Ezekiel 1
1.16 beryl... It was one of the stones on the breastplate of the high priest (Ex. 28:20; R.V. marg., “chalcedony;” 39:13). The color of the wheels in Ezekiel's vision was as the color of a beryl stone (1:16; 10:9; R.V., “stone of Tarshish”). It is mentioned in Song of Songs 5:14; Dan. 10:6; Rev. 21:20. In Ezek. 28:13 the LXX. render the word by “chrysolite,” which the Jewish historian Josephus regards as its proper translation. This also is the rendering given in the Authorized Version in the margin. That was a gold-colored gem, the topaz of ancient authors. --WebBible™ Encyclopedia: http://christiananswers.net
Okay, the whole description here is very "far out," and my gut feeling is that I am missing something significant about its meaning, but then, that may be just the point. I am always nervous about being too confident about this OT imagery.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
Fri 100205 pm Lam 3-5;
Lamentations 3
Love this chapter.
3.14 laughingstock...
3.15 bitterness...
3.16 teeth grind...
3.17 forgotten what happiness is...
I guess Jeremiah had "those days" too.
3.18 my hope from the Lord [is perished]... This is a very interesting statement coming from a godly man of the stature of Jeremiah.
Lamentations 4
4.9 Happier were the victims of the sword...
4.10 compassionate women... What a heart breaking scene!
Lamentations 5
5.1 Look, and see our disgrace... This is almost a sinners prayer if you understand "see" in a responsive sense. O, God give me the sense to see my own disgrace. May it remind me of Your forgiveness and the new life you have given me.
5.19 But you, O Lord, reign forever... An awesome confession after the severe judgement they had been, were going through.
Matthew 27
27.3 changed his mind... too late.
27.6 it is not lawful...since it is blood money... What! Blood money then a pious concern about whether it is good enough to put in the treasury--what's with that!?
27.23 What evil has He done? But they cried the louder... I had to smile at the response. When you don't have a reasoned response, just yell louder.
27.42 The irony here is that if He had come down there wouldn't have been much to believe.
27.52 This must have blown some people's minds.
Love this chapter.
3.14 laughingstock...
3.15 bitterness...
3.16 teeth grind...
3.17 forgotten what happiness is...
I guess Jeremiah had "those days" too.
3.18 my hope from the Lord [is perished]... This is a very interesting statement coming from a godly man of the stature of Jeremiah.
Lamentations 4
4.9 Happier were the victims of the sword...
4.10 compassionate women... What a heart breaking scene!
Lamentations 5
5.1 Look, and see our disgrace... This is almost a sinners prayer if you understand "see" in a responsive sense. O, God give me the sense to see my own disgrace. May it remind me of Your forgiveness and the new life you have given me.
5.19 But you, O Lord, reign forever... An awesome confession after the severe judgement they had been, were going through.
Matthew 27
27.3 changed his mind... too late.
27.6 it is not lawful...since it is blood money... What! Blood money then a pious concern about whether it is good enough to put in the treasury--what's with that!?
27.23 What evil has He done? But they cried the louder... I had to smile at the response. When you don't have a reasoned response, just yell louder.
27.42 The irony here is that if He had come down there wouldn't have been much to believe.
27.52 This must have blown some people's minds.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sun 100131 pm - Lam 1-2
Lamentations 1
1.8 have seen her nakedness... I assume that this mean they will see them for what they are, but it is strong wording all the same.
1.9 she took no thought of her future... Thinking only in the present makes us vulnerable to a sin-filled life.
Lamentations 2
2.9 her prophets find no vision from the Lord... It seems this could be a sign that something is wrong--when we no longer hear from the Lord.
2.14 they have not exposed your iniquity... An important task for prophets.
1.8 have seen her nakedness... I assume that this mean they will see them for what they are, but it is strong wording all the same.
1.9 she took no thought of her future... Thinking only in the present makes us vulnerable to a sin-filled life.
Lamentations 2
2.9 her prophets find no vision from the Lord... It seems this could be a sign that something is wrong--when we no longer hear from the Lord.
2.14 they have not exposed your iniquity... An important task for prophets.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Sat 100130 am Jer 52
Jeremiah 52
52.1 in the sight of the Lord...
Jehoiakim...
Meaning: he whom Jehovah has set up
the second son of Josiah, and eighteenth king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years (B.C. 610-599). His original name was Eliakim (q.v.).
On the death of his father his younger brother Jehoahaz (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favored the Chaldeans against the Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12), setting Eliakim on the throne in his stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim.
After this the king of Egypt took no part in Jewish politics, having been defeated by the Chaldeans at Carchemish (2 Kings 24:7; Jer. 46:2). Palestine was now invaded and conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim was taken prisoner and carried captive to Babylon (2 Chr. 36:6, 7). It was at this time that Daniel also and his three companions were taken captive to Babylon (Dan. 1:1, 2).
Nebuchadnezzar reinstated Jehoiakim on his throne, but treated him as a vassal king. In the year after this, Jeremiah caused his prophecies to be read by Baruch in the court of the temple. Jehoiakim, hearing of this, had them also read in the royal palace before himself. The words displeased him, and taking the roll from the hands of Baruch he cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire (Jer. 36:23). During his disastrous reign there was a return to the old idolatry and corruption of the days of Manasseh.
After three years of subjection to Babylon, Jehoiakim withheld his tribute and threw off the yoke (2 Kings 24:1), hoping to make himself independent. Nebuchadnezzar sent bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, and Ammonites (2 Kings 24:2) to chastise his rebellious vassal. They cruelly harassed the whole country (compare Jer. 49:1-6). The king came to a violent death, and his body having been thrown over the wall of Jerusalem, to convince the beseieging army that he was dead, after having been dragged away, was buried beyond the gates of Jerusalem "with the burial of an ass," B.C. 599 (Jer. 22:18, 19; 36:30). Nebuchadnezzar placed his son Jehoiachin on the throne, wishing still to retain the kingdom of Judah as tributary to him. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
52.7 Arabah...
Hebrew: “arabah.” / Meaning: plain (in the sense of sterility); a desert
This name appears in only one verse of the King James Bible (KJV) (Josh. 18:18), but it appears many times in other versions. Except for Josh. 18:18 and Amos 6:14, the KJV always translates “arabah” as “plain.” In Amos 6:14, the KJV translates it as “wilderness.”
This name was especially associated with the generally sterile and hollow depression through which the Jordan flows from the Lake of Galilee to the Dead Sea. The Arabs later called it el-Ghor. But the Ghor is sometimes spoken of as extending 10 miles south of the Dead Sea, and from there to the Gulf of Akabah on the Red Sea it is called the Wady el-Arabah. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
52.9 Riblah...
Meaning: fruitful; an ancient town on the northern frontier of Palestine, 35 miles northeast of Baalbec, and 10 or 12 south of Lake Homs, on the eastern bank of the Orontes, in a wide and fertile plain
Here Nebuchadnezzar had his headquarters in his campaign against Zedekiah and Jerusalem, and here also Necho fixed his camp after he had routed Josiah's army at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29-35; 25:6, 20, 21; Jer. 39:5; 52:10).
It was on the great caravan road from Palestine to Carchemish, on the Euphrates. It is described (Num. 34:11) as "on the eastern side of Ain." A place still called el Ain, i.e., “the fountain”, is found in such a position about 10 miles distant. ---WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
52.12-23 an extensive description of the temple treasures taken.
52.1 in the sight of the Lord...
Jehoiakim...
Meaning: he whom Jehovah has set up
the second son of Josiah, and eighteenth king of Judah, which he ruled over for eleven years (B.C. 610-599). His original name was Eliakim (q.v.).
On the death of his father his younger brother Jehoahaz (=Shallum, Jer. 22:11), who favored the Chaldeans against the Egyptians, was made king by the people; but the king of Egypt, Pharaoh-necho, invaded the land and deposed Jehoahaz (2 Kings 23:33, 34; Jer. 22:10-12), setting Eliakim on the throne in his stead, and changing his name to Jehoiakim.
After this the king of Egypt took no part in Jewish politics, having been defeated by the Chaldeans at Carchemish (2 Kings 24:7; Jer. 46:2). Palestine was now invaded and conquered by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiakim was taken prisoner and carried captive to Babylon (2 Chr. 36:6, 7). It was at this time that Daniel also and his three companions were taken captive to Babylon (Dan. 1:1, 2).
Nebuchadnezzar reinstated Jehoiakim on his throne, but treated him as a vassal king. In the year after this, Jeremiah caused his prophecies to be read by Baruch in the court of the temple. Jehoiakim, hearing of this, had them also read in the royal palace before himself. The words displeased him, and taking the roll from the hands of Baruch he cut it in pieces and threw it into the fire (Jer. 36:23). During his disastrous reign there was a return to the old idolatry and corruption of the days of Manasseh.
After three years of subjection to Babylon, Jehoiakim withheld his tribute and threw off the yoke (2 Kings 24:1), hoping to make himself independent. Nebuchadnezzar sent bands of Chaldeans, Syrians, and Ammonites (2 Kings 24:2) to chastise his rebellious vassal. They cruelly harassed the whole country (compare Jer. 49:1-6). The king came to a violent death, and his body having been thrown over the wall of Jerusalem, to convince the beseieging army that he was dead, after having been dragged away, was buried beyond the gates of Jerusalem "with the burial of an ass," B.C. 599 (Jer. 22:18, 19; 36:30). Nebuchadnezzar placed his son Jehoiachin on the throne, wishing still to retain the kingdom of Judah as tributary to him. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
52.7 Arabah...
Hebrew: “arabah.” / Meaning: plain (in the sense of sterility); a desert
This name appears in only one verse of the King James Bible (KJV) (Josh. 18:18), but it appears many times in other versions. Except for Josh. 18:18 and Amos 6:14, the KJV always translates “arabah” as “plain.” In Amos 6:14, the KJV translates it as “wilderness.”
This name was especially associated with the generally sterile and hollow depression through which the Jordan flows from the Lake of Galilee to the Dead Sea. The Arabs later called it el-Ghor. But the Ghor is sometimes spoken of as extending 10 miles south of the Dead Sea, and from there to the Gulf of Akabah on the Red Sea it is called the Wady el-Arabah. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
52.9 Riblah...
Meaning: fruitful; an ancient town on the northern frontier of Palestine, 35 miles northeast of Baalbec, and 10 or 12 south of Lake Homs, on the eastern bank of the Orontes, in a wide and fertile plain
Here Nebuchadnezzar had his headquarters in his campaign against Zedekiah and Jerusalem, and here also Necho fixed his camp after he had routed Josiah's army at Megiddo (2 Kings 23:29-35; 25:6, 20, 21; Jer. 39:5; 52:10).
It was on the great caravan road from Palestine to Carchemish, on the Euphrates. It is described (Num. 34:11) as "on the eastern side of Ain." A place still called el Ain, i.e., “the fountain”, is found in such a position about 10 miles distant. ---WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
52.12-23 an extensive description of the temple treasures taken.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Fri 100129 pm Jer 50-51
Jeremiah 50
50.19 Carmel...
Meaning: a park; generally with the article, “the park”: A prominent headland of Central Palestine, consisting of several connected hills extending from the plain of Esdraelon to the sea, a distance of some 12 miles or more. At the east end, in its highest part, it is 1,728 feet high, and at the west end it forms a promontory to the bay of Acre about 600 feet above the sea. It lay within the tribe of Asher.
