Tanak Foundations-Concepts in First Kings-Part 17

In 1 Kings 19.1-21 we come to Jezebel, who will be a type of Ha Satan here. She is seducing Israel into idolatry like Cozbi did in Num 25. Ahab tells her about all the things that Elijah did and how he killed 400 prophets of Baal with the sword, so she sends a message to Elijah saying, “May the gods do to me and even more, if I don’t take your life as the life of one of them (the dead prophets) by tomorrow about this time.”

Elijah became afraid, and this shows us that the courage he had at Carmel was not of himself, but through the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit). So he fled to Beersheva alone. From there he went into the wilderness where Israel spent 40 years, and sat under a juniper tree, and wanted to die. He was depressed because he thought nothing had been accomplished and there was going to be no revival. Now, Elijah didn’t really want to die because if he did, he would have let Jezebel take him. But, he was emotionally drained.

So Yehovah sent an angel to minister to his physical needs. He needed food, water and some rest. So he ate and drank, and then slept. Then the angel came again and touched him and told him to arise and go on a 200 mile, 40 day journey to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God.

As we can see, Elijah is like Israel coming out of Egypt. He had a great victory, but later, wanted to die in the wilderness. He is being led to Sinai to meet with Yehovah. The 40 days is symbolic of the 40 years Israel spent in the wilderness after a notable spiritual failure. He finds the same cave that Moses saw the glory of God at Horeb and God spoke to him saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” God knew the answer but Elijah didn’t. He should have been in Israel.

He says he has been zealous and has served the Lord, and it is unfair that he should be suffering like this. He is the only one left who has not forsaken the Torah, and now he is a hunted man and it isn’t fair! So Yehovah tells him to stand on Horeb before him, like Moses did, and the Lord “passed by” (Exo 33.17-33). Here is a concept. When the Lord “passes by” he is revealing his “kivod” (glory) and we don’t comprehend it. We need to ask him for understanding and “invite him into the boat” (Mark 6.48). He is not playing games here.

Elijah sees the wind “breaking” the mountains into pieces, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then there was fire, but the Lord was not in the fire either.  These are the manifestations Moses saw.  Sometimes the Lord does appear in such ways, but he can also appear in less dramatic ways. Then there was a sound of “gentle stillness.” When Elijah heard it, he wrapped himself in his mantle, indicating that he was unworthy and had shame.

This alludes to Ezek 1.4 where Ezekiel looks and sees a storm wind coming from the north, indicating that the judgment of God was coming (Jer 23.19, 25.32). There was fire flashing forth and a bright light around it. In its midst was something like glowing metal. In Hebrew this is called “chashmal” which is a compound word of “chash” and “mal” which means “silent speaking.” This is a prophetic idiom which is beyond comprehension, with no words to describe it. If we saw Yehovah and the throne of God, could we describe it? That is “chashmal” and not even Paul could describe it (2 Cor 12.1-4).

Elijah went and stood at the entrance of the cave, and a voice came to him saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” This repeats what is said in v 10. Elijah in later generations would be known not as the prophet of storms and fire, but a healer and peacemaker (Mal 4.6). The Lord told him to go to Damascus and anoint Hazael (“God has seen”) king of Syria. Elijah has a job to do. This will get his mind off of himself and on what the Lord wanted. He will also anoint Jehu (“Yah is he”) king over Israel, and Elisha (“God is salvation”) as a prophet to replace him. Jehu will replace the corrupt Ahab and Jezebel. He will also give Elijah a friend and a successor.

Elijah is being given hope here because his work will continue with Elisha. The Lord also says that justice will be done because kingdom persecution and idolatry will not continue. Hazael will kill many (2 Kings 8.12, 10.32). Yehovah also told Elijah that he was not the only one who followed the Lord (1 Kings 18.22, 19.10, 19.14). The Lord had 7000 in Israel who have not bowed to Baal. This number signified a complete number, many or a multitude. So Elijah followed the “still, small voice” but did it in reverse order, he need a friend first.

