The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 5.1

For those following along, we are still in the first verse of the first chapter of Isaiah, and we are digging into the background information on the kings. We are on the last of these four kings.

Isa 1:1 

The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Hezekiah or Hizkiah or Hizkijah = "Jehovah is my strength"

2Ki 18:1 Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, [that] Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

2Ki 18:2  Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also [was] Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

Abi = "my father" or Abia or Abiah or Abijah = "Jehovah is (my) father"

Zechariah = "Jehovah remembers"

2Ki 18:3 And he did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

2Ki 18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Brasen: 

1) copper, bronze

a) copper (ore), bronze (as copper alloy)

b) fetters (of copper or bronze)

c) copper (as value)

2) lust, harlotry

a) meaning dubious

Nehushtan = "a thing of brass"

1) name by which the brazen serpent made by Moses in the wilderness was worshipped in the time of king Hezekiah of Judah before he destroyed it

2Ki 18:5  He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor [any] that were before him.

2Ki 18:6  For he clave to the LORD, [and] departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses.

2Ki 18:7  And the LORD was with him; [and] he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.

2Ki 18:8  He smote the Philistines, [even] unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.

Ok, so by now, you must be wondering as I am, why this guy managed to be lumped with the other three, because the distinct difference I see between him and the other kings is that he did tear down the high places and all the alters to all the idols that the other kings had allowed to stand.  He does not appear to be double-minded like the other kings.

I liked this word...clave.

Clave:

1) to cling, stick, stay close, cleave, keep close, stick to, stick with, follow closely, join to, overtake, catch

a) (Qal)

1) to cling, cleave to

2) to stay with

b) (Pual) to be joined together

c) (Hiphil)

1) to cause to cleave to

2) to pursue closely

3) to overtake

d) (Hophal) to be made to cleave

These additional words parallel this word: follow hard, stick, keep fast, together, abide, close, joined, pursued, take.

This guy was holding God’s hand the whole way.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.10

Back to Ahaz and his mess. As we see, he’s getting invaded on all sides.

2Ch 28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Bethshemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

Philistine = "immigrants"

Judah= "praised"

Beth-shemesh = "house of the sun" or "sun-temple"

Ajalon or Aijalon = "field of deer"

Gederoth = "walls"

Shocho or Shochoh or Sochoh or Shoco or Socoh = "bushy"

Timnath or Timnah or Thimnathah = "portion"

Gimzo = "fertile in sycamores"

This could read: The “immigrants” also had invaded the cities of the low country and of the south of “praised,” and had taken the “house of the sun” and the “field of deer” and the “walls” and the “bushy” “portion” with the villages thereof, “fertile in sycamores” also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there.

2Ch 28:19  For the LORD brought Judah low because of Ahaz king of Israel; for he made Judah naked, and transgressed sore against the LORD.

2Ch 28:20  And Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria came unto him, and distressed him, but strengthened him not.

Distressed:

1) to bind, besiege, confine, cramp

a) (Qal)

1) to confine, secure

2) to shut in, beseige

3) to shut up, enclose

2) (Qal) to show hostility to, be an adversary, treat as foe

3) (Qal) to form, fashion, delineate

And all the other words that were adverbs of this word were: besiege, lay siege, distress, bind, adversaries, assault, bags, beset, cast, fashioned, fortify, inclose, bind up.

It’s just amazing how low one will go when they refuse to serve the Lord. This man was already kissing the proverbial butt of this Assyrian king, but he stooped even lower, to outright begging, and then further to groveling, but none of this did him any good, and certainly, it turned the heat up of God’s wrath against him.

2Ch 28:21  For Ahaz took away a portion [out] of the house of the LORD, and [out] of the house of the king, and of the princes, and gave [it] unto the king of Assyria: but he helped him not.

2Ch 28:22  And in the time of his distress did he trespass yet more against the LORD: this [is that] king Ahaz.

2Ch 28:23  For he sacrificed unto the gods of Damascus, which smote him: and he said, Because the gods of the kings of Syria help them, [therefore] will I sacrifice to them, that they may help me. But they were the ruin of him, and of all Israel.

