1 Reis 5

1 Reis 5

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" Hinneh is translated in the Septuagint with the interjection idou (strictly speaking a command in the second person aorist imperative, middle voice) a demonstrative particle (used 1377 times in the Septuagint and NT) which is found especially in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke "and giving a peculiar vivacity to the style by bidding the reader or hearer to attend to what is said: "Behold! See! Lo!" (Thayer) The command is calling for urgent attention. Do this now! Don't delay! It could be loosely paraphrased "Pay attention!" or "Listen up!" to arouse attention and introduce a new and extraordinary fact of considerable importance. QUESTION - What is the Davidic covenant? ANSWER - The Davidic Covenant refers to God’s promises to David through Nathan the prophet and is found in 2 Samuel 7 and later summarized in 1 Chronicles 17:11–14 and 2 Chronicles 6:16. This is an unconditional covenant made between God and David through which God promises David and Israel that the Messiah (Jesus Christ) would come from the lineage of David and the tribe of Judah and would establish a kingdom that would endure forever. The Davidic Covenant is unconditional because God does not place any conditions of obedience upon its fulfillment. The surety of the promises made rests solely on God’s faithfulness and does not depend at all on David or Israel’s obedience. The Davidic Covenant centers on several key promises that are made to David. First, God reaffirms the promise of the land that He made in the first two covenants with Israel (the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants). This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:10, “I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore.” God then promises that David’s son will succeed him as king of Israel and that this son (Solomon) would build the temple. This promise is seen in 2 Samuel 7:12–13, " I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name.” But then the promise continues and expands: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (verse 13), and “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever” (verse 16). What began as a promise that David’s son Solomon would be blessed and build the temple turns into something different—the promise of an everlasting kingdom. Another Son of David would rule forever and build a lasting House. This is a reference to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, called the Son of David in Matthew 21:9. The promise that David’s “house,” “kingdom,” and “throne” will be established forever is significant because it shows that the Messiah will come from the lineage of David and that He will establish a kingdom from which He will reign. The covenant is summarized by the words “house,” promising a dynasty in the lineage of David; “kingdom,” referring to a people who are governed by a king; “throne,” emphasizing the authority of the king’s rule; and “forever,” emphasizing the eternal and unconditional nature of this promise to David and Israel. Other references to the Davidic Covenant are found in Jeremiah 23:5; 30:9; Isaiah 9:7; 11:1; Luke 1:32, 69; Acts 13:34; and Revelation 3:7.GotQuestions.org 1 Kings 5:6 "Now therefore, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon, and my servants will be with your servants; and I will give you wages for your servants according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians." cut for me cedars from Lebanon: 1Ki 6:9,10,16,20 2Ch 2:8,10 Ps 29:5 I will give you wages for your servants: Ro 12:17 Php 4:8 there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber 1Co 12:14-21 Eph 4:7 Sidonians: Ge 10:15 Ezr 3:7 Related Passages: Words in this color in parallel passages in 2 Chronicles give additional details not found in 1 Kings 2 Samuel 5:11 Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David with cedar trees and carpenters and stonemasons; and they built a house for David. 1 Chronicles 22:4 and timbers of cedar logs beyond number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought large quantities of cedar timber to David. 2 Chronicles 2:7-9+ “Now send me a skilled man (As described in 1Ki 7:13-14) to work in gold, silver, brass and iron, and in purple, crimson and violet fabrics, and who knows how to make engravings, to work with the skilled men whom I have in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided. 8 “Send me also cedar, cypress and algum timber from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber of Lebanon; and indeed my servants will work with your servants, to prepare timber in abundance for me, for the house which I am about to build will be great and wonderful. KING SOLOMON ISSUES A COMMAND TO HIRAM Now therefore, command that they cut for me cedars from Lebanon - The girth (circumference of the trunk) of a fully mature cedar tree can range from 12 to 40 feet. The immense girth of older cedar trees made them highly valued in antiquity for building ships, temples, and palaces. Their strength and size contributed to their significance. These cedar tree facts help understand the beauty of the Psalmist's words that "The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree, He will grow like a cedar in Lebanon." (Ps 92:12+) Keil - It is evident from this request, that that portion of Lebanon on which the cedars suitable for building wood grew, belonged to the kingdom of Hiram. The cedar forest, which has been celebrated from very ancient times, was situated at least two days' journey to the north of Beirut, near the northernmost and loftiest summits of the range, by the village of Bjerreh, to the north of the road which leads to Baalbek and not far to the east of the convent of Canobin, the seat of the patriarch of the Maronites, although Seetzen, the American missionaries, and Professor Ehrenberg found cedars and cedar groves in other places on northern Lebanon (see Rob. Pal. iii. 440,441, and Bibl. Res. pp. 588ff.). The northern frontier of Canaan did not reach as far as Bjerreh (see at Nu 34:8-9). And my servants ('ebed; Lxx - doulos) will be with your servants ('ebed; Lxx - doulos); and I will give you wages for your servants ('ebed; Lxx - doulos) according to all that you say, for you know that there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians (Sidon just north of Tyre on coast) - Equitable pay and willingness to recognize the expertise of the Sidonians are reflections of Solomon's wisdom. Keil - "My servants shall be with thy servants," i.e., shall help them in the felling of the wood. "And the wages of thy servants will I give to thee altogether as thou sayest." "For thou knowest that no one among us is skilful in felling trees like the Sidonians." This refers to the knowledge of the most suitable trees, of the right time for felling, and of the proper treatment of the wood. The expression Sidonians stands for Phoenicians generally, since Sidon was formerly more powerful than Tyre, and that portion of Lebanon which produced the cedars belonged to the district of Sidon. The inhabitants of Sidon were celebrated from time immemorial as skilful builders, and well versed in mechanical arts (compare Rob. Pal. iii. 421ff., and Movers, Phoenizier, ii. 1, pp. 86ff.). Russell Dilday - The Sidonians were noted as timber craftsmen in the ancient world, a fact substantiated on the famous Palmero Stone. Its inscription from 2200 B.C. tells us about timber-carrying ships that sailed from Byblos to Egypt about four hundred years previously. The skill of the Sidonians was expressed in their ability to pick the most suitable trees, know the right time to cut them, fell them with care, and then properly treat the logs.” (See The Preacher's Commentary - 1 and 2 Kings - Page 44) Cedar Timber: The wood of the cedar has always been highly prized--much more so than the sycamore (1 Ki 10:27; Isa 9:10). David had a house of cedar built for him by Hiram, king of Tyre (2 Sam 5:11), and he prepared "cedar-trees without number" for the temple which his son was to build (1 Ch 22:4). Cedar timber was very much used in the construction of Solomon's temple and palace, the trees being cut in the Lebanon by Sidonians by orders of the king of Tyre--"Hiram gave Solomon timber of cedar and timber of fir according to all his desire" (1 Ki 5:6-10). One of Solomon's most important buildings was known as "the house of the forest of Lebanon" (1 Ki 7:2; 10:17; 2 Ch 9:16), on account of the source of its materials. While cedar was well adapted for beams ( 1 Ki 6:9; Song 1:17), boards (Song 8:9), pillars (1 Ki 7:2) and ceilings (Jer 22:14), it was suited as well for carved work, such as idols (Isa 44:14,15). It was also used for ships' masts (Ezek 27:5). 1 Kings 5:7 When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people." Blessed: 1Ki 10:9 2Ch 2:11,12 9:7,8 Ps 122:6,7 137:6 who has: 1Ki 1:48 Ge 33:5 Isa 8:18 9:6 a wise son: 1Ki 3:9 2Ch 2:11 Pr 10:1 13:1 15:20 23:24 Related Passages: Words in this color in parallel passages in 2 Chronicles give additional details not found in 1 Kings 2 Chronicles 2:12+ Then Huram continued, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, Who has made heaven and earth, (Ps 33:26, 102:25) Who has given King David a wise son, endowed with (literally knowing) discretion and understanding, who will build a house for the LORD and a royal palace for himself. (Comment - This is an amazing statement by this apparent pagan! Clearly he did not believe in the LIE OF EVOLUTION! He knows more about creation than the most brilliant evolutionists of our day! Was Hiram a believer in Yahweh? This may be one of those surprises we will see in heaven! Twice in this verse Hiram calls Him LORD [Jehovah]! ) HIRAM BLESSES JEHOVAH When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "Blessed be the LORD (Jehovah; Lxx - kurios) today, Who has given to David a wise son over this great people - King Hiram knows God's great Name "Jehovah" and also acknowledges that it was Jehovah Who (1) gave Solomon wisdom and (2) gave Solomon the throne of David. Hiram also acknowledge the Chosen People as a great people, presumably because they have a great God! Stories as that of Hiram should serve to call us to the sense of opportunity and responsibility of revealing God to those with whom we are brought into contact in every walk of life. -- G Campbell Morgan Thomas