The Messenger of the LORD of Hosts

By Dan & Brenda Cathcart

The video version of this teaching is available at: https://youtu.be/QCp36BprfK4

The book of Malachi may be very short, but it is full of prophetic significance.  Malachi may not even be the proper name of the author of this book because the word is often used as a title and is from a root word which means ambassador, angel, king, or messenger.

The prophecies of Malachi were given during a time of relative peace in the land of Israel.  Many of the Jewish people had returned to the land from captivity in Assyria, and then, later in Babylon. Although the people didn’t have complete autonomous rule of their historic homeland of Israel, the temple had been rebuilt, the priesthood was in place once again, and all was looking well… Or was it? The book of Malachi contains some very specific warnings to the priesthood and the people who have again failed to uphold their obligations under the Mosaic Covenant. And, once again we see the curse of Esau rise up as a thorn in the side of the nation of Israel.  We see in the book of Malachi, in yet another generation, we see that the battle and animosity between the twin brothers of Jacob and Esau continues.

Malachi lived in the same general era as Ezra and Nehemiah and probably returned to the land of Israel among the first of many waves of Jews retuning to Israel following the downfall of Babylon. At this time the Temple was rebuilt under the leadership of Zerubbabel.

Ezra 3:8 NKJV 8 Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the LORD.

It is widely accepted that Malachi, along with Zachariah and Haggai, form a triumvirate of important post exile prophets of the LORD.  The exact dating of the writings of Malachi are not easy to determine, but were most likely penned around 440 to 430 BCE. During the time Malachi is writing, the rebuilding of the Temple is near completion, sacrifices were being offered as prescribed in the Torah, and Ezra and Nehemiah were in positions of leadership.

The opening verses of Malachi refer to Esau and Jacob, the twin sons of Isaac. This week’s Torah reading is titled Toldot from Genesis 25:19-28:9 and contains the story of Esau and Jacob.  Esau was the firstborn and as such would be entitled to the double portion of the inheritance.  But, we know the story, Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a single meal.

Genesis 25:27-33 NKJV 27 So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents. 28 And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he was weary. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom. 31 But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day." 32 And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" 33 Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.

Jacob ended up inheriting the double portion, but also the covenantal promise handed down from Abraham through Isaac.  The Haftarah reading for this week gives some insight into God’s position on this.

Malachi 1:1-3 NKJV 1 The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi. 2 "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved; 3 But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the wilderness."

But what is meant when God says that He loves Jacob and hates Esau?  How are we supposed to understand this statement in light of a loving and just God?  Does God really hate Esau and his descendants as we understand the word hate?  Unfortunately, the text of Malachi doesn’t really give us much wiggle room or options.  Let’s look at the Hebrew text.  The word translated as love is #157 Ahav, a primitive root word meaning to have affection for; to be loved or liked.  And counter to that, the word translated as hate is #8130, Sane; meaning to hate, an enemy or foe.

We can take this love and hate in a literal sense and would probably not be wrong in our interpretation.  However, there is a deeper understanding.  God chose to enter into a covenant relationship with Jacob or the nation of Israel and chose not to enter into a covenant relationship with Esau or the nation of Edom. In that sense He loved Jacob and hated Esau. This covenant relationship is on a national level and not an individual level.

From the time of Esau himself, The Edomites had always been a persistent enemy of the nation of Israel and, thus, of God. The enmity began with Amelek, Esau’s grandson.

Genesis 36:12 NKJV 12 Now Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, and she bore Amalek to Eliphaz. These were the sons of Adah, Esau's wife.

Israel first fought Amalek in the wilderness at Rephidim.

Exodus 17:8-10, 13 NKJV 8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. 9 And Moses said to Joshua, "Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand." 10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill… 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

Moses warned the Children of Israel that the LORD would battle Amalek in every generation.

Exodus 17:16 NKJV 16 for he said, "Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

Amalek is not only an enemy of Israel, but also a vehicle of judgment on Israel for their disobedience throughout their generations.  We read of wars with Amalek in Judges, in 1^st Samuel, and 1^st Chronicles. In each case, God allows Amalek to prevail against Israel because of Israel’s idolatry. The nation of Edom will also be a reminder to Israel of the greatness of God.

Malachi 1:4-5 NKJV 4 Even though Edom has said, "We have been impoverished, But we will return and build the desolate places," Thus says the LORD of hosts: "They may build, but I will throw down; They shall be called the Territory of Wickedness, And the people against whom the LORD will have indignation forever. 5 Your eyes shall see, And you shall say, 'The LORD is magnified beyond the border of Israel.'

In these opening verses of Malachi, God is reminding Israel that He had made a covenant with them and had chosen them to be His people and they were not to act like the Edomites.