It was here, at the east end of the ridge, at a place called el-Mukhrakah (i.e., the place of burning), that Elijah brought back the people to their allegiance to God, and slew the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Here were consumed the “fifties” of the royal guard; and here also Elisha received the visit of the bereaved mother whose son was restored by him to life (2 Kings 4:25-37).
"No mountain in or around Palestine retains its ancient beauty so much as Carmel. Two or three villages and some scattered cottages are found on it; its groves are few but luxuriant; it is no place for crags and precipices or rocks of wild goats; but its surface is covered with a rich and constant verdure." "The whole mountain-side is dressed with blossom, and flowering shrubs, and fragrant herbs."
The western extremity of the ridge is, however, more rocky and bleak than the eastern. The head of the bride in Song of Songs 7:5 is compared to Carmel.
It is ranked with Bashan on account of its rich pastures (Isa. 33:9; Jer. 50:19; Amos 1:2). --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
50.19 Bashan...
Meaning: light soil; A biblical place first mentioned in Gen. 14:5, where it is said that Chedorlaomer and his confederates “smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth,” where Og the king of Bashan had his residence. At the time of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was utterly routed (Num. 21:33-35; Deut. 3:1-7). This country extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the Jordan on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:29-31). Golan, one of its cities, became a “city of refuge” (Josh. 21:27). --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
50.20 Merathaim...Pekod...
The Lord commanded Babylon's destroyers to go up against the land of double rebellion, the meaning of "Merathaim." Babylon was doubly rebellious (i.e., more rebellious) than other cities and nations through its idolatry and pride. Assyria and Babylon both came from the same general area, Mesopotamia, and both nations had rebelled against Him. He gave their land the name Pekod, meaning "punishment." Divine punishment would mark Mesopotamia. The destroyer should carry out the Lord's directions exactly by slaying and completely destroying the Babylonians. The Persians did not do this. --Dr. Thomas Constable's Expository Notes on Jeremiah
Jeremiah 51
51.1 Leb-kamai... (lit. heart of my adversaries) was a code name (atbash) for Chaldea (cf. v. 41; 25:26). Here it functions as a poetic synonym.
51.27
Ararat...
Meaning: sacred land or high land; The name “Ararat” is mentioned four times in the Bible's original manuscripts (Gen. 8:4; 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38; Jer. 51:27). This was the name of a country. On one of its mountains Noah's ark rested after the Flood subsided (Gen. 8:4). Most researchers believe that the “mountains” mentioned were probably the Kurdish range of South Armenia in Turkey. In the King James Bible, 2 Kings 19:37 and Isa. 37:38 translate the word “Ararat” as “Armenia.” However, other versions, including the New King James Version, simply say “land of Ararat.” --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
Minni...
only in Jer. 51:27; the name of a province in Armenia, which was at this time under the Median kings. Armenia is regarded by some as = Har-minni i.e., the mountainous country of Minni. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
Ashkenaz...
one of the three sons of Gomer (Gen. 10:3), and founder of one of the tribes of the Japhetic race; They are mentioned in connection with Minni and Ararat, and hence their original seat must have been in Armenia (Jer. 51:27), probably near the Black Sea, which, from their founder, was first called Axenus, and afterwards the Euxine. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
50.19 Carmel...
Meaning: a park; generally with the article, “the park”: A prominent headland of Central Palestine, consisting of several connected hills extending from the plain of Esdraelon to the sea, a distance of some 12 miles or more. At the east end, in its highest part, it is 1,728 feet high, and at the west end it forms a promontory to the bay of Acre about 600 feet above the sea. It lay within the tribe of Asher.
It was here, at the east end of the ridge, at a place called el-Mukhrakah (i.e., the place of burning), that Elijah brought back the people to their allegiance to God, and slew the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Here were consumed the “fifties” of the royal guard; and here also Elisha received the visit of the bereaved mother whose son was restored by him to life (2 Kings 4:25-37).
"No mountain in or around Palestine retains its ancient beauty so much as Carmel. Two or three villages and some scattered cottages are found on it; its groves are few but luxuriant; it is no place for crags and precipices or rocks of wild goats; but its surface is covered with a rich and constant verdure." "The whole mountain-side is dressed with blossom, and flowering shrubs, and fragrant herbs."
The western extremity of the ridge is, however, more rocky and bleak than the eastern. The head of the bride in Song of Songs 7:5 is compared to Carmel.
It is ranked with Bashan on account of its rich pastures (Isa. 33:9; Jer. 50:19; Amos 1:2). --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
50.19 Bashan...
Meaning: light soil; A biblical place first mentioned in Gen. 14:5, where it is said that Chedorlaomer and his confederates “smote the Rephaim in Ashteroth,” where Og the king of Bashan had his residence. At the time of Israel's entrance into the Promised Land, Og came out against them, but was utterly routed (Num. 21:33-35; Deut. 3:1-7). This country extended from Gilead in the south to Hermon in the north, and from the Jordan on the west to Salcah on the east. Along with the half of Gilead it was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 13:29-31). Golan, one of its cities, became a “city of refuge” (Josh. 21:27). --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
50.20 Merathaim...Pekod...
The Lord commanded Babylon's destroyers to go up against the land of double rebellion, the meaning of "Merathaim." Babylon was doubly rebellious (i.e., more rebellious) than other cities and nations through its idolatry and pride. Assyria and Babylon both came from the same general area, Mesopotamia, and both nations had rebelled against Him. He gave their land the name Pekod, meaning "punishment." Divine punishment would mark Mesopotamia. The destroyer should carry out the Lord's directions exactly by slaying and completely destroying the Babylonians. The Persians did not do this. --Dr. Thomas Constable's Expository Notes on Jeremiah
Jeremiah 51
51.1 Leb-kamai... (lit. heart of my adversaries) was a code name (atbash) for Chaldea (cf. v. 41; 25:26). Here it functions as a poetic synonym.
51.27
Ararat...
Meaning: sacred land or high land; The name “Ararat” is mentioned four times in the Bible's original manuscripts (Gen. 8:4; 2 Kings 19:37; Isaiah 37:38; Jer. 51:27). This was the name of a country. On one of its mountains Noah's ark rested after the Flood subsided (Gen. 8:4). Most researchers believe that the “mountains” mentioned were probably the Kurdish range of South Armenia in Turkey. In the King James Bible, 2 Kings 19:37 and Isa. 37:38 translate the word “Ararat” as “Armenia.” However, other versions, including the New King James Version, simply say “land of Ararat.” --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
Minni...
only in Jer. 51:27; the name of a province in Armenia, which was at this time under the Median kings. Armenia is regarded by some as = Har-minni i.e., the mountainous country of Minni. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
Ashkenaz...
one of the three sons of Gomer (Gen. 10:3), and founder of one of the tribes of the Japhetic race; They are mentioned in connection with Minni and Ararat, and hence their original seat must have been in Armenia (Jer. 51:27), probably near the Black Sea, which, from their founder, was first called Axenus, and afterwards the Euxine. --WebBible Encyclopedia - Christiananswers.net
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thurs 100129 pm - Jeremiah 48-49
Jeremiah 48
48.3 Horonaim...
Horonaiam Meaning: two caverns; a city of Moab to the south of the Arnon, built, apparently, upon an eminence, and a place of some importance (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:3, 5, 34) --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
48.5 Luhith...
Luhith: Meaning: made of boards; a Moabitish place between Zoar and Horonaim (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:5) --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
48.7 Chemosh...
Chemosh: Meaning: the destroyer, subduer, or fish-god; the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, 13, 46); The worship of this god, “the abomination of Moab,” was introduced at Jerusalem by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7), but was abolished by Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). On the “Moabite stone” (q.v.), Mesha (2 Kings 3:5) ascribes his victories over the king of Israel to this god, “And Chemosh drove him before my sight.” --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
49.8 Dedan...
An Arabian people named in Genesis 10:7 as descended from Cush; in Genesis 25:3 as descended from Keturah. Evidently, they were, like the related Sheba (Sabaeans), of mixed race (compare Genesis 10:7,28). In Isaiah 21:13 allusion is made to the "caravans of Dedanites" in the wilds of Arabia, and Eze mentions them as supplying Tyre with precious things (Ezekiel 27:20; in verse 15, "Dedan" should probably be read as in Septuagint, "Rodan," i.e. Rhodians). The name seems still to linger in the island of Dadan, on the border of the Persian Gulf. It is found also in Min. and Sab. inscriptions (Glazer, II, 392). --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.10 with slackness... This reminds me of the parable of the talents where the last servant says that he knows that his master was a severe master even though the context here is probably different.
48.11 dregs...
Main Entry: dreg
Pronunciation: \dreg\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse dregg; perhaps akin to Latin fraces dregs of oil
Date: 14th century
1 : sediment contained in a liquid or precipitated from it : lees —usually used in plural
2 : the most undesirable part —usually used in plural
3 : the last remaining part : vestige —usually used in plural
— dreg·gy \dre-gē\ adjective --Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
48.18 Dibon...
A city in Moab (Num. 21:30); called also Dibon-gad (33:45), because it was built by Gad and Dimon (Isa. 15:9). It has been identified with the modern Diban, about 3 miles north of theArnon and 12 miles east of the Dead Sea. --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
48.19 Aroer!...
A city of the Amorites which stood on the northern edge of the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36, etc.). Taken by Israel, it shared the vicissitudes of the country north of the river, and when last named (Jeremiah 48:19) is again in the hands of Moab. It is one of the cities which Mesha claims to have built, i.e. fortified. It was within the territory allotted to Reuben, yet its building (fortification) is attributed to Gad (Numbers 32:34). Thus far came the Syrian, Hazael, in his raid upon Israel (2 Kings 10:33). The Roman road across the valley lay about an hour to the West of Khirbet `Ara`ir. --W. Ewing in ISBE
48.31 & 36 Kir-haraseth... Meaning: built fortress; a city and fortress of Moab, the modern Kerak, a small town on the brow of a steep hill about 6 miles from Rabbath-Moab and 10 miles from the Dead Sea; called also Kir-haresh, Kir-hareseth, Kir-heres (Isa. 16:7, 11; Jer. 48:31, 36).
After the death of Ahab, Mesha, king of Moab (see Moabite Stone, threw off allegiance to the king of Israel, and fought successfully for the independence of his kingdom. After this Jehoram, king of Israel, in seeking to regain his supremacy over Moab, entered into an Alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and with the king of Edom. The three kings led their armies against Mesha, who was driven back to seek refuge in Kir-haraseth. The Moabites were driven to despair. Mesha then took his eldest son, who would have reigned in his stead, and offered him as a burnt-offering on the wall of the fortress in the sight of the allied armies. "There was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land." The invaders evacuated the land of Moab, and Mesha achieved the independence of his country (2 Kings 3:20-27).
