On God Sending A Spirit Of Ill Will

The Fall of Abimelech king of Israel and The Curse of Jotham

Jerubbaal (that is Gideon) had seventy sons who were his own offsprings, for he has many wives. And his concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, whose name he called Abimelech. After his death, the children of Israel did not remember the LOrd their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.

Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, “Please speak in the hearing of all the citizens of Shechem and ask, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerubbaal sons to rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.” And their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

Abimelech went to his father’s house at Oprah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest of them was left, because he hid himself.

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years, God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, the crime done to the sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brothers.

Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him?Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem but why should we serve him?” Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. And Abimelech chased Gaal, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate. Abimelech dwelt at Armah, and Zebul his officer drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.

Abimelech fought against the city that day. He took it and killed the people who were in it; and demolished the city and sowed it with salt. Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that , they entered the stronghold of the temple of god of Berith. Abimelech and his men cut out branches and piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower died, about a thousand men and women.

Then Abimelech went to Thebez and besieged it. But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women–all the people of the city –fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower. So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. Then he called quickly to his young armor bearer and said to him, ” Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ ” So his young man thrust him through. And Abimelech died.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his own place.

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers. And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal. –Judges 9:

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The Death of Sisera in the Hand of a Woman (The Song of Deborah)

When the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LOrd, the LOrd sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera. Because Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the children of Israel for twenty years, they cried to the LOrd for help.

Deborah a prophetess, was leading Israel at that time. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh of Naphtali and said to him,
“The LOrd God of Israel commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mt. Tabor. I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army with his chariots and his troops to the Kishan River and give him into your hands.’ ”

Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

And Deborah answered, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there
will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.”

When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mt. Tabor, Sisera gathered together his nine hundred iron chariots and all the men with him.

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! this is the day the LOrd has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LOrd gone ahead of you?”

At Barak’s advance the LOrd routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled on foot. All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left. Sisera, however, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite( for there was peace between Jabin king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite).

Then Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said to him, “Turn aside, my lord, turn aside to me; do not fear.” And when had turned aside with her into the tent, she covered him with a blanket.

Then he said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink for I am thirsty.” So she opened a jug of milk, gave him a drink and covered him.

“Stand in the doorway of the tent”, he told her. “If any man comes and inquires of you and says, ‘Is there any man here?’ You shall say ‘no’. ”

But Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple, and it went down into the ground, and he died.

Barak came by in pursuit of sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come”, she said, “I will show you the man whom you seek.” So Barak went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple – dead.

On that day God subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the children of Israel. And the hand of Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin until they destroyed him.

Then the land had peace for forty years.

Judges 14: and 15:

The Song of Deborah

At her feet he sank, he fell;
He lay still
At her feet he sank, he fell
Where he sank
There he fell–dead. (Judges 5:27)

Most blessed of women be Jael
The wife of Heber the Kenite
Most blessed of the tent dwelling women
He asked for water, she gave milk
She brought out cream in a lordly bowl
She stretched her hand to the tent peg
Her right hand to the workmen’s hammer
She pounded Sisera
She pierced his head
She split and struck through his temple. (Judges 5:24-26)

Dissention Of Aaron and Miriam

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman who he had married.

And they said, “Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has HE not spoken through us also?”

And the Lord heard it. (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

The Lord said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, “Come out you three, to the tabernacle of meeting!”

Then the Lord came down in the pillar of cloud and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam. And they both went forward.

Then HE said, “Hear now my word: If there’s prophet among you, I, the Lord, make MYSELF known to him in a vision, and I speak to him in a dream. Not so with MY servant Moses; He is faithful in all MY house. I speak with him face to face; even plainly, and not in the dark sayings; And he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against MY servant Moses?“

So the anger of the Lord was aroused against them, and HE departed. And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow. Then Aaron turned toward Miriam, and there she was, a leper.

So Aaron said to Moses, “Oh my lord! Please do not lay this sin on us, in which we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned. Please do not let her be as one dead, whose flesh is half consumed when he comes out of his mother’s womb!”

So Moses cried out to the LOrd, saying,”Please heal her, O God, I pray!”

Then the Lord said to Moses, “If her father had but spit in her face, would she not be shamed seven days? Let her be shut out of the camp seven days, and after that she may be received again.”

So Miriam was shut out of the camp seven days, and the people did not journey on till Miriam was brought in again.—-

Numbers 12: 1-15

King Hezekiah’s Life extended

In those days Hezekiah king of Judah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’ ”

Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall and prayed to the Lord saying, “Remember now, Lord, I pray, how I walked before You in truth and with loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

Then it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him saying, ” Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord, and I will add fifteen years…

And will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria;

I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My own servant David.” ‘ ” —-2Kings 20:1-

Jezebel’s Violent Death

And when Jehu king of Israel had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. Then, as Jehu entered at the gate she said, “Is it peace Zimri, murderer of your master?”

And Jehu looked up at the window, and said,

“Who is on my side? Who?”

And two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Then Jehu commanded,

“Throw her down!”