Malachi then turns his attention to the priesthood. The priesthood was to be the intermediary between God and His people. The priests of Malachi’s time were guilty before God because they were breaking the special covenant that God had with Levi. God had set the Levites, including the sons of Aaron, apart for His service.

Numbers 3:45 NKJV 45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock. The Levites shall be Mine: I am the LORD.

Malachi points out their dishonor and disobedience of God using the analogy of a father and son as well as master and servant.

Malachi 1:6 NKJV 6 "A son honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am the Father, Where is My honor? And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the LORD of hosts To you priests who despise My name. Yet you say, 'In what way have we despised Your name?'

Malachi was not introducing a new concept here.  The people were already familiar with God being like a father and a master.

Deuteronomy 32:6 NKJV 6 Do you thus deal with the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is He not your Father, who bought you? Has He not made you and established you?

The Master Yeshua referred to God as His Father and our Father continually throughout His ministry, even in teaching us how to pray.

Matthew 6:9-10 NKJV 9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

In Malachi 1:6 He poses a couple of questions as if God Himself is asking them. First is “Where is my honor?” the word honor is #3519 kavod meaning splendor, glorious or honorable.  The other question was, if God was their Master, where is the reverence due Him?  The word translated as reverence is #4172 mowra, meaning to fear from #3372 Yawray meaning to fear, but also to be held in reverence.  Malachi pointed out that the priesthood was not regarding God in in fear and reverence.  They were taking their duties lightly. He begins by identifying how they fall short.

Malachi 1:7-8 NKJV 7 "You offer defiled food on My altar. But say, 'In what way have we defiled You?' By saying, 'The table of the LORD is contemptible.' 8 And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts.

Defiled food would be inferior quality offerings.  Malachi says that they were offering up evil sacrifices by bringing blind, lame and sick animals to the LORD’s altar.  The opening chapters of Leviticus specify the nature of the offerings and sacrifices that are to be brought to the Altar of the LORD. These sacrifices were to be of specific animals without blemish.

Leviticus 1:3 NKJV 3 'If his offering is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD.

The priests apparently didn’t care or didn’t understand that they were bringing defiled and evil offerings before God. In verse 7 they ask how they have defiled the altar. Malachi seems to say to the priests that if they don’t think their offerings to God are unacceptable, they should try to offer them to the governor! If such offerings were unacceptable to an earthly leader, how much more unacceptable are they to the LORD?  The rebuke of the priesthood really hits hard in verses 9 and 10.

Malachi 1:9-10 NKJV 9 "But now entreat God's favor, That He may be gracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will He accept you favorably?" Says the LORD of hosts. 10 "Who is there even among you who would shut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you," Says the LORD of hosts, "Nor will I accept an offering from your hands.

The LORD, through Malachi, is telling the priests that they should just shut up the temple and walk away.  If they are not willing to repent and turn back to God’s covenant with them, it is better to make no sacrifice at all rather than a defiled one!  In Malachi chapter 2, God says that a curse will be upon them if they continue their evil practices.

Malachi 2:1-3 NKJV 1 "And now, O priests, this commandment is for you. 2 If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name," Says the LORD of hosts, "I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart. 3 "Behold, I will rebuke your descendants And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it.

The English “curse” is used twice here in verse 2 but there are two different Hebrew words. The second word translated as curse is #779 Awrar. It is a primitive root meaning to execrate or bitterly curse.  It is a stronger word than just to curse. This is the same Hebrew word used in verse 14 of the previous chapter.

Malachi 1:14 NKJV 14 "But cursed be the deceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished-For I am a great King," Says the LORD of hosts, "And My name is to be feared among the nations.

This kind of curse is severe. The same word and concept are used in Deuteronomy chapter 27 where the Levites speak to all the men of Israel, pronouncing curses from Mount Ebal.

Deuteronomy 27:14-15 NKJV 14 "And the Levites shall speak with a loud voice and say to all the men of Israel: 15 'Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.' And all the people shall answer and say, 'Amen!'

The curses of Deuteronomy 27 are or will be the resultant judgment for covenant unfaithfulness. As with the curses of Deuteronomy 27, Malachi’s pronouncements in verse 3 are generational! The priests of Malachi’s day were not only offering the wrong things with the wrong attitude, they were breaking the covenant that God made with the priesthood through Moses and bringing generational curses on Israel.

First Fruits of Zion in their work Torah Club Vol. 3 – The Haftarah summarizes the fallen state of these priests.

