Sermon and Worship Resources

2 Kings 4:38-41

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... is really deadly in a literal sense—that is only what the men who have tasted it say. What is indisputable is that Elisha knows, in his wisdom, what to add to the pot to make everything all right—even though no one else knows what the cook originally put in (v. 39). He has remarkable insight, even into the various properties of plants. It is this that makes him a better cook than his servant—as he was a greater healer in 4:8–37. 4:42–44 The final miracle also concerns provision for the “sons ...

3452. Feeding of a Hundred

2 Kings 4:42-44

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... is really deadly in a literal sense—that is only what the men who have tasted it say. What is indisputable is that Elisha knows, in his wisdom, what to add to the pot to make everything all right—even though no one else knows what the cook originally put in (v. 39). He has remarkable insight, even into the various properties of plants. It is this that makes him a better cook than his servant—as he was a greater healer in 4:8–37. 4:42–44 The final miracle also concerns provision for the “sons ...

3453. Ahaz King of Judah

2 Kings 16:1-20

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... and requests his help (vv. 7–8). It is a strategy that succeeds well; Tiglath-Pileser descends upon Damascus and captures it and removes both Rezin and its inhabitants, though by different means (cf. the reverse “exodus” implied by deportation to Kir, the original Aramean homeland according to Amos 9:7). The effect of this invasion on Israel has already been described in 15:29. Jerusalem has been saved, though at the cost of its independence. The reader of Isaiah, to whose book we are directed by ...

3454. Jerusalem's Deliverance Foretold

2 Kings 19:1-13

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... Israel in 17:24ff. The emphasis is in any case upon what has happened to the home cities of the gods, as it is in 19:12–13, where the kings of these cities are mentioned. We should understand by they, then (have they rescued Samaria?), the original gods of Samaria in general, not the particular ones mentioned just beforehand. 19:1 He tore his clothes: We have grown accustomed to monarchs tearing their clothes, signifying deep emotion (1 Kgs. 21:27; 2 Kgs. 5:7–8; 6:30; 11:14). The contrast between wicked ...

3455. Hezekiah's Prayer

2 Kings 19:14-19

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... Israel in 17:24ff. The emphasis is in any case upon what has happened to the home cities of the gods, as it is in 19:12–13, where the kings of these cities are mentioned. We should understand by they, then (have they rescued Samaria?), the original gods of Samaria in general, not the particular ones mentioned just beforehand. 19:1 He tore his clothes: We have grown accustomed to monarchs tearing their clothes, signifying deep emotion (1 Kgs. 21:27; 2 Kgs. 5:7–8; 6:30; 11:14). The contrast between wicked ...

3456. Isaiah Prophesies Sennacherib’s Fall

2 Kings 19:20-37

Understanding Series

Iain W. Provan

... Israel in 17:24ff. The emphasis is in any case upon what has happened to the home cities of the gods, as it is in 19:12–13, where the kings of these cities are mentioned. We should understand by they, then (have they rescued Samaria?), the original gods of Samaria in general, not the particular ones mentioned just beforehand. 19:1 He tore his clothes: We have grown accustomed to monarchs tearing their clothes, signifying deep emotion (1 Kgs. 21:27; 2 Kgs. 5:7–8; 6:30; 11:14). The contrast between wicked ...

3457. To Noah's Sons

1 Chronicles 1:1-4

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the Rodanim, are associated with the ancient maritime world—a reference made explicit in Gen. 10:7 but omitted by the Chronicler. See Klein, 1 Chronicles, p. 65. 1:27 The phrase Abram (that is . . .) might be an addition by a later hand. The original Hebrew text probably just had Abraham (like the Septuagint). A later reader probably felt uncomfortable that the patriarch was called by his covenant name here, understandably so in light of the source text in Gen. 11:26, which has “Abram.” It might also ...

3458. The Japhethites

1 Chronicles 1:5-7

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the Rodanim, are associated with the ancient maritime world—a reference made explicit in Gen. 10:7 but omitted by the Chronicler. See Klein, 1 Chronicles, p. 65. 1:27 The phrase Abram (that is . . .) might be an addition by a later hand. The original Hebrew text probably just had Abraham (like the Septuagint). A later reader probably felt uncomfortable that the patriarch was called by his covenant name here, understandably so in light of the source text in Gen. 11:26, which has “Abram.” It might also ...