48.32 Jazer...
In some cases, e.g. Numbers 21:32, the King James Version reads "Jaazer." This was a city of the Amorites East of the Jordan taken, along with its towns, by Moses, and occupied by the tribe of Gad (Numbers 21:32; 32:35). The country was very fertile, and its spacious pasture-lands attracted the flock-masters of Gad (Numbers 32:1), the southern border of whose territory it marked (Joshua 13:25). It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Joshua 21:39; 1 Chronicles 6:81). The place was reached by Joab when taking the census (2 Samuel 24:5). In the 40th year of King David mighty men of valor were found here to whom he entrusted the oversight in Reuben and Gad "for every matter pertaining to God, and run the affairs of the king" (1 Chronicles 26:32). The fruitfulness of the country is alluded to in Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:32. (Note: "Sea of" Jazer in this verse has arisen through accidental repetition of yam, "sea," from the preceding clause.) The city was taken from the Ammonites by Judas Maccabeus, and burned (1 Macc 5:7,8; Ant, XII, viii, 1). --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.32 Sibmah...
se'-bam (sebham; Sebama; the King James Version Shebam): A town in the upland pasture land given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. It is named along with Heshbon, Elealeh and Nebo (Numbers 32:3). It is probably the same place as Sibmah (the King James Version "Shibmah") in Numbers 32:38 (so also Joshua 13:19). In the time of Isaiah and Jeremiah it was a Moabite town, but there is no record of how or when it was taken from Israel. It appears to have been famous for the luxuriance of its vines and for its summer fruits (Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:32). --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.34 Heshbon...
Meaning: intelligence; a city ruled over by Sihon, king of the Amorites (Josh. 3:10; 13:17);
It was taken by Moses (Num. 21:23-26), and became afterwards a Levitical city (Josh. 21:39) in the tribe of Reuben (Num. 32:37). After the Exile it was taken possession of by the Moabites (Isa. 15:4; Jer. 48:2, 34, 45). The ruins of this town are still seen about 20 miles east of Jordan from the north end of the Dead Sea. There are reservoirs in this district, which are probably the “fishpools” referred to in Song of Songs 7:4. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.34 Elealeh...
Lay in the country taken from Sihon and within the lot given to Reuben (Numbers 32:3,17). "Their names being changed" seems to apply to all the towns mentioned. There is no indication of the other names. Elealeh is noticed with Heshbon in the oracles against Moab in Isaiah 15:4; 16:9; Jeremiah 48:34. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913) Zoar... The name of the city to which Lot escaped from Sodom (Genesis 19:20-23,30), previously mentioned in Genesis 13:10; 14:2,8, where its former name is said to have been Bela. In 19:22, its name is said to have been given because of its littleness, which also seems to have accounted for its being spared. The location of Zoar has much to do with that of the cities of the Plain or Valley of Siddim, with which it is always connected. In Deuteronomy 34:3, Moses is said to have viewed "the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, unto Zoar," while in Isaiah 15:5 and Jeremiah 48:4 (where the Septuagint reads unto "Zoar," instead of "her little ones") it is said to be a city of Moab. The traditional location of the place is at the south end of the Dead Sea. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913) 48.34 Horonaim...
an unidentified place in the South of Moab. It is named in Jeremiah 48:5. Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:3) speak of "the way to Horanaim"; and Jeremiah (48:5) of the , "descent," or "going down" of Horonaim. Mesha (MS) says he was bidden by Chemosh to "go down" and fight against Choronem. Probably, therefore, it lay on one of the roads leading down from the Moabite plateau to the Arabah. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
Jeremiah 49
49.1 Milcom...
(Malcam, Malkam, Malcham, Milkowm) Meaning: High king; their king; This was the name of the god of the Ammonite people. 2 Kings 23:13 calls it “the abomination of the children of Ammon.” This was one of the idols that the disobedient King Solomon honored with a high place building on the Mount of Olives (1 Kings 11:5, 7, 33). Good King Josiah later destroyed the structure (2 Kings 23:13). Milcom may also have been known as Molech or Moloch (1 Kings 11:7) WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.2 Rabbah...
This alone of the cities of the Ammonites is mentioned in Scripture, so we may take it as the most important. It is first named in connection with the "bed" or sarcophagus of Og, king of Bashan, which was said to be found here (Deuteronomy 3:11). It lay East of the territory assigned to Gad (Joshua 13:25).
In the utterances of the prophets against Ammon, Rabbah stands for the people, as their most important, or perhaps their only important, city (Jeremiah 49:2,3; Ezekiel 21:20; 25:5; Amos 1:14). Jeremiah 49:4 speaks of the "flowing valley"--a reference perhaps to the abundance of water and fruitfulness--and the treasures in which she gloried. Ezekiel 21:21 represents the king of Babylon at "the head of the two ways" deciding by means of the divining arrows whether he should march against Jerusalem or against Rabbah. Amos seems to have been impressed with the palaces of Rabbah.
49.7 Teman...
The name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman the grandson of Esau, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz (Genesis 36:11; 1 Chronicles 1:36). A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom (Genesis 36:42; 1 Chronicles 1:53). He does not however appear first, in the place of the firstborn. Husham of the land of the Temanites was one of the ancient kings of Edom (Genesis 36:34; 1 Chronicles 1:45). From Obad 1:9 we gather that Teman was in the land of Esau (Edom). In Amos 1:12 it is named along with Bozrah, the capital of Edom. In Ezekiel 25:13 desolation is denounced upon Edom: "From Teman even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword." Dedan being in the South, Teman must be sought in the North Eusebius, Onomasticon knows a district in the Gebalene region called Theman, and also a town with the same name, occupied by a Roman garrison, 15 miles from Petra. Unfortunately no indication of direction is given. No trace of the name has yet been found. It may have been on the road from Elath to Bozrah.
The inhabitants of Teman seem to have been famous for their wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 1:8). Eliphaz the Temanite was chief of the comforters of Job (2:11, etc.). The manner in which the city is mentioned by the prophets, now by itself, and again as standing for Edom, shows how important it must have been in their time. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
49.23 Hamath...
The kingdom of Hamath comprehended the great plain lying on both banks of the Orontes from the fountain near Riblah to Assamea on the north, and from Lebanon on the west to the desert on the east. The “entrance of Hamath” (Num. 34:8), which was the north boundary of Palestine, led from the west between the north end of Lebanon and the Nusairiyeh mountains. --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.23 Arpad...
Meaning: support (Isa. 10:9; 36:19; 37:13), also Arphad.; a Syrian city near Hamath, along with which it is invariably mentioned (2 Kings 19:13; 18:34; Isa. 10:9), and Damascus (Jer. 49:23) --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.27 Ben-hadad...
The name of three kings of Syria mentioned in the historical books. Hadad is the Syrian god of storms, and is apparently identical with Rimmon (2 Kings 5:18), the Assyrian Rammanu, "the Thunderer," whose temple was in Damascus. The name Benhadad, "son of Hadad," accords with the custom which obtained in Semitic mythology of calling a king or a nation the son of the national god, as we have Mesha`, son of Chemosh, and the Moabites, children of Chemosh. Benhadad seems to have become a general designation for the kings of Syria (Amos 1:4; Jeremiah 49:27). --International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
49.28 Kedar...
Meaning: dark-skinned: It is the name for the nomadic tribes of Arabs, the Bedouins generally (Isa. 21:16; 42:11; 60:7; Jer. 2:10; Ezek. 27:21), who dwelt in the northwest of Arabia. They lived in black hair-tents (Song of Songs 1:5). To “dwell in the tents of Kedar” was to be cut off from the worship of the true God (Ps. 120:5). The Kedarites suffered at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 49:28, 29). --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.30 Hazor...
A district in Arabia (Jer. 49:28-33), supposed by some to be Jetor, i.e., Ituraea --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.35 Elam...
Meaning: highland; The name Elam is an Assyrian word meaning “high.”: the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22), and the name of the country inhabited by his descendants (14:1, 9; Isa. 11:11; 21:2, etc.) lying to the east of Babylonia, and extending to the shore of the Mediterranean, a distance in a direct line of about 1,000 miles
"The inhabitants of Elam, or ‘the Highlands,’ to the east of Babylon, were called Elamites. They were divided into several branches, speaking different dialects of the same agglutinative language. The race to which they belonged was brachycephalic, or short-headed, like the pre-Semitic Sumerians of Babylonia.
"The earliest Elamite kingdom seems to have been that of Anzan, the exact site of which is uncertain; but in the time of Abraham, Shushan or Susa appears to have already become the capital of the country. Babylonia was frequently invaded by the Elamite kings, who at times asserted their supremacy over it (as in the case of Chedorlaomer, the Kudur-Lagamar, or ‘servant of the goddess Lagamar,’ of the cuneiform texts).
"The later Assyrian monarchs made several campaigns against Elam, and finally Assur-bani-pal (about B.C. 650) succeeded in conquering the country, which was ravaged with fire and sword. On the fall of the Assyrian Empire, Elam passed into the hands of the Persians" (A.H. Sayce). This country was called by the Greeks Cissia or Susiana. --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
48.3 Horonaim...
Horonaiam Meaning: two caverns; a city of Moab to the south of the Arnon, built, apparently, upon an eminence, and a place of some importance (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:3, 5, 34) --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
48.5 Luhith...
Luhith: Meaning: made of boards; a Moabitish place between Zoar and Horonaim (Isa. 15:5; Jer. 48:5) --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
48.7 Chemosh...
Chemosh: Meaning: the destroyer, subduer, or fish-god; the god of the Moabites (Num. 21:29; Jer. 48:7, 13, 46); The worship of this god, “the abomination of Moab,” was introduced at Jerusalem by Solomon (1 Kings 11:7), but was abolished by Josiah (2 Kings 23:13). On the “Moabite stone” (q.v.), Mesha (2 Kings 3:5) ascribes his victories over the king of Israel to this god, “And Chemosh drove him before my sight.” --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
49.8 Dedan...
An Arabian people named in Genesis 10:7 as descended from Cush; in Genesis 25:3 as descended from Keturah. Evidently, they were, like the related Sheba (Sabaeans), of mixed race (compare Genesis 10:7,28). In Isaiah 21:13 allusion is made to the "caravans of Dedanites" in the wilds of Arabia, and Eze mentions them as supplying Tyre with precious things (Ezekiel 27:20; in verse 15, "Dedan" should probably be read as in Septuagint, "Rodan," i.e. Rhodians). The name seems still to linger in the island of Dadan, on the border of the Persian Gulf. It is found also in Min. and Sab. inscriptions (Glazer, II, 392). --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.10 with slackness... This reminds me of the parable of the talents where the last servant says that he knows that his master was a severe master even though the context here is probably different.
48.11 dregs...
Main Entry: dreg
Pronunciation: \dreg\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old Norse dregg; perhaps akin to Latin fraces dregs of oil
Date: 14th century
1 : sediment contained in a liquid or precipitated from it : lees —usually used in plural
2 : the most undesirable part —usually used in plural
3 : the last remaining part : vestige —usually used in plural
— dreg·gy \dre-gē\ adjective --Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
48.18 Dibon...
A city in Moab (Num. 21:30); called also Dibon-gad (33:45), because it was built by Gad and Dimon (Isa. 15:9). It has been identified with the modern Diban, about 3 miles north of theArnon and 12 miles east of the Dead Sea. --WebBible Encyclopedia--christiananswers.net
48.19 Aroer!...
A city of the Amorites which stood on the northern edge of the Arnon (Deuteronomy 2:36, etc.). Taken by Israel, it shared the vicissitudes of the country north of the river, and when last named (Jeremiah 48:19) is again in the hands of Moab. It is one of the cities which Mesha claims to have built, i.e. fortified. It was within the territory allotted to Reuben, yet its building (fortification) is attributed to Gad (Numbers 32:34). Thus far came the Syrian, Hazael, in his raid upon Israel (2 Kings 10:33). The Roman road across the valley lay about an hour to the West of Khirbet `Ara`ir. --W. Ewing in ISBE
48.31 & 36 Kir-haraseth... Meaning: built fortress; a city and fortress of Moab, the modern Kerak, a small town on the brow of a steep hill about 6 miles from Rabbath-Moab and 10 miles from the Dead Sea; called also Kir-haresh, Kir-hareseth, Kir-heres (Isa. 16:7, 11; Jer. 48:31, 36).
