant he had slain wants revenge, sees David’s faintness, and thinks this is his chance. But Abishai (General Joab’s brother) comes to David’s aid and kills the giant. David’s men then swear that David is not to risk his life in battle any more. The Philistines keep trying: 3 more battles. Four of the sons of Goliath the Giant are killed by David and his servants. See also 1 Chron 20:4-8 2 Sam 22—a psalm of David, praising God for His help against his enemies--highlights 1 And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: 2 And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. 4 I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 5 When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid; 6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me; 7 In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears. 21 The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them. 24 I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity. 25 Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight. 26 With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright. 27 With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury. 28 And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down. 29 For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness. 32 For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? 33 God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. 36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37 Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip. 47 The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 48 It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me, 49 And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man. 50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore. Comment: Perhaps this was a psalm David had written earlier in his career as king and it was appended here, because certainly God was not happy with the Bathsheba/Uriah incident, and certainly David suffered for it. When he says that he had not departed from God and His statutes/laws, I think he was talking about turning to idols, as Solomon and other kings of his lineage would do. Still, God did show mercy to David and his descendants, though they had to suffer for their wrong-doings. 2 Sam 23—the last words of David, 37 of his military leaders & some of their exploits 1 Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, 2 The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. 3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 4 And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. It appears that verse 5 is in recognition of the David’s troubled household, yet affirms that David owes his loyalty to God, who has saved him from so many troubles. Eventually those of Belial will be destroyed, as thorny shrubs that are burned. The rest of the chapter recounts some of the exploits, and names King David’s military leaders. Notice one of them was Uriah the Hittite. It was not just some foot soldier David betrayed for the sake of Bathsheba. See also 1 Chron 11 2 Sam 24—David has Joab number the people fit for fighting, a pestilence ensues; see also 1 Chron 21 The text says that God was angry with Israel, and moved King David to count the number of fighting men (or those eligible for fighting). ). 1 Chron 21:1 says “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.” General Joab doesn’t think it’s a good idea, but he and the captains of the army spend almost 10 months going through all the Israelite lands taking a census. The men of Israel were 800,000, and the men of Judah were 500,000. For some time there has been a distinction between Israel and Judah, which will eventually sever the two into rival kingdoms. Then David feels guilty. What does counting the fighting men mean? It would seem to be in preparation for a war of aggression. David asks for forgiveness. God sends the prophet Gad, “David’s seer” to offer him 3 alternatives. 1. 7 years of famine, 2. David has to flee his enemies for 3 months, or 3. 3 days of pestilence (disease/pandemic). It’s a hard decision, but David would rather suffer at God’s hands than humans’, and chooses the 3 days of disease, which seems the least of the three. Yet 70,000 men died. When the destroying angel gets to Jerusalem, God stops him. “It is enough,” He says. (We’ve already discussed whether God “repents” in the way that men are required to repent of their wicked ways.) When David sees how many have died, he blames himself. He asks God why innocents should suffer for his fault. Gad comes to David and says he should build an altar to God “in the threshingfloor of Araunah the Jebusite” to stop the plague. David goes as commanded. Araunah sees him coming, makes obeisance, and asks why he's come. David says he’s there to buy the threshingfloor to build an altar. Araunah offers the oxen and wood for the sacrifice, but David insists on buying everything, and they agree on a price. The whole exchange is probably a cultural procedure for bargaining. But David says, “neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing . . . And David built there an altar unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord was entreated for the land, and the plague was stayed from Israel.” 1 Kings 1—the woman Abishag keeps aging King David warm, rivalries arise for the succession The elderly King David can’t keep warm on his own. They find a beautiful young virgin to care for him, and she is the caring kind. There are no sexual relations between them. Some modern people may look askance at such a thing, but aside from the honor of serving the king so closely, some people/nurses are really that caring and altruistic. Court politics and shenanigans ensue, or continue: Adonijah, brother of Absalom (whose boldness perhaps inspires and instructs him), wants to be next king. He’s also a good looking guy. He gets chariots and horsemen, and 50 men to run before him. King David doesn’t say anything to him about it. Adonijah recruits General Joab, and the priest Abiathar. He invites all the king’s sons (except Solomon), and “all the men of Judah the king’s servants” (people in positions of power, but not the King’s guard/mighty men who are loyal to him rather than to the army) to a feast. The priest Zadok, Nathan the prophet, and the mighty men Benaiah, Shimei, and Rei don’t join Adonijah’s club. Benaiah (see 2 Sam 23:20-23, 1 Chron 11:22, 1 Chron 27:5, and https://journeyonline.org/lessons/benaiah-son-of-jehoiada/?series=8751 Shimei (see D at https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/encyclopedia-of-the-bible/Shimei ) Rei (see https://biblehub.com/topical/r/rei.htm ) Nathan the prophet goes to Bathsheba, Solomon’s mother, asking if she hasn’t heard about Adonijah’s moves, “and David our lord knoweth it not?” He says, "If you want to save your life, and your son Solomon, I’d advise going to King David and ask if he didn’t swear to you that Solomon would be his successor. If so, why does Adonijah reign? I’ll come in while you are talking to the king and back you up." It’s obvious by this exchange that Adonijah knew King David’s intention that Solomon would succeed to the throne. Bathsheba goes to King David and makes obeisance. He asks what she desires of him. She lays out the situation to him. Nathan comes in and affirms what she says, asks King David if that’s what he has decided and just not told him. Apparently they were seen by the king separately, though, perhaps so he can question them each without fear of collusion. King David confirms that he means for Solomon to reign after him. He calls for Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest, as well as Benaiah, and tells them to put Solomon on his own mule, take him to be anointed king, blow a trumpet, and say “God save king Solomon.” Then they are to bring Solomon back and set him on David’s throne. That they do, taking the king’s guard with them. Zadok takes a horn of oil from the tabernacle to anoint Solomon, a sign of authority. Adonijah and those at his feast hear the trumpet and the to-do. When they are told what has happened with Solomon, they all get up with fear and go their own ways. Adonijah flees and grabs the horns of the altar (a sign of seeking asylum, as in the Law of Moses), asking that Solomon not kill him. Solomon sends for him, saying, “ If he will shew himself a worthy man, there shall not an hair of him fall to the earth: but if wickedness shall be found in him, he shall die.” He allows him to go home. 1 Kings 2—King David’s last instructions to Solomon, see also 1 Chron 22-29 1 Chron 22 tells of David preparing for the building of the Temple, having stonemasons get to work, and metal workers make nails and fastenings . . . “And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the Lord must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.” He calls Solomon and charges him with building the Temple, explaining why he could not do it himself. David also commands all the princes of Israel to support Solomon in building the Temple, now they are at peace (no longer must bear the cost of wars). 1 Chron 23 through 26, & 29—David organizes the Levites, their priesthood and official duties, and the descendants of the Moses & the Levites are listed. 1 Chron 27 lists David’s officials and the heads of the Israelite tribes. 1 Chron 28 David assembles the princes of Israel and the government officials to address them. “And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel . . . Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.” 1 Chron 29 David prays before the people, thanking God for all the wealth and power the Israelites have been blessed with. “I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee . . . And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.” David invites the congregation also to pray and worship God. A huge sacrifice is offered, “And [the people] did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the chief governor, and Zadok to be priest.” 1 Kings 2 1 Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying, 2 I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man; 3 And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself: 4 That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel. See Psalms 72 and 127. 1 Chron 28 “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” David gives Solomon all the patterns for the architecture of the Temple, the organization of the priests & Levites, all the gold & silver he had saved up. “And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.” Back to 1 Kings 2 David brings up General Joab’s faults in killing his rivals Abner and Amasa, and tells his son to exact retribution. Likewise, he should order the death penalty for the Benjaminite Shimei who had cursed David as he fled from Absalom. Solomon is to continue the reward for the sons of Barzillai who had helped him when he fled Absalom. 10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. 11 And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years: seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 1 Chron 29 26 ¶ Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. 28 And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead. 29 Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, 30 With all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries.
