Bible Timeline – Page 16 – Amazing Bible Timeline with World History

Posted on September 4, 2012March 28, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 9 Comments

Jeroboam II son of Jehoash, Israelite King

Jeroboam II was the son of King Jehoash of Israel and he ruled Israel a total of 41 years. He appears on the Bible Timeline in the same time frame as Amaziah and Uzziah Kings of Judah. Jeroboam’s name means “God increases the people” or “he increases the people”. Jeroboam II was an evil ruler and he goverened the land in the same manner as the original Jeroboam who was the first king of the divided kingdom.

Jeroboam_II,King_of_Isreal,son_of_Jehoash — Jeroboam II

The original Jeroboam who ruled the kingdom of Israel after it had split in two parts started a Golden Calf Cult so that he could maintain political power in Israel. This cult was designed to keep the people of Israel divided from the people of Judah through religious differences. Jeroboam didn’t want the Israelite’s going into the land of Judah to worship at Solomon’s Temple; otherwise they might have reunited with the people of Judah under one ruler.

Jeroboam II continued this same practice so that he could control the people. He also encouraged the people to worship foreign gods such as Baal. Many rulers after him made the Golden Calf Cult a part of their policy for governing the land. Jeroboam II ruled the land of Israel during the time of the prophets Jonah, Hosea, Joel and Amos. Jonah’s prophecies are primarily told in the book of the Bible that bears his name but God had also used him to inform Jeroboam II that he would restore the lands of Lebo Hamath to the sea of Arabah. Israel had previously lost these lands to Judah during a war. Joel, Amos and Hosea spoke prophecies to the people of Israel during Jeroboam’s reign. God used these men to try and turn the people from idolatry and to pronounce judgment.

The prophet Amos states that God had stirred up other nations to bring against Israel for their disobedience. During the reign of Jeroboam II the people were suffering from the tyranny of the king of Aram and his son. God had allowed these rulers to harass Israel for many years because they turned away from serving him. Jeroboam II became a deliverer for his people when God used him to stop the kings of Aram from troubling the Israelites. The Bible also indicates that Jeroboam II was a mighty king who fought in many battles and wars. He apparently had restored a lot of lost territory to Israel and he also beat back enemies besides Aram that caused problems for Israel. He eventually died and his son Zechariah became the next king in his place.

Bible References:

2 Kings 14: 16 Jeroboam II was son of Jehoash
2 Kings 14: 23 – 29 Jeroboam reign
24 He ruled the kingdom in the same way as the original Jeroboam.
25 Jeroboam the II restored lands that God had given to Israel and mentions that Jonah prophesized that he would. In reference to Amos 6: 14, God stirs up a nation that oppressed Israel from Lebo Hamath to the valley of the Arabah.
26, 27 The people in Israel were suffering and God used Jeroboam II to save them
28 He recovered Israel from Damascus and Hamoth
29 Succeeded by Zechariah

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com/ http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0011_0_10084.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jeroboam_II.jpg

Posted on August 28, 2012October 4, 2017 by Margaret Hunter — 4 Comments

Jehoram or Joram King of Israel

Jehoram or Joram was a son of King Ahab and ruler of Isreal. His name means “Jehovah is exalted” and he is also known as Jarom. According to God, Jehoram didn’t rule the kingdom of Israel well because he led the people to worship false gods. He also endorsed the Golden Calf Cult religion that was first started by King Jeroboam the first ruler of Israel after the kingdom had split apart. He appears on the Bible Timeline starting in 910 BC.

Joram_or_Jehoram_wicked_King_of_Israel — Joram

Early Years

King Jehoram was influenced by his father Ahab and his mother Jezebel in his youth. Once he became an adult he learned how to rule the kingdom of Isreal according to his father and mother. He did manage to remove the idols of Baal, but he continued the religion of the Golden Calf Cult. The people were led in the wrong direction away from God during his reign, and God was removing his blessings from Israel as a result.