After the death of Ahab, Mesha, king of Moab (see Moabite Stone, threw off allegiance to the king of Israel, and fought successfully for the independence of his kingdom. After this Jehoram, king of Israel, in seeking to regain his supremacy over Moab, entered into an Alliance with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, and with the king of Edom. The three kings led their armies against Mesha, who was driven back to seek refuge in Kir-haraseth. The Moabites were driven to despair. Mesha then took his eldest son, who would have reigned in his stead, and offered him as a burnt-offering on the wall of the fortress in the sight of the allied armies. "There was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land." The invaders evacuated the land of Moab, and Mesha achieved the independence of his country (2 Kings 3:20-27).
48.32 Jazer...
In some cases, e.g. Numbers 21:32, the King James Version reads "Jaazer." This was a city of the Amorites East of the Jordan taken, along with its towns, by Moses, and occupied by the tribe of Gad (Numbers 21:32; 32:35). The country was very fertile, and its spacious pasture-lands attracted the flock-masters of Gad (Numbers 32:1), the southern border of whose territory it marked (Joshua 13:25). It was assigned to the Merarite Levites (Joshua 21:39; 1 Chronicles 6:81). The place was reached by Joab when taking the census (2 Samuel 24:5). In the 40th year of King David mighty men of valor were found here to whom he entrusted the oversight in Reuben and Gad "for every matter pertaining to God, and run the affairs of the king" (1 Chronicles 26:32). The fruitfulness of the country is alluded to in Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:32. (Note: "Sea of" Jazer in this verse has arisen through accidental repetition of yam, "sea," from the preceding clause.) The city was taken from the Ammonites by Judas Maccabeus, and burned (1 Macc 5:7,8; Ant, XII, viii, 1). --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.32 Sibmah...
se'-bam (sebham; Sebama; the King James Version Shebam): A town in the upland pasture land given to the tribes of Reuben and Gad. It is named along with Heshbon, Elealeh and Nebo (Numbers 32:3). It is probably the same place as Sibmah (the King James Version "Shibmah") in Numbers 32:38 (so also Joshua 13:19). In the time of Isaiah and Jeremiah it was a Moabite town, but there is no record of how or when it was taken from Israel. It appears to have been famous for the luxuriance of its vines and for its summer fruits (Isaiah 16:8; Jeremiah 48:32). --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.34 Heshbon...
Meaning: intelligence; a city ruled over by Sihon, king of the Amorites (Josh. 3:10; 13:17);
It was taken by Moses (Num. 21:23-26), and became afterwards a Levitical city (Josh. 21:39) in the tribe of Reuben (Num. 32:37). After the Exile it was taken possession of by the Moabites (Isa. 15:4; Jer. 48:2, 34, 45). The ruins of this town are still seen about 20 miles east of Jordan from the north end of the Dead Sea. There are reservoirs in this district, which are probably the “fishpools” referred to in Song of Songs 7:4. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
48.34 Elealeh...
Lay in the country taken from Sihon and within the lot given to Reuben (Numbers 32:3,17). "Their names being changed" seems to apply to all the towns mentioned. There is no indication of the other names. Elealeh is noticed with Heshbon in the oracles against Moab in Isaiah 15:4; 16:9; Jeremiah 48:34. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913) Zoar... The name of the city to which Lot escaped from Sodom (Genesis 19:20-23,30), previously mentioned in Genesis 13:10; 14:2,8, where its former name is said to have been Bela. In 19:22, its name is said to have been given because of its littleness, which also seems to have accounted for its being spared. The location of Zoar has much to do with that of the cities of the Plain or Valley of Siddim, with which it is always connected. In Deuteronomy 34:3, Moses is said to have viewed "the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, unto Zoar," while in Isaiah 15:5 and Jeremiah 48:4 (where the Septuagint reads unto "Zoar," instead of "her little ones") it is said to be a city of Moab. The traditional location of the place is at the south end of the Dead Sea. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913) 48.34 Horonaim...
an unidentified place in the South of Moab. It is named in Jeremiah 48:5. Isaiah (15:5) and Jeremiah (48:3) speak of "the way to Horanaim"; and Jeremiah (48:5) of the , "descent," or "going down" of Horonaim. Mesha (MS) says he was bidden by Chemosh to "go down" and fight against Choronem. Probably, therefore, it lay on one of the roads leading down from the Moabite plateau to the Arabah. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
Jeremiah 49
49.1 Milcom...
(Malcam, Malkam, Malcham, Milkowm) Meaning: High king; their king; This was the name of the god of the Ammonite people. 2 Kings 23:13 calls it “the abomination of the children of Ammon.” This was one of the idols that the disobedient King Solomon honored with a high place building on the Mount of Olives (1 Kings 11:5, 7, 33). Good King Josiah later destroyed the structure (2 Kings 23:13). Milcom may also have been known as Molech or Moloch (1 Kings 11:7) WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.2 Rabbah...
This alone of the cities of the Ammonites is mentioned in Scripture, so we may take it as the most important. It is first named in connection with the "bed" or sarcophagus of Og, king of Bashan, which was said to be found here (Deuteronomy 3:11). It lay East of the territory assigned to Gad (Joshua 13:25).
In the utterances of the prophets against Ammon, Rabbah stands for the people, as their most important, or perhaps their only important, city (Jeremiah 49:2,3; Ezekiel 21:20; 25:5; Amos 1:14). Jeremiah 49:4 speaks of the "flowing valley"--a reference perhaps to the abundance of water and fruitfulness--and the treasures in which she gloried. Ezekiel 21:21 represents the king of Babylon at "the head of the two ways" deciding by means of the divining arrows whether he should march against Jerusalem or against Rabbah. Amos seems to have been impressed with the palaces of Rabbah.
49.7 Teman...
The name of a district and town in the land of Edom, named after Teman the grandson of Esau, the son of his firstborn, Eliphaz (Genesis 36:11; 1 Chronicles 1:36). A duke Teman is named among the chiefs or clans of Edom (Genesis 36:42; 1 Chronicles 1:53). He does not however appear first, in the place of the firstborn. Husham of the land of the Temanites was one of the ancient kings of Edom (Genesis 36:34; 1 Chronicles 1:45). From Obad 1:9 we gather that Teman was in the land of Esau (Edom). In Amos 1:12 it is named along with Bozrah, the capital of Edom. In Ezekiel 25:13 desolation is denounced upon Edom: "From Teman even unto Dedan shall they fall by the sword." Dedan being in the South, Teman must be sought in the North Eusebius, Onomasticon knows a district in the Gebalene region called Theman, and also a town with the same name, occupied by a Roman garrison, 15 miles from Petra. Unfortunately no indication of direction is given. No trace of the name has yet been found. It may have been on the road from Elath to Bozrah.
The inhabitants of Teman seem to have been famous for their wisdom (Jeremiah 49:7; Obadiah 1:8). Eliphaz the Temanite was chief of the comforters of Job (2:11, etc.). The manner in which the city is mentioned by the prophets, now by itself, and again as standing for Edom, shows how important it must have been in their time. --International Standard Encylopedia (1913)
49.23 Hamath...
The kingdom of Hamath comprehended the great plain lying on both banks of the Orontes from the fountain near Riblah to Assamea on the north, and from Lebanon on the west to the desert on the east. The “entrance of Hamath” (Num. 34:8), which was the north boundary of Palestine, led from the west between the north end of Lebanon and the Nusairiyeh mountains. --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.23 Arpad...
Meaning: support (Isa. 10:9; 36:19; 37:13), also Arphad.; a Syrian city near Hamath, along with which it is invariably mentioned (2 Kings 19:13; 18:34; Isa. 10:9), and Damascus (Jer. 49:23) --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.27 Ben-hadad...
The name of three kings of Syria mentioned in the historical books. Hadad is the Syrian god of storms, and is apparently identical with Rimmon (2 Kings 5:18), the Assyrian Rammanu, "the Thunderer," whose temple was in Damascus. The name Benhadad, "son of Hadad," accords with the custom which obtained in Semitic mythology of calling a king or a nation the son of the national god, as we have Mesha`, son of Chemosh, and the Moabites, children of Chemosh. Benhadad seems to have become a general designation for the kings of Syria (Amos 1:4; Jeremiah 49:27). --International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
49.28 Kedar...
Meaning: dark-skinned: It is the name for the nomadic tribes of Arabs, the Bedouins generally (Isa. 21:16; 42:11; 60:7; Jer. 2:10; Ezek. 27:21), who dwelt in the northwest of Arabia. They lived in black hair-tents (Song of Songs 1:5). To “dwell in the tents of Kedar” was to be cut off from the worship of the true God (Ps. 120:5). The Kedarites suffered at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar (Jer. 49:28, 29). --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.30 Hazor...
A district in Arabia (Jer. 49:28-33), supposed by some to be Jetor, i.e., Ituraea --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
49.35 Elam...
Meaning: highland; The name Elam is an Assyrian word meaning “high.”: the son of Shem (Gen. 10:22), and the name of the country inhabited by his descendants (14:1, 9; Isa. 11:11; 21:2, etc.) lying to the east of Babylonia, and extending to the shore of the Mediterranean, a distance in a direct line of about 1,000 miles
"The inhabitants of Elam, or ‘the Highlands,’ to the east of Babylon, were called Elamites. They were divided into several branches, speaking different dialects of the same agglutinative language. The race to which they belonged was brachycephalic, or short-headed, like the pre-Semitic Sumerians of Babylonia.
"The earliest Elamite kingdom seems to have been that of Anzan, the exact site of which is uncertain; but in the time of Abraham, Shushan or Susa appears to have already become the capital of the country. Babylonia was frequently invaded by the Elamite kings, who at times asserted their supremacy over it (as in the case of Chedorlaomer, the Kudur-Lagamar, or ‘servant of the goddess Lagamar,’ of the cuneiform texts).
"The later Assyrian monarchs made several campaigns against Elam, and finally Assur-bani-pal (about B.C. 650) succeeded in conquering the country, which was ravaged with fire and sword. On the fall of the Assyrian Empire, Elam passed into the hands of the Persians" (A.H. Sayce). This country was called by the Greeks Cissia or Susiana. --WebBible Encyclopedia - http://christiananswers.net
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Fri 100122 pm Jer 45-46
Jeremiah 45
45.
Jeremiah 46
46.2 Carchemish
Meaning: fortress of Chemosh,
a city on the west bank of the Euphrates (Jer. 46:2; 2 Chr. 35:20), not, as was once supposed, the Circesium at the confluence of the Chebar and the Euphrates, but a city considerably higher up the river, and commanding the ordinary passage of the Euphrates; probably identical with Hierapolis
It was the capital of the kingdom of the northern Hittites. The Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabopolassar, here met and conquered the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt (B.C. 607). It is mentioned in monuments in B.C. 1600 and down to B.C. 717. --WebBible Encyclopedia --- http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/carchemish.html?zoom_highlight=carchemish
The Old Testament gives later details. In the time of Josiah, Pharaoh Necoh marched to fight against the city, and the Jewish king went out to meet him, but lost his life at Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:20). Four years later (605 BC), the Egyptian king was himself defeated by Nebuchadrezzar under the walls of the city (Jeremiah 46:2) in the battle which decided the fate of Western Asia. ---ISBE 1915
46.9 Cush... Land of Cush — The term Cush is in the Old Testament generally applied to the countries south of the Israelites. It was the southern limit of Egypt (Ezek. 29:10, A.V. "Ethiopia," Hebrew: Cush), with which it is generally associated (Ps. 68:31; Isa. 18:1; Jer. 46:9, etc.).
