Who Was Jezebel?

The Jezebel Spirit

Someone once told me that heels, specifically stilettos, where part of the Jezebel Spirit. If you grew up in the church, especially if you're a woman, you've probably heard of the Jezebel Spirit. Ususally it is applied to women who seem "loose" or promiscious. It is a spirit of haughtiness and sexual immorality, said to be derived from the evil queen who ruled the Northern Kingdon of Israel for a time.[3][4]

Although sexual immorality is a sin, thus making the spirit of sexual immorality a legitimate concern, the Jezebel Spirit is often used by members of the church to attack anything that they perceive as representing female sexuality. Not only have I seen heels associated with the spirit, but jewelry and makeup, as well. While adornment and the concept of modesty are whole topics in and of themselves, they are entangled with the concept of the Jezebel Spirit. Anything that people perceive as a woman doing to seduce a man is often lumped in with the Jezebel Spirit. And while many (probably even most) woman are not thinking about men when they put on their jewelry or do their makeup, those who consider it part of the Jezebel Spirit see it as being done to beautify oneself for the purpose of seduction.

The Jezebel Trope and Racism

We know that Jezebel is often used as a slur or deragatory to refer to women, but as a black woman I also associate Jezebel with a trope that has been used to exploit black women. In media, black people are usually pigeon holed in to a handful of roles. For black women you typically have the Mamie figure (e.g., all the women in The Help), the magical Negro (e.g., Bonnie Bennett in The CW's The Vampire Diaries), the strong black woman (e.g. almost any role played by Janet Jackson or Gabrielle Union), and the Jezebel (e.g. any hip hop music video), just to name a few. In modern society, the Jezebel role is quite popular. When attributed strictly to prostitution, Halle Berry's role in Monster's Ball comes to mind first (she even won an Academy Award for the role). LisaRaye in The Player's Club also comes to mind. Usually, however, it's not outright prostitution but a hyper sexualization of the actress and character. Here, I think of many of Megan Good's roles, such as in Think Like A Man. The movie Cuties, though supposedly a commentary on hypersexuality, not only sexualizes young girls, but puts a young black girl at the forefront of this 'sexual discovery.' Nicki Minaj, in general, but specifically in the movie Barbership: The Next Cut. This topic is too large to cover here, but I did want to point out that the Jezebel Spirit is often pointed toward black women disporportionately.[9][1]

Modern Arguements Against The Jezebel Spirit

Naturally, today's society pushes back on this concept. Many people seek to redefine Jezebel and repair her damaged repuation.[5][6][7][8] Some compare the smearing of Jezebel's character by associating her with prositution to modern sexism. They argue that because she was powerful, those who opposed her countered by attacking her sexuality. Others argue that it's a case of Biblical authors being taken too literally, as sexual immorality is often used as a desciptor when talking about Israel's idolatry. So, I asked myself, "Who was Jezebel, really?"

Who Was Jezebel

The first thing I did was look up the origin and meaning of "Jezebel." In Hebrew the name is actually Izevel and it is linked to Ba'al worship. Likely it means "unexalted" or "where is the prince?"—the latter being a reference to Ba'al worship.[1][2]

The second thing I did was use the search feature in a digital Bible to find all the references pertaining to Jezebel in the Bible. To my surprise, there are actually two Jezebels mentioned in the Bible: one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament.

Old Testament Jezebel

Jezebel of the Old Testament is introduced in 1 Kings 16:31 as the daughter of a king who marries Israel's king. She and her husband worship the Canaanite god Ba'al and lead Israel to do the same. The most significant things attributed to Jezebel during her life are the following:

1. Turning the people away from YHWH and toward Ba'al
2. Murder of the prophets of God (1 Kings 18:4)
3. Antagonizing Elijah the Prophet (1 Kings 19)
4. Having Naboth killed so her husband can take Naboth's property (1 Kings 21)

None of these seem related to sexual immorality, which is why people have started to quesiton the concept of the Jezebel Spirit.

There are, however, a few verses in 2 Kings 9 that seem to explain the link. Jehu says Jezebel has a cult of prostitution (and witchcraft). Also, when Jezebel sees Jehu approaching, she puts on makeup and adorns her head—eye makeup is only ever referenced in the Bible in conjunction with rebellion. This would explain why some pastors denounce makeup and jewelry as part of the Jezebel spirit, and is the only link between Queen Jezebel and sexual immorality.

While a case could be made that this is in fact the origin and root of the Jezebel Spirit, I have to point out two important things before you build a case for this as doctrine. Number one: prostitution, harlotry, and adultery are often used to describe Israel when the nation turns away from God (Hosea is the perfect example of this). Knowing that Jezebel did in fact lead Israel astray and that she is being associated with witchcraft, prostitution may not be a reference to literal prostitution and physical sex, but a statement of her treachery toward The Most High God. Number two: although Jezebel puts on makeup and adorns her head, there is no indication that she does this to seduce anyone or for sexually immoral reasons. Remember she is the queen of a nation and sees a dignitary approaching. This isn't much different than if you were to see someone approaching you door and you brushed your hair or changed into more appropriate clothes. As queen, it's likely that there was an expected look that she felt the need to convey when Jehu arrived.

New Testament Jezebel

Arguably, the Jezebel mentioned in the New Testament (Revelation 2:20-23) could actually be a reference back to Queen Jezebel of the Old Testament. The NIV, CSB, ESV, KJV, NKJV, NASB all read as though the author is speaking of a woman named Jezebel. However, the CJB and NLT read as though the woman in question is being called a Jezebel.

If the woman is actually being called a Jezebel, this would be evidence that the concept of the Jezebel Spirit was present during the early church and is not a modern invention. It would also solidify the notion that it references the infamous queen of Israel. However, it is also possible that this is a woman named Jezebel who has no relation to the aforementioned Jezebel.

Either way, it is this Jezebel that is explicitly said to have committed acts of sexual immorality and led the people to commit sexual imorality. It seems to me this is where the concept of the Jezebel Spirit, specifically relating to "looseness" and "sexual immorality" gets its origin.

That being said, it is possible that yet still this isn't about literal sex. As mentioned above, the Bible intertwines the concept of idolatry and adultery (sexual immorality). Not only is the Jezebel of Revelation linked with false doctrine and idolatry by way of consuming meat sacrificed to idols, she is being discussed in Revelation, a book full of symbolism. If you step back just one chapter you will see a brillant description followed by an explanation of symbols. Sometimes in Revelation the symbol definitions are in the book (as in Revelation 1), but other times the symbols are given in other books (such as Daniel). Throughtout the Bible a woman represents a church. In Revelation we already see two women contrasted to represent the true Church and remnant (Revelation 12) versus the apostate church and antichrist powers (the Whore of Babylon). The woman spoken of in Revelation 2 could reference a splinter church or sect within the church that was teaching false doctrine. In this case, sexual immorality might not be literal but a reference to idolatry.

Conclusion

As a believer in the Most High God and a servent of the Messiah, my duty is to seek truth, not to follow the trends or what I desire to be true. My goal is to please the Father, not society and not myself. As a millennial and US citizen, my upbringing naturally biases me against the concept of The Jezebel Spirit. This is something I have to be aware of as I read the text and must constantly pray over to ensure I hear God's voice clearly. When I studied this topic, I tried to study from both points of view and in the end, I do believe there is a seductive spirit in our world. Whether this spirit should be attributed to Queen Jezebel or the false prophetess Jezebel, I'm not sure. I do not think all aspects of female sexuality should be lumped in with this spirit, either. God created both male and female as sexual beings to enjoy each other sexually (in marriage); therefore, female sexuality is natural. That being said, I do believe there are things best left for intimacy (re: strictly between a woman and her husband). My conclusion would be that each person should search themselves for motive. Do I behave this way or dress this way because it's who I am and it's comfortable, or becasue I seek attention or validation or because I'm mimicking the people I see on TV? If the Holy Spirit is convicting me, then I'm probably wrestling with a sexual spirit. However, if I pray and the Spirit does not convict me, it is not a sexual spirit (or I've grieved the Holy Spirit away and all hope is lost...but let's assume none of us are doing that!).

