Saturday, November 1, 2014

King Jehu

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Hello friends, here we have evidence of King Jehu, who carried out judgement on the house of Ahab (Credit given at the bottom of the article :D)

2 Kings 9

9 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:
2 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.
5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.
6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.
7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.
8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:
10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
12 And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel.


Praise The Lord JESUS CHRIST!!!

Jehu's Tribute to Shalmaneser III 
Setting the Stage

In 1846 archaeologist Henry Layard led a dig of a site in modern day Iraq named Kalhu. Layard, who also discovered #10 on our list, was fast becoming one of the world’s leading experts on the ancient Assyrians. Kalhu was once the capital of the ancient Assyrian Empire. Assyria was the leading world-power for a few hundred years (roughly 900-650BC). Many of the people and events in the Old Testament took place during this time of history.

Kalhu, also known as Nimrud, is located south of Nineveh on the river Tigris. The city covered an area of around 16 square miles. The ruins of the city are located only 19 miles southeast of current-day Mosul.

Layard discovered something in Kalhu shocking the archaeological world. Kalhu’s discovery centered on an Assyrian king named Shalmaneser III. 

You’ve probably never heard of King Shalmaneser III. He ruled Assyria from 859-824 BC. His long reign of 35 years consisted of constant military campaigns against eastern tribes such as the Babylonians, the nations Mesopotamia, Syria, etc…

Things are getting Interesting

In 853BC a coalition was formed to try to kick Shalmaneser’s buttocks. The coalition consisted of some leading kingdoms of the time. The Kurkh Monolith, which is an amazing archaeological discovery in its own right, explains the coalition fighting against Shalmaneser. The Kurkh Monolith lists the coalition as the kingdoms of Egypt, Hamath, Arvand, the Ammonites, “Ahab of Israel” and other neighboring states, under the leadership of king Hadadezer of Damascus. The coalition in 853BC defeats Shalmaneser at the Battle of Qarqar.

Shalmaneser loses the battle but is determined to win the overall war.

Ahab and Jezebel

Did you catch one of those coalition names? Yes, I’m talking about, “Ahab of Israel.” Ahab and Jezebel are the Bonnie and Clyde of the Old Testament. No married couple did more to lead people away from God than Jezebel and Ahab. Their pathetic exploits take up a surprisingly large portion of the Old Testament. 1 Kings 16 through 2 Kings 10 describe their lives.

God raises up several people to prophecy against and destroy the evil works of Ahab and Jezebel. One of the greatest prophets in the Bible, Elijah, spends his entire prophetic career speaking against Ahab and Jezebel. The Kurkh Monolith confirms the reign of Ahab and also his coalition with the Syrian king Hadadezer of Damascus.

Enter Jehu on the Scene

God raises up a man who would absolutely destroy the royal line of Ahab. In 2 Kings 9 Jehu is anointed the new king of Israel. God then uses Jehu to destroy the evil kings of Israel and Judah. Jehu drives his chariot to a city named Jezreel. 2 Kings 9:30 takes it from here, “When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?” And he lifted up his face to the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who? “Two or three eunuchs looked out at him. He said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her.”

Yes, I admit, the previous verse paints a grotesque scene. If you feel any sympathy for Jezebel you have wasted your sympathy. She was evil to the core. If you read the accounts in 1 and 2 Kings you will see what I mean. She makes people like Osama Bin Laden look like members of the junior varsity team of evil leadership.

The Discovery

As Henry Layard’s team, in 1846, excavated the sandy world of Kahu they encountered a large black object taking them quickly back to the time of Shalmaneser III, Ahab and Jehu. The large black object is known as an obelisk. The word obelisk simply refers to the shape of the object. 21st century Americans are most familiar with a white obelisk known as the Washington monument. This black obelisk is not as big as the Washington monument, it’s only 6 feet tall, but for an archaeological find in the middle of a desert…a black carved object 6 feet tall is a substantial discovery.

We know the obelisk was erected as a public monument in 825 BC at a time of civil war. The relief sculptures surrounding all sides of the obelisk glorify the military achievements of King Shalmaneser III and his chief minister. The king thought the obelisk would help inspire the people toward greater national patriotism and unity thereby helping to end the civil war. The Obelisk lists military campaigns of thirty-one years and the tribute they exacted from their neighbours: including camels, monkeys, an elephant and a rhinoceros. Assyrian kings often collected exotic animals and plants as an expression of their power.

The obelisk contains five different scenes on five different rows. Each row depicts the tribute of a foreign king. A tribute would usually entail a foreign king coming before Shalmaneser and bowing down before him showing Shalmaneser to be the ultimate king of his land.

Guess what? The second row of pictures on the Obelisk depicts the tribute of one particular king whom we know. When the ancient Assyrian Cuneiform inscription was translated the biblical world was shocked. The inscription reads, “The tribute of Jehu, son of Omri: I received from him silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden vase with pointed bottom, golden tumblers, golden buckets, tin, a staff for a king [and] spears.”