Despite the wickedness of his posterity, God continued to use David as an example of righteousness and loyalty to Him. God preserved the kingship of his descendants in Jerusalem. 1 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: 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.
David–part 4, King of the nation of Israel
David—part 4, Kingship
2 Sam 9-19
2 Sam 9—David honors Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth
David asks if there isn’t a descendant of the deceased King Saul, “that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” A servant of Saul’s household, Ziba, is found brought to King David. He affirms that Jonathan had a son Mephibosheth, who was lame. “He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.” 2 Sam 4:4 Mephobosheth also has a young son, Micha.
David sends for Mephibosheth, restores all Saul’s lands to him, and invites him to eat at the king’s table continually, like a son of the king. David gives Ziba (who has 15 sons and 20 servants, so he is no slouch) stewardship over Mephibosheth’s lands.
2 Sam 10—the heir to an Ammonite king disrespects David’s kindly meant messengers, and rues it; see also 1 Chron 19
The king of the Ammonites dies, who had shown kindness to David, so David sends ambassadors of good will. But the princes to the new king convince him that the ambassadors are spies David has sent with the intention of overthrowing the city. The new king has their beards half shaved off and their clothes cut as high as their buttocks.
David sends General Joab against the city, and their Syrian allies. Joab splits his force between the Ammonites and the Syrians, with his brother over the choice men of Israel against the Syrians, while he leads the rest against the Ammonites. If either is having a hard go of it, the other is to come to the aid. He encourages his brother thus, “Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: and the Lord do that which seemeth him good.” First the Syrians flee, then the Ammonites. Joab returns to Jerusalem.
But the Syrians gather more forces from the other side of the Jordan River to menace Israel. So King David gathers the men of all Israel and goes against them. David’s forces kill 700 charioteers, 40,000 horsemen (cavalry?), and the captain of their forces. The Syrians sue for peace, agree to be tributaries, and are dissuaded from helping the Ammonites anymore.
2 Sam 11—David & Bathsheba, death of Uriah by order of the King
The battle season has begun, and King David sends General Joab against an Ammonite city. David’s still hanging about in Jerusalem “at the time when kings go forth to battle.” One evening/night David gets up from bed, is walking along his roof, and sees a beautiful woman washing herself after her monthly “uncleanness”.
Now what she is doing washing herself in sight of the king’s house is a curiosity. Did he see her through her window? It seems like she would have covered the window. But surely she wouldn’t know that David would be wandering about on the roof at that time (or was it a habit he had?). It’s hard to say if she had any culpability.
David asks about her and sends for her. It’s not like he doesn’t have plenty of wives and concubines so he ought to have resisted temptation. Or maybe it’s because he has been used to having plenty of women at his disposal that makes him susceptible to temptation. Yet I think it unlikely he would have forced her against her will. He impregnates her and she goes back home. Later she sends word to David that she is pregnant. David tries to hide his fault, and sends for her husband, Uriah the Hittite. This must be at least 2-3 months later (or did she know/pretend to know sooner?), and David is still in town while General Joab is leading the siege at the front lines of the war.
David asks Uriah, “How goes the war?” Then he tells him to spend the night with his wife before going back. Not many would refuse such an offer, one would think especially if married to a beauty like Bathsheba. The whole story makes one wonder about the relationship between Bathsheba and her husband. Uriah leaves King David, and the king sends a pile of food after him. But Uriah sleeps at the king’s door with David’s other servants. Is he, being a Hittite, extra anxious to show his loyalty?
When David hears that Uriah didn’t go home, he asks him, “Why not?” Uriah says, “The Ark [of the Covenant], and all the army are camped in tents in the field. How can I go home and eat, drink, and lie with my wife? I won’t do it.” David says, “Well, stay here today, too, and you can leave tomorrow.” David feasts him and makes sure he gets drunk (if the king proposes a toast, how can anyone fail to drink to it?) But again, Uriah doesn’t go home.
Now David is really embarrassed/concerned about the scandal. He sends a sealed letter by way of Uriah to General Joab, “Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.” He knows Uriah would not dare break the seal. How outrageous to send such a letter by the very man it condemns! David has had his head turned by the politics of power, and what kings could and did get away with.
General Joab accommodates King David’s request, and Uriah is killed. Joab sends word about the war, and tells the messengers that if the king gets angry about the loss of life from the near approach to the city, mention that Uriah the Hittite also died. (Mention is made of the previous example of Abimelech being killed when a woman threw a millstone down on him from the city wall).
David replies to Joab (via the messengers) not to worry about it, “Let not this thing displease thee, for the sword devoureth one as well as another: make thy battle more strong against the city, and overthrow it: and encourage thou him.”