“…If they persisted, the priests could only expect to experience some of the promised troubles specified in Deuteronomy to come upon them.  God had no choice but to act with that threat because He was covenantally bound to do so.”[i]

Malachi 2:1 says in part “If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart.” The word hear is sh’ma, a word we know quite well. It is #8085 meaning to hear with intelligence with the implication of attention and obedience.  The priests were the one class of Israelites who would be closest to the Torah of God. They were the keepers of the Torah and teachers to the people, yet these priests chose not to hear with intelligence and obey!

Malachi also points out that the priests were teaching a corrupted Torah.

Malachi 2:4-9 NKJV 4 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue," Says the LORD of hosts. 5 "My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name. 6 The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity. 7 "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8 But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble at the law. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi," Says the LORD of hosts. 9 "Therefore I also have made you contemptible and base Before all the people, Because you have not kept My ways But have shown partiality in the law."

The priesthood was failing in its duty as teachers of the law in the time of Malachi.  This is not unlike Yeshua’s day when He continually rebukes the scribes and Pharisees about their misuse of the Torah.  Matthew’s gospel records a series of woes that Yeshua proclaims against the Scribes and Pharisees for essentially the same failure that Malachi pointed out.

Matthew 23:13-14 NKJV 13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.  

Malachi’s prophecies deal with the nations of Israel and with Edom. We get a picture of a sovereign God who choses who He will make covenant with and with whom He will not. God holds those in covenant with him to a higher standard.  The priests and Levites were charged with teaching the people the ways of the LORD and were consequently held to an even higher standard than the people of the other tribes of Israel. The apostle Paul also wrote of these same principles but applied on an individual basis.

Romans 9:22-23 NKJV 22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory,

This Haftarah teaches us that when we enter into covenant with God it is a serious business. We are never to take our responsibilities lightly.  We are always to approach God and our salvation with fear and trembling.  He is a sovereign God, but He is just and faithful to those who are His chosen and to all those who call on the name of the LORD.

Study Questions:

1. Compare Malachi’s instruction in Malachi 1:9-10 with the apostle Paul’s words about bringing false or inappropriate sacrifices before God.  How does Paul’s teaching about a “living sacrifice” apply?

2. The Edomites were a continual thorn in the side of the Israelites from the very beginning, even before they entered the promised land.  How does Edom play a role in the time of Yeshua?

3. The Haftarah portion spoke of the generational curse placed on the descendants of Esau, the Edomites.  Discuss the generational curse described in Exodus 34:6-10 among other places.  How are these curses broken?

4. Malachi 1:10 askes if there is one priest who will recognize the grave sin being perpetrated by the offering of defiled sacrifices on God’s altar and shut the doors of the Temple so that no defiled sacrifice can be made.  The vest verse Malachi 1:11 speaks about God’s name being “great among the Gentiles.” How do the Gentiles make “a pure offering” before God.

5. The name Malachi literally means “My Messenger.”  Read Malachi 3:1 (not covered in this Haftarah)  Discuss how Malachi may be a type of John the Baptist.

© Copyright 2018 Moed Ministries International. All rights reserved.

---

[i] FFOZ Torah Club Volume Three – Toldot, P104

Son of the Promise

By Dan & Brenda Cathcart

The video version of this teaching is available at: https://youtu.be/D9iy0miJF4E

When David was old, two of his sons plotted to take the kingship after David. These two sons were full brothers sharing the same mother. The older of the two, Absalom, was killed when he attempted to overthrow and murder David to obtain the kingship. The second son was Adonijah whose efforts were more subtle but no less devious. As the oldest surviving son of David, Adonijah decided that he was the rightful heir to the throne of David.

1 Kings 1:5 NKJV 5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king"; and he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him.

This portion of the scripture is read alongside the Torah portion Chayei Sarah which includes the death of Abraham and the passing of the promise to his son Isaac. What do these passages tell us about the coming and the reign of God’s chosen Son?

David was the first king to fully unite the people of Israel and bring peace to the kingdom. Under his predecessor, Saul, the kingdom was continually at war with the Philistines who claimed land within the borders of Israel in the west along the Mediterranean Sea and inward toward Hebron. It was not until all the tribes of Israel embraced David as king that the borders of the kingdom were secured both from enemies within and without.

1 Chronicles 22:18 NKJV 18 "Is not the LORD your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and before His people.

At long last, God’s original promise to Abraham was in sight!

Genesis 12:1-2 NKJV 1 Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing.

The seed of Abraham had finally taken possession of the land that God had promised to Abraham. The nation had now become a great nation with all the nations around Israel afraid of the might of Israel and King David. The children of Israel no longer lived in tents, so, it was time for them to build a permanent dwelling place for the Tabernacle of the LORD. The prophet Nathan confirmed that God supported David’s desire to build a dwelling place for the LORD.