References

1. "Strong's H348. ". Blue Letter Bible; visited March 12, 2022
2. Mike Campbell. "Jezebel". Behind the Name; visited March 12, 2022
3. "What is the Jezebel spirit?". GotQuestions.org; visited March 12, 2022
4. Hope Bolinger. "What is the Jezebel Spirit". Christianity.com. February 7, 2022
5. Aysha Winstanley Musa. "Don’t believe The Handmaid’s Tale: the original Jezebel has been much maligned". The Conversation. July 18, 2017
6. Wednesday Martin. "Who Exactly Was the Original Jezebel?". Lit Hub. September 20, 2018
7. Nyasha Junior. "Jezebel Isn’t Who You Think She Is". Dame Magazine. November 5, 2019
8. Heather Donckels. "Book asserts Jezebel was anything but a prostitute". The Spokesman-Review. November 10, 2007
9. Janet Howe Gaines . "How Bad Was Jezebel?". Biblical Archaeology Society. March 24, 2021
10. "The Jezebel Stereotype" Ferris State University; visited March 12 ,2022
11. "Mammy, Jezebel and Sapphire: Stereotyping Black women in media". Al Jazeera. July 26, 2020

2 Chronicles 17-20: Jehoshaphat

The rule of Jehoshaphat over Judah is discussed. These chapters are paralleled in 1 Kings 22.

Introduction

Asa's son Jehoshaphat not only follows God, but seeks out peace with the northern kingdom. He is a devout king that brings much good to Judah during his 25 year reign. Jehoshaphat takes the throne at 35 years old. The passages in 2 Chronicles 17-20 are paralleled in 1 Kings 22.
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Reform

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Tom Low

When Jehoshaphat takes over the throne, he is determined to keep Israel on the path of righteousness. He even sends princes and Levites to teach the law of God in different cities. Due to his faithfulness, the kingdom experiences peace during his reign. No one dared attack, and the Philistines and Arabians even send gifts in his honor. Faithfulness does not prevent Jehoshaphat from building an army, however. We are given an outline of the mighty captains who led the army, which was largest army Judah had seen thus far.

Jehoshaphat had removed "groves" or idols from Judah, though he does not remove the "high places" or altars. God did not want idolatry among His people and was likely very proud of Jehoshaphat for destroying such things.

Jehoshaphat sets judges over the cities. He warns them, even then, about judging a person; that is God's job alone. We can discern the right actions and tell someone when they are in the wrong, but we cannot judge the soul of the person. Amariah was the chief priest at the time. Top

Healing the Rift

Jehoshaphat recognized that the Israelites of the north were the same people as those of the south and tried to repair the bonds between the two kingdoms. While meeting with the king of the north, Ahab, he agrees to go to war with Syria, despite a prophet of the LORD proclaiming their defeat.

The entire exchange about the battle is quite weird. Following the exchange, it is obvious that God wanted Ahab to go into the battle to meet his demise. Jehoshaphat understood that God wants Ahab to go into this battle and therefore complies. During the battle Ahab disguises himself which almost gets Jehoshaphat killed. However, when Jehoshaphat calls on God, God protects him. There is a lot to think about here. On one hand, this could be an indication that Jehoshaphat was not in the wrong when he went to battle, because God spared him. On the other hand, this could be a lesson in choosing our acquaintances wisely. Ahab essentially set Jehoshaphat up for death. Had Jehoshaphat not called on God, he would have died in the battle. God knows that we will make mistakes, so we are fortunate that when we call to Him for help that He will answer. However, we should remember that when we associate with ungodly people we are more likely to end up in ungodly situations.

Jehoshaphat survives the battle, but Ahab does not. While we will see continued attempts to heal the rift between Israel and Judah, I can't imagine this situation helping the relation. Imagine, the reaction of Israel that their "enemy" Judah had agreed to go to battle with them, but Israel's king dies in battle and Judah's king walks away free. I'm sure conspiracy theorists of the time had a field day with that.
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Jehoshaphat Condemned

In 1 Kings we never see a reaction from God or Judah about Jehoshaphat's attempt to make peace with Israel. Since God told Rehoboam not to fight his brothers, it seems reasonable to assume God would be pleased with Jehoshaphat's actions. However, a prophet of God condemns Jehoshaphat for associating with those that hate the Lord (Ahab). In the same chapter Jehoshaphat is praised for his actions in following God. This adds to the confusion of which lesson we are to take from this scenario.

Today we often make the mistake of believing God wants peace at all cost, including compromise of His word. This is not true. Now that the northern kingdom had fallen so deeply into idolatry, they were just as dangerous as the pagan nations to Judah's relationship with God. God may not have wanted them fighting each other, because there was always hope for Israel's return, but He didn't want His holy nation joining with a disobedient and pagan nation, either.
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Interesting

In 2 Chronicles 19 we read about Zebadiah, the son of Ishmael was over Judah. I find this interesting considering the rift that existed and still exists between the children of Isaac, verses the children of Ishmael. Clearly there was an intermarriage that placed Zebadiah in this position. God forbade the Israelites from intermarrying with the Canaanites (which they did anyway), or the other pagan nations, but we see plenty of examples where people from these nations committed to follow God and were accepted into the nation. This reiterates the fact that we all have an equal opportunity to be accepted into God's nation.
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Moab and Ammon Attack

When the Moabites and the Ammonites come against Judah, Jehoshaphat's reaction is to seek God. He even proclaims a fast throughout the kingdom. This is what God expected of his people and is in stark contrast to the kings who sold the treasures of God to buy allies from pagan nations during times of distress (even Jehoshaphat's father Asa fell prey to this mentality). God fights the war for Israel, causing the allied armies to turn against themselves and kill one another.
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Downfall

Overall Jehoshaphat is described as a great, God-fearing king. However, near the end of his reign, he joins himself with Ahab's son Ahaziah who does evil. God does not allow the works of their collaboration to prosper. It is important to choose our friends and collaborators carefully.
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References

2 Chronicles 13: Abijah

But as for us, the Lord is our God, and we have not forsaken him...2 Chronicles 13:10 KJV

The reign of Rehoboam's son Abijah over Judah is discussed. This is paralleled in 1 Kings 15.

Introduction

Abijah, also called Abia and Abijam is the 2nd king to take the throne after the division of Israel. He is the son of Rehoboam, the grandson of Solomon, and the great-grandson of David. His mother is Maachah (also spelled Michaiah), who is the granddaughter of Absalom. Abijah only reigns for 3 years.
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War with Israel

Abijah continues the war his father began with Jeroboam. Despite God's desire for Israel to be one nation, the rift between the two sides was not closing. When Abijah confronts Jeroboam, he points out the problems of idolatry within the northern territory. Unlike Rehoboam, Abijah relies on God to win this battle. 1 Kings 15 tells us Abijah (referred to as Abijam) had a very poor relationship with God, so this may have been a one time occurrence.

Jeroboam had come up with a great military strategy, which almost defeated Judah, however because God was on their side, Judah defeated Israel. Abijah expands the territory of Judah and Jeroboam grows weak.
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Legacy

Abijah marries 14 women and has 22 sons and 16 daughters. His son Asa inherits the throne.
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References

1. "Abijam". Bible Hub; visited March 2017

2 Chronicles 8-10: Queen of Sheba

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.Matthew 6:24 KJV

Solomon's wealth and visit with the Queen of Sheba is covered.