Bathsheba mourns appropriately for her husband’s death, then David marries her, and a son is born. But God is not happy with such behavior.
2 Sam 12—Nathan the prophet confronts King David, Bathsheba’s son dies, but Solomon is born to her
God sends Nathan the prophet to King David (note David named one of his sons Nathan, perhaps in honor of this man). Nathan tells David a story about 2 men, one rich, one poor. The rich guy has a lot of animals, but the poor man only one little ewe (female) lamb, “which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own [food], and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.” This also makes one wonder about the relationship between Bathsheba and her husband. Could he have “bought” her for a wife/concubine (to rescue her?), and was she young enough to be his daughter? What was her attitude toward him?
As the story continues, a traveler stops over with the rich man (possibly this wayfarer was not known to him, but he would be expected by the social rules of hospitality to give the person room & board). The rich guy doesn’t want to diminish his own flock for the sake of the “wayfaring man”, so he takes the poor guy’s one little lamb and prepares it for the traveler.
David’s sense of justice is incensed, and he immediately passes the sentence of death on the rich guy, after he’s paid 4x the price of the lamb (or given 4 lambs for the one).
Then Nathan reveals, “Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.”
Furthermore, “Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.”
This would be an appropriate time to read some of David’s psalms, pleading for forgiveness, Psalm 51 in particular.
David is brought low. He admits his sins. Nathan says God accepts his confession, and he won’t die for his sins. Nevertheless “by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.”
When Bathsheba’s son becomes sick, David pleads with God, fasting and laying all night on the ground. The “elders of his house” try to get him to rise and eat, but he refuses. On the 7th day the child dies. David’s servants are afraid to tell him. David notices them whispering and realizes the child has died. After they affirm it, he gets up, cleans up, and worships in the house of the Lord [the Tabernacle tent]. He returns home and eats. His servants are amazed. They ask why he wept and fasted so sorely when the child was sick, but when the child dies, he gets up and gets back to life. He explains that before the child died there was a chance God would save the child after all. Once the child's dead, there's no chance that would happen. No reason to keep trying to get God to relent.
David comforts Bathsheba, and she bares Solomon, “and the Lord loved him.” It appears that Nathan the prophet called him Jedidiah, “because of the Lord.” The name means “Beloved of Jehovah” see https://www.abarim-publications.com/Meaning/Jedidiah.html
At the end of this chapter Joab sends messengers to King David that he has taken the source of water for the royal Ammonite city, and tells David he’d better come with the rest of the Israelite armies to take the whole city, or if he/Joab takes it, it will be called by his name. That gets David moving. The Israelites conquer the city, the king’s crown is put on David’s head, and they gain “great abundance” of spoil.
This is a case where it’s hard to tell if the text is recounting things chronologically or by topic. If chronologically, the siege of that city has lasted at least a year and a half (2 pregnancies plus time between).
Then King David behaves like other rulers of the Middle East of the time, the most brutal of them: “And he brought forth the people that were therein [the Ammonite cities], and put them under saws, and under harrows of iron, and under axes of iron, and made them pass through the brickkiln: and thus did he unto all the cities of the children of Ammon.” This was not the way all vanquished cities were treated, so perhaps these Ammonites were so brutal that he treated them likewise. It was a way, anciently, to put such excessive fear and dread in the hearts of enemies that they dare not rise in opposition. See also 1 Chron 20:1-3
2 Sam 13—David’s family troubles: Absalom’s sister Tamar
Absalom’s one sister is the one daughter of King David mentioned. No doubt there were others.
Tamar’s half brother Amnon “loves” (lusts after) her. Maybe he’s not that much older than her, but it’s inappropriate. He lets his mind dwell on her so much that he is “vexed” and falls sick for her. He wants her, but figures it’s out of his reach “to do any thing to her.” He’s not thinking marriage. Unfortunately, he has a shrewd friend (a cousin) who comes up with a plan for him to get what he wants: take your sickbed and when your father, the king, comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and take care of you. This story is another clue to the palace politics and machinations that David had been wary of before he became son-in-law to King Saul.
One would think David would have recognized the danger in this request (especially after his entanglement with Bathsheba), but apparently he’s in the habit of spoiling his sons—giving them what they want (as we will see with Absalom). David obliges the request, and Tamar is sent to make a meal for him at his house: meat and bread (perhaps with all the trimmings).
When the food is ready, Amnon won’t eat. He sends all the men out. Tamar must be feeling nervous at this turn of events. Amnon asks her to bring the food to him herself and hand feed him. Tamar brings them into his room. He grabs her and says, “Come lie with me, my sister.” She says, “No, don’t force me, my brother. This is wrong! I won’t be able to escape my shame and you will get a reputation as a fool. If you want me as a wife, ask the king and “’he will not withhold me from thee’.” But he overpowers and rapes her.
Now Amnon hates her (projects his self-loathing onto her). He hates her worse than he “loved” her before, and sends her out. She tells him he has no reason to treat her this way, and this is even worse than what he’s already done to her. He won’t listen to her, calls his servant to put her out and bolt the door.
Tamar tears her pretty clothes, puts ashes on her head in deep mourning, and bewails her situation. Side note: the virgin princesses were clothed in multi-colored dress. Her brother Absalom comes to her. He seems already to know what Amnon has done (probably gossip has traveled). He tells her to stay with him and not to worry about it. She listens to him, but her reputation is ruined. No one will want to marry her now.
King David hears about it all. He’s very angry, but what does he do? We don’t read of anything. Absalom says nothing about it, either good or bad. But he hates Amnon, and 2 years later he finds opportunity to get revenge. He invites his father the king, all his servants, and all his brothers to a sheepshearing feast. King David says, “No, it’s too many for you to host—it will cost you too much.” Absalom presses him, but King David steadfastly declines. Nevertheless, he gives his blessing to the event. Absalom insists that Amnon attend, and David is wary, but finally allows it. In this culture, people don’t just do whatever they want, permission from the head man is requisite to come and go (remember Moses & his father-in-law Jethro, Jacob and his father & father-in-law, and others).
Absalom tells his servants that when Amnon is drunk he will give the signal for them to kill him. He tells them, “fear not; have not I commanded you? [in other words, you are acting on my instructions and will not be charged for it], be courageous, and be valiant.” So it happens, and all the rest of David’s sons rush to their mules to get away.