A strongly-fortified place 12 miles from Pelusium, in the north of Egypt (Jer. 44:1; 46:14). This word is rendered “tower” in Ezek. 29:10, but the margin correctly retains the name Migdol, “from Migdol to Syene;” i.e., from Migdol in the north to Syene in the south, in other words, the whole of Egypt. --http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/migdol.html?zoom_highlight=migdol
In Jeremiah 44:1; 46:14, a Migdol is noticed with Memphis, and with Tahpanhes Septuagint "Taphnas"), this latter being supposed to be the Daphnai of Greek writers, now Tell Defeneh, West of Qantarah. The same place is probably intended in Ezekiel 29:10; 30:6 (compare 30:15-18), the borders of Egypt being defined as reaching "from Migdol to Syene" (see the Revised Version margin), as understood by the Septuagint translators. The Antonine Itinerary places Migdol 12 miles South of Pelusium, and the site appears to have been at or near Tell es Samut, the Egyptian name, according to Brugsch (Hist, II, 351), being Samut. This Migdol was thus apparently a "watchtower" on the main road along the coast from Palestine, which is called (Exodus 13:17) "the way of the land of the Philistines," entering Egypt near Daphnai. --http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?word=migdol&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Lookup&action=Lookup
46.14 Memphis & Tahpanhes...
Warnings were to go out to the major cities of Egypt that the same army that had devoured nations around her was coming. The cities are the same as those mentioned in 43:7-9 and 44:1 where Judeans had fled for safety (cf. 2:16). --http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/jeremiah.pdf
46.25 Amon of Thebes...
Amon is identified with Ra, the sun-god of Heliopolis. Amon was an Egyptian god, usually depicted with a human body and the head of a ram. Amon is referred to in Jer. 46:25, where the King James Bible uses the word “multitudes” instead of the more appropriate translation “Amon” used in other translations, including the New King James Version. Similarly, in the King James version of Nah. 3:8 the expression “populous No” is used instead of the more appropriate translation, “No-Amon” or “Thebes,” as in other translations. In each case, the Hebrew word is “Amown” (Amon).
The sovereign Yahweh, Israel's God, announced that He would punish the gods, rulers, and people of Egypt. Amon was the chief deity of No (Gr. Thebes), the capital of Upper Egypt. Even though there is as yet no historical evidence that Nebuchadnezzar advanced this far in his conquest of Egypt, his invasion affected the whole nation. ---http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/jeremiah.pdf
45.
Jeremiah 46
46.2 Carchemish
Meaning: fortress of Chemosh,
a city on the west bank of the Euphrates (Jer. 46:2; 2 Chr. 35:20), not, as was once supposed, the Circesium at the confluence of the Chebar and the Euphrates, but a city considerably higher up the river, and commanding the ordinary passage of the Euphrates; probably identical with Hierapolis
It was the capital of the kingdom of the northern Hittites. The Babylonian army, under Nebuchadnezzar, the son of Nabopolassar, here met and conquered the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt (B.C. 607). It is mentioned in monuments in B.C. 1600 and down to B.C. 717. --WebBible Encyclopedia --- http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/carchemish.html?zoom_highlight=carchemish
The Old Testament gives later details. In the time of Josiah, Pharaoh Necoh marched to fight against the city, and the Jewish king went out to meet him, but lost his life at Megiddo (2 Chronicles 35:20). Four years later (605 BC), the Egyptian king was himself defeated by Nebuchadrezzar under the walls of the city (Jeremiah 46:2) in the battle which decided the fate of Western Asia. ---ISBE 1915
46.9 Cush... Land of Cush — The term Cush is in the Old Testament generally applied to the countries south of the Israelites. It was the southern limit of Egypt (Ezek. 29:10, A.V. "Ethiopia," Hebrew: Cush), with which it is generally associated (Ps. 68:31; Isa. 18:1; Jer. 46:9, etc.).
It stands also associated with Elam (Isa. 11:11), with Persia (Ezek. 38:5), and with the Sabeans (Isa. 45:14).
From these facts it has been inferred that Cush included Arabia and the country on the west coast of the Red Sea. Rawlinson takes it to be the country still known as Khuzi-stan, on the east side of the Lower Tigris. But there are intimations which warrant the conclusion that there was also a Cush in Africa, the Eth iopia (so called by theGreeks) of Africa. ----WebBible Encyclopedia -- http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/cush.html
46.9 Put... A land or people from among whom came a portion of the mercenary troops of Egypt, Jer. 46:9 (A.V., “Libyans,” but correctly, R.V., “Put”); Ezek. 27:10; 30:5 (A.V., "Libya;" R.V., “Put”); 38:5; Nahum 3:9.
46.14 Migdol...46.9 Put... A land or people from among whom came a portion of the mercenary troops of Egypt, Jer. 46:9 (A.V., “Libyans,” but correctly, R.V., “Put”); Ezek. 27:10; 30:5 (A.V., "Libya;" R.V., “Put”); 38:5; Nahum 3:9.
A strongly-fortified place 12 miles from Pelusium, in the north of Egypt (Jer. 44:1; 46:14). This word is rendered “tower” in Ezek. 29:10, but the margin correctly retains the name Migdol, “from Migdol to Syene;” i.e., from Migdol in the north to Syene in the south, in other words, the whole of Egypt. --http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/migdol.html?zoom_highlight=migdol
In Jeremiah 44:1; 46:14, a Migdol is noticed with Memphis, and with Tahpanhes Septuagint "Taphnas"), this latter being supposed to be the Daphnai of Greek writers, now Tell Defeneh, West of Qantarah. The same place is probably intended in Ezekiel 29:10; 30:6 (compare 30:15-18), the borders of Egypt being defined as reaching "from Migdol to Syene" (see the Revised Version margin), as understood by the Septuagint translators. The Antonine Itinerary places Migdol 12 miles South of Pelusium, and the site appears to have been at or near Tell es Samut, the Egyptian name, according to Brugsch (Hist, II, 351), being Samut. This Migdol was thus apparently a "watchtower" on the main road along the coast from Palestine, which is called (Exodus 13:17) "the way of the land of the Philistines," entering Egypt near Daphnai. --http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?word=migdol&search.x=0&search.y=0&search=Lookup&action=Lookup
46.14 Memphis & Tahpanhes...
Warnings were to go out to the major cities of Egypt that the same army that had devoured nations around her was coming. The cities are the same as those mentioned in 43:7-9 and 44:1 where Judeans had fled for safety (cf. 2:16). --http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/jeremiah.pdf
46.25 Amon of Thebes...
Amon is identified with Ra, the sun-god of Heliopolis. Amon was an Egyptian god, usually depicted with a human body and the head of a ram. Amon is referred to in Jer. 46:25, where the King James Bible uses the word “multitudes” instead of the more appropriate translation “Amon” used in other translations, including the New King James Version. Similarly, in the King James version of Nah. 3:8 the expression “populous No” is used instead of the more appropriate translation, “No-Amon” or “Thebes,” as in other translations. In each case, the Hebrew word is “Amown” (Amon).
The sovereign Yahweh, Israel's God, announced that He would punish the gods, rulers, and people of Egypt. Amon was the chief deity of No (Gr. Thebes), the capital of Upper Egypt. Even though there is as yet no historical evidence that Nebuchadnezzar advanced this far in his conquest of Egypt, his invasion affected the whole nation. ---http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/jeremiah.pdf
Friday, January 22, 2010
Thurs 100121 am Jer 41-44
Jeremiah 41
41.17 intending to go to Egypt... Jeremiah must have been pretty frustrated at this point.
Jeremiah 42
42.3 that the Lord may show us the way we should go... It is curious why people ask what God wants them to do when their mind is already made up.
Jeremiah 43
43.7 did not obey the voice of the Lord... It is instructive to see how the sense of panic and fear of man blinded him to was the wise choice was.
Jeremiah 44
44.17 for then we had plenty... The spiritual blindness that caused them to think their sin was the cause of their prosperity is pretty amazing, but all to typical.
41.17 intending to go to Egypt... Jeremiah must have been pretty frustrated at this point.
Jeremiah 42
42.3 that the Lord may show us the way we should go... It is curious why people ask what God wants them to do when their mind is already made up.
Jeremiah 43
43.7 did not obey the voice of the Lord... It is instructive to see how the sense of panic and fear of man blinded him to was the wise choice was.
Jeremiah 44
44.17 for then we had plenty... The spiritual blindness that caused them to think their sin was the cause of their prosperity is pretty amazing, but all to typical.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Sat 100116 pm Ezra 8 sermon notes
INTRODUCTION
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
A) Old Testament
Approximate dates
2000 - Abraham leaves Ur and sacrifices to one God - Gen 12.1 "I will make of you a great nation."
1500 - Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land. - Ex.20.2 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Thou shalt…"
1000 - David rules the unified kingdom of Israel. - He is followed by his son, Solomon, who builds the temple in Jerusalem.
500 - Zerrubbabel, Ezra, & Nehemiah lead Jews back to the promised land.
- The last minor prophet, Malachi, finishes the OT about 4oo years before Christ.
B) Exile Timeline
1. Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar—
605 BC Nebuchadnezzar takes the Temple treasures and captives (including Daniel)
598 BC Second conquest of Jerusalem with more captives and treasure taken
586BC Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple in
2. Zerubbabel – 539-515BC - Temple Rebuilt - Ezra 1-6
Cyrus—539BC conquers Babylon and decrees return of peoples to their lands.
Cabyses not mentioned in Ezra.
Pseudo Smerdis - An usurper who ruled less than a year. 519BC
Darius I (the Great) - The temple was completed during his reign.
3. Esther, queen of Ahasuerus Book of Esther
4. Ezra – 458BC - People Reformed – Ezra 7-10
Artaxerxes I - Ezra and Nehemiah returned during his 40+ year reign.
There is almost 60 years between Zerubbabel and Ezra.
58 years ago was 1951
Harry Truman was president and the 22nd amendment limiting the terms of a president was ratified. North Korea captured Soul, South Korea.
5. Nehemiah – 444-425BC - Wall Built – Nehemiah 1-10
Artaxerxes I - Ezra and Nehemiah returned during his 40+ year reign.
Theme of the books:
We need to trust, serve, and obey the sovereign God who keeps His covenant and restores His people.
Chapter summaries
Ch. 1-6 – Zerubbabel – 539-515 BC
Ch. 7–8 - Return 559 BC
We should not be discouraged by our vocation, but see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord.
Ch. 9-10— Reform 559 BC
Chapter Seven
We should not be discouraged by our vocation, but see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord.
Ezra the Man (1-6) a prepared priest
Summary of the Trip (7-10) the hand of our God was upon me
Letter of Artaxerxes (11-26) The secular purpose
Ezra's Doxology (27-28) Personal praise (moves to first person)
27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28 and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes.
So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.