Moabite Rebellion

The Moabites were subjected to Israel since the time that King David had conquered them. Though the Bible doesn’t say it directly, God probably was causing the Moabites to rebel against Judah because of their sin. So King Jeroham had to get these people back under control. He prepared for war and wanted the aid of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The king of Israel agreed to march to battle with him. King Jeroham also had the help of the king of Edom. The three kings and their armies marched against Moab. While on their way to Moab the three armies had to pass through a barren desert. They almost had to turn back around because there wasn’t any water for the men or their animals. King Jehoshaphat was a godly man, unlike King Jeroham. This particular Israeli king never made a move without obtaining counsel from God. He usually sought the Lord’s counsel through a godly prophet. King Jeroham decided to call on Elijah to get a word from the Lord.

Elijah’s Prophecy

Elijah tells King Jeroham that he is a poor ruler, and he informs the three kings that the only reason he is speaking to them at all is because of his respect for the godly King Jehoshaphat. Elijah has a harpist play in the background while he prophesies to the kings. He tells the kings what they will do once they attack the Moabites, and he also tells them they will have the water they need. The kings thank Elijah and continue to Moab.

The Moabites are Deceived

God provide a lot of water for the three kings and their armies. When the Moabites saw the water in the early morning hours, they thought it was a river of blood. They assumed that the Israeli’s, Judeans and Edomites turned on each other during the night. So they went down to investigate the matter and when they did they were caught off guard. King Jehoram’s army and his allies drove the Moabites back, and they did everything that Elijah had prophesied. They covered fields with stones and destroyed all of the good trees in Moab, but they were not able to completely overcome the Moabites.

The Moabites Fight Back

The Moabite King tried to break through the Edomite lines and slaughter their king, but it didn’t work. He then sacrificed his oldest son to his pagan god. This act apparently worked because once he did this his people fought back against Jehoram and the other kings so ferociously that they had to retreat. The Moabites were defeated, but the invading armies of Israel and her allies could not claim a total victory.

Biblical References:

2 Kings 3: 1 – 3 Outlines King Joram’s rule.
2 Kings 3: 4 – 5 The Moabites rebel against Israel.
2 Kings 3: 6 – 8 King Joram asks King Jehoshaphat of Judah to aid him in the battle against Moab. They also get the king of Edom to join them.
2 Kings 3: 9 – 12 The Kings almost die on their march against Moab because there isn’t any water for their troops or animals. They then seek the help of Elisha to let them know if God wants them to be victorious.
2 Kings 3: 13 – 14 Elisha rebukes Joram, but he gives them an answer because he respects the godly king Jehoshaphat.
2 Kings 3: 15 – 19 While a harpist is playing a tune in the background Elisha tells the kings that they will defeat Moab and have the water that they need to complete their mission.
2 Kings 3: 20 God provides water to the three kings armies.
2 Kings 3: 21 – 24 The Moabite army saw the sun rising on the water and thought it was blood. They believed that the three armies had slaughtered each other. They then went to the camp to verify what they saw but were slaughtered.
2 Kings 3: 25 The Israelites destroyed the towns, covered the fields with stones and uprooted all of the good trees.
2 Kings 3: 26, 27 The King of Moab tried to break through Edom’s forces to slaughter their king, but he failed. He then sacrifices his firstborn son to one of his god’s to turn the tide of battle but this seems to have worked since the battle against Israel was great. Eventually, the three Kings won the battle but they had to withdraw back to their territories.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Joram_of_Israel.jpg

Posted on August 26, 2012January 17, 2019 by Margaret Hunter — 30 Comments

Athaliah, Wicked Queen of Judah

Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab of Israel and her name means “the Lord is exalted”. King Ahab was a corrupt ruler who led the people of Israel into the false worship of Baal and other idolatrous practices. He married a foreign woman named Jezebel and supported her while she promoted pagan religions in the nation of Israel. Athaliah learned a lot from both of her parents, but the ruthlessness that she displayed during her life could probably be attributed to her mother, Jezebel. Queen Athaliah forced her way on the throne of Judah and ruled the land for six years. She is on the Bible Timeline starting in 897 BC.