While they are fleeing, word gets to David that Absalom has killed all his sons. David is so upset he tears his clothes and lays in the dirt on the ground. All his servants stand there watching over him, with their clothes torn. But Jonadab, the same shrewd “friend” who advised Amnon how to get his sister, tells David not to think Absalom has killed all his sons, only Amnon—because he raped his sister Tamar. This is soon apparent, as the rest return. They all weep for Amnon. Absalom has fled, and stays away for 3 years. Eventually King David accepts the death of Amnon, and longs for his son Absalom.
2 Sam 14—Absalom is finally reconciled with his father David
(This summary is terribly inferior to the poetic rendering of the story in the Bible.)
General Joab sees King David’s longing for Absalom, and devises a solution. He sends for a woman and gives her a story to tell the king about being a widow with 2 sons, one who has killed the other. The whole family want the killer to be punished for his crime, but she doesn’t want to lose her only remaining son (and in that day, the only one to carry on the name/lineage). King David tells her he will give orders to protect the remaining son from any that seek vengeance.
The woman uses the story to bring up Absalom’s banishment for killing his brother, “For we must needs die, and are as water spilt on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again; neither doth God respect [exempt] any person: yet doth he devise means, that his banished be not expelled from him.” She exudes all sorts of flattery, saying that she knew David would do justice in the matter.
David recognizes that Joab is behind this effort to bring Absalom back from exile. He gives Joab permission to bring Absalom home, but not to see himself, the king. Joab is effuse in his relief that the king has not taken offense at his contrivance and brings Absalom back to Jerusalem. But after 2 years not being able to see the king, Absalom has sent twice for Joab to speak to the king on his behalf, and Joab has not come. Absalom has his servants set Joab’s nearby field afire, and that brings Joab to his door. Joab wants to know why Absalom has done this, and Absalom tells him why. Then he says, “I might as well have stayed in exile! Let me see the king face to face, and if he finds fault in me, let him put me to death.” Thus, Joab speaks to the king for Absalom, and he is reconciled to his father.
It is noted in this chapter that Absalom is an extremely handsome guy, famously so, from head to foot not a blemish. His hair is so thick he has to have it cut once a year, and the cuttings are prodigious. He has 3 sons and a beautiful daughter, whom he has named after his sister Tamar.
2 Sam 15—Absalom foments a coup
Absalom thinks well of himself, and is ambitious. He has chariots & horses, and 50 men who run before him. He gets up early, sits at the gate and calls to those waiting to be heard by the king in matters of controversy. He tells them, “See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed (authorized) of the king to hear thee. Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!” Thus, “Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”
After 40 years (not far from the end of King David’s reign), Absalom requests permission to go to Hebron, ostensibly to fulfill a vow to God. But Absalom has set up a conspiracy to be declared king, there in Hebron. Messengers arrive to tell David “The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.” (The text doesn't say why David apparently has not chosen Absalom as his successor, or Absalom wouldn't figure he had to wrest the kingdom from his father. David knows his sons' character and so does God. Solomon would be chosen David's successor . . . more about that in a later post.) King David decides to flee, not only for his own life, but to spare the city. Yet he leaves 10 concubines to keep his house. He has not only his household, but his own loyal soldiers with him, as well as the priests and the Ark of the Covenant (highly symbolic of God’s authority and presence). But David sends Zadok the chief priest back to the city with the Ark, saying that if God is for him, he will make him victorious.
David travels up Mount Olivet, weeping as he goes, head covered and barefoot: all his followers likewise. At the top of the mount David worships God. David is informed that Ahithophel (one of David’s chief advisors) is one of Absalom’s conspirators, and when a man called Hushai comes with signs of mourning to join David, he tells him that he could be of more help to David if he stays in Jerusalem as a counsellor to Absalom to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel. He can work with the priests Zadok and Abiathar as spies to keep David informed.
2 Sam 16—seems like along with Absalom, everyone is against King David
Ziba, steward for Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth, meets David on his way, with 200 loaves of bread, 100 bunches of raisins, 100 summer fruits, and a bottle (probably a large jar) of wine. David asks who they are for. Ziba says that Mephibosheth figures this is his chance to have the kingdom restored to his household, the lineage of King Saul. Then David says all Mephibosheth’s possessions are now Ziba’s. Ziba continues loyal to David.
Another of the house of Saul curses David on his way, and throws stones at him and his followers. One of David’s followers offers to go take off the man’s head. But David says, “My own son wants to kill me, why shouldn’t Saul’s household? Let him be. Maybe the God ‘will look on mine affliction, and . . . will requite [recompense] me good for his cursing this day.’”
Meanwhile, Absalom in Jerusalem asks counsel of Ahithophel (a powerful counselor under King David, as well as Absalom), and he tells him to publicly take his father’s concubines as a political move to increase the rift between his father and himself. No one will be left sitting on the fence.
2 Sam 17—David flees Absalom’s forces across the Jordan River, see Psalm 3
Ahithophel, counselor to Absalom now, advises taking 12,000 men to pursue David “while he is weary and weak”, all his followers will desert him, and only David will be killed. It’s the most peaceful way of settling the kingdom. This sounds like good advice to Absalom and all the elders of Israel. But Absalom wants a second opinion, and sends for Hushai (David had sent back to court as counterintelligence).
Hushai counsels Absalom rather to gather an army from all Israel, because David is known as a formidable man of war, like a mother bear fighting for her cubs. He says, David won’t camp with the people, but will be in some hiding place awaiting the right time to attack. Then even the brave will melt with fear of David and his valiant men. With an army as numerous as the sand we can defeat them, and any city they flee to we’ll pull down to nothing.
Absalom and the men of Israel like the counsel of Hushai better. “For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel”. Hushai tells the loyal priests Zadok and Abiathar all that was said by both parties. They send a woman to the priests’ 2 sons, who have stayed out of the city so as not to draw attention to their movements, to take word to David and advise him to move camp.
Despite precautions, a young man sees the priests’ sons on their errand and tells Absalom. They hide in a well, and the woman secretly puts a covering over it with ground grain on it. When Absalom’s messengers come and ask about the 2 spies, she sends them on, and when they don’t find them, return to Jerusalem.
So David and his followers cross the Jordan River, and by morning they are all on the other side.
