Brief comments on 2Kings, chapter 15

 

2Kings 15:1 ¶  In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign. 2  Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem.  And his mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem. 3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; 4  Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. 5  And the LORD smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king’s son was over the house, judging  the people of the land. 6  And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 7  So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

 

Azariah has a remarkably long reign and he was obedient to God except that the high places where false worship was offered were not removed. God made Azariah a leper so Jotham, his son, performed his duties as king until his death when Jotham could reign in his own name.

 

On a side note, John Gill has cleared up any confusion about dates and timing of reigns in his commentary so there is no need to rehash that and impede the narrative here. Also, a several house would be a single or separate house as several used to also mean individual and separate and older commentators simply say that the leper king lived in a house on his own.

 

2Kings 15:8 ¶  In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months. 9  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 10  And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. 11  And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 12  This was the word of the LORD which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass. 13  Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria. 14  For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead. 15  And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 16  Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up. 17  In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria. 18  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 19  And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand. 20  And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land. 21  And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 22  And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead. 23  In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years. 24  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 25  But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king’s house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room. 26  And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel. 27  In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years. 28  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 29  In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglathpileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abelbethmaachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria. 30  And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah. 31  And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

 

Zachariah, the 4^th generation of Jehu, was another evil king over Israel and was the victim of a coup and assassination by Shallum.

 

2Kings 10:30  And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

 

Shallum ruled only for a month before he was killed by Menahem, who took the reigns of power. A brutal and evil king, he reigned for ten years. He tried to buy off the king of Assyria. When he died Pekahiah, his son, reigned two years only in these tumultuous times. He was assassinated by Pekah, one of his captains. Pekah reigned twenty years. He, too, was evil and Assyria began dismantling Israel in his days. He was overthrown by Hoshea.

 

2Kings 15:32 ¶  In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign. 33  Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok. 34  And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. 35  Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD. 36  Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 37  In those days the LORD began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah. 38  And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in

the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

 

Jotham was a good, but not remarkable king. He failed to turn the apostasy of the people away from their idols and toward God.

 

The higher gate is called the new gate according to John Gill.

 

Jeremiah 26:10  When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house.

 

Jeremiah 36:10  Then read Baruch in the book the words of Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, in the chamber of Gemariah the son of Shaphan the scribe, in the higher court, at the entry of the new gate of the LORD’S house, in the ears of all the people.

 

War is coming.

 

Bible Study on Acts 26, verses 1 to 11, Paul argues before King Agrippa

 

Acts 26:1 ¶  Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself. Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself: 2  I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3  Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. 4  My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5  Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. 6  And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: 7  Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope’s sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews. 8  Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? 9  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10  Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11  And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

 

One thing of note here was that it was common under persecution for a Christian to be required to renounce Christ before being released. Usually, this followed a great deal of torture and threatening thus the compelled them to blaspheme statement. This occurred under Roman as well as Jewish persecution and even today a Christian in the Sudan who refuses to renounce his faith in Christ is likely to suffer most horribly. This underscores that persecution in the Bible is not about someone ripping off your magnet sign from your car as much as it is about physical suffering and death.

 

Matthew 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. 30  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31  Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33  But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

 

Romans 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

2Timothy 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

 

There were contentions in the historical church early on whether or not a Christian who denied Christ under torture could be readmitted into fellowship with other Christians. Fortunately, for us, we know from the example of Peter at Christ’s trial that God has provided a way back for those in places like Vietnam or Indonesia today who face terror and persecution and give in, so to speak. Some early Christians did lose their nerve but then came back and led exemplary lives for Christ even being killed in later persecutions.

Bible Study on Exodus 25, verses 10 to 22, the ark of the testimony

 

Exodus 25:10 ¶  And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11  And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12  And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13  And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14  And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. 15  The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. 16  And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 17  And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18  And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19  And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20  And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21  And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22  And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

A cubit, according to some authorities, was a measurement that extended from a man’s elbow to his fingertips. There are different cubits in the Bible. There is the cubit of a man which may allow for some estimations without an absolute and precise standard based on the differences in the sizes of men’s forearms.

Deuteronomy 3:11  For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants; behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron; is it not in Rabbath of the children of Ammon? nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man.

But, there could be a more exacting measurement of a cubit that wasn’t dependent upon the length of an individual’s forearm. See in the next verse a measuring reed of a specific length to measure by.