The Queen of Judah was a Wicked Ruler

King Jehoram married Queen Athaliah and became associated with the family of Ahab. Jeroham was apparently impressed and influenced by Ahab because he became a part of his lineage through his marriage to Athaliah. He also governed his people in the same way as Ahab. Once Athaliah became his wife she encouraged Jeroham to continue in the ways of her parents. Jeroham followed her advice and tempted God to destroy the kingdom of Judah. God didn’t wipe out the people because of the promise that he made to King David about keeping one of his descendants from each generation ruling from the throne.

Athalia,Wicked_Queen_of_Judah — Queen Athalia

The Ruthless Queen Athalia

A military commander by the name of Jehu was sent by God to kill off the royal line of Ahab. Jehu had carried out God’s orders and destroyed most of Ahab’s family including Athaliah’s husband Jeroham and her son King Ahaziah. Once her son had passed away Athaliah decided to kill off the rest of the royal line so that no one could claim any right to rule. Apparently, it didn’t matter if the people she was killing was her children, grandchildren and relatives. After she carried out this deed she became the undisputed Queen of Judah.

Jehoiada Assassinates the Queen

While Queen Athaliah was wiping out her royal line her sister Jehosheba hid one of Ahaziah’s children named Joash and hid him in Solomon’s Temple under the watch of her husband Jehoiada who made sure that he would remain safe until the right time. Jehoiada was a godly man and the head priest in the temple. While Athaliah ruled the kingdom he plotted her assassination in order to place the young king Joash back on the throne. In the sixth year of Athaliah’s rule, Jehoiada carried out his plot. He took the young king to the temple and declared him king before the people. Athaliah heard the commotion and tried to figure out what was going on. When she went down to observe what was happening, Jehoiada ordered his soldiers to assassinate her and anyone who followed her. Once Athaliah was slain young Joash was finally free to rule the kingdom.

Biblical References:

2 Kings 8: 16 – 29 Outlines the history of King Ahaziah’s life and the life of his parents.
2 Chronicles 22: 10 – 12 Queen Athalia murders and kills to claim the throne
2 Chronicles 23: 1 – 15 Jehoiada the righteous priest of God slays Queen Athaliah.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athaliah
http://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/athaliah-bible
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Athalie_BnF_Fran%C3%A7ais_599_fol._45v.jpg

Posted on August 18, 2012August 5, 2020 by Margaret Hunter — 5 Comments

Baasha King of Israel

King Baasha reigned in Israel for about 23 years. During his reign, he continued the ongoing conflict with Judah and he encouraged the continuation of the Golden Calf Cult started by King Jeroboam. Baasha’s name means boldness, wicked, usurper among other words and it is a perfect way to describe his time in power. He appears on the Bible Timeline with World history starting in 967 BC

Baasha Becomes King

Baasha was a military commander in the service of King Nadab who was the son of the former King Jeroboam. When King Nabad was attacking a Philistine town named Gibbethon, Bashaa assassinated him. After assassinating the king, he then took over the throne. Apparently, he had some of the key members of the army behind him in order to accomplish this feat.

God uses Baasha to Destroy Jeroboam’s Line

God then used King Bassha to wipe out Jeroboam’s line as prophesized through Ahijah the prophet. He killed all of Jeroboams family members and not one relative was left breathing. King Bashaa was successful at exterminating Jeroboam’s line because God used him to carry out this particular judgment.

Baasha’s Evil Reign

King Baasha didn’t learn from King Jeroboam’s mistakes. Ultimately, Jeroboam lost the kingdom of Israel because of his sins and King Baasha was following in his footsteps. Instead of bringing the people back to the true worship of God he continued with the false practices that they were accustomed to performing. King Bashaa had grown up in an environment of pagan worship and probably didn’t believe that it was all that bad to worship in this manner. Baasha’s name means “Baal hears” and it was probably given to him in honor of the pagan god Baal.