Big Idea –Outline
I. Record of Returnees
1 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
1 Heads רֹאשׁ Strong's H7218 - ro'sh---- head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
NIV—leaders
1 Father’s ( houses) אָב Strong's H1 - 'ab Father as an individual; head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
YLT, KJV—xxx; NASB—households; NKJV, ESV—houses; NIV, NLT—family
1 genealogy יָחַשׂ Strong's H3187 - yachas to reckon genealogically, enroll on a genealogy, enroll, be enrolled
YLT, KJV, NKJV, ESV, NLT—genealogy (ies); NASB—genealogical enrollment; NIV—registered
2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the sons of David, Hattush;
3 of the sons of Shecaniah,
of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah;and
registered with him were one hundred and fifty males; 150
3 registered same word as translated genealogy in verse 1
YLT—reckoning themselves by genealogy; KJV—reconed by genealogy; NASB—in the genealogical enrollment;
NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT—registered
4 of the sons of Pahath-Moab,
Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah,
and with him two hundred males; 200
5 of the sons of Shechaniah,
Ben-Jahaziel,
and with him three hundred males; 300
6 of the sons of Adin,
Ebed the son of Jonathan,
and with him fifty males; 050
7 of the sons of Elam,
Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah,
and with him seventy males; 070
8 of the sons of Shephatiah,
Zebadiah the son of Michael,
and with him eighty males; 080
9 of the sons of Joab,
Obadiah the son of Jehiel,
and with him two hundred and eighteen males; 218
9 Joab is part of the Pahath-moab family in Chapter two and by himself here.
10 of the sons of Shelomith,
Ben-Josiphiah ____,
and with him one hundred and sixty males;160
11 of the sons of Bebai,
Zechariah the son of Bebai,
and with him twenty-eight males; 028
12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan,
and with him one hundred and ten males; 110
13 of the last sons of Adonikam,
whose names are these—Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah
—and with them sixty males; 060
14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud,
and with them seventy males. 070
1496+
13 last sons Strong's H314 - 'acharown 1. hinder, latter 2. after, later, following 3. last
ylt—younger sons; kjv, nkjv—last sons; nasb, esv, niv, nlt—xxx;
The meaning here is unclear, but it may indicate that the last of the Adonikam house were joining their brethren, who had gone with Zerubbable in chapter two.
II. Preparations by the River
- First, there was a lack of Levites and Ezra sends 11 men to find Levites to come with them. Only 38 are found, and 220 servants (Nethinim), but at lease this small number join Ezra and those with him. There seems to be a chronic shortage of 'Levites', people who take care of the house and people of God (Numbers 3:7) - may many hear the call today!
- Second, Ezra called for fasting, humiliation and prayer (v.21). Instead of relying on the armed escort offered by the heathen king, Ezra wanted to rely on God and to depend on Him.
You see that we do not have a scribe here (in Ezra) who 'knows it all' and goes to 'sort them out' in Jerusalem. His frame of mind is quite different. The time in prayer at the river Ahava was well spent (v.23).
Finally, Ezra entrusts the silver and gold, the vessels for the house of God, to 12 of the chief priests and gives them instruction to look after these treasures. They do so faithfully. Everything is weighed and numbered and, good to see, when they arrive everything is accounted for, nothing has gone missing. May it be so with the things the Lord entrusted to us, whether material or otherwise (1 Tim. 6:20). –MICHAEL HARDT IN LESSONS FROM EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
A. Lack of Levites
15 Now I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.
15 river This may refer to a canal coming from the Euphrates River.
15 Looked בִּין Strong's H995 - biyn 2) to understand, know (with the mind) 3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
KNV—viewed; NKJV—looked;
YLT—consider; NASB—observed; ESV—reviewed; NIV—checked;
NLT—went over the lists
15 the sons of Levi
16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 And I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia—that they should bring us servants for the house of our God.
16 leaders רֹאשׁ Strong's H7218 - ro'sh 1) head, top, summit… d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
YLT—heads; KJV--chief men; NASB, ESV—leading men; NKJV, NIV, NLT--leaders
16 men of understanding בִּין Strong's H995 - biyn (Hiphil) 1) to understand 2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
YLT, KJV, NKJV—men of understanding; ESV—men of insight; NLT—men of discernment
NASB—teachers; NIV—men of learning
an extra two for their diplomatic skill—Kindner, TOTC
16 ministers שָׁרַת Strong's H8334 - sharath (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to
YLT—ministrants; KJV, NASB, ESV, NLT—ministers; NKJV—servants; NIV—attendants;
17 the place For some scholars hammaqom is a clear reference to a sanctuary in the neighborhood of Babylon, in the same manner as the sanctuary of Yahu which existed at Yeb (Elephantine). … The usage of maqom [the place] in the later OT literature, howere, points to a sanctuary, possible a kind of synagogue where pupils were instructed in the law. --NICOT
18 Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding,
of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel,
namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men;
19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men;
20 also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim.
All of them were designated by name.
17 Nethinim Socially they were a caste of mixed origins and were inferior to the Levites in status. But God’s Spirit had motivated them to respond in larger numbers than the Levites. --Expositors
While a small number of Levites had gone up with Zerubbabel, none had joined Ezra. Only two priests were present, Gershon, son of Phinehas, and Daniel, son of Ithamar. What indifference this reveals! They had settled down in the enemy's land and were satisfied to remain there. They were minding earthly things, and the things of God were forgotten by them. Still they were Levites in their holy calling. It is so today with many who are no doubt saved, but they are worldly-minded, and have but little desire to live in the separation demanded by Him from His people. Ezra was not willing to leave the Levites behind, knowing how absolutely necessary they were for the house of God. How Ezra must have looked to God! Then he acted, and through the good hand of God, which he once more acknowledged, a number of Levites and Nethinim joined the party. –Arno Clement Gaebele in THE ANNOTATED BIBLE “THE BOOK OF EZRA”
Here, not a single Levite presents himself. They remain in the cities of the nations, occupied with their own personal interests, without any thought of going up with their brothers to serve in the house of God. Ezra is obliged to send them a special embassy of chief men and men of understanding, to induce them to join their brothers. --H. L. Rossier in THE BOOK OF EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
In spite of everything, we find this expression: "The good hand of our God [was] upon us" (v. 18), the only resource which Ezra could count on. And if the help granted to them was insufficient, revealing the great areas of lack caused by the people's ruin, at least there was some help, and the Lord did not abandon His own. --H. L. Rossier in THE BOOK OF EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
Application:
We should be quick to join the Lord's work.
The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Matthew 9.37-38
1 Peter 2
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Why is there a scarcity of laborers for the harvest today?
Matthew 9
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
B. Fasting and Prayer for Protection
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
21 fast צוֺם Strong's H6685 – tsowm
21 humble Strong's H6031 - `anah (Hiphil) to afflict
YLT, KJV—afflict; NASB, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT—humble
the right way יָשָׁר Strong's H3477 – yashar straight, level, unobsructied
YLT, KNV, NKJV—right way; NASB, EXV, NIV, NLT—safe journey
21 little ones Children (tap as in Deut. 1:39) designates those younger than twenty, with stress on the younger ages.
22 ashamed בּוּשׁ Strong's H954 – buwsh
Nehemiah would later accept an armed escort as God’s provision (Neh. 2.9).
23 entreated בָּקַשׁ
Strong's H1245 – baqash to seek; to ask, request
YLT—seek; KJV—besought; NASB—sought
ESV—implored; NIV—petitioned;
NLT--earnestly prayed
23 answered עָתַר Strong's H6279 - `athar to hear and answer
And the question may well arise whether in this day our service for God is not often too easily taken up; whether it would not conduce to spiritual power and efficacy if, before we embarked upon anything for God, we were more frequently found in this attitude of Ezra and his companions. Far be it from us to insinuate for one moment that the Lord's servants do not thus seek His face before commencing their service. Our question concerns rather collective waiting upon God, with fasting, before work is entered upon in which the saints at large have a common interest. It was understood in the early Church; for we read, "There were in the Church that was at Antioch prophets. . . . As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." (Acts 13: 1, 2.) If there were but a revival of such a practice in the power of the Holy Ghost (for to imitate it without the power would be worse than useless), far larger results from service in teaching and ministry might be confidently anticipated. –E. Dennett in THE BOOK OF EZRA (CHAPTERS 7-10)
(Emphasize the importance of prayer and seeking the Lord.)
C. Treasures entrusted to the Priest
24 And I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them— 25 and weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered.
26 I weighed into their hand
six hundred and fifty talents of silver, [24.5 tons]
silver articles weighing one hundred talents, [ 3¾ ton ]
one hundred talents of gold, [ 3¾ ton ]
27 twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and
two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold.
26 talents כִּכָּר Strong's H3603 – kikkar (root: round) a round weight, talent (of gold, silver, bronze, iron) “A talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22) contained 3,000 shekels (Ex. 38:25,26) [or 95ish pounds]. A talent of gold (Ex. 25:39) was double the weight of a talent of silver (2 Sam. 12:30).” --WebEncyclopedia
27 drachmas אֲדַרְכּוֺן Strong's H150 - 'adarkon According to Myers (Ezra-Nehemiah p. 67), if this is the Persian gold dric, then 1,000 darics would weigh about eighteen and a half pounds; if the silver daric, about twelve and a fifth pounds. –Expositors
28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.” 30 So the priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
28 holy קֹדֶשׁ Strong's H6944 – qodesh apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
28 freewill offering נְדָבָה Strong's H5071 – nĕdabah voluntariness, free-will offering
29 watch שָׁקַד Strong's H8245 – shaqad to keep watch of, be wakeful over
YLT, KJV, NASB, NKJV—watch; ESV, NIV, NLT—guard
29 keep שָׁמַר Strong's H8104 – shamar to keep, have charge of, guard
YLT, KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV—keep; NIV—carefully; YLT--xxx
Teaching: What is holiness.
HOLY (TRANSCENDENT AND PURE)
Definition: God is exalted* and sinless pure. *in the sense that He is separate from and above everything else
Key verses: Psalm 24:3-4a “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”
Explanation: This verse shows the two parts of God’s holiness. He is far above us and He is without any sin. The part that talks about “ascending into the hill of the Lord” emphasizes that God is above and beyond us. The part that talks about “clean hands and a pure heart” shows that God cannot sin or be around sin.
Principle of first mention.
Exodus 3:5
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
In our passage, God appears to Moses in a flaming bush that isn’t burning up. Moses is curious. He wants a closer look. But God says to him, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (verse 5). And Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God (verse 6). Later in his life, this same Moses spoke intimately with God, as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11). So God is not absolutely unapproachable. But at this point in his life Moses is unprepared for God. He’s tramping into God’s presence with his dirty shoes and his dirty life and his dirty heart. So God tells him, “Take off your sandals. Don’t bring that dirt and muck into my presence. I am here. You’re on holy ground.”
So what does “holy” mean? We tend to move in our thinking from the word “holy” immediately to the idea “morally pure.” But here in our passage the word holy cannot mean “morally pure.” Moral categories only make sense with personal beings – God, angels and man – but not with a plot of ground. “Holy ground,” therefore, cannot mean “moral ground.” What does it mean? It means that this place was, as it were, roped off from all ordinary use. So Moses had to accommodate himself to God’s presence revealed in this place by taking off his sandals. --------------Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr., Exodus 3:1-6 and the Holiness of God
Leviticus 11:44-45
44 For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Leviticus 19 Moral and Ceremonial Laws
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
1 Peter 1
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Principle: We and all we do should be separated to the LORD. Are you wholly separated to the Lord?
29 Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders…
What a reminder for every believer today! We are entrusted with the truth of the Word of God, and should take to heart what Paul writes to Timothy, "O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust" (1 Tim. 6:20).Just as the priests were required to give account in Jerusalem of all that was committed to their trust, so we shall give account at the judgment seat of Christ of the way we handled the word of God committed to us. – L. M. Grant in THE BOOK OF EZRA
Application: Guard what was committed to your trust 1 Timothy 6
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
III. The Return to Jerusalem
A. Safe arrival (31-32) …the hand of our God was upon us…
31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road. 32 So we came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days.
