Jezebel in Thyatira (in Revelation) leads us to 1 Kings
Quick review#
Review 1Kings 19:15-21
Elijah goes to Mt Horeb and pours out heart to God. Here is how God respond to Elijah:
Vs 15
Return via wilderness of Damascus (Syria)
#Anoint Hazael to be king over Syria (Hazael eventually replaces Benhadad)
#Why?
-to begin the process of bringing judgement on Israel
Vs 16
#Anoint Jehu king over Israel (who is currently king? (Ahab)
Ahab - Ahaziah(son) - Jehoram(son) - Jehu
#Annoint Elisha prophet to replace you.
Vs 17 Prophecy
#Anyone who escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill (if someone escapes the king of Syria, the king of Israel will kill)
#Whoever escapes escapes from Jehu, Elisha will kill. (If someone escapes the wrath of the king of Israel, the prophet of Israel will kill him)
Vs 18 God responds to Elijah thinking he is the only remaining true prophet:
Prophecy
#I WILL HAVE 7000 prophets who DON'T worship Baal!
#Vs 19 Elijah encounters Elisha first
Elisha is found plowing with 12 yoke of oxen (think 12 tribes of Jacob/Israel)
Elijah is plowing with the 12th (who is the 12th/last son of Jacob/Israel?)
Benjamin, mother is Rebecca
Now Israel in the time of Elijah, included the northern 10 tribes of Israel.
Judah in the time of Elijah included the remaining two tribes/sons of Jacob/Israel?
Judah/Benjamin
Who does Judah represent?
(Hint: The lion of Judah)
Benjamin - "son of my right hand"
Significance? Yes. Jesus is called of the arm of the Lord (John 12:38). Who is His hand?
Remember last chapter (1Ki 18:44) "at the seventh time, ...there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand."
(God's greatly empowered right hand that does his 7th day work on earth)
Remember in Luke 6:6-10, the man with the withered "right hand" whom Jesus restores on the Sabbath?
Sabbath is the 7th day
Elijah puts his mantle on Elisha. Eventually Elisha is given a "double portion" (2Ki 2:9).
He represents the end time raised up, restored and empowered withered hand that God uses in his end time plan.
Vs 20-1
#Elisha asks if he can kiss mom and dad goodbye and then follow Elijah. Elijah allows him.
#When Elisha returns, he takes the pair of oxen, sacrifices them, boils their flesh with the oxen instruments. With this he feeds the people. Then he follows after Elijah
Syria (Aram) irritates Israel/Ahab/Jezebel
Benhadad is king of Syria
1Ki 20:1-10
1 And Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his host together; and there were thirty and two kings with him, and horses and chariots: and he went up and besieged Samaria, and fought against it. 2 And he sent messengers to Ahab king of Israel, into the city, and said unto him, Thus saith Ben-hadad, 3 Thy silver and thy gold is mine; thy wives also and thy children, even the goodliest, are mine. 4 And the king of Israel answered and said, It is according to thy saying, my lord, O king; I am thine, and all that I have. 5 And the messengers came again, and said, Thus speaketh Ben-hadad, saying, I sent indeed unto thee, saying, Thou shalt deliver me thy silver, and thy gold, and thy wives, and thy children; 6 but I will send my servants unto thee to-morrow about this time, and they shall search thy house, and the houses of thy servants; and it shall be, that whatsoever is pleasant in thine eyes, they shall put it in their hand, and take it away. 7 Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land, and said, Mark, I pray you, and see how this man seeketh mischief: for he sent unto me for my wives, and for my children, and for my silver, and for my gold; and I denied him not. 8 And all the elders and all the people said unto him, Hearken thou not, neither consent. 9 Wherefore he said unto the messengers of Ben-hadad, Tell my lord the king, All that thou didst send for to thy servant at the first I will do; but this thing I may not do. And the messengers departed, and brought him word again. 10 And Ben-hadad sent unto him, and said, The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me. 11 And the king of Israel answered and said, Tell him, Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off.
Summary
Benhadad of Syria (Aram) brings his army to Samaria and besieges it.
Benhadad tells Ahab that his silver and gold belongs to him. And also his wives and children.
Ahab (in subservient fashion) responds that "he and everything he has is his".
Benhadad then tells Ahab "not only is your silver, gold, wives and children mine, but tomorrow we will come to Samaria and take whatever we want".
Ahab calls his elders and tells them what occurred and that Benhadad "seeks mischief".
Isn't this already obvious?
What kind of relationship might this be? Paying tribute to Syria?
Ahab says "I haven't withheld anything from him"
Elders tell him not to listen or consent.
Ahab tells Benhadad "I will give you my silver, gold, wives and children" but I won't let you go thru the city/houses and take whatever you like.
Odd?
Benhadad says "The gods do so unto me, and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall suffice for handfuls for all the people that follow me"
What does this mean?