Jehu‘s Prophecy Against King Baasha

God sent a message to a prophet named Jehu and he told him to inform Baasha that he was going to wipe out his dynasty for the same reasons that he destroyed Jeroboam’s. Jehu explained the reasons for God’s judgment and they include arousing God’s anger by causing the people to sin and by disregarding the serious commitment that is needed to govern and lead God’s people. He also said that dogs would eat Baasha’s dead family members in the city and birds would devour their flesh in the country. King Bashaa didn’t turn away from his evil practices even after receiving this prophecy from Jehu.

The Wars of King Bashaa

King Asa was ruling Judah during the reign of King Baasha. Both rulers tried to keep their people from defecting across their borders into the other king’s territory. King Baasha fortified an area called Ramah and used this city or fortress to control the border region. King Asa then decided to bribe a nearby king named Ben-Hada of Aram from the region of Damascus.

King Ben-Hadad had a treaty with King Baasha and King Asa made it a point to persuade him to end the treaty and side with Judah against Israel. The king of Aram agreed to the bribe and they attacked the border areas that were under Baasha’s control. King Bashaa eventually pulled his forces out the border areas and stopped placing troops in the region.

King Baasha’s Successor

Eventually, Baasha’s reign had come to an end and his son Elah succeeded his rule. God didn’t carry out the promise to wipe out Baasha’s line until his son Elah became ruler. Once again the sins of a father were being revisited upon his son.

Biblical References:

1 Kings 15: 25 – 31 King Baasha assassinates King Nabad and wipes out Jeroboam’s family line.
1 Kings 16: 1 – 8 Jehu prophesizes King Baasha’s destruction.
2 Chronicles 16: King Baasha is defeated by King Asa and the King of Aram

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.bibleview.org/en/Bible/KingsOfIsrael/03_KingBaashaIsrael/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baasha_of_Israel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baasha_of_Israel.jpg

Posted on August 16, 2012October 12, 2018 by Margaret Hunter — 13 Comments

Rehoboam, Son of Solomon

Rehoboam was the son of King Solomon of Israel. He came to power when his father died. Shortly after he became ruler, the Israelites revolted against his authority. He is found on the Amazing Bible Timeline with World History at the end of Solomon’s reign 990 BC.

King Solomon’s Troubles

King Solomon was the son of King David and is considered by God to be the wisest man that has ever lived on the Earth. Most of Solomon’s reign was good and the people generally prospered under his rule. The king’s problems came toward the end of his time in power. King Solomon began to marry hundreds of foreign women, and they turned his heart from God toward pagan deities. The monarch’s tolerance for false gods soon spread among the people of Israel, and many of them started to worship false gods. God became angry with Solomon and decided to split the kingdom of Israel into two parts. God wanted to carry out this judgment after Solomon had died because of the promises that he made to David. God told David that there would always be a member of his royal line sitting on the throne.

Rehoboam becomes King of Judah

When Rehoboam became king, the people wanted him to treat them less harshly than his father. King Solomon was respected and loved, but the people thought his demands were hard. Keep in mind that King Solomon had to use thousands upon thousands of laborers for his great works and his taxes were heavy as well. The people also told Rehoboam that if he made things easier for them they would honor and serve him as king.

Rehoboam went to Solomon’s advisors for advice, and they told him to lighten the load. He then sought advice from his personal group of advisors who were young and experienced. They told him to make things harder on the people, and Rehoboam listened to their wisdom. He then told the people that he would make things miserable under his rule and when the people realized what he had said they turned away from him. They soon made their spokesman and leader, a man named Jeroboam, their king.

The Battle of Kings

King Jeroboam became ruler of the ten tribes of Israel that split from Judah. Rehoboam ruled the southern kingdom of Judah. Throughout the years that both of these rulers were in power, they fought against each other. Sometimes Rehoboam would be victorious and at other times Jeroboam would win.

Rehoboam Final Days

During Rehoboam’s rule, he set up altars and shrines to false gods, and he allowed male prostitutes to run freely through the land. The people engaged in practices that made God extremely unhappy. The people God had forced out of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites engaged in these practices. In God’s eyes, many of the people in Israel who did these things were no different than the pagan people who lived there before them. The Israelites became subject to Shishak and the Egyptian forces as a part of God’s punishment. This lasted for a short period during Rehoboam’s reign. Rehoboam’s rule ultimately didn’t prove to be successful, and he was in charge for 17 years before his time came to an end.