2Ch 28:24  And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God, and cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made him altars in every corner of Jerusalem.

2Ch 28:25  And in every several city of Judah he made high places to burn incense unto other gods, and provoked to anger the LORD God of his fathers.

Ahaz gave himself up to a life of wickedness and idolatry. 2Ki 16; Isa. 7-9; 16; Isa. 7-9; 2 Chr. 28). Notwithstanding the remonstrances and warnings of Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah, he appealed for help against Rezin, king of Damascus, and Pekah, king of Israel, who threatened Jerusalem, to Tiglath-pileser, the king of Assyria, to the great injury of his kingdom and his own humilating subjection to the Assyrians (2Ki 16:7,9; 15:29). He also introduced among his people many heathen and idolatrous customs (Isa 8:19; 38:8; 2Ki 23:12). He died at the age of thirty-five years, after reigning sixteen years (B.C. 740-724), and was succeeded by his son Hezekiah. Because of his wickedness he was "not brought into the sepulchre of the kings."

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.9

The second reference to the fall of Edom was in a book I didn’t even know about in the bible...the book of Obadiah. This entire book is a book of doom, and the doom it speaks of is against Edom. And again, it mentions or references the feud between Jacob and Esau, stating the cause of the problem; pride, and indicating God’s resolution to this problem against Esau and his descendants.

Oba 1:1  The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.

Oba 1:2  Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised.

Oba 1:3  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation [is] high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

Oba 1:4  Though thou exalt [thyself] as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.

Oba 1:5  If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave [some] grapes?

Oba 1:6  How are [the things] of Esau searched out! [how] are his hidden things sought up!

Oba 1:7  All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee [even] to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, [and] prevailed against thee; [they that eat] thy bread have laid a wound under thee: [there is] none understanding in him.

Oba 1:8  Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise [men] out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau?

Oba 1:9  And thy mighty [men], O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one of the mount of Esau may be cut off by slaughter.

Oba 1:10  For [thy] violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.

Oba 1:11  In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou [wast] as one of them.

Oba 1:12  But thou shouldest not have looked on the day of thy brother in the day that he became a stranger; neither shouldest thou have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; neither shouldest thou have spoken proudly in the day of distress.

Oba 1:13  Thou shouldest not have entered into the gate of my people in the day of their calamity; yea, thou shouldest not have looked on their affliction in the day of their calamity, nor have laid [hands] on their substance in the day of their calamity;

Oba 1:14  Neither shouldest thou have stood in the crossway, to cut off those of his that did escape; neither shouldest thou have delivered up those of his that did remain in the day of distress.

Oba 1:15  For the day of the LORD [is] near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head.

Oba 1:16  For as ye have drunk upon my holy mountain, [so] shall all the heathen drink continually, yea, they shall drink, and they shall swallow down, and they shall be as though they had not been.

Oba 1:17  But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

Oba 1:18  And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau for stubble, and they shall kindle in them, and devour them; and there shall not be [any] remaining of the house of Esau; for the LORD hath spoken [it].

Oba 1:19  And [they of] the south shall possess the mount of Esau; and [they of] the plain the Philistines: and they shall possess the fields of Ephraim, and the fields of Samaria: and Benjamin [shall possess] Gilead.

Oba 1:20  And the captivity of this host of the children of Israel [shall possess] that of the Canaanites, [even] unto Zarephath; and the captivity of Jerusalem, which [is] in Sepharad, shall possess the cities of the south.

Oba 1:21  And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD'S.

I can only imagine that if the Edomites knew of their impending doom, they’d be doing a lot of stupid things in their indignation, pride, rage and bitter hatred, to try to eliminate the nation that would be viewed as the cause of all their problems.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.8

Now, this “slaughter of Edom that caused Amaziah so much pride was carried out in this manner:

2Ch 25:7  But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD [is] not with Israel, [to wit, with] all the children of Ephraim.

2Ch 25:8  But if thou wilt go, do [it], be strong for the battle: God shall make thee fall before the enemy: for God hath power to help, and to cast down.

2Ch 25:9  And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.