When Ahithophel finds his counsel is not followed, he goes home, sets his house in order, and hangs himself. It’s not just disappointment at losing favor or position, it’s a dangerous game he’s played in the war for the kingdom.
Absalom leads the armies of Israel across the Jordan.
Some Ammonites bring all kinds of supplies (bedding, dishes, food) for David and his followers, “for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.” Perhaps these are some of the Ammonite tributaries of King David who thought it in their best interest to ally themselves with him in this contest, or it could be they had developed an actual friendly relation with him. Maybe these particular Ammonites had previously sided with David when he conquered the Ammonites. In any case, no doubt the supplies are gratefully received.
2 Sam 18—David’s forces win a great battle, his general Joab kills Absalom, David mourns
David counts and organizes his forces. He divides them into 3: under Joab, Abishai (Joab’s brother), and Ittai from Gath (remember David had made certain alliances among some of the Philistines while he was in exile, being pursued by King Saul, and was actually given a Philistine city). David himself says he will lead the people into battle (remember that by now David is in his 70s), but the people refuse. They tell him that if they have to flee, no one will care, nor if half of them die. But David is worth 10,000 (in other words, as long as he is alive Absalom’s army will not stop until he is dead). They tell him it’s better if he is held in reserve in the city in case they need help. David gives orders to his commanders to “deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom”, in the hearing of everyone.
The battle takes place in the wood of Ephraim: 20,000 are killed. “For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.” David’s forces are victorious.
Absalom’s mule had run under a huge oak and his head was caught in the branch, leaving him dangling. A guy seeing it tells Joab, who asks why he didn’t kill him, for which he’d have given him a reward. The man tells Joab that if he’d offered 100 times the reward he wouldn’t kill Absalom, as he’d heard David’s warning about hurting him. He knew he’d be a dead man for killing Absalom, knew Joab wouldn’t stand by him, either. So Joab himself puts 3 darts through Absalom’s heart while he’s hanging from the oak. Joab’s 10 armor bearers then finish him off.
Joab blows the trumpet to stop the rout of the armies of Israel, who return to their tents. Absalom is tossed in a big pit in the woods and covered with a huge pile of stones. Absalom’s 3 sons have apparently died or were killed, because it is noted that during his lifetime he had set up a pillar he named after himself “in the king’s dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance . . .” For some commentary about the King’s Dale, see https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_samuel/18-18.htm
The priest Zadok’s son Ahimaaz wants to run tell the good news to King David, that God has made his armies victorious. Joab says, “Another day, not today, because the king’s son is dead.” Joab knows that David won’t take kindly to the news, and doesn’t want Ahimaaz’s life in hazard. Joab sends another guy. But Ahimaaz still wants to go, even after the other guy. Joab says, “You’ve got nothing to tell!” Ahimaaz still wants to run after, so Joab says, “Ok, go ahead.”
Ahimaaz runs past the other guy, and the watchman sees him. King David figures a man running alone must be good news. Then the other guy is also spotted, alone, and the king thinks it’s more good news. The watchman recognizes the running style of Ahimaaz, and the king says, “He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.” Ahimaaz tells the king, “All is well. Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.” David asks about Absalom. Ahimaaz says, “When Joab sent the king’s servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.” Perhaps Joab has cautioned him to be careful what he tells the king, or perhaps he is smart enough to know without being told. When the other guy comes and David asks about Absalom, he says, “The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.” Thus implying Absalom is dead. David goes up to the room over the gate and weeps, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!” Probably in the hearing of all.
2 Sam 19—Joab confronts David turning a victory into mourning, Joab is replaced
Joab is told of David’s lament for his son Absalom. “And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.” David’s followers are left to just sneak back into the city, as if fleeing in shame from a battle lost. Joab confronts David, “You’ve shamed everyone who has hazarded their lives in your behalf, and for the sake of your household. You love your enemies and hate your friends. If Absalom had lived and we had all died, you’d be happy!” One can hear the anger in Joab’s voice. He tells the king he’d better go speak good words to the people, or there won’t be one person to stay with him that night, and nothing David has ever gone through in his life will be as bad. Joab knows King David would lose all loyalty. So David goes and sits in the gate, apparently a sign that he will accept the surrender of the Israelite army.
9 ¶ And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
10 And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11 ¶ And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests [who are back in Jerusalem], saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
12 Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh [from the same tribe of Israel]: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13 And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room [in place] of Joab.
14 And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
15 So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
The Benjaminte that had cursed David when he was fleeing Jerusalem comes with the men of Judah, with 1000 men of Benjamin, and Ziba of the house of Saul, and pleads forgiveness of King David. Abishai, Joab’s brother and fellow general, wants to put the curser to death. But David says, “Why should anyone be put to death today? I am securely the King.” He promises not to kill the man.
Mephibosheth, son of Saul [Jonathan], comes to meet the king. He has not cared for himself from the day David left Jerusalem. David asks why he didn’t come with him when he fled. He tells David that Ziba had deceived both him and the king, because Ziba was supposed to saddle the ass for him (because of his disability), and instead slandered him, lied to the king about his loyalty. He puts himself at David’s mercy, with the acknowledgement of David’s kindness to him. Rather than choose between the two men, David tells Mephibosheth that he and Ziba are to divide the land (that was first given to one, then the other). Mephibosheth says, “Let Ziba take it all. I’m just glad you have come home in peace.” We may speculate that this is an indication that he knows his fault, or that it will develop into a huge feud, but just as David had not judged who was the liar, we can only leave the judgment to God.
A man named Barzillai comes to welcome David back. He had provided the king sustenance, being a wealthy man. King David invites him to join his household in Jerusalem, but Barzillai is 80 years old, and says he can’t enjoy life at court—he’s lost his sense of taste, his hearing, and wants to die at home. He says, “Take Chimham instead.” Possibly his son or grandson? King David assents.
The men of Israel and the men of Judah get into a controversy over who has more interest in King David: Israel has 10 parts in the king (10 tribes), Judah is the tribe from which David is descended. One possibility to explain an unnamed tribe (to add up to 12) could be that the Levites were dispersed among the other tribes.