Introduction

Chapter 8-10 cover the wealth of Solomon's kingdom. To construct the Temple he must have had a tremendous amount of wealth. Solomon receives enormous amounts of wealth from kingdoms far and wide. The amounts of gold and silver he receives are detailed in these chapters. We also learn of the ornate nature of Solomon's throne, which was made of ivory and Gold. It even had were lions attached to the it, confirming the symbolism of lions to the tribe of Judah. All together, these chapters also give us a better look at who Solomon was. Much of the information covered here is also covered in 1 Kings 9 and 10.
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Solomon's Egyptian Wife

1 Kings introduces us to Solomon's Egyptian wife, but 2 Chronicles shows us that Solomon knew his wife was not acceptable in God's eyes. Solomon builds a home for his wife outside of the city because he says the city is holy thus it is unacceptable to have her there. Solomon treaded the line of being of the world (marrying women who served pagan gods) and keeping God's law. In the end Solomon falls to paganism. We all must make a choice; you can't serve two masters! (Matthew 6:24).
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Ophir's Gold

The amount of gold collected by Solomon's men differs in 2 Chronicles 8:18 than what is written 1 Kings 9:28. I discussed this "contradiction" in the post on 1 Kings 9. Likely it is a copyist error.
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Queen of Sheba

Also discussed in 1 Kings 9 and 10 is the visit Solomon receives from the queen of Sheba. The queen of Sheba visits to see if he really is as wise and rich as they say. When Solomon proves to be even wiser and more wealthy, the queen is shocked. She is impressed by the glory bestowed upon God by the Temple and those who work there as well as by Solomon's wisdom and riches. She gives money to Solomon, and he gives money to her—it appears they establish a system of trade between the two nations.

Interestingly, in Ethiopia, which was part of Sheba during Biblical times, many people believe Solomon and the queen conceived a child. Menelik I is said to be a descendant of Solomon and started the Solomonistic dynasty in Ethiopia. This is the root of the Rasta belief that Haile Selassie I was the Messiah.^[1] The Bible does not confirm a child between the pair. However, even if the two did conceive a child, Haile Selassie I was not the Messiah (I'll discuss this when I get around to talking about denominations). Despite the consequences of this belief, I do agree that it is possible for Solomon to have fathered a child with the queen of Sheba; I would not stake my life on the theory however. If it was important to God's plan for our salvation, He would have revealed such a thing.
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References

1. "The Zagwe and Solomonic dynasties". Encyclopædia Britannica; visited March 2017

Rehoboam

Rehoboam, 1st king of Judah, is discussed.

Introduction

Rehoboam is the son of Solomon and Naamah. He becomes king of Israel upon Solomon's death. 1 Kings 14 tells us that he took the throne when he was 41 years old and reigned for 17 years. Most sources site the begin of his rule to be 931bc, which would mean he lived from 972-914bc and was king from 931-914bc. Some scholars date the split of the kingdom to 922bc.^[1] This would place Rehoboam's reign from 922-905bc, and his birth in 963bc. The bulk of Rehoboam's reign is given in 1 Kings 12, 1 Kings 14:21-31, and 2 Chronicles 10-12.
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Relationship with God

Kings were to lead by example, and whether the king followed God's law or not directly effected the state of the nation. Thus each kings' relationship with God is clearly defined. Rehoboam's relationship with God appears to be pretty bad. Rehoboam causes the kingdom to split by not listening to the elders. God sends word to Rehoboam through a prophet named Shemaiah to cease fighting with the northern tribes, however, Rehoboam fights with them for his entire reign (1 Kings 12:22-24 and 1 Kings 14:30). This tells us Rehoboam didn't listen to God. In 2 Chronicles 11:16-17, we learn that under Rehoboam, Israel followed the ways of God for 3 years. Considering the fact that he reigned for 17 years, this isn't a lengthy period of faithfulness. 2 Chronicles 12 confirms that while Rehoboam had brief moments where he submitted to God, his was known for his ungodly behavior.
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Family History

As the son of Solomon, Rehoboam was also the grandson of David and Bathsheba. He is thus descended from the tribe of Judah, which makes him a descendant of Boaz and Ruth.

Given the timeline, Rehoboam would have been about 2 years old when David died. One of my grandfathers died when I was 2 (about to turn 3) years old and I have no memory of him; however I still managed to pick up some of his habits. Likely, Rehoboam wouldn't have retained any memories of David, but it would have been possible for him to pick up some of David's mannerisms, quirks, and habits if he was around him long enough.

Rehoboam's mother is named Naamah. Naamah was not an Israelite, despite God specifically commanding kings to marry Israelite women. Her ties to Ammon and paganism likely influenced both Solomon and Rehoboam.^[2]

Rehoboam marries many women, like his father. The details of his marriages are listed in 2 Chronicles 11. Many of these women are quiet closely related to him, though not close enough to be defined as incest biblically. Maachah, the daughter (or granddaughter) of Absalom (Rehoboam's uncle who tried to steal the throne), becomes Rehoboam's favorite wife. Although Rehoboam has 28 sons and even more daughters, it is Maachah's son who succeeds him on the throne. Maachah's son is called Abijah, Abijam, and Abia throughout the text.

Battles and Wars

Egypt

In the fifth year of his reign, the city of Jerusalem is attacked by Shishak, the king of Egypt (1 Kings 14:25). Shishak, which is also written Shishaq, is generally identified as Egyptian pharaoh Shoshenq I. Interestingly, Shisak is the first pharaoh mentioned by name in the Bible. The account of Shishak launching an attack on Jerusalem is listed in the history texts of Egypt, as well.^[3][4]

Shishak brings a considerable army for his attack and is able to raid the Temple of all of its treasures. Although it is not mentioned, I have to wonder if this includes the Ark of the Covenant; after all the ark is not mentioned again after it is placed in the Temple under Solomon's rule. The Israelites were likely devastated by such a defeat, and were not able to replace the expensive treasures from before. Instead, Rehoboam replaces everything with brass replicas.

Note that some sources do not identify Shoshenq I as Shishak, instead they suggest Shishak should be identified as Thutmose III.^[5] This would require a significant change in the timeline as Thutmose III was pharaoh of Egypt from 1479–1426bc.^[6] On the other hand, Shoshenq I was pharaoh of Egypt from 945–924bc. Using the generally agreed upon date that Rehoboam began his reign in 931bc, his 5th year would have been 926bc, 2 years before the end of Shoshenq I's reign.^[4]

Cases have also been made for Rameses II to be the pharaoh called Shishak. Reading the different hypothesis is quite interesting.If you are interested in Biblical timelines and/or matching Biblical events to secular events, you should look up the information on which of these kings actually his Shishank.
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Israel

It isn't surprising that Rehoboam would have been furious when the northern kingdom split from him. I can't think of a single point in history where part of a country decided to form it's own sovereign nation and the original king (or president) didn't fight to retain the territory. Some of this is about pride, but many times, it's also about wealth and power. The northern kingdoms consisted of 10 whole tribes as opposed to Judah's 2 tribes. The loss of these 10 tribes robbed Judah of both wealth and man power, something no nation wants to lose. Rehoboam did just as one would expect and went to war with Jeroboam.

Liberty taken with the depiction of Rehoboam
the Bible does not give a description of Rehoboam.

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Related Posts

References

1. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 605. 2014
2. Elizabeth Fletcher. "Naamah, wife of Solomon". Women in the Bible. 2006
3. Associates for Biblical Research. "What evidence has been found of the Egyptian king, Shishak?". Christian Answers. 1999
4. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Sheshonk I". Encyclopædia Brittanica. July 2, 2010
5. Elizabeth Mitchell, PhD. "Will the Real Shishak Please Stand Up?". Answers in Genesis. March 2, 2012
6. Peter F. Dorman and Margaret Stefana Drower. "Thutmose III". Encyclopædia Brittanica. July 1, 2010

Corrupt Leaders Corrupt Society

I think it's quite fitting that I'm reading 1 & 2 Kings at the beginning of Trump's tenure as president of the United States. We're only nine days in and he's already causing quite the commotion.

I think it's quite fitting that I'm reading 1 & 2 Kings at the beginning of Trump's tenure as president of the United States. We're only nine days in and he's already causing quite the commotion. The leader of a nation has the power to effect how their citizens behave, as well as, the people in surrounding nations. When I was younger, I believed people were less likely to give up their morals for "the powers that be." However, that's exactly what happened just before the Holocaust. The Nazi's took over and suddenly everything changed for the Jews. Hate crimes have been on the rise since President Trump's campaign took off and now Muslims have been banned from re-entering the country. We want to believe the best about people, but bad leadership brings out the worst in people and unfortunately, the worse is there to be brought out.