2Ch 25:10  Then Amaziah separated them, [to wit], the army that was come to him out of Ephraim, to go home again: wherefore their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in great anger.

2Ch 25:11  And Amaziah strengthened himself, and led forth his people, and went to the valley of salt, and smote of the children of Seir ten thousand.

2Ch 25:12  And [other] ten thousand [left] alive did the children of Judah carry away captive, and brought them unto the top of the rock, and cast them down from the top of the rock, that they all were broken in pieces.

2Ch 25:13  But the soldiers of the army which Amaziah sent back, that they should not go with him to battle, fell upon the cities of Judah, from Samaria even unto Bethhoron, and smote three thousand of them, and took much spoil.

Now, the following information I found in two places. The first is Jeremiah.

Jer 49:7  Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; [Is] wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?

Jer 49:8  Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time [that] I will visit him.

Jer 49:9  If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave [some] gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.

Jer 49:10  But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he [is] not.

Jer 49:11  Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve [them] alive; and let thy widows trust in me.

Jer 49:12  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment [was] not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and [art] thou he [that] shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink [of it].

Jer 49:13  For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.

Jer 49:14  I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, [saying], Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.

Jer 49:15  For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, [and] despised among men.

Jer 49:16  Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, [and] the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

Jer 49:17  Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.

Jer 49:18  As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour [cities] thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.

Jer 49:19  Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who [is] a chosen [man, that] I may appoint over her? for who [is] like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who [is] that shepherd that will stand before me?

Jer 49:20  Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.

Jer 49:21  The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.

Jer 49:22  Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.

The thing is, I wonder when this prophesy was given? The reason I’m thinking about this, is that it reminds me of Satan, who is in a rage per Revelations 12, because he knows his time is short.

Rev 12:7  And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Rev 12:8  And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

Rev 12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Rev 12:10  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, [ye] heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

It makes me wonder if the Edomites were aware of this prophesy as well, and also developed more bitterness and attempted in essence to ‘rage against the machine’ in futility. I mean, think about it. If you were from a nation that God pronounced doom upon, and you knew it was because of the people you consider to be your worst enemy...the same people...your brother even, that stole the spotlight from you in every way...most people would be seriously resentful, if not downright hateful, spiteful, and problematic to say the least.

To put it another way, if you worked on a job with your sibling, and it was a job you really wanted to excel in, but your sibling kept getting the praise, and the rewards, despite being one of the worst and even laziest workers in the place; one who repeatedly violated the rules and requirements; one who constantly turned against the bosses, and even worked on the side for the competition; it might make you pretty mad.

And that sibling rivalry...that resentment of “Why does he get to have that?” or “Why does he get to get away with that?” and even worse, “Why was my raise given to him?” and “He stole my promotion!” Well, I think it might be easy to understand this situation a bit better within the scope of this scenario, particularly if the person complaining and being resentful was not a believer, because we all know that real believers don’t have these issues...or do they?

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.7

We are still on the subject of Edom and trying to get the complete picture on them and their role with Ahaz...why they had attacked yet again in 2 Chronicles.

2Ch 28:17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

So now we are going back into a bit more of the history between these kingdoms.

2Ch 21:7  Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.

2Ch 21:8  In his days the Edomites revolted from under the dominion of Judah, and made themselves a king.

2Ch 21:9  Then Jehoram went forth with his princes, and all his chariots with him: and he rose up by night, and smote the Edomites which compassed him in, and the captains of the chariots.

2Ch 21:10  So the Edomites revolted from under the hand of Judah unto this day. The same time [also] did Libnah revolt from under his hand; because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.

From under the hand of Judah...that’s interesting, because it’s funny how people’s resentment makes them believe they are oppressed. In reality, they are just so full of bitterness and resentment that even if the one they resent were to bring them flowers, and buy them lunch daily, they’d still find fault in that act of kindness, and reason to despise the person even more. However, there were some reasons for their hatred, despite the fact that it was steeped in an age old bitter feud.

2Ki 14:7  He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

2Ki 14:8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

Now at this point, this story continues at least through verse 10, but I’m going to take you another book where it’s explained a bit more.