2 Samuel 7:1-3 NKJV 1 Now it came to pass when the king was dwelling in his house, and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies all around, 2 that the king said to Nathan the prophet, "See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains." 3 Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you."

Nathan goes on to tell David that, because of his heart for the LORD, the LORD would establish David’s lineage as kings over Israel forever!

2 Samuel 7:12-13 NKJV 12 "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 "He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Now that David was old, who would be king after him? Who would be entrusted to build the house of the LORD? Who would receive and continue the throne of David’s kingdom? There was more at stake than just who the next king would be! Adonijah thought that he was the obvious choice for that role. So, he went about securing the throne for his own. His father David had never denied him anything that he wanted in the past! He was also quite charming and good looking!

1 Kings 1:6 NKJV 6 (And his father had not rebuked him at any time by saying, "Why have you done so?" He was also very good-looking. His mother had borne him after Absalom.)

Like his brother Absalom who was first to aspire to take David’s throne, Adonijah was handsome. He was also just plain spoiled rotten.

David already had a man in mind for who he would select to succeed him. David had already promised Bathsheba that her son Solomon would be the next king of Israel. Bathsheba refers to this promise when she goes to King David about the news that Adonijah had declared himself to be king of Israel.

1 Kings 1:17 NKJV 17 Then she said to him, "My lord, you swore by the LORD your God to your maidservant, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne.'

Apparently, this decision was widely known. Certainly, we can infer that Adonijah knew. When Adonijah chose who to include in his entourage for declaring himself king, he left out his brother Solomon as well as David’s closest supporters including the prophet Nathan, the high priest Zadok, and Benaih Shimei and Rei, the top three of David’s mighty men. Instead, Adonijah selected those who had a reason to bear a grudge against David and would be willing to go against David’s will.

1 Kings 1:7-8 NKJV 7 Then he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and they followed and helped Adonijah. 8 But Zadok the priest, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David were not with Adonijah.

David’s general Joab had killed Absalom to put a final end to Absalom’s treason. David had expressly told Joab that Absalom was not to be harmed. Instead Joab deliberately made sure that Absalom die for his crime. As a result, Joab had reason to fear David and what would happen to him after David’s death. Rashi tells us that the priest Abiathar’s loyalty was questionable because David had dismissed the priest Abiathar from his duties also at the time of Absalom’s rebellion.

…but because he [Abiathar] had been dismissed from the priesthood at the time when David was escaping from Jerusalem because of Absalom he felt that he had been slighted.[i]

Adonijah did not have the support of those most loyal to David including his mighty men who led his armies! However, Adonijah proceeded as if he did have David’s support and the support of those around him. The presence of David’s general Joab and the priest Abiathar gave the appearance of legitimacy to his actions. Abiathar invited all of his brothers except Solomon to witness his coronation.

1 Kings 1:9-10 NKJV 9 And Adonijah sacrificed sheep and oxen and fattened cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by En Rogel; he also invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. 10 But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or Solomon his brother.

We can imagine the fate that Adonijah intended for Solomon, Nathan, and Zadok. By deliberately excluding them, Adonijah not only kept news of his actions from reaching David, but he also refrained from breaking bread with them. This opened up the very real possibility that Adonijah had marked them for death.

Adonijah chose the location of his coronation celebration carefully. He chose En Rogel which was southeast of Jerusalem at the intersection of the Hinnom, Kidron and Tyropoean Valleys. This was the site of the camp of David’s supporters during Absalom’s rebellion. David’s supporters waited there outside of Jerusalem while those loyal to David still in Jerusalem would sneak out of the city and deliver the news to David’s supporters.

2 Samuel 17:17 NKJV 17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed at En Rogel, for they dared not be seen coming into the city; so a female servant would come and tell them, and they would go and tell King David.

The place would have had a positive connotation and be associated with those who support David. Ironically, the place would play a central role in Adonijah’s defeat, just as it did in the defeat of Absalom.

Despite Adonijah’s plans to conduct his coronation in secret and present it as an accomplished fact, Nathan heard about his plans and enlisted Bathsheba’s help in thwarting them. He encouraged her to go to David and present Adonijah’s action as having been accomplished. Bathsheba reminded David of his promise to make Solomon the next king. Then she went on to describe Adonijah’s actions.

1 Kings 1:18-21 NKJV 18 "So now, look! Adonijah has become king; and now, my lord the king, you do not know about it. 19 "He has sacrificed oxen and fattened cattle and sheep in abundance, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of the army; but Solomon your servant he has not invited. 20 "And as for you, my lord, O king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, that you should tell them who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21 "Otherwise it will happen, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be counted as offenders."