1 Kings follows the monarchs of Israel, both as a united kingdom and as a divided kingdom. While there are a few decent leaders, most of the kings (particularly in the northern kingdom) are idolators who drive the Israelites into paganism. When these kings sanction pagan sacrifices and worship, the people follow suit. It probably started with those who just wanted a seat at the table, so to speak. Like in the world today, there are people who will easily give up their morals for money or power. Once the powerful players are corrupted, society follows suit from peer pressure. Suddenly, those who are trying to do the right thing are the minority and ostracized for their beliefs. In Israel, prophets like Elijah were hunted down for staying true to God, just as people who try to adhere to God's word today are often criticized.

Over the next four years (if we make it that far), I expect to see the hate that Donald Trump has been normalizing to spill into our day-to-day lives. However, we must be like Elijah and stand firm in the love and compassion God has given us through His spirit.
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1 Kings 22: Jehoshaphat Makes Peace

The last chapter of Kings brings the southern kingdom of Judah back into focus. For the first time since the division of the kingdom, we see the two kingdoms come together.

Introduction

1 Kings 22 introduces us to a new king in Judah, Jehoshaphat, the son of Asa. For the first time since the split of the kingdom, the two kings are seen trying to broker peace.
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An Update to the War With Syria

The war between Syria and Israel mentioned in 1 Kings 18 had come to an unofficial end when Ahab signed a treaty with Benhadad. There hadn't been any battles for 3 years. However, Israel had not reclaimed all of their land that the Syrians had conquered during the war.
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Peace Between the Two Kingdoms

A Peaceful Scene
Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Tom Low

During this time, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, met with Ahab, the king of Israel. This is the first mentioning of the two kings coming together in peace, and leads to an agreement between the two to recapture Israel's lost city. Jehoshaphat says that if God gave His blessing, he would help Ahab reclaim the lost territory and reminds him that despite their differences, they are of the same people.

Often as Christians we forget that we are supposed to be of the same body. We allow petty differences to divide us, but that only makes all of us weaker. Had Israel been a unified nation, they may have never lost the territory in the first place.
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Consulting the Prophets

The king of Israel calls for his prophets and they claim God has blessed the task, however, Jehoshaphat enquires of a real prophet of God. Ahab's prophets must have been involved in pagan practices. Despite Elijah executing a large number of them, Jezebel and Ahab's promotion of paganism likely led more to spring up.

Ahab mentions that there is a prophet of God named Micaiah, but he is despised by the king. Like we saw with Ahab and Elijah, the king was at odds with this prophet because he spoke the Word of God, and the king was at odds with the Word of God. Anytime you are against God you will begin to despise those who uphold His Word. This happens in our world today, as well.

Jehoshaphat stands up for Micaiah and has him brought in for counsel. As Christians, we are to stand up for our fellow believers rather than let the world deny them. We are to stand together in Christ. Jehoshaphat understood this and knew that if he was going into battle, he need a real prophet to get instruction from God.
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Michaiah

Initially, Micaiah gives the same answer as the rest of the prophets, but Ahab seems to think Micaiah is being disingenuous and prompts him for a real answer. This time he foretells of the scattering of Israel. Micaiah says that God deliberately wants Ahab to attack the city, that he has sent an angel to persuade Ahab to go into battle. A lying spirit (possibly the devil) had come forth and agreed to put lies on the tongues of the prophets. This spirit apparently only had the power to deceive the false prophets. Just as in the end times, God's people can not be fooled because they are in one accord with Him.

One of the false prophets is angered and slaps Micaiah. This seems like something that would occur on a reality TV show today. Despite the false prophet being guilty of assault, Micaiah is the one sentenced to prison. Micaiah, seemingly unbothered, says that if the people return in peace he isn't a prophet of the Lord. This is the essence of Deuteronomy 18:22; the way to see a true prophet is to see if their prophecies come true. This past year, many so called "prophets" were predicting President Obama would be assassinated before the end of his term or declare martial law to stop the next president from taking office. Since neither of these things happened, we know they are false prophets. Similarly, if Israel was not scattered, the people would know that Micaiah was not a true prophet, as well.
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On to Battle

Despite these warnings, both kings went to battle. At the edge of battle, Ahab begins to fear, probably due to Michaiah's vision, and disguises himself. When the king of Syria commands his army to contend with the king of Israel, they attack Jehoshaphat instead of Ahab. When they realize their mistake, they retreat from attacking Jehoshaphat, find Ahab, and kill him. He dies in his chariot and is carried back to Samaria, where just as Elijah predicted, the dogs licked his blood. As Michaiah had warned, the battle was not for Ahab to win.
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Jehoshaphat & Ahaziah

Jehoshaphat was 35 years old when he took the throne; he reigned for 25 years in Judah. Like his father (Asa), he walked with God and did what was right. However, like Asa, he still refused to remove the altars for pagans and the people of Israel still committed idolatry. Jehoshaphat is the king that brought peace between Judah and Israel. His desire for God is what prompts him to reach out to Michaiah for consuel.

Ahaziah takes the throne after his father's death, during Jehoshaphat's 17th year, but he only takes the throne for 2 years. He was an evil king, like the kings of Israel before him. He served Baal and provoked God's wrath.

After the war, Jehoshaphat sends ships to Ophir for gold, but the ships are not able to make the journey. Instead they break at Eziongeber. Ahaziah offers to help, but Jehoshaphat refuses. Perhaps Jehoshaphat took this as a sign that God did not want him going after gold. It is also possible that after seeing the idolatry of the kings of Israel, Jehoshaphat no longer wanted to be associated with them.
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References

1 Kings 21: Jezebel Executes Naboth

1 Kings 21 shows us the true treachery of Queen Jezebel--she is probably the source of the phrase "I'd kill for it."

Introduction

1 Kings 21 tells the story of ruthlessness in the pursuit of furthering our own goals. A lot of times when people who have power want something, they refuse to take no for an answer. This chapter is a perfect example of how situations can get out of hand. People often think that because they've made a reasonable request, the people around them are obliged to follow. A common arena for this today is in how men approach women. Often, I've seen men who believe that simply because they are a nice guy the girl didn't have a right to refuse a date with him. This misconception isn't limited to men. In this chapter, we see that Jezebel devises a murderous plot to get her husband something he has been denied. Just because you want something and ask for it nicely does not mean you should receive it.
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Naboth

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/adyna

A man named Naboth owned a vineyard in Jezreel which was near the palace of king Ahab. This must have been a well kept and prosperous vineyard because king Ahab desired it for himself. Even though Ahab was considered a corrupt king, he took the proper steps in his attempt to acquire the land; he offered to give Naboth a better vineyard elsewhere or to pay money for the land. Both options seem fair, but, Naboth was unwilling to part with the land. Naboth informs Ahab that the vineyard is his inheritance from his fathers and he won't part with it.

I understand the sentiment of Naboth because like Naboth, I would never sell my family's "farm." My grandparents purchased a sizable amount of land during in the Jim Crow South, which is no small feat for a black couple—let alone a black couple with little to no formal education. My grandfather was a farmer and my grandmother was a cook, but they managed to buy more land than all of their children, somehow (probably from desire). They worked hard and I respect that. That land meant a lot to them; I saw it in my grandmother's eyes during the housing boom when companies were doing everything they could to find a way to take it. In circumstances like this, money and "better" become obsolete. You can't replace the memories or the sentiment of the land. I'm sure Naboth had a similar connection to his vineyard.
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Ahab's Reaction

King Ahab didn't understand this; which is understandable for a king. If you've ever seen Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, you can easily see this unfolding. In the movie, the emperor was a spoiled brat who wanted to build a vacation spot where another family lived. He didn't care about the peasants who had sentimental and monetary ties to that land, he just wanted what he wanted. Ahab was a little better, but still quite similar.