"I'll be danged if you think that the only thing I will take back to my people is the dirt of Samaria"?
Ahab respond "Let not him that girdeth on his armor boast himself as he that putteth it off."
What does this mean?
Do not triumph before the fight and the victory are won, for the events of war are uncertain.
1 Kings 20:12-21
12 And it came to pass, when Ben-hadad heard this message, as he was drinking, he and the kings, in the pavilions, that he said unto his servants, Set yourselves in array. And they set themselves in array against the city. 13 And, behold, a prophet came near unto Ahab king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thy hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah. 14 And Ahab said, By whom? And he said, Thus saith Jehovah, By the young men of the princes of the provinces. Then he said, Who shall begin the battle? And he answered, Thou. 15 Then he mustered the young men of the princes of the provinces, and they were two hundred and thirty-two: and after them he mustered all the people, even all the children of Israel, being seven thousand. 16 And they went out at noon. But Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him. 17 And the young men of the princes of the provinces went out first; and Ben-hadad sent out, and they told him, saying, There are men come out from Samaria. 18 And he said, Whether they are come out for peace, take them alive, or whether they are come out for war, take them alive. 19 So these went out of the city, the young men of the princes of the provinces, and the army which followed them. 20 And they slew every one his man; and the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them: and Ben-hadad the king of Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. 21 And the king of Israel went out, and smote the horses and chariots, and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.
Summary
Ahab's message is heard by Benhadad as he and his royals are drinking in their tents. Benhadad orders his servants to prepare their attack.
A prophet approaches Ahab and tells him that "I will deliver the Syrians into your hand this day. You will know that I am the Lord"
Wonder why God wants to deliver Syria into Ahab's hands? Merciful? Or not?
Some Jewish writers think this was Micaiah, the prophet in 1 Kings 22 who saw into the spirit realm and saw God send a lying spirit to Ahab's prophets to get him to war against Syria at Ramoth-Gilead where he would be killed.
Ahab: "ok, but who will start the conflict?" Prophet: "Thus says the Lord, your princes will start it."
Ahab gathers his troops, sends them out (at noon), and Benhadad and his princes are drunk.
Benhadad drunkenly underestimates their abilities, thinking he can take them alive, whether they come for peace or to fight.
The Samarians each kill their Syrian counterpart. Benhadad escapes on horse with horsemen.
Ahab attacks the horses and chariots, causing a great slaughter.
God shows great mercy to Israel, Ahab and Jezebel by sending a prophet with clear instruction.
-I wonder if Jezebel had replenished her supply of prophets?
-I wonder if Elijah's obedience in slaying all the prophets of Baal and Asherah enabled the true prophets voice to get thru and actually heard?
1 Kings 20:22-29
22 And the prophet came near to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest; for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee. 23 And the servants of the king of Syria said unto him, Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. 24 And do this thing: take the kings away, every man out of his place, and put captains in their room; 25 and number thee an army, like the army that thou hast lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot; and we will fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they. And he hearkened unto their voice, and did so. 26 And it came to pass at the return of the year, that Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians, and went up to Aphek, to fight against Israel. 27 And the children of Israel were mustered, and were victualled, and went against them: and the children of Israel encamped before them like two little flocks of kids; but the Syrians filled the country. 28 And a man of God came near and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, Because the Syrians have said, Jehovah is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys; therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thy hand, and ye shall know that I am Jehovah. 29 And they encamped one over against the other seven days. And so it was, that in the seventh day the battle was joined; and the children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.
Summary
A prophet tells Ahab that Syria will return next year. (Seems war may be a spring-fall activity per 2 Sam 11:1)
Why? Prob to prepare?
Syrians are convinced that Israel's God is God of the hills. If only they could fight them on the plains, we could beat them.
Also, the Syrians thought "let's get rid of our "kings" and replace them with military guys. (Remember the 32 king that were getting drunk in the tent with Benhadad back in verse 16?)
"We need a bigger army, more horses, chariots, etc."
Benhadad goes up to Aphek to fight against Israel again.
What can we assume about Aphek? It isn't hilly. It is on the plains.
Share map of "Aphek.jpeg"
Israel has seemed to follow the prophets advice to prepare. Still seems that Israel is tiny compared to the vastness of Syria.
A man of God appears and tells Ahab that he will deliver Syrian into their hands. And Ahab will know that Jehovah is Lord. Why? Merciful? Absolutely. Prob made sure because of obedience.
God is going above and beyond to show Ahab that He is Lord! Shouldn't Ahab already know this??
They camp against each other seven days. On the seventh day the battle begins and Israel kills 100,000 Syrians in one day.
Again we see God showing mercy to Israel and Ahab by sending a prophet to him with clear instruction. They obey and succeed. Seems almost counterintuitive to what God told Elijah.