2Ch 25:14  Now it came to pass, after that Amaziah was come from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the children of Seir, and set them up [to be] his gods, and bowed down himself before them, and burned incense unto them.

2Ch 25:15  Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

2Ch 25:16  And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that [the king] said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

2Ch 25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

2Ch 25:18  And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that [was] in Lebanon sent to the cedar that [was] in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that [was] in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

2Ch 25:19  Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why shouldest thou meddle to [thine] hurt, that thou shouldest fall, [even] thou, and Judah with thee?

2Ch 25:20  But Amaziah would not hear; for it [came] of God, that he might deliver them into the hand [of their enemies], because they sought after the gods of Edom.

Note that just one victory caused this dumb level of pride Amaziah had, and once pride stepped into the scene, his ears became plugged so to speak, so that he would not hear wise counsel. Any time you find someone who refuses wise counsel, or just refuses to listen it is because they are walking in the spirit of pride.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.6

Now, I can’t see where any of this self-sufficient effort profited him anything. Let’s see what was spawned from the bonds of self-sufficiency.

Gen 36:4  And Adah bare to Esau Eliphaz; and Bashemath bare Reuel;

Gen 36:5  And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these [are] the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan.

Gen 36:12  And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these [were] the sons of Adah Esau's wife.

Gen 36:15 These [were] dukes of the sons of Esau: the sons of Eliphaz (my God is (fine) gold ) the firstborn [son] of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz,

Gen 36:16  Duke Korah, (bald) duke Gatam, [and] duke Amalek: these [are] the dukes [that came] of Eliphaz in the land of Edom; these [were] the sons of Adah.

Gen 36:17  And these [are] the sons of Reuel Esau's son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these [are] the dukes [that came] of Reuel in the land of Edom; these [are] the sons of Bashemath Esau's wife.

Gen 36:18  And these [are] the sons of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah: these [were] the dukes [that came] of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife.

Gen 36:19  These [are] the sons of Esau, who [is] Edom, and these [are] their dukes.

Esau = "hairy"

    Adah = "ornament"

        Eliphaz = "my God is (fine) gold"

Teman = "south"

Omar = "speaker" or "eloquent"

Zepho or Zephi = "watch-tower"

Gatam = "a burnt valley"

Kenaz = "hunter"

Timna or Timnah = "restrained"

Amalek = "dweller in a valley"

Ishmael = "God will hear"

Nebaioth or Nebajoth = "heights

Bashemath or Basmath = "spice"

Reuel or Raguel = "friend of God"

Nahath = "rest"

Zerah or Zarah = "rising"

Shammah = "astonishment"

Mizzah = "fear"

Zibeon = "coloured" Hivite = "villagers"

Anah = "answer"

Aholibamah = "tent of the high place"

Jeush = "assembler"

Jaalam = "concealed"

Korah = "bald"

From what I see here, this is indicative that there is no one that is not redeemable to some extent, because I see "my God is (fine) gold" and a "friend of God" among his descendants. There is evidence of “rest” amid “rising” “astonishment” and “fear.” One could also surmise that a “speaker” was “south” in a “watch tower” of “a burnt valley” where a “hunter” resides. Then again, one might say a “bald” “assembler” was “concealed,” but who really knows?

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.5

Now notice that it was in Gen 31:3 in which God told Jacob to return to the land of his fathers, and to his relatives, and that God would be with him. Between Genesis 32 and 33, Jacob sent 5 gifts ahead of him to Esau; a herd of goats, ewes, camels, cows and donkeys, each with both males and females.

It seems to me that this was a wise move on Jacob’s behalf, particularly because it seems apparent that Esau has a tendency towards a materialistic mindset versus a spiritual one, so these gifts, and the wealth they represented, quenched the fire of Esau’s anger against Jacob. The problem I see, which continued, is one of reliving or repeating the situation or story of the loss of both his birthright and his blessings to his generations, who inherited the “outcast” status of their progenitor. It’s a problem of ongoing, generational resentment.

How do you figure, you ask? Well, let’s look at his generations. First, let’s look at who he married.