Bathsheba’s words were designed to provoke David, who is described as old and feeble, to act quickly and decisively. He must make a decision. Who would be king after him? Would he allow the spoiled and willful Adonijah to usurp David and God’s plans, or would he act? Would he knowingly place Solomon and his beloved wife Bathsheba in danger by his failure to act? To emphasize the critical need for a quick decision, Nathan enters upon the heels of Bathsheba and asks if David had chosen Adonijah to be king.

1 Kings 1:24 NKJV 24 And Nathan said, "My lord, O king, have you said, 'Adonijah shall reign after me, and he shall sit on my throne'?

Nathan emphasizes the severity of the event by expressing surprise that he had been left out of the decision, by relating the words of Adonijah’s supporters, and, the fact that David’s closest supporters were not included.

1 Kings 1:26-27 NKJV 26 "But he has not invited me-me your servant-nor Zadok the priest, nor Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, nor your servant Solomon. 27 "Has this thing been done by my lord the king, and you have not told your servant who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"

The succession and the promise of Abraham are at stake as is the building of the temple of the LORD! What will David do? Abraham, when faced with a Hagar and Ishmael’s threat to Isaac, listened to his wife at the confirmation of the LORD, and sent Hagar and Ishmael away.

Genesis 21:12 NKJV 12 But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

Isaac, when confronted with the truth about his two sons, finally acted and passed on the promise to Jacob and not Esau.

Genesis 28:1 NKJV 1 Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan.

David had not acted to prevent the rebellion of Absalom, nor had he acted decisively to end the threat that Absalom also posed to Solomon. When news of the battle between his own forces and those of Absalom’s forces reached him, his first concern was for the safety of Absalom.

2 Samuel 18:28-29 NKJV 28 And Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well!" Then he bowed down with his face to the earth before the king, and said, "Blessed be the LORD your God, who has delivered up the men who raised their hand against my lord the king!" 29 The king said, "Is the young man Absalom safe?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent the king's servant and me your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I did not know what it was about."

At this time, threatened by the actions of Adonijah, David heeded the words of Bathsheba and his advisor Nathan. He acted decisively to make his own selection of Solomon as the next king clear.

1 Kings 1:28-30 NKJV 28 Then King David answered and said, "Call Bathsheba to me." So she came into the king's presence and stood before the king. 29 And the king took an oath and said, "As the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from every distress, 30 "just as I swore to you by the LORD God of Israel, saying, 'Assuredly Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he shall sit on my throne in my place,' so I certainly will do this day."

Where is Solomon in all of this? The decisions made by David impact him the most, yet he is silent. In contrast, his brother Adonijah vocally and adamantly declares that He will be king! Adonijah exalted himself against both David and God’s will. David will confirm, though, that Solomon is God’s choice at the gathering of the officials when he announces his plans for building the temple of God.

1 Chronicles 28:5-6 NKJV 5 "And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 "Now He said to me, 'It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.

In all of this, until David brings him forward, Solomon remains in the background. When Moses chose Joshua to replace him as leader, Joshua remains in the background until after Moses’ death. David’s charge to Solomon echoes Moses’ charge to Joshua.

1 Chronicles 28:20 NKJV 20 And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God-my God-will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Moses charged Joshua with bringing the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Joshua, like David, fought to take the land and establish Israel as a nation. David completed the work that Joshua began and so we come to a new mission or task, that of building the house of the LORD. The Stone Edition Chumash comments on God’s sure hand in guiding Israel.

Can one imagine how the history of Israel would have been harmed if the king had been the imperious prince to whom monarchy meant lavish feasting amid fawning courtiers instead of the wisest of men, whose legacy was the Temple, and the Books of Proverbs, Song of Songs, and Ecclesiastes? But the Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.[ii]

David’s declaration that Solomon would be king after him, clinches the matter. The haftarah portion actually ends with Bathsheba’s acceptance of David’s vow. The scriptures continue with the description of Solomon’s coronation which took place at the spring of Gihon within earshot of Adonijah’s celebratory feast.

1 Kings 1:38-40 NKJV 38 So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the Cherethites, and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride on King David's mule, and took him to Gihon. 39 Then Zadok the priest took a horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. And they blew the horn, and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!" 40 And all the people went up after him; and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth seemed to split with their sound.

When God’s choice takes the throne in Israel, even the earth will join in the celebration! When Adonijah, the pretender to the throne, heard the clamor and learned that David had proclaimed Solomon as king, he ran and sought refuge at the horns of the altar in the Tabernacle of the LORD.

God had promised David that his descendant would sit on David’s throne and have an everlasting rule. The prophet Jeremiah tells us that a son of David will be raised up to execute judgment and righteousness on the Earth.

Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV 5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

In Yeshua’s time, even the people of Samaria who had tenuous claims to being Jews, were anticipating the coming of a Messiah ruler who would establish the true worship of God. Yeshua spoke to a Samaritan woman about these things.

