1 Kings 22:1-16 “You Can't Stand the Truth!”
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
1 Kings 22:1-16 “You Can’t Stand the Truth!” 1 Kings 22:1 Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. • Rawlinson conjectures that it was during this period that the Assyrian invasion, under Shalmaneser II., took place. The Black Obelisk tells us that Ahab of Jezreel joined a league of kings, of whom Ben-hadad was one, against the Assyrians, furnishing a force of 10,000 footmen and 2000 chariots. The common danger might well compel a cessation of hostilities between Syria and Israel. 1 Ahab’s Alliance: The Kurkh Monolith • In 1861 archeologists discovered a 7.2’ stele recording the first six years of the reign of Assyrian King Shalmaneser III (859-824 BC).[1] The stele is dated to 853 BC, and describes Shalmaneser’s campaigns in western Mesopotamia and Syria. At the end of the stele, however, it gives an account of the Battle of Qarqar. o Twelve kings allied themselves together against Shalmaneser at the Syrian city of Qarqar, one of whom was King Ahab of Israel. The relevant portion of the stele says, “I approached the city of Qarqar. I razed, destroyed and burned the city of Qarqar , his royal city. 1,200 chariots, 1,200 cavalry, and 20,000 troops of Hadad-ezer of Damascus; 700 chariots, 700 cavalry, 10,000 troops of Irhuleni, the Hamathite; 2,000 chariots, and 10,000 troops of Ahab, the Israelite; 500 troops of Byblos; 1,000 troops of Egypt; 10 chariots and 10,000 troops of the land of Irqanatu; 200 troops of Matinu-ba’al of the city of Arvad; 200 troops of the land of Usanatu; 30 chariots and X,000 troops of Adon-ba’al of the land of Shianu, 1,000 camels of Gindibu of Arabia; X hundred troops of Ba’asa, the man of Bit ruhubi, the Ammonite–these twelve kings he took as his allies.” • Significance: o While this event is not described in the Bible, the Kurkh Monolith confirms the existence and reign of King Ahab. 2 1 H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., 1 Kings, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 531. 2 https://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/biblical-archaeology-7-the-kurkh-monolith/ 1 Kings 22.1-16 1 3 3 https://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/biblical-archaeology-7-the-kurkh-monolith/ Jehu’s Alliance: The Black Obelisk • In 1846 archaeologists discovered a black basalt, four-sided obelisk measuring 6’5” in Kalhu, Iraq (modern Nimrud). This was the site of the ancient Assyrian capital. The obelisk was erected as a public monument in 825 BC, glorifying Shalmaneser III’s (858-824 BC) military exploits over a period of 31 years. It contains a mixture of reliefs and inscriptions recording the conquests of Assyrian King Shalmaneser III. There are a total of 20 reliefs: five per side. o Five different kings are pictured paying tribute to Shalmaneser: (1) Sua of Gilzanu; (2) ruler of Musri; (3) Marduk-apil-usur of Suhi; (4) Qalparunda of Patin. (5) The fifth king is none other than King Jehu of Israel, who paid tribute to Shalmaneser in ~841 BC, approximately 10 years before Jehu’s reign ended. The inscription connected to the relief of Jehu reads, “The tribute of Jehu, son of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears.” • This event is not recorded in the Bible. Indeed, the Bible does not record any of Jehu’s foreign affairs except for a brief comment that the Syrian king, Hazael, was taking away territory on the eastern border (2 Kings 10:32-33). 4 4 https://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/08/02/biblical-archaeology-8-the-black-obelisk-of-shalmaneser/ 1 Kings 22.1-16 3 1 Kings 22:1–16 1 Now three years passed without war between Syria and Israel. 2 Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat (yeh·ho·shaw·fawt; “Jehovah has judged”) the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel. • Jerusalem is south of Samaria o “Went down . .” o Surely denotes a spiritual descent 3 And the king of Israel (Ahab) said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, but we hesitate to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 So he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight at Ramoth Gilead?” Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” • A strange alliance – believer King to pagan unbeliever King • Nationality is very strong in Israel. These next two verses show just how far apart these two Kings were spiritually: 5 Also Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Please inquire for the word of the LORD (Yâhovah; Yahweh) today.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth Gilead to fight, or shall I refrain?” So they said, “Go up, for the Lord (Adonai) will deliver it into the hand of the king.” • Ahab rejected the truth of the Lord – so He gave him lies. • Leftover Prophets of Jezebel that weren’t slaughtered by Elijah on Mt. Carmel? 1 Kings 22.1-16 5 o From the number (cf. ch. 18:19) it has been concluded that these were “the prophets of the groves,” i.e., of Astarte, who escaped the massacre of the Baal prophets (ch. 18:40). 5 o “No ancient people considered any cultus complete without a class of men through whom the god might be questioned” (Bähr). 6 • Differences in Vvs 5-6 Yâhovah /yeh·ho·vaw/] n pr dei. From 1961; TWOT] יְהוִה ,יהוה o Vs 5: 3068 484a; GK 3378; 6519 occurrences; AV translates as “LORD” 6510 times, “GOD” four times, “JEHOVAH” four times, and “variant” once. 1 the proper name of the one true God. 1A unpronounced except with the vowel pointings of 0136. Additional Information: Jehovah = “the existing One”. 7 ʾAdonai /ad·o·noy/] n m. Am emphatic form of 113; TWOT] אֲדֹנָי o Vs.6: 136 27b; GK 151; 434 occurrences; AV translates as “Lord” 431 times, “lord” twice, and “God” once. 1 my lord, lord. 1A of men. 1B of God. 2 Lord—title, spoken in place of Yahweh in Jewish display of reverence. 8 o The difference makes all the difference – Jehoshaphat noticed the change in the language! 7 And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?” • Godly men always want to know what the only One and True God has to say. o They don’t care what other counselors say – only what God says. • Perhaps Jehoshaphat knew of Elijah, Elisha, and the school of the Prophets? 8 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah (me·kaw·yeh·hoo; “Who is like Jehovah?”) the son of Imlah (yeem·law; “whom God will fill up”), by whom we may inquire of the LORD; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!” • Is it possible to hate God because He doesn’t give you what you want? o Because bad things happen to good people? • You will be hated because you represent the King of the Universe. o You do what he wants you to do because you now know no other way. 5 H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., 1 Kings, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 532. 6 H. D. M. Spence-Jones, ed., 1 Kings, The Pulpit Commentary (London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1909), 532. 7 James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995). 8 James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995). 9 Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imlah quickly!” 10 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, having put on their robes, sat each on his throne, at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them. 11 Now Zedekiah (tsid·kee·yaw; “Jehovah is always true”) the son of Chenaanah (ken·ah·an·aw; “trader”) had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the LORD will deliver it into the king’s hand.” • Really? One guy even made horns for himself? o How far can a delusion go? • Was Jehoshaphat annoyed by these prostitutes? o Would you have enough discernment and courage to stand up and yell, “NO – this is not of the Lord!” Lying: • The Bible predicts a dreadful fate for liars. For instance, while banished on the island of Patmos, the Apostle John saw that "all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death" (Revelation 21:8). Similarly, the beloved disciple writes, liars are doomed to an eternity outside of God’s presence (Revelation 22:15). Because Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), lying is an extremely serious sin.9 • We later discover that these false prophets were compelled by a “lying Spirit” 1 Kings 22:23 Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.” Yâhovah /yeh·ho·vaw/] n pr dei.