This passage has to do with God’s Judgment against Damascus (vv. 23-27). Damascus is the capital of Syria and was located at the intersection of three major trade routes. It was as much north of Canaan as Edom was south. Damascus was an old city (Gen. 14:15) but little is k …
A very tragic story unfolds in this chapter. Dinah, Jacob’s daughter by Leah, who must have been about 14 years of age, ended up having physical relations with Shechem, the son of Hamor (vv. 1-2). When Jacob’s family found out, her two brothers, Simeon and Levi, were infuriated. They …
The Israelite delegation was soon to learn that their suspicions were wrong. Instead of responding in anger the eastern tribes hastened to explain their reason for building the altar. It was not for the purpose of sacrifice (v. 23). The eastern tribes realized the validity of the altar in Shiloh. They …
The most critical event of the years of wandering was the rebellion of Korah and his company against Moses and Aaron. Miriam’s and Aaron’s envy against Moses before the pronouncement of judgment at Kadesh was mild compared to this rebellion stirred up by Korah (vv. 1-35). W …
In these final words and the final acts of God’s faithful servant Moses, he gives them a reminder of…
Jesus heard that Lazarus was sickness unto death and proposed to his disciples that they should return to Judea. His disciples were concerned as they knew how dangerous this would be (vv. 7-8). They remembered the previous conflicts with the rulers. Jesus calmed their fears by reminding …
In an attempt to deter Sennacherib, Hezekiah paid tribute, but this did not seem to sway the Assyrian’s determination. Instead Sennacherib sent three officers with a large force to Jerusalem (v. 17) to demand complete surrender. At first they presented their demands only to Heze …
Paul quotes Hosea 2:23, which declares that God would turn from the Jews and would call the Gentiles (v. 25). He quotes Isaiah 10:22 and 23 to show us that only a remnant of Israel would be saved, and that the greater number would suffer judgment (vv. 27-28). Today only a remnant of …
Christ’s entry into Jerusalem in today’s passage (vv. 28-44) is a fulfillment of the prophecies found in Zechariah 9:9 and Psalm 118:25-26. By this time Jesus was extremely well known. When he sent two of His disciples to find a colt all they had to say was “The Lord h …
It is especially tragic when Christians fail to say thank you to Jesus Christ and just take for granted what He has done for us. He gave everything; He suffered, He bled and He died on the cross for our sins and yet as Christians, we tend to forget. The least we can do is to …