Saul–First Israelite King
1 Sam 9-31 Saul, the first king of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin
“Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.” How do we choose great leaders? The best-looking, tallest guys? (or gals)
1 Sam 9-15
Saul’s dad was Kish. His asses are lost. Kish sends Saul and a servant to find them. They are searching far and wide for 3 days, unsuccessfully. Saul says they’d better go home, or his father will start worrying more about them than the asses. The servant suggests they check with a “man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.” Saul says they need to bring a gift, but they've eaten up all their provisions. The servant says he’s got a bit of money left.
As an aside, 1 Sam 9:9 mentions that a Prophet used to be called a Seer—a person who can see beyond what others see, whether it’s the unknown of the present or the future.
Saul and his servant go to find the prophet/seer/man of God. They meet Samuel going to a big sacrifice. God had told Samuel the previous day, “To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! This same shall reign over my people.”
Saul asks Samuel where to find the seer. Samuel replies that he is the seer, invites him to the feast, and reassures him that the asses have been found. He tells Saul that all of Israel will count on him. Saul, like others before, says he’s a nothing: from the small tribe of Benjamin, an insignificant family within that tribe.
About 30 people are gathered in the house for the feast after the public sacrifice, and Samuel sets Saul in the most honored seat. He has the cook give Saul the best of the meat. Later, on the top of the house (essentially serving as a balcony or deck), Samuel speaks privately to Saul. Next morning Samuel accompanies Saul and his servant to the edge of town (which is built on a hill, no doubt for protection) and has the servant pass on while he anoints Saul as leader of the nation. Samuel tells him he’ll meet 2 men that will say the asses are found and your father is worried about you. Further, Saul will meet 3 men, one with 3 kids, one with 3 loaves of bread, and one with a bottle of wine. They’ll give him 2 loaves of bread (remember Saul and his servant had run out of food). After that Saul and servant will come to “the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines”, and meet a parade of prophets with musical instruments, who will prophesy. Then even Saul will be infused with “the Spirit of the Lord”, and prophesy, and be changed to a new man. All these will be signs that God is with and supporting Saul in his calling. Samuel tells Saul to go to Gilgal and wait 7 days for him, to offer burnt offerings, peace offerings, and Samuel will then tell Saul what to do.
“And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.” Everyone who knew Saul before is amazed at the change in him. Saul’s uncle asks about his journey, and Saul tells him they met Samuel, who told him the asses were found, but Saul doesn’t tell him about being anointed king.
Samuel calls the people together “unto the Lord” at Mizpeh. He reminds them that God had brought them out of Egypt, and out of the hands of their oppressors. But, he says, they have rejected God (as their protector), and begged for a king to protect them. Samuel has them present themselves by tribe, and he takes the tribe of Benjamin (possibly by lot, as this was a frequent way people used for divination anciently, considering that God controlled the outcome). From the tribe of Benjamin he takes the family of which Saul is a member. But Saul is nowhere to be found! They inquire of the Lord (probably through Samuel), who tells them Saul is hid among “the stuff”. They bring him to the fore,
“And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord . . . And Saul . . . went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. But the children of Belial [the Adversary] said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.”
Knowing the tragedy of Saul, his failings, we might ask why he was chosen? As is later expressed, God knows our hearts. Yes, God had effected a change in Saul, why hadn’t that continued all his life? I think God was teaching us some important lessons.
1. We shouldn’t choose our leaders by outward appearances.
2. God gives us opportunities to shine, but doesn’t force us to do so.
3. God may influence us, but in the end, we choose what we are and do.
4. Spiritual experiences don’t save us, it’s the choices we make that either align us with God or not.
5. Saul’s tragic flaws seem to have been, ironically, both insecurity and pride/stubbornness/jealousy.
Opportunity arises when the Ammonites come against Jabesh-gilead. The men of Jabesh offer to make a treaty wherein they are subjected to the Ammonites. But the leader of the Ammonites makes the condition that he’ll take all their right eyes. The elders of Jabesh ask for 7 days to recruit help, and if none come, they’ll meet him (in battle?) or his demands.
When word reaches Saul, just come in from tending the herds, “the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a hoke of oxen, and [cut] them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the [land] of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.”
Saul sends word to Jabesh that help is coming. So the men of Jabesh tell the Ammonites they’ll come out next day “and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you.” Saul divides his army into 3 parts, and through the morning they slaughter and scatter the Ammonites. So the Israelites say those that questioned Saul’s appointment should be put to death. But “Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the Lord hath [worked] salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there.” In other words, they would reaffirm Saul’s kingship. The Israelites rejoice.
This is the point where Samuel has the people admit that he has served them with integrity. He rehearses the times God has freed them from oppression: from the Exodus from Egypt through the reign/leadership of the Judges. And yet, they wanted a king, “when the Lord your God was your king.”
So, Samuel says, here’s your king. And “If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.”
The Israelite history had been a repeated cycle of repentance and recidivism/relapse, wherein they lost God’s help. It’s the wheat harvest, a time of usual dry weather, but Samuel predicts/calls for a thunderstorm as witness to what he has said. It “puts the fear of God” in them. They admit their fault in asking for a king, and plead that Samuel pray for them not to die. Samuel says in 1 Sam 12,
20 “. . . Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;
21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
22 For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.
23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
24 Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.
After 2 years Saul had 2000 men with him, and 1000 men under his son Jonathan, and sent the rest of the armies “every man to his tent.” Saul attacks a Philistine garrison, and publishes the news. The Philistines gather an army of 30,000 chariots, 6000 horsemen, and a multitude of soldier “as the sand which is on the sea shore.” When the Israelites see the overwhelming odds, they hide anywhere the could, in caves, thickets (wooded areas), rocks, high places, and in pits. Others fled across the Jordan River. Everybody was scared.
Saul and his army are in Gilgal awaiting Samuel 7 days to make a pre-war sacrifice. But his army is scattering, and Samuel hasn’t showed up yet, so Saul decides he has to go ahead with the sacrifice himself. Just then Samuel arrives.
1 Sam 13
11 ¶ And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
Samuel tells Saul he’s been foolish, not kept God’s commandment. God would have established his kingdom and line, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou has not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.” Samuel leaves. Saul is left with only about 600 men. The Philistines divide into 3 armies and spread over the land, attacking and looting. The Philistines had not allowed any metalworkers in Israel, so they couldn’t make weapons. They had to go to the Philistines to sharpen any farming implements. Only the small armies of Saul & Jonathan had weapons. The Israelites were laid low.