Biblical References

2 Chronicles 9: 29 King Solomon dies.
2 Chronicles 10 Rehoboam becomes king and Israel rebels against his rule.
1 Kings 14: 21 – 29 Rehoboam leads the people in false worship, and he has to fight against King Shishak of Egypt.
2 Chronicles 12 God isn’t completely unhappy with Rehoboam’s rule.

References:
http://www.biblegateway.com/
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/12647-rehoboam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rehoboam
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rehoboam._Fragment_of_Wall_Painting_from_Basel_Town_Hall_Council_Chamber,_by_Hans_Holbein_the_Younger..jpg

Posted on August 12, 2012March 29, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — 2 Comments

Homeric Poems and Philosophy

Out of all the Homeric Poems, the Iliad and the Odyssey remain to be the most well-discussed works of literature. He appears on the Bible Timeline with World History during the eighth century BC, which is during the times of the Kings of Israel. These works helped in establishing the epic genre in literature and had also been a topic of interest in the history of philosophy. To some extent, these works from Homer helped in giving shape to the age-old philosophies that sprung from Ancient Greece.

Gods

One of the most influential roles that Homer’s works had on Ancient Greece was its choice in how the gods were depicted an ultimately determined for all Greeks as to how their gods were envisioned. One unique feature that Homer’s gods had that was they possessed human like qualities and were very rational. They were not some overly mystified icons that could only be accessed and appeased through some magical means. These gods possessed powers over the overall human experience for the mortals and were also subjected to some form of hierarchy. Eventually, Homer and his works would become a moral and religious basis for Greek education. Naturally, many opposed the somewhat immoral nature that some gods portrayed in Homeric poems. Plato, in particular, wished to censor material that would be detrimental to the image of the gods.

Man

When compared to other philosophical theories that sprung after the Homeric period, the view of man in these Greek works showed a lot of disparities. In Homer’s view, man did not possess a unified soul. The human psyche, which was an integral part of the Pythagorean era held a minimal role in Homeric literature and had no real influence over the thoughts and actions of man.

While the psyche survived after death in Homeric literature, it was not given the complete personality that later philosophies preached. The different facets of the human personality were instead distributed to various entities. While the psyche was nothing more than a helpless entity, the thoughts and emotions went into the “phrenes” and the intuitive perception and understanding went to the”nuos”.

Action

Perhaps the most crucial aspect to be considered in the study of philosophy is the depiction of human action in Homeric poems. In the Iliad and the Odyssey, the human action was mainly influenced by the gods. The somewhat divine intervention of deities was attributed to otherwise inexplicable feats done by the mortal characters. However, the hand of the gods was not only limited to the extraordinary actions in these poems, almost every form of unremarkable action in these pieces of literature were somehow associated with the Olympian intervention. Everything from a successful hit in a battle, a sudden outburst of rage, an undesirable transaction and many other things could somehow be traced back to the gods.

Because of this feature in Homer’s works, many philosophers even in modern times remark that Homer was a firm believer in the absence of free will. Some even claim that Homer may have had very little grasp of the facets of a human personality. However, the other side of the spectrum claims that Homer was no philosopher. And that any moral responsibility and relations among humans as a whole were only partly affected by divine intervention and part of that action could still be blamed on human volition. Homeric poems provided a strong background for philosophical study during that era and examined the relations between gods and men in a different perspective.

References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey

Posted on August 10, 2012April 5, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Shishak King Of Egypt

Shishak in the Bible

It was only after the tenth century that the name of the Pharaoh was included in the way Egyptian kings were called. With the new customary practice, the Bible followed suit as well. Shishak is known to be the first Egyptian king that was given a personal name in the Bible. His rule coincided with King Solomon and also of his son, Rehoboam, which is where he is found on the Bible Timeline. He is most known for his crusade all throughout Israel and Judah as stated in the Hebrew Bible. He was also the Egyptian king who granted Jeroboam refuge from Solomon’s wrath.