From Ahab's point of view, he'd made a reasonable request. After all, he'd offered to pay or to find him a better vineyard. The sentiment that builds from hard work was probably lost on a king who had lived his entire life as royalty. Ahab resorts to sulking and refuses to eat. He also complains to his wife, Jezebel.
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Jezebel's Revenge

A lot of times when we see things we want, we jokingly use the phrase "I'd kill for it." Jezebel took that phrase to heart and orchestrates a plot to have Naboth killed so her husband could have the vineyard. Ahab was king of the land, it was definitely possible for them to find another plot of land or another vineyard. Ahab even stated in part of his offer that he would find a vineyard for Naboth. Her actions prove that she had a lot of malice in her heart and was selfish in nature, thought fiercely loyal to her husband.

Jezebel contacts the elders of the city and asks them to find people to bear false witness against Naboth. In the midst of exalting Naboth's righteousness these witnesses were to proclaim that Naboth was guilt of blasphemy. Not only does Jezebel have him framed for blasphemy, which bore the death penalty, Jezebel places the decree in the king's name and with his seal. To Israel's knowledge, it is Ahab who orders Naboth's death.

When the elders of the city notify the king's people that Naboth is dead, Jezebel urges Ahab to take advantage of the situation and take charge of the property. Ahab doesn't condemn his wife for this action. The fact that he goes to take possession of the property just as she suggestion implies that he thought it was a great idea. It is also possible that he did not know of his wife's treachery. This is precisely why we are not follow people blindly.
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Judgment

God sends his judgment on the events to the prophet Elijah. His judgment comes with an ominous message foretelling of Ahab's untimely death. When Elijah shows up, Ahab already considers Elijah his enemy; what he doesn't seem to process is that by making himself an enemy of God's people, he has made himself an enemy of God. The only reason he and Elijah were enemies was because Ahab was an enemy of God in the first place. Elijah was simply delivering the messages he received.

This is something to remember as you look at who is against you in life. Is it the world who is against you or a representative of God? You should hope it is the world that is against you, that means you're probably on God's side.

When Elijah lays out Ahab's crimes and his coming punishment, Ahab humbles himself before God. He tears his clothes, fasts, and puts on sackcloth, to show his humility. Because of this, God postpones his judgment for the next generation. Sometimes it takes an external person telling us about ourselves to truly see how far from God we've drifted.
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References

1 Kings 20: The Syrian War

1 Kings 20 tells us about the beginning of a war between Syria and the northern kingdom. As we saw in the previous chapter, God was setting up a revival of the nation through Elijah, Elisha, Hazael, and Jehu, but in order to accomplish this, Benhadad, the current king of Syria, had to be dealt with.

Introduction

1 Kings 20 tells us about the beginning of a war between Syria and the northern kingdom. Despite Ahab's idolatry and difficulty leading the nation, God steps in to save Israel from defeat. As we saw in the previous chapter, God was setting up a revival of the nation through Elijah, Elisha, Hazael, and Jehu, but in order to accomplish this, Benhadad, the current king of Syria, had to be dealt with.
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Syria Attacks Israel

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Jon Wisbey

Before Elijah anoints Hazael, God's choice for king of Syria, the king of Syria is Benhadad. Benhadad attacks Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom, with a vengeance. Victorious, he tells Israel to surrender and lays claim to their wealth, wives, and children. King Ahab initially agrees, but recants after consulting with the elders. It seems odd to agree before consulting with anyone, but it seems odder still to consult someone after the decision has been made. Nonetheless, this fits the character of Ahab who has already proven to be a terrible king. Willing to put up a fight, the elders tell Ahab not to consent to Benhadad's request. When Ahab sends messengers to refuse the king, Benhadad's reaction is violent. If he hadn't been trying to start a war, he was now; Benhadad sends an entire an army against Israel.
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Prophesied Victory

An unnamed prophet comes to Ahab to tell him that God has said Israel would be victorious. We know this prophet isn't Elijah, because Elijah was in hiding and Jezebel, Ahab's wife, wanted him dead. Given that prophets of the true God were in short supply in the northern kingdom, it makes me curious as to who the prophet actually was. At this point in time, we don't know if Ahab knows who Elisha is or that Elisha is working with Elijah, so it is possible the prophet is Elijah. It is also possible that this prophet was a an ordinary person suddenly moved by God to further His Will. We must also consider that this prophet is actually pagan (like Balaam), since it seems unlikely that Ahab would consult a real prophet.
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First Battle

Israel is able to assemble an army of 7000 men, led by 232 princes of the tribes. I find it interesting that the number of men in the army matches the number of men God tells Elijah He still has in Israel in 1 Kings 19. Assured the victory, according to the prophet, Israel attacks at noon, to find Benhadad and his 32 kings were drunk. The 32 kings of Benhadad were likely leaders of tributary nations (i.e., nations that had fallen to Syria).^[1]

Needless to say, this a surprise to the Syrian army. Benhadad commands his men to take the Israelites alive regardless of their intentions. This was probably a hard command to follow, considering the leadership was drunk; perhaps some of the soldiers were too. Weapons and units were likely not in place or set for battle. Instead of being taken captive, the Israelites kill most of the army and force them to retreat. Careful not to give them the opportunity to regroup, Israel pursues the army and Benhadad as they retreat. The battle is described as a great slaughter with even horses being killed as Israel destroyed the army's weaponry. After proving a miraculous victory at His hand, God has the prophet return to inform Ahab that the Syrians would be back at the beginning of the next year.
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Preparation

Benhadad believed that like him, Israel had multiple gods and that their gods were tethered to Earthly objects. In this case, he figured God was a god of the hills and attributed his loss to the location of the battle. Following this thought, Ben-hadad assumed he would have better success fighting them in the plains. What he didn't know was that the God of Israel is the God of the world, He is not confined to a particular location.

Following his own flawed logic, however, Benhadad gives the order to rebuild the army. As God told Ahab, at the beginning of the next year, Benhadad was ready to fight against Israel once again. Since the army was just as large as the previous army, Israel was still out numbered.
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Second Battle

Ahab wasn't a good king, but God had pledged His loyalty to the people of Israel long before the nation even existed. Each time He pledged His allegiance, He reminded them that they would drift away but that He would still be there when they returned. When Benhadad relegated God to a particular location, He provoked God to once again come to Israel's rescue whether they repented or not.

God tells the Israelites that He will prove the Syrians wrong in their assessment that He was not God of the valleys. To do this, Israel had to be successful in battle. The two armies set up camp in the valley and the battle begins 7 days later. The Israelites were able to kill 100,000 of Syria's soldiers that very day. Assuming Israel was still fighting with an army of 7,000, this means that on average, each Israelite killed 14 or 15 people.

Many of the soldiers who weren't killed fled to the nearby city of Aphek. While there a wall falls on them, killing the 27,000 men that were left. Can you imagine? You barely escaped from the battle only to be flattened by a wall! We know that God had a hand in this because what are the odds of something like this happening? Benhadad was probably just realizing how wrong he was about God. Deserting his men, Benhadad flees.
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Covenant

Benhadad's servants suggest he should broker a treaty because Israel has merciful kings. The servants were right because Ahab makes a covenant with Benhadad, after Benhadad pleads for his life under the guise of being his brother. In the covenant, Benhadad promises to restore cities to Israel that his father had taken previously. Benhadad also gives Israel trading privileges in Syria.
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God Rebukes Ahab

While it may have been merciful, and perhaps even prudent for Ahab to agree to the covenant, God did not authorize this covenant. Ahab had been ordered to kill Benhadad and he had failed.

A prophet is sent to Ahab to send a message. Interestingly, he asks a stranger to "smite" him (meaning injure) and the stranger refuses. When the stranger refuses to assist the prophet's mission, God smites the stranger! A second stranger obliges the prophet who gains an audience with the king by way of his injury. Disguised with ashes, he presents a scenario which represents Ahab's disobedience. Eventually, he condemns Ahab for letting Benhadad go when God had commanded his destruction.
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References

1. Jamieson Fausset Brown. "1 Kings 20 Commentary", via BibleHub.com; visited January 2017

1 Kings 17-19: Elijah, Ahab & Jezebel

1 Kings 17-20 takes a break from a series of brief records which introduces many kings to focus on God's prophet, Elijah who lived during King Ahab's reign in the northern kingdom.