3459. The Hamites

1 Chronicles 1:8-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the Rodanim, are associated with the ancient maritime world—a reference made explicit in Gen. 10:7 but omitted by the Chronicler. See Klein, 1 Chronicles, p. 65. 1:27 The phrase Abram (that is . . .) might be an addition by a later hand. The original Hebrew text probably just had Abraham (like the Septuagint). A later reader probably felt uncomfortable that the patriarch was called by his covenant name here, understandably so in light of the source text in Gen. 11:26, which has “Abram.” It might also ...

3460. The Semites

1 Chronicles 1:17-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the Rodanim, are associated with the ancient maritime world—a reference made explicit in Gen. 10:7 but omitted by the Chronicler. See Klein, 1 Chronicles, p. 65. 1:27 The phrase Abram (that is . . .) might be an addition by a later hand. The original Hebrew text probably just had Abraham (like the Septuagint). A later reader probably felt uncomfortable that the patriarch was called by his covenant name here, understandably so in light of the source text in Gen. 11:26, which has “Abram.” It might also ...

3461. Descendants of Hagar

1 Chronicles 1:29-31

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... to Isaac, and not through Ishmael and Keturah. The Chronicler uses “Israel” for “Jacob” throughout. Since the Chronicler’s great concern is to help negotiate the social identity of All-Israel in the late Persian era, this is understandable. He wanted to emphasize that the origin of this people goes back to the covenant bearer, whose name was changed from Jacob to Israel. 1:35–54 The genealogy of Esau starts in 1:35. It is clear that this list is an abridged version of Genesis 36:1–19. Apart ...

3462. Descendants of Keturah

1 Chronicles 1:32-33

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... to Isaac, and not through Ishmael and Keturah. The Chronicler uses “Israel” for “Jacob” throughout. Since the Chronicler’s great concern is to help negotiate the social identity of All-Israel in the late Persian era, this is understandable. He wanted to emphasize that the origin of this people goes back to the covenant bearer, whose name was changed from Jacob to Israel. 1:35–54 The genealogy of Esau starts in 1:35. It is clear that this list is an abridged version of Genesis 36:1–19. Apart ...

3463. Descendants of Sarah

1 Chronicles 1:34

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... the line runs from Abraham to Isaac, and not through Ishmael and Keturah. The Chronicler uses “Israel” for “Jacob” throughout. Since the Chronicler’s great concern is to help negotiate the social identity of All-Israel in the late Persian era, this is understandable. He wanted to emphasize that the origin of this people goes back to the covenant bearer, whose name was changed from Jacob to Israel.

3464. The Clans of Caleb

1 Chronicles 2:42-55

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... names and/or geographical names. However, a concentration in one area cannot be observed here. We also know very little of the groups behind the many gentilica (names of nations) included in this list. However, the mentioning of Ephrathah might be an allusion to Bethlehem, the town of David’s origin.

3465. The Royal Line after the Exile

1 Chronicles 3:17-24

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... despite the interruption of the exile. However, the social identity being fostered here should also not be overlooked. By means of this genealogical interface between two eras, the postexilic community (or at least the part that is the Chronicler’s origins) is claiming its rightful place in a new dispensation. One could ask at this stage whether this material was intended only for an inner-Jerusalemite audience (which was certainly the primary audience) or whether it also has polemical overtones directed ...

3466. Other Clans of Judah

1 Chronicles 4:1-23

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... Davidic kings in monarchic times. However, if Knoppers is right, one could perhaps also suggest that this final remark about service to “the king” extended this genealogy of Shelah into the present era of the Chronicler, showing how people of Judahite/Israelite origin were contributing to the imperial economy. The interesting remark in 4:22, these records are from ancient times, is probably a metacomment by the Chronicler himself, a side note that was probably not meant to be incorporated in the text.