Shishak_King_Of_Egypt — The Bubastite Portal at Karnak, showing the cartouches of Sheshonk I. (Shishak )

The Bubastite Portal at Karnak, showing the cartouches of Sheshonk I. (Shishak )

Shishak’s Role

Shishak is mentioned in the book of 1 Kings about Solomon’s idolatry. Because of Solomon’s sins, God made it known through a prophet named Ahijah His plans to take away ten tribes from Solomon. The prophet also foretold that the ten tribes were then to be given to one of Solomon’s court officials named Jeroboam. Angered by this prophecy, Solomon plotted to kill Jeroboam. It is this time that Jeroboam left Solomon’s court and sought refuge in Egypt. Shishak allowed Jeroboam to stay in Egypt while Solomon was still king.

When Solomon died, Jeroboam went back to his home. With the kingdom divided into two, Jeroboam became king and ruled over the tribes in the northern part while Rehoboam became the leader of the Southern tribes. This was seen by Shishak as an opportune time to launch a campaign to capture the weakened and divided kingdoms. During the fifth year that Rehoboam was king, Shishak came with his great army of Egyptian troops and took over much of Israel. This event is dated to 926 and 917 BC. He was believed to have the support of the Sukkites, Kushites and the Libyans from Egypt. With thousands of chariots and horsemen, he was able to seize the cities of Judah and even reached Jerusalem. As stated in the Bible, Shishak was said to have taken away many of the treasures of the holy temple and those from the royal palace including the gold shields made by Solomon. This was in exchange for sparing Jerusalem from his attacks.

The Lord’s plan

Once Rehoboam had inherited his Kingdom, he stayed in Jerusalem and fortified towns for defense all around Judea. When he gained control over the Kingdom, he, along with everyone else in Judah no longer obeyed the Lord. As punishment, the Lord allowed Shishak to enter and attack the Kingdom. He was able to capture all the cities in Judah and was soon heading to Jerusalem. Rehoboam and the other leaders of the city were told by the prophet, Shemaiah that because of their disobedience, the Lord has also abandoned them. They then felt that indeed the Lord was right, and they all became repentant for their sins. As the leaders of Judah returned to the Lord, Jerusalem was spared from Shishak’s attacks. Nonetheless, the Lord was still angered by their sins that he allowed Shishak to rule over the people. For them to feel how it is to serve a foreign king and not their God (2 Chronicles). However, as Rehoboam returned to the Lord, Judah was not completely destroyed and eventually became prosperous once more.

Bible References:

1 Kings 11:40- Shishak was first introduced in the bible when he granted Jeroboam refuge in Israel
1 Kings 14:25-26- Shishak attacks Rehoboam’s kingdom in Judea and taking away treasures
2 Chronicles 12:3-4- Shishak’s attack in Jerusalem as the Lord’s punishment

References:
http://www.bible-history.com/archaeology/egypt/shishak-smiting-prisoners.html
http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a017.html
http://www.northforest.org/BiblicalArchaeology/shishak.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishak

Posted on July 13, 2012March 29, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

Jehoida, Zehariah and Shallum Unrighteous Kings

After King, Ahaziah had been slain his mother Athaliah decided to wipe out the rest of his line before they were slaughtered by Jehu. She killed every last relative of Ahaziah except for Joash, who was hidden by Jehosheba and her husband, Jehoida. They hid Joash in God’s temple for six years until he was seven years old. Once he reached the age of seven Athaliah was killed, and Joash became king. The following Kings appear on the Bible Timeline during the reign of the Kings of the Divided Kingdom.

Jehodiah’s Influence on Joash

Jehoida was a god fearing priest who mentored and advised King Joash once he came to power. Jehoida helped to keep Joash on the right path with God and influenced him to restore the true worship of God back to Israel. He even had him work on Solomon’s Temple to keep it in good condition. As long as Jehodia was around Joash ruled the kingdom in peace and honored God. Eventually, Jehodia had died at a very old age of 130. Once Jehoida had passed Joash began to do evil. He started the Israelites back on the path of false worship and he murdered Zechariah the son of Jehoida when he confronted him about this sin. Eventually, Joash was defeated at the hands of a foreign army, and he was injured. While he was trying to recover from his injuries God allowed his officials to plot against him and they assassinated the king.