Introduction

1 Kings 17-20 takes a break from a series of brief records which introduces many kings to focus on God's prophet, Elijah who lived during King Ahab's reign in the northern kingdom. King Ahab marries the infamous Phoenician, princess Jezebel, and is often at odds with Elijah. While Ahab is definitely a familiar name, I would say that during my tenure in the church and over the course of my studies, Jezebel and Elijah have gotten more focus from the church. Ahab seems to fade into the background as a secondary character, but I think that's something worth discussing as well. In this post, I'll talk about all 3 people.
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Elijah, the Prophet

Outside of Daniel and Isaiah, Elijah might be one of the most well-known prophets of Israel. He performed amazing miracles and became the second person in human history to join God without ever dying (covered in 2 Kings).
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Was Elijah Even An Israelite?

When we are introduced to Elijah in 1 Kings 17:1, we are not told what Elijah's tribal affiliation is, but that he was a "Tishbite" and an inhabitant of Gilead. Gilead was located East of the Jordan, an spanned across the territories of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh.^[1] While it doesn't definitely prove that Elijah was a member of one of these tribes, it definitely increases the possibility. You may be surprised to know, there's actually a debate about whether Elijah was even an Israelite at all.^[2][3][4]

Unlike most important figures of the Bible, we aren't told a single thing about Elijah's ancestry. Up until this point, most people we meet are identified by tribe and/or father. When we meet Elijah's apprentice, Elisha, in 1 Kings 19, we are promptly told who his father is. For the kings, we are told who their father is and many times who their mother is as well. Samuel and Nathan's parentage are also given. This is not the case with Elijah. When you combine this information with the fact that the word inhabitant in 1 Kings 17:1 is translated from the word towshab, which means "sojourner, stranger or foreigner,"^[5] it becomes pretty suspicious. 1 Kings 17:1 is the only place the word is rendered "inhabitant" instead of stranger or foreigner. If translated as the rest of the occurrences, 1 Kings 17:1 would have said Elijah was a stranger in in Gilead, i.e. a Gentile who had made his home in Israel. ^[2][3]

Other scholars are adamant that Elijah was an Israel. They point out the fact that it is possible that "Tishbite" is a reference to a family line, negating the claim that we have no familial information on Elijah. Further, they point to Elijah name, which is of Hebrew origin and means "He is my Yah (God)."^[4] Some believe Elijah is the same Eliah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:27, and thus a Benjamite.^[6]

What makes it hard to gauge which argument is correct is the fact that both arguments suffer from faulty premises.

Those who believe Elijah must be a Gentile base the assumption almost solely on the word towshab in 1 Kings 17:1. While foreigner and stranger generally apply to non-Israelites, does sojourner? If Elijah is Eliah and a Benjamite via 1 Chronicles 8:27, He would originally have been from the southern kingdom and an outsider in another tribe's lands. The other complaint given is that Elijah doesn't follow Jewish law; he believes God can be worshipped anywhere and never makes an effort to go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. Elijah's assumption that he can worship anywhere doesn't have to be of foreign influence, however. The kings of Israel had already began putting this idea in their citizens' minds to keep them from returning to the southern kingdom. Besides, most of the Israelites weren't following the law themselves, how does that prove he was a Gentile?

Those who are adamant Elijah was not a Gentile assert that a Gentile couldn't have a Hebrew name, or that we aren't told of Elijah's circumcision and conversion to Judaism. As a Black person in the U.S., the assumption about the name baffles me. My real name is of French origin; I am neither French nor have I ever been to France. I know countless Asian Americans who have European names; these names were generally adopted when they arrived in the U.S. and are not their given names. Throughout the Bible we see God change people's names, but throughout life we see people change their own names. Furthermore, Elijah's parents could have been the ones to convert, and after converting, decided to give their son a Hebrew name. This is similar to how first generation Americans will sometimes give their children "American" names. The omission of an information about Elijah's conversion would be covered by the notion that his parents were the ones to convert; he would then have automatically been circumcised as a child, but he still wouldn't be Hebrew by blood. Of course, in the New Testament, when the apostles were introducing the Gentiles to the Word, they are explicitly told not to worry about circumcision (see Acts 15). The idea that this would have prevented the Israelites from listening to Elijah is interesting because Ahab wanted him dead. Most of the northern kingdom had already fallen into idolatry and those that hadn't weren't really in the position to reject anyone from their numbers. Plus, after Elijah rose a person from the dead, I'm sure they didn't care about the specifics of his lineage.

All in all, I think it could go either way. Both sides make valid points, there are just so many caveats and exceptions that it's hard to say one is more accurate than the other. The idea of Elijah being non-Israelites provides a nice symmetry to later events. For instance, when Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus, it would represent both the Jews and the Gentiles. It would add another layer of depth to the interpretation of the Word, for certain. However, I don't think the difference is so important that it changes the overall message of God.
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A Drought

Instead of a background story, we jump right into Elijah's first mission from God: he brings news to Ahab that God has pronounced a drought on Israel. Neither rain nor dew would fall in land until God said so, and considering the fact that Israel is located in the desert, this was probably a much bigger deal than it would have been in a place with more abundant water in the land. In water rich lands, it would take time to deplete the water resources before any effects of a drought could be felt, however in Israel, the effects would be almost immediate.
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Refuge

To protect Elijah from the effects, God sends him to a brook called Cherith which was near the Jordan. Scholars associate this brook with Wadi Qelt, though they are not certain that is a correct match.^[7] Once at the brook, Elijah is fed by ravens. People often associate ravens with death and evil because they are black, but this proves that God was not a respecter of color. God entrusts ravens to bring bread and meat to Elijah each day while he is in the wilderness. Interestingly, this means that the food was considered clean even though it had been in their beaks first--I highly doubt the ravens were able to wrap the food in a bag or cloth before carrying it away. Had the Pharisees thought about it, they would not have chastised Jesus about eating bread without washing his hands in Matthew 12. Two things that were never declared unclean--a living raven and bread or dirt and bread in Jesus' case--can't make each other unclean. This is also a reminder that unclean designated the status of whether we could eat the animal or not, animals such as mules, horses, and donkeys still played a critical role in farming; it was only when they died that they became unclean.

When the brook dried up, Elijah had to find another place of refuge. This time, God sends him to a widow in the city of Zarephath. Although she is struggling to feed her own family, she provides for Elijah as well. Elijah tells her that her supply will not falter until God sends rain to Israel, and as prophesied, they are able to eat until the rain falls.

It is interesting that God sends Elijah to the wilderness first and to the woman second. Once could easily question why not send Elijah to the woman from the get go. Sending Elijah first to the wilderness, where ravens provided for him, strengthened his faith in God. It is easy to assume a human is kind simply by nature and to attribute their generosity to luck or chance. However, ravens bringing you food is a miracle; it is much harder to look over God's glory in such an act. Just as Israel had to come through the wilderness where God proved Himself, this is where Elijah's journey began, too.
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Raising the Dead

One of Elijah's most miraculous moments was when he brought the widow's son back to life from the dead. Just when everything should have been returning back to normal because the drought had passed, the son of the widow fell ill. The woman thought this was some sort of punishment from God for her past sins brought on by Elijah. Troubled by the events, Elijah prayed for life to return to the young boy. God hears Elijah's request and grants life back into the boy's body. This is the first resurrection spoken of in the Bible, but it is not the only resurrection to be brought about by human hands.
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A Ray of Hope

Three years after Elijah's first encounter with Ahab, God sends Elijah back to tell them of the coming rain. When Elijah gets to Ahab in Samaria, a famine is ravaging the land. It makes sense that after a three year drought, there would be a shortage of food.