Jonathan (Saul’s son, possibly a young man of maybe 20, and Saul maybe 40 or so?) and his armorbearer tease out a fight with men at a Philistine garrison, but didn’t mention it to anyone. He says, “it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.” They make an attack and kill 20, and are making havoc with, putting the fear in the Philistines. Saul asks who it is, and they find Jonathan and his armorbearer are gone. Saul calls for the Ark of God and is talking to the priest when the noise of the battle increases such that Saul brings his army to join it. The Philistines are in disarray, killing each other. The Israelites who had joined the Philistines now join the Israelites. People who had hid hear about the flight of the Philistines, and also join the fray on the side of Saul & Jonathan.
But Saul had made a rash rule that no one was to eat anything ‘til evening, while the battle was being fought. That was hard. Jonathan had been on his errand, and hadn’t heard the order. When they came to a wood where honey was dripping from the trees, nobody dared eat any. Jonathan, however, not having knowledge of the oath, dipped the end of his rod into the honeycomb, ate it, “and his eyes were enlightened.” His energy revived. Somebody tells him about his father’s charge/oath.
Jonathan says, “My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. How much more, if haply the people had eaten freely to day of the spoil of their enemies which they found? For had there not been now a much greater slaughter among the Philistines?” The fight continues, “and the people were very faint. And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.” (a no-no among the Israelites)
Saul is informed of the eating of the meat with the blood, so he has a large stone brought, and the animals taken as spoil, and that night he has them sacrificed so the people could eat them without the blood. Saul then proposes they attack the Philistines by night, and inquires of God whether to do so. Saul has a Levite priest with him, a descendant of Eli, and presumably he was the one Saul inquired through. No answer. So Saul figures somebody has offended God. He again rashly vows that even if it’s his son Jonathan, the man will die. Nobody dares answer him.
Saul puts himself and Jonathan on one side, the rest on the other. “Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.” Saul asks Jonathan what he did. Jonathan says he just ate a little honey, so he’s go to die. Saul says with an oath that it must be. But the people say, “Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought [worked] this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the Lord liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.”
“So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them. And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them . . . And there was sore She took him unto him.”
A note about Saul’s family in 1 Sam 14: Saul’s general was his cousin Abner. Saul’s son Jonathan had 2 brothers and 2 sisters, one of which will play an important part in the coming years, namely Michal. Samuel sends Saul against the Amalekites with the charge to utterly destroy them: men, women, children, and animals. Saul’s armies number 200,000 footmen and 10,000 men of Judah. He comes to the valley by an Amalekite city, warns the Kenites (the tribe from which was Moses’ father-in-law, see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/kenites/ ) to get away from the coming battle, which they do.
Saul is victorious, “But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”
I have already commented on this story, in my previous post about Samuel. God was not happy with Saul. Saul tries to excuse his fault by first saying that they only kept the best as a sacrifice (in celebration of God’s triumph), then blaming it on the people. Thus he shows himself either a wishy-washy leader or a liar. Samuel sees through Saul’s excuses, saying, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou has rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.” He pleads for pardon and that Samuel will accompany him to the sacrifice. He knows he needs Samuel’s backing, who is a highly influential man, to give legitimacy to his kingship. Samuel says he won’t go with him, and starts walking away. Saul grabs him by the clothes, which rip (either they were rather old, or Saul’s grab was pretty violent . . . he's so desperate). Samuel says that thus God will rip the kingdom of Israel from Saul, “and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel [God] will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.” Saul again pleads, admitting his sin, but that he needs Samuel to show up with him before the elders and people of Israel. Samuel goes along.
After the worship feast, Samuel has Agag brought to him, who thinks he’s out of danger, “And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel [cut] Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.” Samuel goes home to Ramah and Saul goes home to Gibeah. Samuel never came to Saul again (though they did meet later), “nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul.”
1 Sam 16 David is anointed next king by Samuel, privately
“And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?” God sends Samuel to Jesse, and as told in the previous post on Samuel, Jesse’s youngest son David is anointed next king, but it’s kept secret from Saul. “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.”
Does God send evil spirits to people? From what we have learned of God’s character, I think this is more the difference in points of view, culture, and language. In the Old Testament, anything bad is called evil—for instance, if you suffer reverses of any kind, ill-health, or have anxieties/depression/mental illness. Additionally, words change meaning and connotation over the years/centuries—for instance Awesome used to be related to Fearsome/scary, and now has a much more positive connotation. Some words have morphed meaning in the opposite direction. But clearly, Saul is suffering in the knowledge that he’s on the outs with God, and the days of his kingdom are numbered. He probably is experiencing a lot of self-doubt.
Saul’s servant proposes to find a harpist to play for Saul and let music soothe his savaged breast/heart/mind. Saul says, ok. The servants says he’s seen Jesse’s son David, “that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the Lord is with him.” Saul sends for David, “which is with the sheep,” and Jesse send him with a gift of bread, wine, and a kid (goat or sheep).
19 ¶ Wherefore Saul sent messengers unto Jesse, and said, Send me David thy son, which is with the sheep.
20 And Jesse took an ass laden with bread, and a bottle of wine, and a kid, and sent them by David his son unto Saul.
21 And David came to Saul, and stood before him: and he loved him greatly; and he became his armourbearer.
22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight.
23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.
1 Sam 17 tells the story of David & Goliath, which I will discuss in the next post, about David.
1 Sam 18
Saul sets David over the men of war, and becomes more famous & beloved, more highly praised than Saul. “And Saul was very wroth . . . They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?” Saul becomes so jealous of David that he tries to kill him.
10 ¶ And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.
11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
12 ¶ And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.
Saul sends David away as captain over a thousand men to fight for Israel, figuring David will be killed by the Philistines. David’s leadership only endears him all the more to the people. Saul promises David his eldest daughter as a reward for valiantly fighting for Saul. David protests that he’s a nobody, not worthy of being son-in-law to the king. Possibly he knew the dangers of palace politics. When the eldest daughter is instead given to another, and Saul finds out that his younger daughter Michal loves David, he’s pleased with the prospect that this all works for his plan to get rid of David. He has his servants secretly try to persuade David to become the king’s son-in-law. David replies, “Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?” He’s wary. He doesn’t feel he’s got the means or sway to be politically successful. But Saul sends his servants back to say that the only dowry Saul expects is 100 foreskins of the Philistines, thinking that will be the end of David. So David decides that will work.