Gen 36:1 Now these [are] the generations of Esau, who [is] Edom.

Esau = "hairy"

Edom = "red"

Gen 36:2  Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

Canaan = "lowland"

1) the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine

2) the land west of the Jordan peopled by the descendants of Canaan and subsequently conquered by the Israelites under Joshua

3) merchant, trader

Adah = "ornament"

2) a Hittitess, 1 of the 3 wives of Esau and mother of Eliphaz

a) also called 'Bashemath'

Elon = "terebinth, mighty"

Terebinth: ( 3.) 'Elon, Jdg 4:11; 9:6 ( R.V., "oak; " A.V., following the Targum, "plain") properly the deciduous species of oak shedding its foliage in autumn.

1) Hittite, father-in-law of Esau

2) second son of Zebulun

3) Zebulonite judge of Israel

4) town in Dan

Hittite = "descendant of Heth"

1) the nation descended from Heth, the 2nd son of Canaan; once inhabitants of central Anatolia (modern Turkey), later in north Lebanon

This caught my attention, as a few nights ago on TBN, there was a travel/historical program on about the Hittites and whether or not they actually existed. On the program they showed these interesting sphere-shaped rocks that these people lived in. They actually carved these rocks into homes. The program mentioned that they were decendants of Heth, and that one of them was a major warrior that King David had murdered on the front lines of a battle so that he could take his wife, Bathsheba.

What I’ve also noted, is that these people were descendants also from Zebulun, which was the 10^th of Jacob’s sons...one of the twelve tribes of Israel. So in essence, what I see here is that the bible is the history of one family, and the ongoing war between the siblings and their generations based upon the acceptance or rejection they received from God.

Gen 36:2  Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

Aholibamah = "tent of the high place"

1) wife of Esau

2) an Edomite chieftain

Adah = "answer"

1) son of Zibeon and father of Aholibamah, a wife of Esau

2) a Horite chief

3) daughter of Zibeon

Zibeon = "coloured"

1) father of Anah, whose daughter Aholibamah married Esau

2) son of Seir the Horite

Hivite = "villagers"

1) 6th generation of descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, who were living in northern Canaan near Mount Hermon at the time of the conquest

Gen 36:3  And Bashemath Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth.

Bashemath or Basmath = "spice"

1) Hittite wife of Esau, daughter of Ishmael, sister of Nebaioth

Ishmael = "God will hear"

1) son of Abraham and Sarah's handmaid Hagar and the progenitor of the Arabian peoples

Nebaioth or Nebajoth = "heights"

1) a son of Ishmael

2) people descended from 1 called the Nabateans with their capital at Petra

What I see here is that one rejected son took to himself wives from other “rejects.” First, he took from the descendants of Canaan, who was the grandson of Ham, upon which the curse was placed. Then, he takes an “ornament” from a “mighty oak” which descended from another rejected son of the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he takes an African tribal chieftain’s princess as apparently part of an “answer” from among “villagers.” Again, these were descendants of Ham the one who fell due to sexual sin. Finally, he takes a “spice” from the “heights” in the hopes that “God will hear.”

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.4

Now...bear with me while I make this point. Sometimes when we are busy walking in our own strength, with our eyes focused on everything but God, we don’t realize who we are aligning ourselves with until it’s too late. Additionally, we also have no idea why, most of the time, we are being attacked...what’s behind the attack, and who it is that is really attacking us. We are like racetrack horses with blinders on. To illustrate this point, let me give you a bit of background on the Edomites that had come again and smitten Judah.

First of all, we all know the story of Esau, the oldest of Isaac’s twins, and grandsons to Abraham. We know about how he sold his birthright to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of stew in Gen. 25:27-34. The last part of verse 34 says that he despised his birthright.

This word “despised” means to regard with contempt or scorn; to consider as worthless, inferior. In other words, his attitude was similar to that of some of the (dogs) men that used to catcall to me in the street. You know the type... “Hey baby...” etc; and then when you ignore them and don’t respond to it, suddenly you are called a female dog and numerous other names, and told, “You ain’t all that!” Well...my response (at least mentally) was... “Apparently I was (all that), until I let you know that you weren’t worth my attention.”