Before Elijah arrives, Ahab calls for a man named Obadiah. Obadiah was a God-fearing man and was trying to do right by God. When Ahab's wife Jezebel went after the prophets, Obadiah hid 100 of them in a cave and brought food and water to them. This must have been difficult during the famine. I'd wager Ahab didn't know about any of this, otherwise, I think Obadiah would have been on Ahab's bad side.

Ahab wanted Obadiah to search for water and grass for the livestock. Keeping the livestock alive would have been a top priority in the kingdom. Without rain, crops would have been almost impossible to grow leaving meat and animal products such as eggs or milk to be the only provisions left. If the animals died, the Israelites would have nothing.

When the two men split up in search of these resources, it is Obadiah who runs into Elijah. Elijah asks Obadiah to tell Ahab that he is present but Obadiah sees this as a death sentence on himself. Ahab had apparently been looking for Elijah unsuccessfully for some time. Obadiah was afraid Elijah would disappear, provoking the kings wrath. During this time it seems the queen (Jezebel) was purging the kingdom of people who worshipped the Lord, in favor of pagan worshippers. Elijah is not afraid to meet the king and queen however; he gives his word that he will remain.

Ahab is quick to blame the situation on Elijah, just as people today blame the troubles of the world on God and His people. Elijah quickly reminds Ahab that it is he and his line that have forsaken the commandments and brought God's wrath upon them. Elijah has Ahab gather everyone, including the false prophets of Baal and Asherah, to mount Carmel.
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A Challenge Issued

Elijah says the same thing the New Testament tells us: you can't follow two gods. Elijah gives Israel the same choice we have today, to follow God or to follow the false Baal. Elijah points out that he is the only prophet of the Lord left but Baal has 450 men claiming to be his prophets. Elijah challenges them to bring 2 bulls to be sacrificed, only, they would not put fire to them. The men of Baal were to call on Baal to enflame their bull, and Elijah would call on God to enflame his.

Then men of Baal cry out to their deity from morning until noon, but nothing happens. Elijah mocks the men by suggesting that their god is sleeping or out on an adventure. The men even resort to self harm to attract the false god's attention. As one can expect, Baal does not answer and no fire engulfs the bull.

When it is Elijah's turn, he creates a trench of water around the sacrifice. Following this, he prays to God. Elijah asks that God will show Himself to the people so that they may turn away from Baal and back to the true God. God answers Elijah's prayer and sets fire to the bull. When the people see this, they fall to the ground to worship God.
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End of the Drought

Elijah commands them to put the prophets of Baal to death. After this is carried out, rain returns to the land. Elijah sends Ahab ahead of the rain by chariot and he runs before the chariot with the help of God. This should have been seen as a friendly gesture, but it was not taken as such by Ahab or his wife.
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Conflict with Jezebel

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Shyle Zacharias

When Jezebel hears that all of her pagan priests have been killed, she sets out to kill Elijah. Elijah flees to Beersheba, where he leaves his servant but continues himself into the wilderness. In the wilderness Elijah asks God to end his life. Elijah felt like he was no better than his fathers; an understandable feeling after you've killed 450 men. While Elijah is sleeping under a juniper tree, God sends an angel to wake him. The angel tells Elijah to rise and eat of the cake and water God has provided. Appearing twice, the angel persuades Elijah to eat informing him, that his journey is great. Elijah was sustained for 40 days and nights on this alone. We should never fear how we will survive when following the path the Lord has set for us; rest assured, He will provide.

After the 40 days, God speaks to Elijah while he is living in a cave. When God questions Elijah on why he is in the cave, Elijah explains his dilemma (which God already knows). God's question was likely to prompt Elijah into thinking about why he would hide away when the people really needed him. God places Elijah on the mountain, and he sends a wind, an earthquake, and fire. None of these acts of God "contain His Spirit," however. It is a still small voice that actually speaks to Elijah. This is evidence that while God is big and powerful, He is also peaceful and calm. He does not reveal himself only through destruction but by this still small voice as well. Once again, God questions Elijah about what he is doing there. Likely, God's message to Elijah was that He is all powerful; there is no need to hide when you are fighting on God's side of the war.
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Ahab

Although Ahab isn't particularly fond of Elijah, it is Jezebel who becomes angry and decrees that Elijah should be killed. Given the fact that Jezebel was both a pagan and a female, one would think she would not have held such power. For her to command such power, Ahab had to have given it to her. Either he acted as a puppet, commanding everything she asked, or he gave the order for his servants to follow her instruction.

While I see nothing wrong in a healthy partnership where the wife is able to express her opinions and thoughts, there is something amiss about a king who allows someone else to take control of his kingdom. Ahab's inability to be the "ultimate" authority in his kingdom stemmed from his lack of leadership skills. Likely, he had no leadership skills because God had not appointed him king. We will continue to see Jezebel usurp power and undermine Ahab's rule throughout the text. Perhaps if Ahab had married a different woman, or had stood his ground, he wouldn't have gone down in history as such a bad king. At least, he probably would have been more recognizable than his wife and arch enemy.
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Jezebel's Legacy

When I was little, my parents bought me horse who had already been named. Her name was Jezebel, though everyone in my family called her Jazzy or Jazabelle. We all thought it was crazy that she had been named Jezebel; that's almost as bad as naming your pet Lucifer! Jezebel clearly wasn't a positive figure in the Bible, but when I hear the name "Jezebel," I don't think of calculating and murderous, as Queen Jezebel proved to be, I think of a promiscuous woman.

In everyday speech, jezebel is used about the same way as "hussy." Urban dictionary lists the term to mean a variety of things, from beautiful to "whore."^<[8] Jezebel is also the name of a popular magazine that is targeted to women and specializes in "celebrities, sex, feminism, and issues relating to women's empowerment." Is it not odd that a magazine supposedly about women's empowerment, chose to name itself after the evilest woman in the Bible? Why not name it after Esther? Mariam? Deborah? They could have even named it after a famous woman who was from secular history, but they chose Jezebel. Why?

The question often comes back to how Jezebel got associated with sexuality and promiscuity; her evil deeds dealt with idolatry, not sex. I suspect it comes from a misinterpretation of 2 Kings 9:22, in which a reference is made to the whoredoms of Jezebel. However, this isn't a reference to sexual whoredom. The bible often uses this phrase when discussing idolatry. To bow to other gods is to commit adultery to the true God (remember, we are the bride of Christ). I'm pretty sure people misinterpreted this verse until suddenly Jezebel was a whore and her name became an insult meaning whore.
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Elijah Makes an Ally

God sends Elijah to Damascus, where he is instructed to anoint Hazael to be the king of Syria. Even though Syria was not God's chosen land, He was still in control of who should be king. The Bible focuses on God's chosen people, so we often forget that God is supereme over the whole world. This means God has always had a hand in what happened in other nations. Just because these nations were not chosen to preserve God's word does not mean He forgot about them or abandoned them. Remember many of the surrounding nations were also descendants of Abraham.

In addition to instructing Elijah on forming this alliance with Syria, God gives Elijah instructions for Israel. God appoints Jehu to be anointed king and replace Ahab. God says that Hazael will slay their enemies, but those not slain by him were to be slain by Jehu, and those not slain by Jehu, were to be slain by Elijah. Elijah was given a plan to ensure all of God's enemies were stamped out; if one person failed to do the job, there was another to carry out the task. To aid in this upcoming battle, God reveals that He has 7000 followers still in Israel. These 7000 had not succumbed to idolatry and had resisted the popular trend of bowing to Baal. I think it's safe to say, as long as we're still here, there is a sizable army of God still present in the world.
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The Next Prophet: Elisha

Also in Elijah's instructions from God, was the appoint of an apprentice to become the next prophet: Elisha. Elijah convinces Elisha to follow him. Elisha was the son of Shaphat. Elisha is eager to follow Elijah, who was likely well known and admired in circles that still worshiped God. In celebration of the honor, Elisha kills a set of oxen and the people of Elisha's town feast with them. After the feast, Elisha follows Elijah to become the next prophet according to God's command.
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References

1. M.G. Easton M.A., D.D. "Gilead". Illustrated Bible Dictionary, via BibleStudyTools.com. 1897; visited January 2017
2. Elijah Was A Gentile". Beware Deception. May 3, 2009
3. "1 Kings 17:1 Commentary". via BibleHub.com; visited January 2017
4. "Elijah was NOT a Gentile". OSY Ministries. 2011
5. "Strong's H8453: towshab. Blue Letter Bible; visited January 2017
6. Emil G. Hirsch, Eduard König, Solomon Schechter, Louis Ginzberg, M. Seligsohn, Kaufmann Kohler. "Elijah. Jewish Encyclopedia; visited January 2017
7. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible, pg. 616. 2014
8. "Jezebel. Urban Dictionary; visited January 2017

1 Kings 16: A Series of Coups

We have to remind ourselves that just because someone has power and wealth does not been they have peace of mind, happiness, or favor.