3467. Joash Repairs the Temple

2 Chronicles 24:1-16

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... source text (24:14), which indicates that there was still some money left after the restoration of the temple, so they could replace the temple objects. In the end the restoration was successful, and they rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it (24:13). In the following two verses (24:15–16) the Chronicler supplements the source text by adding a comment on the death and burial of Jehoiada. The high esteem the Chronicler bestows on this priest finds expression in his ...

3468. The Wickedness of Joash

2 Chronicles 24:17-27

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... source text (24:14), which indicates that there was still some money left after the restoration of the temple, so they could replace the temple objects. In the end the restoration was successful, and they rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it (24:13). In the following two verses (24:15–16) the Chronicler supplements the source text by adding a comment on the death and burial of Jehoiada. The high esteem the Chronicler bestows on this priest finds expression in his ...

3469. The Death of Josiah

2 Chronicles 35:20--36:1

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... ’s construction, the whole history of Judah and Israel witnesses to the close relationship between temple and Passover (see Additional Note on 35:14–16 and 35:20). This aspect, when viewed against the sociohistorical background of the time of origin of the Chronicler’s work, is quite significant. In the Second Temple period under Persian imperial dominion, it was of the utmost importance for the Chronicler to emphasize the foundation of the postexilic cult, namely, the temple in Jerusalem and ...

3470. Jehoiakim King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:5-8

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... (36:7), is not present in the source text in Kings but is reflected in the book of Daniel (which mentions in 1:1 that Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar). It was impossible for the Chronicler to make use of Daniel, since this book originated only much later, so one should therefore assume that some other available sources documented this event. The carrying off of “articles from the temple of the LORD” would certainly mean the tragic defilement of the temple of Solomon and the desecration of the ...

3471. Jehoiachin King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:9-10

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... (36:7), is not present in the source text in Kings but is reflected in the book of Daniel (which mentions in 1:1 that Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar). It was impossible for the Chronicler to make use of Daniel, since this book originated only much later, so one should therefore assume that some other available sources documented this event. The carrying off of “articles from the temple of the LORD” would certainly mean the tragic defilement of the temple of Solomon and the desecration of the ...

3472. Zedekiah King of Judah

2 Chronicles 36:11-14

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... (36:7), is not present in the source text in Kings but is reflected in the book of Daniel (which mentions in 1:1 that Jerusalem was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar). It was impossible for the Chronicler to make use of Daniel, since this book originated only much later, so one should therefore assume that some other available sources documented this event. The carrying off of “articles from the temple of the LORD” would certainly mean the tragic defilement of the temple of Solomon and the desecration of the ...

3473. Rebuilding the Temple

Ezra 3:7-13

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... . 1, p. 527. The reference to the sons of Henadad . . . Levites poses a problem. In the Heb. this material dangles at the end of the sentence, unattached to what precedes. The NIV and NRSV have integrated it into the sentence by placing it earlier. It evidently originated as a marginal comment relating to the association of Henadad with members of this Levitical group in Neh. 3:18; 10:9 (see BHS, REB, NJB). 3:10 The foundation of the temple was a platform or podium, if this feature of Ezekiel’s visionary ...

3474. Completion and Dedication of the Temple

Ezra 6:13-18

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... , the mission of rebuilding the temple was to be accomplished in its entirety. The details of its construction should probably be taken as intimating its close correspondence, and therefore continuity, with the old temple of 5:11, just as the restoration of the original vessels “each to its place” (NRSV) does. Their return served to confirm the testimony of the Judean elders in 5:13–15. Readers are left with no doubt that, in basic format and in ongoing function, the second temple had the same value ...

3475. The Passover

Ezra 6:19-22

Understanding Series

Leslie C. Allen

... , the mission of rebuilding the temple was to be accomplished in its entirety. The details of its construction should probably be taken as intimating its close correspondence, and therefore continuity, with the old temple of 5:11, just as the restoration of the original vessels “each to its place” (NRSV) does. Their return served to confirm the testimony of the Judean elders in 5:13–15. Readers are left with no doubt that, in basic format and in ongoing function, the second temple had the same value ...