Ezekiel 40:5 ¶  And behold a wall on the outside of the house round about, and in the man’s hand a measuring reed of six cubits long by the cubit and an hand breadth: so he measured the breadth of the building, one reed; and the height, one reed.

If the standard cubit was 18 inches long, as some say, then the Ark of the Covenant was nearly four foot long but a little over two foot wide and two foot tall. Of course, a longer cubit of, say, 22 inches, means a bigger Ark. It could have been nearly five foot long and nearly three foot wide and tall.

Going on to describe the covering of gold and the rings and staves by which the ark of the testimony was carried it is stated that God is going to give something to Moses to store in it.  The mercy seat with two winged cherubims on each end was to adorn the top facing each other. It is there that God chose to meet with Moses, to speak to him from, in the tabernacle.

We see here the definition of the ark of the testimony as the place where all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel will be stored and protected.

The ark of the testimony and its description contains good teaching material for many sermons as, like our hearts and minds, a place to hide God’s word, and as a token, as Matthew Henry put it, of God’s meeting with us. The ark of the testimony is like the believer’s heart and mind, complete with God’s word hid inside and the mercy seat where, if God truly dwells in your heart by virtue of your being born again, God meets with you.

Psalm 119:11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

We are God’s temple, remember?

1Corinthians 3:16 ¶  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

If we have the Spirit of God inside of us.

John 14:23  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

The kingdom of God that Jesus refers to is not a Christian nation with armies and parliaments and policemen and fine church buildings. It is within the believers uniting them as Christ’s church, His body on earth.

Luke 17:20 ¶  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

 

Colossians 1:12 ¶  Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13  Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14  In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19  For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 20  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. 21  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23  If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church…

 

This is how the God of the Bible meets with His people today as opposed to how He met with Moses and the Hebrews here in Exodus. That is, if you are truly His and didn’t just repeat a magic mantra that someone gave you after emotionally manipulating you.

Bible Study on Acts 25, verses 1 to 27, Paul appeals to Caesar

 

Acts 25:1 ¶  Now when Festus was come into the province, after three days he ascended from Caesarea to Jerusalem. 2  Then the high priest and the chief of the Jews informed him against Paul, and besought him, 3  And desired favour against him, that he would send for him to Jerusalem, laying wait in the way to kill him. 4  But Festus answered, that Paul should be kept at Caesarea, and that he himself would depart shortly thither. 5  Let them therefore, said he, which among you are able, go down with me, and accuse this man, if there be any wickedness in him. 6  And when he had tarried among them more than ten days, he went down unto Caesarea; and the next day sitting on the judgment seat commanded Paul to be brought. 7  And when he was come, the Jews which came down from Jerusalem stood round about, and laid many and grievous complaints against Paul, which they could not prove. 8  While he answered for himself, Neither against the law of the Jews, neither against the temple, nor yet against Caesar, have I offended any thing at all. 9  But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me? 10  Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar’s judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest. 11  For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar. 12  Then Festus, when he had conferred with the council, answered, Hast thou appealed unto Caesar? unto Caesar shalt thou go.

 

Governor Antonius Felix is replaced by Governor Porcius Festus, whom historians tell us with one breath ruled from 59-62 and in another breath say the dates of his rule are not certain. I told you previously to be wary of the dating of the ancient world by moderns.

 

Paul, as a Roman citizen, has a right to appeal to Caesar. This will result in his execution as tradition tells us but that is not revealed in the text. Paul’s rights bind Governor Festus to allow Paul’s appeal and be sent to Rome.

 

Caesar has a judgment seat and Christ has a judgment seat (Romans 14:10; 2Corinthians 5:10). Commentators like Matthew Henry, who were not dispensational-minded or believed in a pretribulational rapture considered this synonymous with the great white throne judgment of Revelation 20:11. Regardless, remember Christ’s statement about His authority.