Zechariah

Zechariah became king of Israel, and he followed in the ways of Jeroboam. He worshipped the Golden Calves and was considered evil by the Lord. He influenced the people to continue in sin. King Zechariah was eventually assassinated by Shallum, the son of Jabesh. When King Zechariah had died this fulfilled a prophecy by God in 2 Kings 10 about Jehu. God said that Jehu‘s descendants will sit on the throne of Israel for four generations, and Zechariah’s short six-month reign was the fulfillment of this promise.

Shallum

Shallum was the son of Jabesh, and he handles eliminating the evil King Zechariah. He was only to remain on the throne of Israel for one month as king before he was assassinated by a man named Menahem. This assignation was carried out Menahem because he was a commander in the Israeli army that refused to accept Shallum’s self-appointment as king.

The Significance of these Three Kings

Joash, Zechariah and Shallum were three rulers in the long line of kings that were given the responsibility of leading God’s chosen people. Joash was on the right path under the guidance of Jehoida but once the old priest died he became evil. Zechariah as an evil king and Shallum probably was the same way, but the Bible doesn’t necessarily mention this fact. Each of these kings probably would have had long and productive reigns if they would have obeyed God. Each of them had ruled for only a short period before they died, and they were not considered to be god-fearing men.

Biblical References

2 Kings 11:1-3 Joash is hidden in God’s temple in order so that he may become the king.
2 Kings 11:21 Joash becomes the king at age seven.
2 Chronicles 24 Details Joash’s reign and demise as a ruler
2 Kings 15:8-12 Zechariah becomes king but has a short reign after being assassinated by Shallum.
2 Kings 15:13-15 Shallum becomes king as is assassinated by Menahem.

References:
http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/joash.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_of_Israel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jehoiada.jpg

Posted on June 27, 2012August 19, 2015 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

China, Brick and Stone Work In

The Shang Dynasty ruled China for many years until they were defeated by the Zhou clan around 1200 to 1000 B.C. which is where it appears on the Bible Timeline with World History. When the Zhou Dynasty took over China they altered the political, social and religious institutions. The Zhou created a piece of legislation called the “Mandate of Heaven” which gave them the right to rule the former Shang society. They used this legislation to change the different parts of the culture including the architecture. The Zhou rulers wisely left most of the Shang architecture in place, but they made some adjustments on the major political, social and religious structures that reflected their style of rule.

When the Zhou took over they instituted a feudal-like system where the emperor ruled the whole entire land and Lords were instated in a fashion that was similar to kings and nobles during the middle ages. There were other classes of people which included the warriors, commoners and slaves. The Emperor ruled the land from his palace and their empire was constructed as a walled city since warfare was a common practice during this time period. The Lords allowed the commoners to work the land in the form of farming. Their farms consisted of nine plots of land arranged in nine even squares. This arrangement was to taken after the Chinese character or letter “Jing”. The middle plot was to be grown for the purpose of taxation. Many of the commoners lived in huts or houses made out of wood and they also existed in structures that were constructed from brick and stone. Many of the storage bins, walls and towers in the villages were constructed from these materials as well.

ChinaBrick_and_Stone_Works — loose bricks

When the Zhou built their cities they gridded them on a parallel pattern that allowed nine blocks to cross each other. This way they had could control the movement of people and carts within the city. This was also done for the purpose of protection. As with most cities, the administration district was located within the center parts of the town and the emperor’s palace was situated inside of the city instead of being located away from the main metropolitan area. The Zhou used this method in order to administer the empire more effectively and to keep order and civility within the empire. The emperor’s palace was constructed with stone, brick and mortar. The Zhou continued to use the same building techniques and styles as the Shang but once again they made a few changes.