Elisha was plowing with twelve oxen, symbolic of the twelve tribes he will lead. Elijah came over and put his mantle on him, probably with the tzitzit hanging on the corners. This was made of camel hair (2 Kings 1.8). Elijah has invested him with the prophetic office. So Elisha left the oxen and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you.” Elijah tells him to “go back again, for what have I done to you?” He is testing him (Matt 8.21-22; Luke 9.61-62; Acts 20.37). Elijah wasn’t the one calling him, God was. Whether he would follow that call was his decision.

So Elisha took a pair of oxen and offered them and boiled their flesh and gave away the implements of the oxen, and gave the meat for the people to eat. Then he arose and went with Elijah to become servant and to train, gaining insight and knowledge. In a way, he had a “going away party” with his family and friends. Elisha seems to have been part of an affluent family (had twelve oxen) and to follow the Lord may have been at a considerable financial loss to him.

1 Kings 20.1-43 deals with the siege of Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, by Ben-hadad, the king of Syria. He demands silver and gold, Ahab’s wives (he had more than one) and his children (had at least 70 sons-2 Kings 10.1). Ahab agrees and he believes he will be a vassal state and pay tribute. However, Ben-hadad wants everything and Ahab now knows he wants a fight (v 7). The elders tell him not to listen. Ben-hadad boasts about his army and Ahab tells him not to boast.

Now, Ben-hadad was drinking with the 32 kings allied with him in Sukkot. This place was developed during the time of David and Solomon and the second strongest military stronghold in Israel. There was a road linking Syria and Samaria and it crosses the Jordan at Adam. Some bibles translate “Sukkot” as “temporary shelters” in v 16, but this is a fortress (2 Sam 11.11).

A prophet had come to to Ahab and says God was going to deliver them to show he was Yehovah. Ahab said he didn’t have an army big enough, and the Lord says he will do it with the “young men” or “ne’arim” (elite warriors). Ahab asks who will develop the plan and begin the battle, and was told, “You.” So Ahab musters the elite warriors (young men/ne’arim) and there was 232. He mustered all the people and had a total of 7000.

So they went out at noon and Ben-hadad was drinking. The ne’arim went out first and were seen as a patrol, with Ahab’s full force coming later. Ben’hadad told his men to take them alive, but the ne’arim killed the Syrians who came out to them, and the Syrians fled. So Ahab struck their horses and chariots and won a victory. Then the prophet came and told Ahab to prepare because it wasn’t over.

The Syrians tried again and thought that the God of Israel was a God of the mountains only. They had probably heard about Sinai and Carmel and thought there were religious reasons why they lost. They believed that if they fought on a plain, they would win the battle. Now, terrain is always important in a battle, no matter if you are the attacker or defender. Knowing every inch of a battlefield is crucial. Spiritually, we should know our “terrain” before entering into a battle.

So in the spring Ben-hadad comes to Aphek on the east side of the Sea of Galilee. He tries to come in from the north to draw them into the Jezreel Valley, which was the best ground for a chariot battle. But Ahab doesn’t let him get that far. The prophet is telling Ahab everything the Syrians are discussing in their battle plans. He knows the Syrians think Yehovah is not a God of the valleys, but they will soon learn that he is the God of the valleys, too, and he is going to prove it. As a result, Israel won a second victory but Ahab did not kill Ben-hadad, but God had appointed him for destruction.

Then a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to another, “Please strike me” but the man refused. As soon as the man departed from him, a lion found him and killed him. Then he found another man and said, “Please strike me.” So the man struck him, wounding him. So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. When the king passed by he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and behold, a man (a superior) turned aside and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if for any reason he is missing, then your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ And while your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” And Ahab said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it (your life or the money).”

Then he hastily took off the bandage from his eyes, and Ahab recognized him (had seen him before as one of the sons of the prophets). He then said to him, “Thus says Yehovah, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I have devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'” Ahab will be killed by a Syrian (1 Kings 22.34) and Hazael will bring trouble upon Israel (2 kings 8.12).

We will pick up in 1 Kings 21.1-29 in Part 18.

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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