 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

Acts 25:13 ¶  And after certain days king Agrippa and Bernice came unto Caesarea to salute Festus. 14  And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15  About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 16  To whom I answered, It is not the manner of the Romans to deliver any man to die, before that he which is accused have the accusers face to face, and have licence to answer for himself concerning the crime laid against him. 17  Therefore, when they were come hither, without any delay on the morrow I sat on the judgment seat, and commanded the man to be brought forth. 18  Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19  But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20  And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21  But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. 22  Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. 23  And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus’ commandment Paul was brought forth. 24  And Festus said, King Agrippa, and all men which are here present with us, ye see this man, about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both at Jerusalem, and also here, crying that he ought not to live any longer. 25  But when I found that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself hath appealed to Augustus, I have determined to send him. 26  Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. 27  For it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

 

It was said about Paul previously;

 

Acts 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

 

Now he is going to speak before King Agrippa. According to historians this was Herod Agrippa II. He was the eighth and last in the line of Herod, the fifth to bear the title of king. He ruled only over territories outside of Judea as a Roman puppet. Agrippa would be overthrown by his subjects in 66AD and support the side of Rome in the coming rebellion that saw the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple.

Bible Study on Exodus 25, verses 1 to 9, part three, that I may dwell among them

 

Linen is a textile made from fibers of the flax plant. The earliest linen industry was founded in Egypt. Fine linen from Egypt was known for its quality apparently.

Proverbs 7:16  I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

 Ezekiel 27:7  Fine linen with broidered work from Egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail; blue and purple from the isles of Elishah was that which covered thee.

Goats’ hair will be used for the curtains for the tent over the tabernacle. Modern-day Bedouins have tents, tent-ropes, and rugs made from spun goats’ hair. It was used for pillows.

1Samuel 19:13  And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats’ hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

Writers talk about the goat hair of Asia being very fine and long and how it feels like silk. It was combed off, they write, rather than sheared. Of course, there was coarser goats’ hair which was used in the clothing of the poor, according to some writers.

Rams’ skins dyed red and badgers’ skins taken together suggest that they were used for their being impervious to the infrequent rain. However, scientists who study ancient climate patterns say that there were periods of wet and dry and we are in a dry period now. There could have been much more frequent rain storms during the time of the Exodus. Their dating methods, often hinged to assumptions and variables that can be questioned and should be, should not be taken as absolute facts. Evidence is evidence, but remember, evidence is useless unless it is interpreted. The interpretation is where the vagaries of human viewpoints, worldviews, and culturally mandated assumptions interfere, not just education.[1] Just remember that the world is drying out after the Flood of Noah’s time in a process that is still going on today.

Shittim wood, according to Strong’s dictionary, would come from the Acacia tree. The Ark of the Covenant will be made of this wood.

Oil, spices, and incense, as with the other material, all have spiritual significance. They can represent things like the Holy Spirit, remind us of the preparation of Christ’s burial, and signify prayer and sacrifice. Each of these items in some way can point us to Christ and are the fitting subject of their own special study. There are many and varied possible ways to draw all of these items and colors into sound preaching.

Stones, as well, provide an important subject for a Bible study. There is a particular importance for these stones regarding the ephod, which will be discussed later.

Exodus 28:4  And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.

With verse 8 it is important to understand that God did not have His Spirit dwell in each and every Hebrew as He does in each and every Jew and Gentile who believes on Christ and God can appear and His presence can be anywhere He wants it to be. But, He has commanded a tabernacle or sanctuary to be built so that He can dwell with these Hebrews in a specific way. Later, His glory will fill the temple that Solomon builds. The tabernacle, temporary as it was, represents the body of flesh while the temple represents our resurrection body. We should be filled with the glory of the Lord.

Exodus 40:34 ¶  Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

2Chronicles 5:14  So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.

But, there are no sacred spaces in Biblical Christianity outside of the believer’s own heart, which is now God’s temple.

1Corinthians 3:16 ¶  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1Corinthians 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

And we should seek to be filled with the Spirit of God and there are certain manifestations in our lives if that truly has happened.

Ephesians 5:18  And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 ¶  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

 

Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24  And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

God is going to give Moses the instructions for how this tabernacle, this sanctuary, is to be built.

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[1] Abdou Abouelmagd, Mohamed Sultan, Neil C. Sturchio, Farouk Soliman, Mohamed Rashed, Mohamed Ahmed, Alan E. Kehew, Adam Milewski, & Kyle Chouinard, “Paleoclimate record in the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt,” Quaternary Research, 81 (2014) 158–167. http://wrrs.uga.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Abouelmagd-et-al_2014.pdf

 

Bible Study on Acts 24, verses 1 to 27, Paul claims that the resurrection of the dead is the issue

 

Acts 24:1 ¶  And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2  And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3  We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness.   4  Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5  For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6  Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7  But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8  Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. 9  And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so.