Introduction

1 Kings 16 focuses on five kings of Israel (the northern kingdom—if you aren't caught up, check out 1 Kings 12: The Division of Israel). The chapter opens discussing Baasha, who was of the tribe of Issachar and stole the throne from Nadab, and closes with Ahab. Almost every succession in this chapter seems to be the result of a coup rather than a Godly anointing, or inheritance. The leadership is far from orderly, which implies the kingdom was far from orderly as well. During the reign of all 5 of these corrupted kings, Asa maintains his faith in God and continues to lead the southern kingdom of Judah.
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Baasha & Jehu, the Prophet

Baasha's reign begins during the 3rd year of Asa's reign, but unlike Asa, he continues to lead Israel on the path of idolatry as the kings before him. God sends a message to Baasha through Jehu the prophet; this message conveys God's disappointment in Baasha's behavior. God tells Baasha that his house will fall, just as Jeroboam's did. Furthermore, in addition to losing his prosperity, a curse is placed on them to die undignified deaths in which animals ate their remains. This is fulfilled during his son's reign (just as Baasha killed Jeoboam's son). Having an improper burial is seen as a disgrace in many cultures around the world, and it was no different in Israel.

Baasha stole the throne from Jeroboam's line, but in the end he was going to lose the throne as well. You reap what you sew, and in this case, Baasha had sewn thievery and deceit. Even though we may get away with something momentarily, God works things out. We often see people succeed by ungodly means, then loose heart because we are struggling down the path of righteousness. However, the Bible makes it clear that these evil kings were plagued with disaster. Saul and even Solomon became paranoid. Here, we see Baasha suffer an untimely and disgraceful death. We have to remind ourselves that just because someone has power and wealth does not been they have peace of mind, happiness, or favor.
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100

# of Years Reigned

Elah

When Baasha dies, his son Elah takes over, as expected. Elah begins his reign during the 26th year of Asa, king of Judah. Not much is told about Elah except that he is killed while drunk during a coup by his own captain, Zimri. God tells us not to be drunk because of situations like this. It's not that God is a "prude;" this is God warning us of the dangers we encounter while drinking. Had Elah been sober, he might have avoided death. Elah's murder occurs during the 27th year of Asa's reign. At most, if Elah took the throne during the beginning of Asa's 26th year and was murdered during the late part of Asa's 27th year, he may have reign for just less than 2 years. It is also possible that he was made king near the end of Asa's 26th and killed during the beginning of the 27th year; this would mean he reigned less than a few months. Whichever the case (or something in the middle), Baasha had a very short role as king.
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Zimri

Zimri takes the throne of Israel in Elah's stead (why else murder than man, right?). To ensure his reign, Zimri kills Baasha's entire line and any supporters he had. As mentioned in previous posts, it was very common for new kings to elimination legitimate threats to their prower. Zimri's reign, as expected, was quite short, lasting only 7 days. When the Israelites hear what he has done to Elah, they rise up to put an end to him. Zimri commits suicide by fire when he sees the people coming for him. Omri is placed in charge of the opposition and takes the throne upon defeating Zimri.
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Omri & Tibni

Before Omri fully takes the throne, there is a struggle between him and a man named Tibni. Half of the Israelites chose Tibni to rule, while the other half proclaimed Omri king. Eventually, Omri and his men prevail against Tibni, resulting in Tibni's death. Omri officially takes the throne in Asa's 31st year. Omri is said to be even worse that the previous kings in God's sight. Omri buys the city of Samaria, which would become the capital of the northern kingdom.
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Relating to Today

I find the struggle between Omri and Tibni to be interesting; it highlights an issue we still grapple with today: how do we select a leader? Ancient Israel wasn't a democracy, but clearly the people had some say in who they would follow. Before the decline of the kingdom, we are given clear signs of God anointing each king (at least clear from the reader's perspective), but even then there are moments when the people clearly "choose" their king. For example, David prompts the men of Judah to ask him to be king again when he askS why they haven't already chosen this path. Furthermore in God's kingdom, everyone will have agreed to make Jesus their King; those who don't choose Him, won't be there.

I find this interesting now that we have "survived" the wackiest season of "the Election." There is a definite polarization of the public over each candidate. We know that Omri turns out to be a corrupt king, but we aren't told whether Tibni was good or bad. Considering the disarray Israel was in, and the fact that God did not intervene to place Tibni on the throne, I would assume Tibni was also corrupt. Thus, the Israelites probably felt a lot like Americans during this past election. In 1 Kings 19, during Ahab's reign, we learn that there are still 7000 righteous people in the northern kingdom. Similarly, there were plenty of true God-fearing people in the US, yet in both situations the people ended up with horrible options for rulers.

Aside from the competition between Tibni and Omri, we aren't told of a mass insurrection carried out by God's people. It seems that they aren't involved in the chaos at all. This is interesting, because we have to wonder what would have happened if one of them had taken the throne instead? Now, when we think about the numbers 7000 may not have been enough to launch a viable campaign, and that could be why they stayed out of the picture. However, I also have a feeling it was about what the people of Israel actually wanted.

Often when we are on God's side, people don't want to hear it. People would rather watch distasteful "reality" TV shows or follow gossip magazines than see positive wholesome images. Controversy and scandals keep people glued to the TV screen or to the radio or to the newspaper. The love of "reality" TV clearly spilled into the election, and despite people claiming they were disappointed, it didn't stop them from tuning in to see what happened next. People couldn't wait to see what crazy thing Donald Trump tweeted next, or if Hilary's email's would get interesting. We had an election where both presidential candidates were on trial for committing crimes! Yet, the public outrage didn't lead to the first election of a third party candidate or changes in media coverage. People were either enthralled by the spectacle, or too "alone" to make a difference.

During the tug-of-war between Tibni and Omri, God's people probably felt that they were a minority and chose not to speak up because they didn't think it would make a difference. It's also possible, that like with this election, they really were a minority, and when they spoke up people shot them down. Like a child who wants perfectly straight teeth, but doesn't want to wear braces, we often aren't willing to make sacrifices for a better path.
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Ahab

After Omri dies, his son Ahab, takes the throne during the 38th year of Asa. One of the more popular kings of Israel, Ahab reigns from the northern capital of Samaria for 22 years. He does not bring change about in Israel, but continues to do evil before God.

Ahab's wife Jezebel is also a well known figure in the Bible. She played a heavy role in Ahab's journey to idolatry. Probably in an effort to please his wife, Ahab makes an altar to the pagan god of Jezebel, but he doesn't stop there. He also makes an idol another pagan god. Of all Israel's kings that had already come before him. Ahab made God the angriest.

During Ahab's reign, the city of Jericho is rebuilt, defying the curse Joshua had placed on the city when Israel first entered the promised land. This shows that the Israelites had either forsaken the Lord, or they had not been properly taught. Considering how superstitious people can be, even today, I believe the Israelites became slack in teaching the Word of God (just as we have today). Without that foundation, people would make decisions, such as the one to rebuild Jericho, without ever thinking about what God has said about the action.
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Unsuccessful Leadership

It is important to notice that the kings who followed God ruled much longer than those who did not. Further, in each record, it is made clear that God did not approve of these king's lifestyles or actions and that is why they could not keep the throne.
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References