12-06-09
Sorry, you must have Windows Media Player 9 or higher. This is a large file which may take a few seconds to start MP3 Click here, or scroll down to view today's diagram THE GREAT FAMINE (2 Ki 6:24,25) And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host [he mobilized his entire army], and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine [Heb: hunger] in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab [Heb: a vessel used as a (dry) measure] of dove's dung for five pieces of silver [i.e., extreme desperate hunger]. 1. Smith’s Bible Dictionary: Samaria = Samaria retained its dignity as the capital of the ten tribes, and was the name given to the northern kingdom as well as to the city. Ahab built a temple to Baal there. The possessor of Samaria was considered de facto king of Israel. 2. Commentary: The southern kingdom was composed of the two tribes of Juda and Benjamin who remained worshippers in the Tabernacle of Moses. 3. besieged = Heb: to cramp, i.e. confine (hostile):--adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags. 4. Commentary: what was the dreadful weapon used against Samaria? (2 Ki 6:26,27) And as [Jehoram] the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall [of protection surrounding the city], there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said [quietly to himself, so as not to be overheard], If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress? 1. Smith’s Bible Dictionary: Jehoram = Son of Ahab king of Israel who succeeded his brother Ahaziah B.C. 896, and died B.C. 884. When the terrible famine in Samaria arose, the king immediately attributed the evil to Elisha, and determined to take away his life. 2. Commentary: We may infer that Elisha had been repeatedly preaching repent to king Jehoram and his citizens of Samaria, repent from their evil ways, much like Jonah the reluctant prophet preached to the king and citizens of Nineveh, eventually, under the command to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2). Who in Samaria were the people under attack and suffering famine; were they types and shadows of saved persons or types and shadows of unsaved persons? SOME OF THE STARVING REMNENT WILL EAT THEIR CHILDREN (2 Ki 6:28,29) And the king said unto her [quite loudly and directly, so the troops could hear], What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son. 1. (Deu 28:15) But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 2. (Deu 28:47-51) Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck [i.e., freedom destroying laws which will evolve into Sharia law], until he have destroyed thee. The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far [the nation of Islam, which means “submit to Allah”], from the end of the earth, as swift [possibly an Obama reference, who is also a Muslim and therefore, at the very least, “sympathizes” with other Muslims] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand [Arabic]; A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young [the Koran says all infidels must either submit or die]: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine [Heb: cattle], or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. a. (Judg 6:1-5) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves [and hid in them], and strong holds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites [Heb: brawling, contentious, discord, strife] came up, and the Amalekites [Heb: descendants of Esau], and the children of the east [Arabians] [compositely called Midianites, these three groups were further identified as “Ishmaelites” in Judges 8:24, and thus typified present day Muslims], even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number [demographics: Muslims have a very high 6 to 1 growth birthrate, whereas the USA and Europe have a 2 to 1 sustaining birthrate]: and they entered into the land to destroy it. 3. (Deu 28:52-58) And he [thy enemy] shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD; (2 Ki 6:30,31) And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day. 1. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: sackcloth = a rough, coarse cloth, or a baglike garment made of this cloth and worn as a symbol of mourning or repentance. The Israelites showed their grief by wearing sackcloth and ashes. This was done also in instances of confession and grief over sin. 2. Commentary: Why had king Jehoram concealed from his people the sackcloth he wore? a. (James 1:5-8) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [Gk: two-spirited, i.e. vacillating (in opinion or purpose)] is unstable in all his ways. (2 Ki 6:32,33) But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders [of the city] sat with him [showing wisdom]; and the king sent a man from before him [to cut off the head of Elisha]: but ere [before] the messenger came to him, he [Elisha] said to the elders [via “the word of knowledge” 1 Cor 12:8], See ye how this son of a murderer [king Ahab] hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at [outside] the door: is not the sound of his master's [the king’s] feet behind him [for he has changed his wavering, unstable, double minded mind again]? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger [conveying Jehoram’s words] came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer? 1. Commentary: “But Elisha sat in his house” = Elisha’s house was a type of the true church, and a type of heaven. Elisha sat waiting for repentance, much like the Father (God) did of the prodigal son. 2. Commentary: “and the elders sat with him” = The elders of the city agreed with Elisha, they had repented, i.e., turned from their evil ways, and their repentance brought about the eventual salvation of the few residents of Samaria who remained alive. Amen Click here, or on the diagram for a printable (PDF) version. Previous Chapter Table Of Contents Next Chapter Click here to download a printable version of this message Click here to download a DOC version of this message
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THE GREAT FAMINE
(2 Ki 6:24,25) And it came to pass after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his host [he mobilized his entire army], and went up, and besieged Samaria. And there was a great famine [Heb: hunger] in Samaria: and, behold, they besieged it, until an ass's head was sold for fourscore pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab [Heb: a vessel used as a (dry) measure] of dove's dung for five pieces of silver [i.e., extreme desperate hunger].