John 4:23-26 NKJV 23 "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." 25 The woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). "When He comes, He will tell us all things." 26 Jesus said to her, "I who speak to you am He."

Yeshua declared that He was the promised Messiah who comes to establish the truth of all things. But like Solomon, Yeshua was faced with one who would usurp His throne. During His lifetime, King Herod Agrippa desperately wanted to be declared King of Israel. When Yeshua returns, He will again be faced with a usurper who would be King. This usurper is known to us as The Antichrist. Paul tells us that this one who desires Yeshua’s kingship is accompanied by lying wonders.

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NKJV 9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

When Yeshua returns, those who take pleasure in unrighteousness and follow the lawless one will be deceived; they will follow the wrong king. Those like Nathan, Zadok, and Benaiah who are loyal to David will recognize the coming of their true king and work to bring about the declaration of His kingship. Prophet, priest, and mighty man of God will join together to bring in the reign of Yeshua Messiah!

Study Questions:

1. Adonijah chose to hold his coronation ceremony by the stone of Zoheleth (#2120) by En Rogel (#5883). Solomon’s coronation was held by the spring of Gihon (#1521). Look up the meanings of these places. How do the locations of these ceremonies factor into the significance of these events?

2. The priest Abiathar was of the lineage of Eli the priest who raised Samuel. What was the prophecy concerning his line? How does this apply to Abiathar? What was the ultimate end of Abiathar?

3. Discuss the events of Solomon’s coronation. How was Yeshua’s triumphal entry to Jerusalem similar? How will Yeshua’s return be similar to this coronation event?

4. The title of this teaching is “Son of the Promise.” In what ways is Solomon the son of the promise? How is Solomon’s reign prophetic of Yeshua’s reign? How did Solomon fall short?

5. Solomon had the support of prophet, priest and mighty man of God. How are believers representative of those three groups?

© 2018 Moed Ministries International. All rights reserved

---

[i] First Fruits of Zion Torah Club Volume 3: The Hartarah. First Fruits of Zion. 1999. P. 84.

[ii] The Stone Edition Chumash. ArtScroll Series. Mesorah Publications. 2000. P. 1137.

The Two Women in Pain

By Dan & Brenda Cathcart

The video version of this teaching is available at: https://youtu.be/paCMBj6FtXs

The scripture reading for this teaching is: 2^nd Kings 4:1-37

In this portion we read the tale of two women, both in need and suffering emotional and spiritual pain.  The first of these women is a widow whose husband died and left her with two sons and a sizable debt yet to be paid.  The second woman is not widowed but her son dies and leaves her childless.

What is the common thread between these two women and their particular situations?  One woman is a Jew, the other a Gentile. Both are believers in the God of Israel. One is widowed and in great debt, the other is wealthy, but has lost her son.  These two women, from diverse and very different backgrounds have an encounter with the prophet Elisha; the one anointed by God to be His servant.  How does God, through the prophet Elisha, meet their need at just the right time?  What lesson can we learn from these two women and their situations?  How is this a picture of the abundant grace and salvation from the God of Abraham Isaac and Israel?

Before Elijah the prophet was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha was chosen to replace him as a prophet of God.  Elisha took on the mantle or cloak of Elijah and was anointed and empowered with the spirit of God.

2 Kings 2:13-15 NKJV 13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, "Where is the LORD God of Elijah?" And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. 15 Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Endowed with this double portion, Elisha performs miracles.  He heals the drinking water source for the city of Jericho.  When the king of Moab rebels against Israel, Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, seeks council from Elisha.

2 Kings 3:11-12 NKJV 11 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of the LORD by him?" So one of the servants of the king of Israel answered and said, "Elisha the son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." 12 And Jehoshaphat said, "The word of the LORD is with him." So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.

Moab was soundly defeated by the armies of Israel and Judah with the assistance of Elisha the prophet.  We, then, come to our Haftarah portion for this week and the seemingly diverse stories of the two women.  The first is a widow.

Jewish tradition says that her dead husband was the prophet Obadiah.  She was obviously a Godly woman.  She did not seek help from her neighbors, for this was the northern kingdom of Israel where Baal worship was rampant.  She sought out Elisha, the now well-known prophet of the God of Abraham. 

Not only was this woman a widow, she was poor and in great debt.  This would be a very difficult position for a woman to be in in the culture of that day.  She had two sons to raise on her own and when the creditors came to collect the debt, she had no way to pay it.  Under the Torah, the creditor could demand that the woman “sell” her sons to him as payment for the debt.