Significance

This is the ONLY, to my knowledge,contemporary artistic depiction of anyone mentioned in the Bible. What do I mean by contemporary? This is the only artistic depiction of someone in the Bible done by a person who actually lived during the same time. The Obelisk you see before you was created while Jehu was still the king sitting on his throne in Israel. The people knew what Jehu looked like. History outside of the Bible tells us Jehu and Shalmaneser were kings at the same time. When the Obelisk was created Jehu still had 10 years left of his reign in Israel.
The black obelisk fully supports every detail of the Bible. It makes perfect sense for Jehu to be paying tribute to Shalmaneser. Here are some reasons:
Jehu was the mortal enemy of Ahab. Who was one of Ahab’s allies? Hadadezer the king of Damascus. It would be natural for the king of Damascus to hate Jehu. A man named Hazael assassinated Hadadezer and became the new king of Damascus. We learn from 2 Kings 10:32, “In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel.” Jehu was being routed by Hazael, he needed some help to try to keep the country alive.
You may be thinking, “Why in the world would a king of Israel, especially someone like Jehu who was being used by God in powerful ways, ever pay tribute to the King of Assyria?” Why didn’t Jehu just pray to God and allow God to rescue him from Hazael? We learn from 2 Kings 10:31, “But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.” Jehu had some amazing moments being zealous for God, but had other times in his reign when he wasn’t walking with God. It would make perfect sense for Jehu, instead of praying, to be looking for the Assyrian King to rescue him from King Hazael.
Don’t forget the coalition defeating Shalmaneser at the battle of Qarqar in 853BC. Shalmaneser would have never forgotten that battle. Two of the people in that coalition: the king of Damascus and Ahab. Jehu and Shalmaneser shared common enemies. It would be natural for Shalmaneser and Jehu to join forces.

The black obelisk depicting Jehu’s tribute to Shalmaneser is such an amazing archaeological discovery. We are brought right into the time frame of the 9th century BC. The discovery provides such rich evidence for the accuracy of many events mentioned in 1st and 2nd Kings. The cherry on the top from the discovery is being able to see the real life depiction of one of the important kings of Israel.

Source: http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2010/07/top-ten-biblical-discoveries-in-archaeology-%E2%80%93-9-jehus-tribute-to-shalmaneser-iii/

10 comments:

  1. AMAZING coincidence ... I go looking for info on Jehu (and Jezebel and Ahab) and find your writings. So why's that amazing? Well, when I became a Christian many years ago, I asked for (and got) a portion of both Elijah's spirit, and very importantly, Jehu's Spirit, becuase as much as I admire Elijah, we need Jehu to defeat Jezebel. OK, so what, you may say? Well, I own the original painting at the top of your article, here it is, hanging on the wall in our home in Latin America SEE: http://greatmasterpieces.com/Jehu.jpg (Strange ... but true!)

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  2. Hello friend, i have learned throughout my pilgrimage that coincidences don't exist, everything has a reason and an explanation, although we may not always understand the reason behind everything (We're all very small in an incredibly huge universe)
    I have never heard of anyone wanting a portion of Jehu's Spirit, curiosity strikes me... what made you want to ask for this? I understand Jehu was made king By God, and therefore Jehu must have received a portion of God's Holy Spirit, which is The Spirit you asked for. I just never met anyone who asked for God's Holy Spirit this way.
    I myself have asked for God's Holy Spirit similarly in the past... i remember asking for a Portion Similar To Elisha's who received a double portion of Elijah's Spirit.
    I ask for God's Holy Spirit Daily now-days as i see it is an absolute necessity in the world we live in :)
    I like the painting you have there, i had never seen the whole thing... it's really cool :D
    Since you have stumbled upon this, i will definitely share this with you

    bible7treasures.blogspot.com

    it's another site which i hope will be a blessing to you :) Remember coincidences don't exist. May The Lord Jesus Christ Bless you friend :)

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  3. You have a powerful mission Miguel, keep up the good work! Clearly we are in the times of "Jezebel rising" ... the times described in Revelation. Problem is that even mighty men of God did not prevail against her. Elijah bruised queen Jezebel's ego, but she later drove him to lie under a tree in the dessert, that mighty man of God, in severe depression, pleading with God to remove him from the earth. Then when his spirit returned (as John the Baptist - Jesus' words, not mine) the reigning Jezebel of the day, queen Herodias, had his head served up to her on a platter. So now it's the time of Revelation ... round-3 in that battle. Many "Elijahs" are being raised up to counter Jezebel's rise ... but judging from the past, their call for her to repent, is more wasted breath. What did God find effective in dealing with her? He got his prophet Elisha to anoint (through a proxy) Jehu as King - with the sole purpose of destroying (not negotiating with) Jezebel, and to dismantle every last vestige of her attempts to institute Baal-worship in Israel. We do not see him as negotiating with Jezebel, we just see him as simply telling her eunuchs (those men she emasculated) to throw her out of the palace window - so that he could ride over her with his war chariot, then he left her there for the dogs to eat. All they found of her (to later bury) is her hands and feet) so that the prophesy of "Jezebel's corpse will be like manure on the surface of the field in the plot of land at Jezreel so that no one will be able to say: This is Jezebel." was fulfilled! Now if God thinks that's the way to best deal with the Jezebel spirit, who are we to decide otherwise? These are dangerous times. The rise of "queen Hillary" in the USA is an important sign of the times.