31 delivered נָצַל Strong's H5337 – natsal to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
YLT, KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV—DELIEVERED; NIV, NLT—PROTECTED;
B. WEIGHING TEMPLE VESSELS, ETC. (33-34)
33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of
Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest,
and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas;
with them were the Levites,
Jozabad the son of Jeshua and
Noadiah the son of Binnui,
34 with the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time.
32 Nehemiah also “rested three days” after his arrival… (Neh. 2:11). –Expositors
C. BURNT OFFERINGS (35)
35 The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel:
• twelve bulls for all Israel,
• ninety-six rams, (8 per tribe)
• seventy-seven lambs, and
• twelve male goats as a sin offering.
All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
35 SEVENTY-SEVEN “We know … from Ugaritic literature that that seventy and seventy-seven were used as a literary device to denote a fairly large number (for seventy-seven cf. UT, 75:II:49). There s obvious merit, therefore, in the view of some scholars that seventy-seven must be regarded as symbolic and should not be changed.” --NICOT
35 SIN OFFERING חַטָּאָ STRONG'S H2403 - CHATTA'AH SIN, SIN OFFERING
These offerings had a view toward repentance from sins and desire to be purged from the guilt of sinful acts. —THE MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE
PAU: Have you accepted Christ's sacrifice for you?
1John 1
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
D. Informing provincial officials
36 And they delivered the king’s orders to the king’s satraps and the governors in the region beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God.
MAY THE GOOD HAND OF OUR HOLY GOD
WHO SENT HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SIN
SEPARATE YOU AND EMPOWER YOU
FOR HIS SERIVCE.
H.G.M. Williamson in WORD BIBLICAL COMMENTARY
Derek Kidner in EZRA AND NEHEMIAH - TYNDAL OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES
Mark A. Throntveit in EZRA-NEHEMIAH - INTERPRETATION: A BIBLE COMMENTARY FOR TEACHING AN PREACHING
F. Charles Fensham in THE BOOKS OF EARA AND NEHEMIAH - THE NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMENTARY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
C. Coleman Luck in EZRA AND NEHEMIAH - EVERYMAN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY
Edwin Yamauchi in THE EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARY
Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa in TALK THRU THE OLD TESTAMENT
Dr. Judah J. Slotki in EANIEL-EZRA-NEHEMIAH - SONCINO BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
Thomas L. Constable in NOTES ON EZRA 2009 EDITION
J.G. McConville in EZRA, NEHEMIAH, ESTHER - THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES (Westminster Press)
THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA
WEBBIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html
Matthews, Victor Harold ; Chavalas, Mark W. ; Walton, John H.: THE IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY : OLD TESTAMENT.
C.F. Keil in KEIL & DELITZSCH COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT
Merrill F. Unger in UNGER'S COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT
John A. Martin in THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY
Mark A. Throntveit in EZRA-NEHEMIAH from INTERPRETATION: A BIBLE COMMENTARY FOR TEACHING AND PREACHING.
MICHAEL HARDT IN LESSONS FROM EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
L. M. Grant in THE BOOK OF EZRA
–E Dennett in THE BOOK OF EZRA (CHAPTERS 7-10)
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
A) Old Testament
Approximate dates
2000 - Abraham leaves Ur and sacrifices to one God - Gen 12.1 "I will make of you a great nation."
1500 - Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt to the promised land. - Ex.20.2 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Thou shalt…"
1000 - David rules the unified kingdom of Israel. - He is followed by his son, Solomon, who builds the temple in Jerusalem.
500 - Zerrubbabel, Ezra, & Nehemiah lead Jews back to the promised land.
- The last minor prophet, Malachi, finishes the OT about 4oo years before Christ.
B) Exile Timeline
1. Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar—
605 BC Nebuchadnezzar takes the Temple treasures and captives (including Daniel)
598 BC Second conquest of Jerusalem with more captives and treasure taken
586BC Nebuchadnezzar destroys the temple in
2. Zerubbabel – 539-515BC - Temple Rebuilt - Ezra 1-6
Cyrus—539BC conquers Babylon and decrees return of peoples to their lands.
Cabyses not mentioned in Ezra.
Pseudo Smerdis - An usurper who ruled less than a year. 519BC
Darius I (the Great) - The temple was completed during his reign.
3. Esther, queen of Ahasuerus Book of Esther
4. Ezra – 458BC - People Reformed – Ezra 7-10
Artaxerxes I - Ezra and Nehemiah returned during his 40+ year reign.
There is almost 60 years between Zerubbabel and Ezra.
58 years ago was 1951
Harry Truman was president and the 22nd amendment limiting the terms of a president was ratified. North Korea captured Soul, South Korea.
5. Nehemiah – 444-425BC - Wall Built – Nehemiah 1-10
Artaxerxes I - Ezra and Nehemiah returned during his 40+ year reign.
Theme of the books:
We need to trust, serve, and obey the sovereign God who keeps His covenant and restores His people.
Chapter summaries
Ch. 1-6 – Zerubbabel – 539-515 BC
Ch. 7–8 - Return 559 BC
We should not be discouraged by our vocation, but see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord.
Ch. 9-10— Reform 559 BC
Chapter Seven
We should not be discouraged by our vocation, but see it as an opportunity to serve the Lord.
Ezra the Man (1-6) a prepared priest
Summary of the Trip (7-10) the hand of our God was upon me
Letter of Artaxerxes (11-26) The secular purpose
Ezra's Doxology (27-28) Personal praise (moves to first person)
27 Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem, 28 and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes.
So I was encouraged, as the hand of the LORD my God was upon me; and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me.
Big Idea –Outline
I. Record of Returnees
1 These are the heads of their fathers’ houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of King Artaxerxes:
1 Heads רֹאשׁ Strong's H7218 - ro'sh---- head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning
NIV—leaders
1 Father’s ( houses) אָב Strong's H1 - 'ab Father as an individual; head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
YLT, KJV—xxx; NASB—households; NKJV, ESV—houses; NIV, NLT—family
1 genealogy יָחַשׂ Strong's H3187 - yachas to reckon genealogically, enroll on a genealogy, enroll, be enrolled
YLT, KJV, NKJV, ESV, NLT—genealogy (ies); NASB—genealogical enrollment; NIV—registered
2 of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom;
of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel;
of the sons of David, Hattush;
3 of the sons of Shecaniah,
of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah;and
registered with him were one hundred and fifty males; 150
3 registered same word as translated genealogy in verse 1
YLT—reckoning themselves by genealogy; KJV—reconed by genealogy; NASB—in the genealogical enrollment;
NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT—registered
4 of the sons of Pahath-Moab,
Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah,
and with him two hundred males; 200
5 of the sons of Shechaniah,
Ben-Jahaziel,
and with him three hundred males; 300
6 of the sons of Adin,
Ebed the son of Jonathan,
and with him fifty males; 050
7 of the sons of Elam,
Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah,
and with him seventy males; 070
8 of the sons of Shephatiah,
Zebadiah the son of Michael,
and with him eighty males; 080
9 of the sons of Joab,
Obadiah the son of Jehiel,
and with him two hundred and eighteen males; 218
9 Joab is part of the Pahath-moab family in Chapter two and by himself here.
10 of the sons of Shelomith,
Ben-Josiphiah ____,
and with him one hundred and sixty males;160
11 of the sons of Bebai,
Zechariah the son of Bebai,
and with him twenty-eight males; 028
12 of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan,
and with him one hundred and ten males; 110
13 of the last sons of Adonikam,
whose names are these—Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah
—and with them sixty males; 060
14 also of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zabbud,
and with them seventy males. 070
1496+
13 last sons Strong's H314 - 'acharown 1. hinder, latter 2. after, later, following 3. last
ylt—younger sons; kjv, nkjv—last sons; nasb, esv, niv, nlt—xxx;
The meaning here is unclear, but it may indicate that the last of the Adonikam house were joining their brethren, who had gone with Zerubbable in chapter two.
II. Preparations by the River
- First, there was a lack of Levites and Ezra sends 11 men to find Levites to come with them. Only 38 are found, and 220 servants (Nethinim), but at lease this small number join Ezra and those with him. There seems to be a chronic shortage of 'Levites', people who take care of the house and people of God (Numbers 3:7) - may many hear the call today!
- Second, Ezra called for fasting, humiliation and prayer (v.21). Instead of relying on the armed escort offered by the heathen king, Ezra wanted to rely on God and to depend on Him.
You see that we do not have a scribe here (in Ezra) who 'knows it all' and goes to 'sort them out' in Jerusalem. His frame of mind is quite different. The time in prayer at the river Ahava was well spent (v.23).
Finally, Ezra entrusts the silver and gold, the vessels for the house of God, to 12 of the chief priests and gives them instruction to look after these treasures. They do so faithfully. Everything is weighed and numbered and, good to see, when they arrive everything is accounted for, nothing has gone missing. May it be so with the things the Lord entrusted to us, whether material or otherwise (1 Tim. 6:20). –MICHAEL HARDT IN LESSONS FROM EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
A. Lack of Levites
15 Now I gathered them by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days. And I looked among the people and the priests, and found none of the sons of Levi there.
15 river This may refer to a canal coming from the Euphrates River.
15 Looked בִּין Strong's H995 - biyn 2) to understand, know (with the mind) 3) to observe, mark, give heed to, distinguish, consider
KNV—viewed; NKJV—looked;
YLT—consider; NASB—observed; ESV—reviewed; NIV—checked;
NLT—went over the lists
15 the sons of Levi
16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leaders; also for Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding. 17 And I gave them a command for Iddo the chief man at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say to Iddo and his brethren the Nethinim at the place Casiphia—that they should bring us servants for the house of our God.
16 leaders רֹאשׁ Strong's H7218 - ro'sh 1) head, top, summit… d) chief, head (of man, city, nation, place, family, priest)
YLT—heads; KJV--chief men; NASB, ESV—leading men; NKJV, NIV, NLT--leaders
16 men of understanding בִּין Strong's H995 - biyn (Hiphil) 1) to understand 2) to cause to understand, give understanding, teach
YLT, KJV, NKJV—men of understanding; ESV—men of insight; NLT—men of discernment
NASB—teachers; NIV—men of learning
an extra two for their diplomatic skill—Kindner, TOTC
16 ministers שָׁרַת Strong's H8334 - sharath (Piel) to minister, serve, minister to
YLT—ministrants; KJV, NASB, ESV, NLT—ministers; NKJV—servants; NIV—attendants;
17 the place For some scholars hammaqom is a clear reference to a sanctuary in the neighborhood of Babylon, in the same manner as the sanctuary of Yahu which existed at Yeb (Elephantine). … The usage of maqom [the place] in the later OT literature, howere, points to a sanctuary, possible a kind of synagogue where pupils were instructed in the law. --NICOT
18 Then, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding,
of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, the son of Israel,
namely Sherebiah, with his sons and brothers, eighteen men;
19and Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brothers and their sons, twenty men;
20 also of the Nethinim, whom David and the leaders had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinim.
All of them were designated by name.