Leviticus 25:39-40 NKJV 39 'And if one of your brethren who dwells by you becomes poor, and sells himself to you, you shall not compel him to serve as a slave. 40 'As a hired servant and a sojourner he shall be with you, and shall serve you until the Year of Jubilee.

Demanding that this woman give up her sons in payment of this debt would seem to us in our society to be at the very least cruel if not outright illegal!  This woman was most likely still in grief for the loss of her husband.  Even the thought of having to give up her young sons to indentured servitude would be unbearable.  She was in desperate need for a solution to her problem and an answer to her pain.

Jewish tradition says that she went to the grave of her husband, the prophet Obadiah seeking an answer to her plight where she received an answer.

“Go to Elisha with the little oil that is left, and he will bless you with it… Let the prophet mention my deeds to the Holy One, blessed be He, and the one to whom I lent will repay you.”[i]

In the text we only see that she cried out to Elisha.

2 Kings 4:1 NKJV 1 A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves."

She tells Elisha that all she has of any value is a little oil.

2 Kings 4:2 NKJV 2 So Elisha said to her, "What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?" And she said, "Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil."

This wasn’t just any regular household oil such as that used for cooking.  The Hebrew word used in the text to describe the oil is #8081, Shehmen, meaning a grease or liquid oil, often perfumed used for anointing or medicinal purposes.  This was special oil used for a special purpose.  Her now dead husband, having been a prophet of God, would have had such an item. Elisha, understanding what this special oil is, instructed her in what to do with it.

2 Kings 4:3-4 NKJV 3 Then he said, "Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors-empty vessels; do not gather just a few. 4 "And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones."

She was to borrow empty jars, or vessels from her neighbors.  The Hebrew word translated a vessel here is #3627 kelee, having a wide variety of meanings depending on the contexts of usage but would indicate that Elisha was asking Her to gather any suitable container of any size which could conceivably hold the oil.

How was she to fill all these containers, perhaps both small ones and large ones, with the small amount of oil she had in her jar?  Did she have doubts about the instruction that Elisha was giving her?  What did she expect?

The text of 2^nd Kings indicates a great intervention of God on her behalf.

2 Kings 4:5-7 NKJV 5 So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. 6 Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, "Bring me another vessel." And he said to her, "There is not another vessel." So the oil ceased. 7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest."

The oil only stopped flowing when all the vessels she collected were full! She was able to sell the numerous containers of this special anointing oil for a handsome profit, pay off all her debts, and have enough left over to provide for herself and her two sons.  By trusting in God and listening to His messenger Elisha, she was relieved of her physical monetary debts, but was also relieved of her spiritual and emotional burden of facing the loss of her sons on top of the death of her husband.  This is perhaps the first miracle of the oil!

I am reminded of the Jewish tradition of the miracle of the oil at the time of the Maccabees when the menorah in the temple remained lit for eight full days even though there was only enough oil for one day. And, also, of the provisions being multiplied when Yeshua feeds the five thousand with just a few fish and some bread leaving baskets full of leftovers.

The second woman in pain in our Haftarah portion this week is not a poor widow, but a wealthy woman with a husband. However, she was barren just like Sarah in the corresponding Torah Portion for this week.  She was so impressed by Elisha, this man of God, that she asked her husband to construct an addition to their home that Elisha might stay there when he travels by.

2 Kings 4:8-10 NKJV 8 Now it happened one day that Elisha went to Shunem, where there was a notable woman, and she persuaded him to eat some food. So it was, as often as he passed by, he would turn in there to eat some food. 9 And she said to her husband, "Look now, I know that this is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. 10 "Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there."

This woman did indeed recognize Elisha as a prophet of God. Elisha was so grateful for their hospitality which went well beyond what would be expected.  One day, while resting in the room provided for him, Elisha asked of this woman what he could do for her.

2 Kings 4:11-16 NKJV 11 And it happened one day that he came there, and he turned in to the upper room and lay down there. 12 Then he said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite woman." When he had called her, she stood before him. 13 And he said to him, "Say now to her, 'Look, you have been concerned for us with all this care. What can I do for you? Do you want me to speak on your behalf to the king or to the commander of the army?'" She answered, "I dwell among my own people." 14 So he said, "What then is to be done for her?" And Gehazi answered, "Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old." 15 So he said, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the doorway. 16 Then he said, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." And she said, "No, my lord. Man of God, do not lie to your maidservant!"

Elisha’s servant Gehazi observed that this woman’s husband was old, and she had no child. Elisha assures her that she will bear a son by this time next year. Although the translations are usually different, the Hebrew phrase used in this verse is the same as that used in Genesis where Sarah hears that she will bear a son.

Genesis 18:10 NKJV 10 And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.)

