Jo’s Place

Elijah is Fed by Ravens and meets the Widow  Now Elijah, the prophet of God, who was from Tishbe, in Gilead, told King Ahab,  “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God, whom I serve …there will be no dew or rain, during the next few years, until I give the word!”  Then, the Lord said to Elijah,  “Go to the east, and hide, by Kerith Brook, near where it enters the Jordan River.  Drink from the brook… and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them, to bring you food.”  So, Elijah did as the Lord told him …and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.  The ravens brought him bread and meat, each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook.  But, after a while, the brook dried up, for there was no rainfall, anywhere in the land.  Then the Lord said to Elijah,  “Go and live, in the village, of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon.  I have instructed a widow, there, to feed you.”  So, he went to Z...

Omri and Ahab rule, in Israel But now, the people of Israel were split into two factions.  Half the people tried to make Tibni, son of Ginath, their king, while the other half supported Omri.  But, Omri’s supporters defeated …the supporters of Tibni.  So, Tibni was killed, and Omri became the next king.  Omri began to rule, over Israel, in the thirty-first year, of King Asa’s reign in Judah.  He reigned twelve years in all, six of them in Tirzah.  Then, Omri bought the hill, now known as Samaria, from its owner, Shemer, for 150 pounds of silver.  He built a city on it …and called the city Samaria, in honor of Shemer.  But, Omri did what was evil, in the Lord’s sight, even more, than any of the kings, before him.  He followed the example of Jeroboam,    son of Nebat, in all the sins he had committed …and which he led Israel to commit.  The people provoked the anger, of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols....

Elah and Zimri rule, in Israel Elah, son of Baasha, began to rule, over Israel, in the twenty-sixth year, of King Asa’s reign, in Judah.  He reigned, in the city of Tirzah, for two years.  Then, Zimri, who commanded half of the royal chariots, made plans to kill him.  One day in Tirzah, Elah was getting drunk, at the home of Arza, the supervisor of the palace.  Zimri walked in …and struck him down, and killed him.  This happened, in the twenty-seventh year, of King Asa’s reign in Judah.  Then, Zimri became the next king.  Zimri immediately killed the entire royal family, of Baasha, leaving him not even a single male child.  He even destroyed distant relatives and friends.  So, Zimri destroyed the dynasty, of Baasha, just as the Lord had promised, through the prophet, Jehu.  This happened, because of all the sins, that Baasha, and his son Elah, had committed, …and because of the sins, that they led Israel to commit.  They provoked th...

Nadab and Baasha rule in Israel  Nadab, was the son of Jeroboam, and he began to rule, over Israel, in the second year, of King Asa’s reign, in Judah.  He reigned, in Israel, two years.  But he did, what was evil, in the Lord’s sight, and followed the example of his father, continuing the sins, that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit.  Then, Baasha, son of Ahijah, from the tribe of Issachar, plotted against Nadab, and assassinated him, while he, and the Israelite army, were laying siege, to the Philistine town, of Gibbethon.  Baasha killed Nadab, in the third year of King Asa’s, reign in Judah, and he became the next king, of Israel.  He, immediately, slaughtered all the descendants, of King Jeroboam, so that not one, of the royal family, was left, just, as the Lord had promised, concerning Jeroboam, by the prophet Ahijah, from Shiloh.  This was done, because Jeroboam had provoked, the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, by the sins, that he had commi...