1. Smith’s Bible Dictionary: Samaria = Samaria retained its dignity as the capital of the ten tribes, and was the name given to the northern kingdom as well as to the city. Ahab built a temple to Baal there. The possessor of Samaria was considered de facto king of Israel.
2. Commentary: The southern kingdom was composed of the two tribes of Juda and Benjamin who remained worshippers in the Tabernacle of Moses.
3. besieged = Heb: to cramp, i.e. confine (hostile):--adversary, assault, beset, besiege, bind (up), cast, distress, fashion, fortify, inclose, lay siege, put up in bags.
4. Commentary: what was the dreadful weapon used against Samaria?
(2 Ki 6:26,27) And as [Jehoram] the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall [of protection surrounding the city], there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. And he said [quietly to himself, so as not to be overheard], If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barnfloor, or out of the winepress?
1. Smith’s Bible Dictionary: Jehoram = Son of Ahab king of Israel who succeeded his brother Ahaziah B.C. 896, and died B.C. 884. When the terrible famine in Samaria arose, the king immediately attributed the evil to Elisha, and determined to take away his life.
2. Commentary: We may infer that Elisha had been repeatedly preaching repent to king Jehoram and his citizens of Samaria, repent from their evil ways, much like Jonah the reluctant prophet preached to the king and citizens of Nineveh, eventually, under the command to “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2). Who in Samaria were the people under attack and suffering famine; were they types and shadows of saved persons or types and shadows of unsaved persons?
SOME OF THE STARVING REMNENT WILL EAT THEIR CHILDREN
(2 Ki 6:28,29) And the king said unto her [quite loudly and directly, so the troops could hear], What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to day, and we will eat my son to morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.
1. (Deu 28:15) But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
2. (Deu 28:47-51) Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck [i.e., freedom destroying laws which will evolve into Sharia law], until he have destroyed thee. The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far [the nation of Islam, which means “submit to Allah”], from the end of the earth, as swift [possibly an Obama reference, who is also a Muslim and therefore, at the very least, “sympathizes” with other Muslims] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand [Arabic]; A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favour to the young [the Koran says all infidels must either submit or die]: And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine [Heb: cattle], or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.
a. (Judg 6:1-5) And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years. And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves [and hid in them], and strong holds. And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites [Heb: brawling, contentious, discord, strife] came up, and the Amalekites [Heb: descendants of Esau], and the children of the east [Arabians] [compositely called Midianites, these three groups were further identified as “Ishmaelites” in Judges 8:24, and thus typified present day Muslims], even they came up against them; And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass. For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number [demographics: Muslims have a very high 6 to 1 growth birthrate, whereas the USA and Europe have a 2 to 1 sustaining birthrate]: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
3. (Deu 28:52-58) And he [thy enemy] shall besiege thee in all thy gates, until thy high and fenced walls come down, wherein thou trustedst, throughout all thy land: and he shall besiege thee in all thy gates throughout all thy land, which the LORD thy God hath given thee. And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body, the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the LORD thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee: So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his brother, and toward the wife of his bosom, and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat: because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, And toward her young one that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear: for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and straitness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates. If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;
(2 Ki 6:30,31) And it came to pass, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he rent his clothes; and he passed by upon the wall, and the people looked, and, behold, he had sackcloth within upon his flesh. Then he said, God do so and more also to me, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stand on him this day.
1. Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary: sackcloth = a rough, coarse cloth, or a baglike garment made of this cloth and worn as a symbol of mourning or repentance. The Israelites showed their grief by wearing sackcloth and ashes. This was done also in instances of confession and grief over sin.
2. Commentary: Why had king Jehoram concealed from his people the sackcloth he wore?
a. (James 1:5-8) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [Gk: two-spirited, i.e. vacillating (in opinion or purpose)] is unstable in all his ways.
(2 Ki 6:32,33) But Elisha sat in his house, and the elders [of the city] sat with him [showing wisdom]; and the king sent a man from before him [to cut off the head of Elisha]: but ere [before] the messenger came to him, he [Elisha] said to the elders [via “the word of knowledge” 1 Cor 12:8], See ye how this son of a murderer [king Ahab] hath sent to take away mine head? look, when the messenger cometh, shut the door, and hold him fast at [outside] the door: is not the sound of his master's [the king’s] feet behind him [for he has changed his wavering, unstable, double minded mind again]? And while he yet talked with them, behold, the messenger [conveying Jehoram’s words] came down unto him: and he said, Behold, this evil is of the LORD; what should I wait for the LORD any longer?
1. Commentary: “But Elisha sat in his house” = Elisha’s house was a type of the true church, and a type of heaven. Elisha sat waiting for repentance, much like the Father (God) did of the prodigal son.
2. Commentary: “and the elders sat with him” = The elders of the city agreed with Elisha, they had repented, i.e., turned from their evil ways, and their repentance brought about the eventual salvation of the few residents of Samaria who remained alive.
Amen
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