David takes his men and kills 200 men, and brings their foreskins. Saul gives him Michal as a wife. “And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him. And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.”
1 Sam 19
“And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.”
Jonathan also “delighted much in David.” He persuades his father Saul not to have David killed. David is brought back to court. But when David again vanquishes the Philistines, Saul’s jealousy returns, and he again tries to kill David with a javelin while David is playing his harp. David gets away and goes to his house. Saul sends people to watch the house and kill David in the morning. Michal helps David escape out the window and puts a statue under the bed cover. She tells Saul’s messengers that David is sick. Saul sends them back to bring David even in bed so he can kill him. The messengers find it’s just a statue (an image, indicating an idol). Saul confronts Michal, “Why hast thou deceived me so, and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped? And Michal answered Saul [deceptively], He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?”
David flees to Ramah, where Samuel is. He tells Samuel the story. They go to Naioth. Saul sends men to capture David, but when they see a whole group of prophets prophesying under Samuel, they are also inspired to prophesy. When Saul finds out, he sends more messengers, and the same happens. Likewise a third time. Finally Saul comes himself, “and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?”
What were these all prophesying about? Were they foretelling the future of Saul or David? I think it likely they were essentially praising God, and perhaps telling of God’s past, present, and future helps for Israel—similar to Deborah and Barak’s song of praise in Judges 5.
1 Sam 20
David comes to Jonathan and they devise a plan and covenant of friendship between them. When the new moon came and David would be expected to join the dinner at court, he wasn’t there. The first day Saul doesn’t say anything, figuring something came up or David was temporarily unclean (as in the Law of Moses). But the next day David is still not there, so Saul asks Jonathan what’s the deal. Jonathan makes an excuse, saying David asked leave of him to be gone to a family event. Saul gets angry at Jonathan, saying that he has chosen David over his own best interests. As long as David lives, Jonathan will not inherit the kingdom. Saul tells Jonathan to fetch David so he can be killed. Jonathan asks, “Why, what’s he done?” Saul is so angry he throws a javelin at his own son. “So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no meat the second day of the month: for he was grieved for David, because his father had done him shame.” The rest of the story to be discussed in the post about David.
1 Sam 21-23
David now goes on the run, Saul goes after him. David takes his parents to the king of Moab for their protection. Saul kills 85 priests of the Lord (and their city: men, women, children, and animals) that helped David and his men when they were starving.
David & his men go to the rescue of the city of Keilah against the Philistines. Saul figures this is his chance, “God hath delivered him into mine hands; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.” That’s Saul’s version. David and his 600 men escape the city (which was going to turn him over to Saul) “and went whithersoever they could go . . . And David abode in the wilderness in strong holds . . . And Saul sought him every day, but God delivered him not into his hand.” David is betrayed by the locals, and Saul says, “See therefore, and take knowledge of all the lurking places where he hideth himself, and come ye again to me with the certainty, and I will go with you: and it shall come to pass, if he be in the land, that I will search him out throughout all the thousands of Judah.” But as Saul is surrounding David and his men, word comes that the Philistines are invading, and he goes to meet that crisis.
When Saul returns from the latest fight with the Philistines, he goes after David again with 3000 men. Saul takes a rest in a cave that happened to be where David and his men were hiding. David’s men tell him this is his chance. David merely cuts off the skirt of Saul’s robe, but then he feels guilty. He keeps his men from harming Saul, and after Saul leaves, David also leaves. He calls to Saul and bows before him, asking him not to believe any that claim he/David seeks to hurt him/Saul. “ Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord’s anointed.” He shows the skirt of Saul’s robe to prove his words. He continues, “The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.” Saul says, “Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.” He says David is more righteous than himself.
1 Sam 25 Samuel dies. David is helped by Abigail, whom he marries after her churlish husband dies.
1 Sam 26 -29, 31 (chapter 30 is from David’s story)
David again forebears to kill Saul when he has the chance, and Saul is after him again. Faced again with David’s public confrontation and proofs that he could have killed Saul, Saul again admits wrong, saying, “ I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly . . . Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.”
David flees to the Philistines and “works” for them, yet avoids attacking Israel. When he is called on by his protector to fight against Israel the other princes of the Philistines insist it is too great a danger that he will switch sides, so he is saved the dilemma.
Meanwhile, since Samuel has died, Saul is really feeling the loss. Saul had chased spiritualists out of the land. But when faced with a huge host/army of Philistines, “he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim nor by the prophets.”
Note: the urim was a divining stone mentioned in Ex 28:30, Lev 8:8, etc; see https://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/urim-and-thummim .
Saul tells his servants to find a woman with a familiar spirit for a séance. They find one at Endor. Saul disguises himself and goes at night with a couple men, having fasted all day. The woman is cautious, fearing it’s a trap. He swares by God nothing will happen to her for conjuring for him. He asks for Samuel, “And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? For thou art Saul.” It appears the woman knew what Samuel looked like, who was perhaps the impetus to the persecution of necromancy under Saul.
“And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.” The spirit says, Why ask me, since God is against you? He has given your kingdom to David because you didn’t obey. God will deliver Israel to the Philistines tomorrow.
Saul falls over with weakness from the words and the fasting. The woman tries to get him to eat, but he refuses. His servants join her in insisting, and at last he does eat, and they go away.
Could a spiritualist really conjure up a prophet of God? Isa 8:19 says, “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?” Saul had her describe what she saw, and we only have her word that she saw anything. Whatever she spoke in Samuel’s name she could have known or presumed herself. No doubt it was obvious Saul was in a bad state to be commanding a battle. Without confidence, how could he win? His whole army was afraid.
Next day the Philistines beat the Israelites badly. Saul and his sons, including Jonathan, are killed.
1 Sam 31
3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
4 Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.
6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
7 ¶ And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.
8 And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
9 And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.
10 And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.
11 ¶ And when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;
12 All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.
13 And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
2 Sam 1
An Amalekite man comes to tell David of the death of Saul. He tells a little different story of the death of Saul, no doubt hoping for reward from David.
5 And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
But rather than a reward, David has the man killed, and he and all his men mourn the death of Saul and Jonathan, and the Israelite army. “How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!”
scripturescript 
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