So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.

And when Jehu had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “Go now, see to this accursed woman, and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.”

So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hand. Therefore they came back and told him.

And Jehu said, “This is the word of the Lord, which HE spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite saying, ‘On the plot of the ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; And the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.” ‘ “—2Kings 9:30-37

King Ahab and Jezebel

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard next to the palace of king Ahab of Samaria.  The king asked Naboth for the vineyard that he may have it for a vegetable garden for it is near, next to his house.  And in exchange for the garden the king is willing to give Naboth a better vineyard or money for its worth.

And Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased.  He lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food.

Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel!  Arise and eat food,  and let your heart be cheerful;  I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

So Jezebel wrote a letter in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal and sent the letter to the elders and nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. And she wrote in the letter saying,

“Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people, and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him saying, ‘You have blasphemed God and the king!'”  Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.”

The men of the city, the elders and nobles did as Jezebel had sent to them,  as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them.

When Jezebel was told of Naboth’s death he said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refuses to give you for money;  for Naboth is dead.”

So it was when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard.

The Lord Condemns Ahab

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite. ” …You shall speak to Ahab, saying,’ Thus says the Lord:

“Have you murdered and also taken possession ?”‘

“Thus says the Lord:

‘In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth,  dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.'”

And concerning Jezebel the Lord also spoke saying, “The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”— 1Kings 21:17-23

Elisha and Ben-Hadad King of Syria

Prophet Elisha went to Damascus. Ben-Hadad king of Syria was sick and he was told of Elisha’s presence. And the king said to Hazael, “Take a present in your hand and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord by him saying, ‘Shall I recover from this diseases?'”

So Hazael went to meet Elisha and took present with him, of every good thing of Damascus, forty camel loads; and he came and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-Hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying ‘shall I recover from this diseases?'”

And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover.’ However the Lord has shown me that he will really die.” Then Elisha stared at Hazael with a horrified look on his face until Hazael became ill at ease; And the man of God wept.

And Hazael said, “Why is my lord weeping?”

And the man of God answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the children of Israel. Their strongholds you will set on fire, and their young men you will kill with the sword; and you will dash their children, and rip open their women with child.”

So Hazael said, “But what is your servant- a dog, that he should do this gross thing?”

And Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you will become the king over Syria.”

Then he departed from Elisha, and come to his master who said to him, “What did Elisha said to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would surely recover.”

But it happened on the next day that he took a thick cloth and dipped it in water, and spread it over his master’s face so that he died; And Hazael reigned in his place. — 2Kings 8: 7-15

Believe Or You Shall Not Be Established..

In the days of Ahaz king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria, and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel went to Jerusalem to make war against Judah but could not prevail against it.

And it was told to the house of Judah saying, “Syria’s forces is deployed in Ephraim.” So king Ahaz’s heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah the prophet, “…take heed and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

“Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have taken evil counsel against you saying, ‘Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves and set a king over them, the son of Tabeel.–‘”

Thus says the Lord God:

” It shall not stand, nor it shall come to pass.

For the head of Syria is Damascus

And the head of Damascus is Rezin

Within sixty five years Ephraim will broken ,

So that it will not be a people

The head of Ephraim is Samaria

And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.”

.

“If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established.”

Isaiah 7: 1-9

On God Allowing A Lying Spirit

Jehoshaphat king of Judah had riches and honor in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab king of Israel.
After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him. He also persuaded Jehoshaphat to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat answered Ahab, “I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war. Please inquire for the word of the LOrd today.”

Ahab king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for GOd will deliver it into the king’s hand.” Now Zedekiah had made horns of iron for himself and he said “”Thus says the LOrd: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’ ” But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the LOrd here, that we may inquire of HIm?” So Ahab said, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the LOrd. But I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil. He is Micaiah. And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things.”

Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophet with one accord encourage the king. Therefore please let your words be like one of them. and speak encouragement. And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.”

Micaiah came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?” And Micaiah said, “Go and prosper and they shall be delivered into your hands!” So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

Then Micaiah said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains as sheep that has no shepherd. And the LOrd said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’ ” Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

Then Micaiah the prophet said, “Therefore hear the word of the LOrd. I saw the Lord sitting on HIs throne and all the host of heaven standing on HIs right hand and on HIs left.

And the Lord said, “Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth-Gilead?” And one said in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.

Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord and said, “I will persuade him.”

The Lord said to him, “In what way?”

So he said, “I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.”

And the Lord said, “YOU SHALL PERSUADE HIM AND ALSO PREVAIL. GO OUT AND DO SO.”

Now therefore, look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared a disaster against you.” Then Zedekiah struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit of the LOrd go from me to speak to you? And Micaiah said, “Indeed you shall see on that day when you go an inner chamber to hide!”

And king Ahab said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of this city and to Joash the king’s son; and say, “Thus says the king: “Put his fellow in prison and feed him with bread and water of affliction and I return in peace.

Then Micaiah said, ” If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.”

2Chronicles 18: 18-22