1 Kings 20:30-34
30 But the rest fled to Aphek, into the city; and the wall fell upon twenty and seven thousand men that were left. And Ben-hadad fled, and came into the city, into an inner chamber. 31 And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, we pray thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life. 32 So they girded sackcloth on their loins, and put ropes on their heads, and came to the king of Israel, and said, Thy servant Ben-hadad saith, I pray thee, let me live. And he said, Is he yet alive? he is my brother. 33 Now the men observed diligently, and hasted to catch whether it were his mind; and they said, Thy brother Ben-hadad. Then he said, Go ye, bring him. Then Ben-hadad came forth to him; and he caused him to come up into the chariot. 34 And Ben-hadad said unto him, The cities which my father took from thy father I will restore; and thou shalt make streets for thee in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria. And I, said Ahab, will let thee go with this covenant. So he made a covenant with him, and let him go.
Summary
Syrian army retreats back to Aphek. A wall in the city falls on 27,000 Syrians. Benhadad seems to hide in an inner chamber.
Septuagint says Benhadad enters into a "closet" inside the inner chamber.
In a form of surrender and because he is convinced Ahab is merciful and won't kill them, Benhadad and his men:
Puts sackcloth on loins
Puts ropes on their head
Go forth to Ahab
Benhadad: "I pray thee, let me live." Seems he speaks this to Ahab through a messenger.
Ahab response to the messenger: "Is he alive? He is my brother."
Ahab has Benhadad "watched" to try and determine whether his plea for his life is genuine.
Ahab determines that Benhadad is being humble so Ahab invites him up to his chariot.
Benhadad promises Ahab:
Restoration of the cities that my took from you
I will make (name?) streets for you in Damascus as my father made for himself in Samaria
What tactic is Benhadad playing on? Ahab's 'pride'
Ahab says, "Ok, I will let you go with these promises"
Merciful? Foolish?
1 Kings 20:35-43
35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his fellow by the word of Jehovah, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. 36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of Jehovah, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. 37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, smiting and wounding him. 38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with his headband over his eyes. 39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king; and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. 40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 41 And he hasted, and took the headband away from his eyes; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. 43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
Summary
Scene changes...A certain prophet (Jews thought him to be Micaiah) says to his neighbor, "smite me". The man refuses.
Smite - strike, hit, beat, slay, kill
Prophet tells man, because you didn't obey the voice of Lord, as soon as you leave me, a lion will attack and kill you. It occurs.
Why? As a word against Ahab.
Harsh?
Prophet finds another man and repeats the same process. This man reacts differently. He smites the prophet, wounding him.
Guess he has heard about the other guy and the lion?
Next, the prophet waits for the king along the way. He disguises himself with a headband over his eyes.
Why does he disguise himself?
As the king passes by, he yells out a parable:
Your servant went out into a war
and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life
or else you shall pay a talent of silver.
As I was busy here and there, the prisoner escaped.”
The king of Israel said to prophet, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”
What's the point? Ahab, you let Benhadad go...evidently, he wasn't supposed to let him get away? Per the prophet, Ahab will pay for it with his life?
Why?
Benhadad was a blasphemer:
1Ki 20:23
"Their god is a god of the hills; therefore they were stronger than we: but let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they."
From this verse:
Lev 24:16
And he that blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, he shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as the native, when he blasphemeth the name of Jehovah, shall be put to death.
The prophet whips off his mask, exposing his identity. This saith the Lord "you let the man go free whom I had dedicated to destruction, therefore your life is to be forfeited for his life, and your people for his people.’
Was there any mention to Ahab about God wanting to kill Benhadad? Unsure
Ahab goes home sad and displeased.
Examples of things which occur on day seven…
Eze 46:1
Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath day it shall be opened, and on the day of the new moon it shall be opened.
Inner court
Sabbath day
New moon
1Ki 18:44
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a cloud out of the sea, as small as a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Make ready thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
Rev 16:12
And the sixth poured out his bowl upon the great river, the river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way might be made ready for the kings that come from the sunrising.
2Th 2:1-4
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him; 2 to the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; 3 let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, 4 he that opposeth and exalteth himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped; so that he sitteth in the temple of God, setting himself forth as God.
Joh 21:1-3
1 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples (inner court) at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. 2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
Peter represents the church
Mat 16:18
And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing. (New moon)
Joh 21:4-6
4 But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach (light from east gate shining in on day 7): yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. (Didn't recognize the light, never it before in the inner court) 5 Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No. (New moon) 6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
Joh 21:7-14
7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked) (garment was stolen by thief), and cast himself into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes. (Notice who is dragging the full nets toward Jesus) 9 So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. 10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken. 11 Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent. 12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? (Not used to seeing the sunlight stream in from the Eastern gate) knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. 14 This is now the third time (third time, third day = seventh day) that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