Both the Shang and the Zhou Dynasties ruled China during the Bronze Age. Many Bronze Age constructions in China were erected with tools and equipment that allowed the workers to effectively construct and manufacture the buildings. Throughout the later Zhou period, when the Eastern Zhou split from their western counterparts the construction techniques and styles remained unchanged. Many of the brick and stone constructions that survived from the Zhou period still remain in modern day China. Though most of these structures were left over from the Shang Dynasty the Zhou’s influence can still be seen in these buildings, temples and palaces.

References:
http://www.chinaknowledge.de/History/Zhou/zhou-admin.html
http://www.chinese-architecture.info/A-HIST.htm
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/719162/Chinese-architecture/283449/The-Zhou-dynasty-1046-256-bce
http://www1.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/16/content_38819.htm

Posted on June 25, 2012August 8, 2016 by Margaret Hunter — Leave a comment

China, Eunuchs in

Eunuchs were castrated males who guarded an emperor’s harem and some were used in positions of leadership and government. China has a long history with the use of Eunuchs and many emperors routinely made them a part of their court. Eunuchs were used as a sign of status and affluence and the wealthy members of ancient Chinese society also utilized the services of eunuchs within their homes. They are placed on the Bible Timeline with World History in the Chinese section beginning in 1200 BC

Most eunuchs came from the poorer classes of society and many males either volunteered for this position or they were forced into this role. Prisoners, slaves, and indebted people were also made eunuchs as well. A lot of Chinese peasants who were poor and who had little hope of changing their circumstances would have their male sons castrated in hopes that they could make a fortune as a eunuch. This was a very risky practice because there wasn’t a guarantee that a male would survive the castration process.

The castration process was brutal during ancient times. When a male was made into a eunuch his genitals and penis was removed from his body. Ancient Chinese people used various methods to carry out this practice. A male’s private parts would be completely removed by a sword, ax or some other sharp instrument. When a male’s parts were removed he had a 50% chance of survival. There was a small opening that was created in the process that allowed the male to urinate. If a castrated male was able to get rid of urine then the process was usually a success. Castrated men also had to worry about contracting an infection. Males that were able to relieve themselves and to avoid infection were now able to be employed as eunuchs.

ChinaEunuchs_In — From Paludan’s source: “A group of eunuchs. Mural from the tomb of the prince Zhanghuai, 706, Qianling, Shaanxi.”

From Paludan’s source: “A group of eunuchs. Mural from the tomb of the prince Zhanghuai, 706, Qianling, Shaanxi.”

Eunuchs were then used to protect concubines and harems within an emperor’s court. They were trusted by the emperor’s and other wealthy men because they were not viewed as a threat. Many rulers and men with power feared rivals who could place their children in a position of power. Emperor’s also trusted eunuchs because they couldn’t defile their wives, concubines or harems. Since eunuchs were considered less than human and “less of a man” they were also entrusted with vital and important information. Eunuchs were also used as companions for princes and the children of wealthy people. In time, eunuchs had become very trusted and powerful members of many Chinese courts.

Eunuchs were used by the women in the court or harem in order to gain favor with an emperor or ruler. Some had learned how to manipulate rulers and used their newfound power to dictate the affairs of a kingdom. Some rulers didn’t want to deal with the daily politics and governance of their empires and they indirectly gave control of these matters over to their eunuchs.
Eunuchs were also mentioned in the Bible (see Isaiah 56:4) and Jesus spoke about the importance of sexual purity by becoming a spiritual eunuch (Matthew 19:12). Many other cultures such as the Egyptians, Babylonians and the Persians all employed the use of eunuchs. The Chinese people used the practice of eunuchs all the way up to the 20th century before the practice fell out of favor. The practice was outlawed in 1912 and the last Imperial Eunuch in China was Sun Yaoting who died in 1996.

References:
http://bible.cc/matthew/19-12.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuch
http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=china_eununchs_and_official_harem
http://acc6.its.brooklyn.cuny.edu/~phalsall/texts/eunuchs1.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Prince_Zhanghuai%27s_tomb,_eunuchs.JPG