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    Replies
    1. It is important to remember that those events happened before our Messiah, Jesus Christ Came To earth To Be Sacrificed In our behalf; so that we may all be Saved :)
      This is a Commandment Given to us:

      Revelation 22:11

      11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

      We are not supposed to fight anyone anymore. We must just share Jesus Christ's Word with others so they may obtain Salvation as well, before time runs out. It's all about Peace and Love :D

      May The Lord Jesus Christ Bless you friend! Remember the more souls we save, the richer we get! ;)
      Although that shouldn't be the sole reason for reaching Souls. The main reason should be Love :D but it's nice to know that God Wants us to make Riches In Heaven :)

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    2. It's also important to pray for Hillary as well as other presidents, as this too is a Commandment given to us :)

      1 Timothy 2:1-2

      2 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
      2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

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  4. Revelation is a book of war - with Jesus leading the charge, and the blood flows up to the height of the bridles of the horses! We're already in the first stages of that war - and pacifism leads nowhere but to defeat and serves only satan's interests. The battles described in Revelation are not cosy, cutesy, touchy-feely little affairs - they're brutal and bloody because it's the final showdown between God's people and satans people. There's simply no disputing that. The Christian world has to wake up - like they once did to defend Europe from the Muslim hordes. The final chapter is upon us and it's going to be brutal - with Jesus leading that charge for God's people. Of course we know we will win in the end! But in-between now and that victory, is a lot of very tough times, with God's prophets and people being killed too. Jezebel is satan's woman - and she reappears (on his side) to hurt the Christian cause and God speaks out against her (mentioning her by name) and warns us all about her. Perhaps spend a bit of time an read the final chapter of the Bible, Revelation, and tell me where you see pacifism in it? How can God be wrong - and you right? How can Jesus be wrong - and you right? satan's people are mobilized - we'd better get our acts together and fast!

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  5. Revelation 9:15 "And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men."
    Comment: That's one and a half billion people, a third of the remaining population, to be killed in short order.

    Revelation 9:16 "And the number of the army of the horsemen [were] two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them."
    Comment: That's 200 Million soldiers! Now when you combine this 3rd of humanity with the quarter of humanity killed in the seal judgments, that means by this point half of the world's population already has been destroyed!
    NOTE: All of this is sanctioned by God and Jesus. I'm not sure where or how the pacifist argument fits into any of this. This is all out war on a scale never before seen on the earth. (1) The old testament was "Act-1" and it certainly was not cutesy and cuddly - it was quite brutal! (2) The New testament "Act-2" (that's the "love overcomes all" part you mention) was different and involved a lot of martyrs and pacifism BUT that does not mean it has to stay that way, as (3) The grand finale is described in REVELATION, "Act-3", and it's certainly not at all like Act-2 - much more like Act-1, only there's way more destruction and bloodshed! Since God oversaw Act-1 and Act-2 and overseas and sanctions Act-3, why argue with Him? It's the way He Ordained it from the beginning of time. The curtain is fast falling on Act-2, yes, by all means, save as many souls as possible before this era ends - but Act-3 will happen the way God intends for it to happen, and as best as anyone can describe it, it's all out war!

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    Replies
    1. The Angels that let loose the winds of strife symbolizes a moment in which things that are meant to happen will. This will happen after God's people are marked and the devil's people are marked as well.
      We want to be on God's Side, and God is Love, so we must be filled with God's Love, otherwise we're not really following Jesus and this really is the most important thing for a Christian; to follow Christ.
      We can only follow Him by Walking As He Walked, In Love.
      We really are not Commanded to fight anyone, but to be at Peace with everyone. Love our neighbor as we love ourselves :) Judgement is to be made by God. Who are we to judge others?

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    2. Don't get me wrong. The winds of strife aren't a symbol, they're a reality. However, we should not be afraid of those winds as long as we have God's Mark on our foreheads (Our thoughts, our hearts)
      Love is key, because God Is Love, and His Kingdom is Righteousness. :)
      Remember Jesus Christ's Teachings :D Those are for us to remember so that we may obey His Commandments. Which can all be summed up in One Word: LOVE.

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