 

In the English legal system today there is a Solicitor who typically prepares the case and a Barrister who argues in court, although their roles are not always so clear. Here, the orator Tertullus is to make the case against Paul. Orators were very important in the development of what would become our modern legal profession. The ability to speak on behalf of one’s client was important to getting at the heart of a complaint or a defense.

 

A Roman citizen had the right to face his accusers, as Paul is doing here.

 

Acts 24:10 ¶  Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11  Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12  And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13  Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14  But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15  And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16  And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men. 17  Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18  Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19  Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20  Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, 21  Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.

 

Acts 24:22 ¶  And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23  And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. 24  And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25  And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26  He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27  But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

 

Paul’s defense was convincing enough to Felix to keep him safe from his accusers with the added bonus that he hoped a ransom of some kind might be paid to free Paul. So, it is clear from this passage that Felix is guided by greed as well as by curiosity.

 

Paul referenced the resurrection of both the just and the unjust. This was a common thread throughout the Bible. Job spoke of the resurrection.

 

Job 14:14  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

Job 19:25  For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

Isaiah speaks of a resurrection.

Isaiah 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Daniel speaks of a resurrection.

Daniel 12:2  And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Hosea speaks of a resurrection.

Hosea 13:14  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

And Jesus makes it clear that God’s dead have not ceased to exist and the following passage makes it plain that the Jews knew of the resurrection, although some did not believe, as it is today.

Matthew 22:23 ¶  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 24  Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 25  Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 26  Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 27  And last of all the woman died also. 28  Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 29  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30  For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31  But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32  I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33  And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.

Bible Study on Exodus 25, verses 1 to 9, part two, Gold, Silver, Brass, Blue, and Purple

 

The context of verse 3 shows we are talking about physical objects. Gold and silver don’t need much explanation as metals of value and they have spiritual significance in their value and in how they are applied to Christ as many sermons reveal. More on that later. But, I would ask you to consider the following and just put it aside in your mind until later. Gold has good conductivity and generally is resistant to oxidation and corrosion so it has a small use in modern electrical components. Silver has the highest thermal and electrical conductivity and reflectivity of any metal. Industrially it is used in electrical contacts and conductors. This will come up again in our discussion of the priests’ ephod in Exodus 28.

Brass was first worked by Tubalcain, before the great Flood of Noah’s time. See Genesis 4:22. Brass is a metallic alloy or mixture of predominantly copper and zinc as bronze is a mixture of copper and tin along with other substances in smaller amounts such as lead or aluminum. It is used for decoration and also has electrical applications in situations where it is important that sparks are not created. It is its low friction properties that make it valuable for locks, ammunition castings, valves, bearings, and zippers. It is durable and lasts a good while.

Blue was a color that was very difficult to make. Blue dyes were made from plants like woad and indigo and the blue pigments were made from minerals like lapis lazuli or azurite. Its difficulty in making made it valuable. Lapis lazuli, a semi-precious blue stone was made into jewelry and vessels.

Purple was also a difficult to make color. Remember Lydia in the New Testament?

Acts 16:14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

It was so expensive that it came to signify royalty. The Roman soldiers put a purple robe on Jesus to mock Him as the king of the Jews.

Mark 15:17  And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, 18  And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! 19  And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. 20  And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

The wealthy man in the story of Lazarus and the rich man wore purple.

Luke 16:19 ¶  There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

Purple was worn by Roman magistrates and it became the imperial color worn by the rulers of the Byzantine Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, and later by Roman Catholic bishops. Also, in Japan, the color is traditionally associated with the Emperor and the nobility.

Purple was made from a sea snail, traditionally by the sea-farers of Tyre. It was known as Tyrian Purple in that context. The process of killing thousands of sea snails and making the dye was long and expensive, requiring a great deal of precision to get it right.

Scarlet is significant as it has been a color signifying power and wealth since ancient times, second only to purple. It was made from a small insect for the wealthy or as a vegetable dye if you were not so. Scarlet is a synonym for crimson and red. Our sins are likened to it as the color of blood.

Isaiah 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

The wealthy Hebrew woman in Proverbs 31, a type of the church, clothes her household in scarlet. It is a color of value, which is important to remember.

Fine linen symbolizes righteousness.

Revelation 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

To produce fine linen was a specialty.

1Chronicles 4:21  The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,