But I think Hebrews summed up that attitude very well.

Hbr 12:15  Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;

Hbr 12:16  Lest there [be] any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

Hbr 12:17  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

The reference was really just verses 16-17, but I thought that verse 15 was relevant, having come just before it, and demonstrating that when one fails the grace of God, bitterness springs up in them and they are defiled; in this case, forever.

We also know that according to verse 17, he found no place of repentance, and was rejected when he would have inherited his blessing in Genesis 27. Again, in verse 34, we see a reference to bitterness. I also found a cross reference to Gen. 37:4-5, in which reference is made to the hatred of Joseph’s brothers towards him because they knew his father loved him more.

I also see a parallel with Lucifer and Christ. Although Lucifer was an arch angel, he was the most elevated and glorified of the angels, and his position was similar to that of a son, but the birthright of Son of God was Christ’s, and so again, we see the first example of that same hatred and bitterness in Satan, whereby the first is displaced by the second, just like the prodigal son, and just like the favor of Abel over Cain. It’s a repetitive theme throughout the bible.

The Book of Isaiah

Chapter 1 V.1 Part 4.3

Let’s look at the heads of the children of Ephraim: "double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful," that stood up against those returning from the war.

Azariah: "Jehovah has helped;" son of Jehohanan: "Jehovah has graced."

Berachiah or Berechiah: "Jehovah blesses;" son of Meshillemoth: "recompense."

Hezekiah or Jehizkiah: "Jehovah has made strong;" son of Shallum: "retribution."

Amasa: "burden;" son of Hadlai: "rest of God"

 2Ch 28:13  And said unto them, Ye shall not bring in the captives hither: for whereas we have offended against the LORD [already], ye intend to add [more] to our sins and to our trespass: for our trespass is great, and [there is] fierce wrath against Israel.

 2Ch 28:14  So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the congregation.

 2Ch 28:15  And the men which were expressed by name rose up, and took the captives, and with the spoil clothed all that were naked among them, and arrayed them, and shod them, and gave them to eat and to drink, and anointed them, and carried all the feeble of them upon asses, and brought them to Jericho, the city of palm trees, to their brethren: then they returned to Samaria.

The men which were expressed by name: Azariah: "Jehovah has helped," Berachiah or Berechiah: "Jehovah blesses," Hezekiah or Jehizkiah: "Jehovah has made strong," Amasa: "burden," took those captives and performed on them exactly what their father’s blessed them to do:

(son of Jehohanan) "Jehovah has graced."

(son of Meshillemoth) "recompense."

(son of Shallum) "retribution."

(son of Hadlai) "rest of God."

They gave them grace, recompense, retribution, and rest. They even anointed them before returning them to Jericho, and when they finished this work, they returned to Samaria, the "watch mountain."

So after all of this occurs, Ahaz in all of his self-centered wisdom, goes and solicits the king of Assyria for help.

2Ch 28:16 At that time did king Ahaz send unto the kings of Assyria to help him.

And here’s the reason he did this:

2Ch 28:17 For again the Edomites had come and smitten Judah, and carried away captives.

Hi all,

Sorry I don't have the next post of The Book of Isaiah ready, nor have I finished my Big Adventure story, but I've been pretty busy. My first book is ready for publication, so I've been busy with finalizing it, so I can upload to my publisher. In addition, I've actually caught up with myself on The Book of Isaiah study...so I need to get back in it to be able to post again, as I try to stay a few posts ahead of what is actually up on the site. The Big Adventure story pt 3 is forthcoming, which is the section that the real God story occurred, but the delay has been prepping the pictures...reducing the size so that I can actually get them on the site without major loading problems. So I will be back soon. Btw...just wanted to give shout outs to all the people visiting my site from outside the U.S. I recently had a visitor from Romania who apparently found my "Studies and Posts" tags and was busy checking out alot on the site. So hello to all my visitors...thanks for stopping by. And of course, to my regular readers/subscribers... thanks for stickin' with me, and encouraging me with your comments. Peace and blessings.