17 Nethinim Socially they were a caste of mixed origins and were inferior to the Levites in status. But God’s Spirit had motivated them to respond in larger numbers than the Levites. --Expositors
While a small number of Levites had gone up with Zerubbabel, none had joined Ezra. Only two priests were present, Gershon, son of Phinehas, and Daniel, son of Ithamar. What indifference this reveals! They had settled down in the enemy's land and were satisfied to remain there. They were minding earthly things, and the things of God were forgotten by them. Still they were Levites in their holy calling. It is so today with many who are no doubt saved, but they are worldly-minded, and have but little desire to live in the separation demanded by Him from His people. Ezra was not willing to leave the Levites behind, knowing how absolutely necessary they were for the house of God. How Ezra must have looked to God! Then he acted, and through the good hand of God, which he once more acknowledged, a number of Levites and Nethinim joined the party. –Arno Clement Gaebele in THE ANNOTATED BIBLE “THE BOOK OF EZRA”
Here, not a single Levite presents himself. They remain in the cities of the nations, occupied with their own personal interests, without any thought of going up with their brothers to serve in the house of God. Ezra is obliged to send them a special embassy of chief men and men of understanding, to induce them to join their brothers. --H. L. Rossier in THE BOOK OF EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
In spite of everything, we find this expression: "The good hand of our God [was] upon us" (v. 18), the only resource which Ezra could count on. And if the help granted to them was insufficient, revealing the great areas of lack caused by the people's ruin, at least there was some help, and the Lord did not abandon His own. --H. L. Rossier in THE BOOK OF EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
Application:
We should be quick to join the Lord's work.
The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Matthew 9.37-38
1 Peter 2
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Why is there a scarcity of laborers for the harvest today?
Matthew 9
37 Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. 38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest."
B. Fasting and Prayer for Protection
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, “The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.
21 fast צוֺם Strong's H6685 – tsowm
21 humble Strong's H6031 - `anah (Hiphil) to afflict
YLT, KJV—afflict; NASB, NKJV, ESV, NIV, NLT—humble
the right way יָשָׁר Strong's H3477 – yashar straight, level, unobsructied
YLT, KNV, NKJV—right way; NASB, EXV, NIV, NLT—safe journey
21 little ones Children (tap as in Deut. 1:39) designates those younger than twenty, with stress on the younger ages.
22 ashamed בּוּשׁ Strong's H954 – buwsh
Nehemiah would later accept an armed escort as God’s provision (Neh. 2.9).
23 entreated בָּקַשׁ
Strong's H1245 – baqash to seek; to ask, request
YLT—seek; KJV—besought; NASB—sought
ESV—implored; NIV—petitioned;
NLT--earnestly prayed
23 answered עָתַר Strong's H6279 - `athar to hear and answer
And the question may well arise whether in this day our service for God is not often too easily taken up; whether it would not conduce to spiritual power and efficacy if, before we embarked upon anything for God, we were more frequently found in this attitude of Ezra and his companions. Far be it from us to insinuate for one moment that the Lord's servants do not thus seek His face before commencing their service. Our question concerns rather collective waiting upon God, with fasting, before work is entered upon in which the saints at large have a common interest. It was understood in the early Church; for we read, "There were in the Church that was at Antioch prophets. . . . As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me now Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." (Acts 13: 1, 2.) If there were but a revival of such a practice in the power of the Holy Ghost (for to imitate it without the power would be worse than useless), far larger results from service in teaching and ministry might be confidently anticipated. –E. Dennett in THE BOOK OF EZRA (CHAPTERS 7-10)
(Emphasize the importance of prayer and seeking the Lord.)
C. Treasures entrusted to the Priest
24 And I separated twelve of the leaders of the priests—Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them— 25 and weighed out to them the silver, the gold, and the articles, the offering for the house of our God which the king and his counselors and his princes, and all Israel who were present, had offered.
26 I weighed into their hand
six hundred and fifty talents of silver, [24.5 tons]
silver articles weighing one hundred talents, [ 3¾ ton ]
one hundred talents of gold, [ 3¾ ton ]
27 twenty gold basins worth a thousand drachmas, and
two vessels of fine polished bronze, precious as gold.
26 talents כִּכָּר Strong's H3603 – kikkar (root: round) a round weight, talent (of gold, silver, bronze, iron) “A talent of silver (2 Kings 5:22) contained 3,000 shekels (Ex. 38:25,26) [or 95ish pounds]. A talent of gold (Ex. 25:39) was double the weight of a talent of silver (2 Sam. 12:30).” --WebEncyclopedia
27 drachmas אֲדַרְכּוֺן Strong's H150 - 'adarkon According to Myers (Ezra-Nehemiah p. 67), if this is the Persian gold dric, then 1,000 darics would weigh about eighteen and a half pounds; if the silver daric, about twelve and a fifth pounds. –Expositors
28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD; the articles are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD God of your fathers. 29 Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.” 30 So the priests and the Levites received the silver and the gold and the articles by weight, to bring them to Jerusalem to the house of our God.
28 holy קֹדֶשׁ Strong's H6944 – qodesh apartness, holiness, sacredness, separateness
28 freewill offering נְדָבָה Strong's H5071 – nĕdabah voluntariness, free-will offering
29 watch שָׁקַד Strong's H8245 – shaqad to keep watch of, be wakeful over
YLT, KJV, NASB, NKJV—watch; ESV, NIV, NLT—guard
29 keep שָׁמַר Strong's H8104 – shamar to keep, have charge of, guard
YLT, KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV—keep; NIV—carefully; YLT--xxx
Teaching: What is holiness.
HOLY (TRANSCENDENT AND PURE)
Definition: God is exalted* and sinless pure. *in the sense that He is separate from and above everything else
Key verses: Psalm 24:3-4a “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart…”
Explanation: This verse shows the two parts of God’s holiness. He is far above us and He is without any sin. The part that talks about “ascending into the hill of the Lord” emphasizes that God is above and beyond us. The part that talks about “clean hands and a pure heart” shows that God cannot sin or be around sin.
Principle of first mention.
Exodus 3:5
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”
4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”
And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.” 6 Moreover He said, “I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look upon God.
In our passage, God appears to Moses in a flaming bush that isn’t burning up. Moses is curious. He wants a closer look. But God says to him, “Do not come any closer. Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (verse 5). And Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God (verse 6). Later in his life, this same Moses spoke intimately with God, as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11). So God is not absolutely unapproachable. But at this point in his life Moses is unprepared for God. He’s tramping into God’s presence with his dirty shoes and his dirty life and his dirty heart. So God tells him, “Take off your sandals. Don’t bring that dirt and muck into my presence. I am here. You’re on holy ground.”
So what does “holy” mean? We tend to move in our thinking from the word “holy” immediately to the idea “morally pure.” But here in our passage the word holy cannot mean “morally pure.” Moral categories only make sense with personal beings – God, angels and man – but not with a plot of ground. “Holy ground,” therefore, cannot mean “moral ground.” What does it mean? It means that this place was, as it were, roped off from all ordinary use. So Moses had to accommodate himself to God’s presence revealed in this place by taking off his sandals. --------------Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr., Exodus 3:1-6 and the Holiness of God
Leviticus 11:44-45
44 For I am the LORD your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. 45 For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Leviticus 19 Moral and Ceremonial Laws
1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
1 Peter 1
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
Principle: We and all we do should be separated to the LORD. Are you wholly separated to the Lord?
29 Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders…
What a reminder for every believer today! We are entrusted with the truth of the Word of God, and should take to heart what Paul writes to Timothy, "O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust" (1 Tim. 6:20).Just as the priests were required to give account in Jerusalem of all that was committed to their trust, so we shall give account at the judgment seat of Christ of the way we handled the word of God committed to us. – L. M. Grant in THE BOOK OF EZRA
Application: Guard what was committed to your trust 1 Timothy 6
20 O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge— 21 by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you. Amen.
III. The Return to Jerusalem
A. Safe arrival (31-32) …the hand of our God was upon us…
31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road. 32 So we came to Jerusalem, and stayed there three days.
31 delivered נָצַל Strong's H5337 – natsal to deliver (from enemies or troubles or death)
YLT, KJV, NASB, NKJV, ESV—DELIEVERED; NIV, NLT—PROTECTED;
B. WEIGHING TEMPLE VESSELS, ETC. (33-34)
33 Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the articles were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of
Meremoth the son of Uriah the priest,
and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas;
with them were the Levites,
Jozabad the son of Jeshua and
Noadiah the son of Binnui,
34 with the number and weight of everything. All the weight was written down at that time.
32 Nehemiah also “rested three days” after his arrival… (Neh. 2:11). –Expositors
C. BURNT OFFERINGS (35)
35 The children of those who had been carried away captive, who had come from the captivity, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel:
• twelve bulls for all Israel,
• ninety-six rams, (8 per tribe)
• seventy-seven lambs, and
• twelve male goats as a sin offering.
All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.
35 SEVENTY-SEVEN “We know … from Ugaritic literature that that seventy and seventy-seven were used as a literary device to denote a fairly large number (for seventy-seven cf. UT, 75:II:49). There s obvious merit, therefore, in the view of some scholars that seventy-seven must be regarded as symbolic and should not be changed.” --NICOT
35 SIN OFFERING חַטָּאָ STRONG'S H2403 - CHATTA'AH SIN, SIN OFFERING
These offerings had a view toward repentance from sins and desire to be purged from the guilt of sinful acts. —THE MACARTHUR STUDY BIBLE
PAU: Have you accepted Christ's sacrifice for you?
1John 1
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
D. Informing provincial officials
36 And they delivered the king’s orders to the king’s satraps and the governors in the region beyond the River. So they gave support to the people and the house of God.
MAY THE GOOD HAND OF OUR HOLY GOD
WHO SENT HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE FOR YOUR SIN
SEPARATE YOU AND EMPOWER YOU
FOR HIS SERIVCE.
H.G.M. Williamson in WORD BIBLICAL COMMENTARY
Derek Kidner in EZRA AND NEHEMIAH - TYNDAL OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARIES
Mark A. Throntveit in EZRA-NEHEMIAH - INTERPRETATION: A BIBLE COMMENTARY FOR TEACHING AN PREACHING
F. Charles Fensham in THE BOOKS OF EARA AND NEHEMIAH - THE NEW INTERNATIONAL COMMENTARY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
C. Coleman Luck in EZRA AND NEHEMIAH - EVERYMAN'S BIBLE COMMENTARY
Edwin Yamauchi in THE EXPOSITOR'S BIBLE COMMENTARY
Bruce Wilkinson and Kenneth Boa in TALK THRU THE OLD TESTAMENT
Dr. Judah J. Slotki in EANIEL-EZRA-NEHEMIAH - SONCINO BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
Thomas L. Constable in NOTES ON EZRA 2009 EDITION
J.G. McConville in EZRA, NEHEMIAH, ESTHER - THE DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES (Westminster Press)
THE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA
WEBBIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/home.html
Matthews, Victor Harold ; Chavalas, Mark W. ; Walton, John H.: THE IVP BIBLE BACKGROUND COMMENTARY : OLD TESTAMENT.
C.F. Keil in KEIL & DELITZSCH COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT
Merrill F. Unger in UNGER'S COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT
John A. Martin in THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY
Mark A. Throntveit in EZRA-NEHEMIAH from INTERPRETATION: A BIBLE COMMENTARY FOR TEACHING AND PREACHING.
MICHAEL HARDT IN LESSONS FROM EZRA © BIBLECENTRE.ORG
L. M. Grant in THE BOOK OF EZRA
–E Dennett in THE BOOK OF EZRA (CHAPTERS 7-10)
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