Like Sarah, this woman at first does not accept Elisha’s assurance that she will bear a son. But she did conceive and bear a son just as Elisha said.  Later, after the child had grown and was probably in his teenage years, we learn that he died.  She places his body on the bed which was provided for Elisha.

2 Kings 4:18-22 NKJV 18 And the child grew. Now it happened one day that he went out to his father, to the reapers. 19 And he said to his father, "My head, my head!" So he said to a servant, "Carry him to his mother." 20 When he had taken him and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died. 21 And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, shut the door upon him, and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband, and said, "Please send me one of the young men and one of the donkeys, that I may run to the man of God and come back."

She apparently does not tell her husband that the boy had died.  She hurriedly leaves for Mount Carmel to see the prophet Elisha. She believes that God can raise her miracle son, and Elisha, the prophet who told her that she would have this son, would be the instrument of God to restore her son to her. Her husband questions her but does not prevent her from seeking out Elisha.

2 Kings 4:23-25 NKJV 23 So he said, "Why are you going to him today? It is neither the New Moon nor the Sabbath." And she said, "It is well." 24 Then she saddled a donkey, and said to her servant, "Drive, and go forward; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you." 25 And so she departed and went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. So it was, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said to his servant Gehazi, "Look, the Shunammite woman!

A conversation between the woman and Elisha ensues with Gehazi as the intermediary. As Godly as this woman was, and even knowing deep inside that her son would be well, she still had a bitterness and disappointment in her soul. She was suffering the emotional pain of his death even though this son was the child of promise to her.  Sarah must have felt the same thing as Abraham took Isaac with him to be sacrificed at Mt. Moriah.

As this woman approaches Elisha, she steps around Gehazi and falls at the feet of Elisha and pleads with him.

2 Kings 4:27-30 NKJV 27 Now when she came to the man of God at the hill, she caught him by the feet, but Gehazi came near to push her away. But the man of God said, "Let her alone; for her soul is in deep distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me, and has not told me." 28 So she said, "Did I ask a son of my lord? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?" 29 Then he said to Gehazi, "Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child." 30 And the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.

The woman’s son needed physical healing, and perhaps she needed spiritual healing and assurance of God’s love and grace. She somehow knew that Elisha was God’s instrument for healing.  She understood the power of the spirit of God that was within Elisha.  The boy could not be healed by Elisha’s staff which was carried on ahead by Gehazi. When Elisha arrived at the house and the room where the boy lay, they shut the door.

2 Kings 4:31-37 NKJV 31 Now Gehazi went on ahead of them, and laid the staff on the face of the child; but there was neither voice nor hearing. Therefore he went back to meet him, and told him, saying, "The child has not awakened." 32 When Elisha came into the house, there was the child, lying dead on his bed. 33 He went in therefore, shut the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. 34 And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes. 36 And he called Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite woman." So he called her. And when she came in to him, he said, "Pick up your son." 37 So she went in, fell at his feet, and bowed to the ground; then she picked up her son and went out.

Just as with the first woman of this Haftarah portion, with the multiplication of her small amount of oil filling many vessels, the healing of this woman’s son takes place behind a closed door. It seems that here with the healing and raising of this woman’s son we have a picture of the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Romans which speaks of being dead to sin and alive to God through the Holy Spirit.

Romans 6:4-5 NKJV 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

Just as Paul teaches us that we receive newness of life through the glory of the Father, this woman’s son received newness of life from the Holy Spirit within Elisha.  Elisha is an image of the promised Messiah for both of these women.

Each of these stories dealt with a woman in distress. God demonstrated that He was the God of both Jew and Gentile. Through His prophet Elisha, God blessed both women. These stories are a picture of a sovereign God who cares for all his people. Finally, these stories illustrate how God uses His servants as His instruments to minister and care for His people.

Study Questions:

1. How are the two women of this Haftarah Portion alike? How are they different?  Discuss their spiritual similarities and differences as well. 

2. How is the Prophet Elisha a shadow of the promised Messiah within the scope of this portion?  Compare Elisha’s reputation and actions to those of Yeshua.

3. What are some of the lessons the women would have learned from Elisha’s ministry and his specific actions with each of them?

4. In both of these stories, the miracle was manifested behind closed doors.  In the case of the first woman, she and her sons actually performed the “miracle” filling all the jars with oil as instructed by Elisha.  In the case of the second woman, the resurrection of the boy was performed by Elisha himself.  The mother was not present in the room.  What is the significance of this difference?

5. What would be the reason for Elisha to send his servant Gehazi ahead with his staff and place it on the dead boy’s body?  What is the significance of Elisha laying on the boy as described in this portion?

© 2018 Moed Ministries International.  All Rights Reserved.

---

[i] Rabbi A. J. Rosenberg, on 2^nd Kings