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Understanding Biblical Warnings Against Superstitions

One of the commandments in the Old Testament is a command telling us not to be superstitious.

Leviticus 19:26

  • KJV
    • Ye shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
  • Amp version
    • ‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination [using omens or witchcraft] or soothsaying.
  • Complete Jewish Bible
    •  “‘Do not eat anything with blood. Do not practice divination or fortune-telling.
  •  Christian Standard Bible
    • “You are not to eat anything with blood in it. You are not to practice divination or witchcraft.

Vocabulary words:

  • superstitious
    • of, relating to, or swayed by superstition
    • a superstitious ritual
  • observe tmes
    • עָנַן ʻânan, aw-nan’; a primitive root; to cover; used only as a denominative from H6051, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practise magic:—× bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe(-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.
  • enchantment
    • נָחַשׁ nâchash, naw-khash’; a primitive root; properly, to hiss, i.e. whisper a (magic) spell; generally, to prognosticate:—× certainly, divine, enchanter, (use) × enchantment, learn by experience, × indeed, diligently observe.

Here are some more verses about superstitions.

  • 1 Timothy 4:7 ESV
    • Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
  • Deuteronomy 18:10-12 ESV
    • There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you.
  • Leviticus 19:31 ESV
    • “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.
  • Colossians 2:8-10 ESV
    • See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.
  • 1 Timothy 1:3-4 ESV
    • As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

We are called to walk by faith in the knowledge of our savior Jesus Christ. We are commanded in both the Old and New Testament to avoid all things connected with superstition. Superstitious actions are connected with witchcraft and idolatry. When you put your trust in anything or ritual you are not fully trusting in God.


Common superstitions include beliefs like avoiding black cats, not walking under ladders, and throwing salt over your shoulder, often rooted in cultural traditions and historical fears.


Popular Superstitions

  • Walking Under a Ladder: Considered bad luck, this superstition stems from the triangular shape formed by a ladder against a wall, which was seen as sacred in ancient cultures. Breaking this triangle was thought to invite misfortune.
  • Black Cats: In many Western cultures, a black cat crossing your path is seen as a sign of bad luck, often associated with witchcraft. However, in some cultures, black cats are considered good luck.
  • Breaking a Mirror: This superstition suggests that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck, as mirrors were once believed to reflect not just one’s image but also one’s soul.
  • Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder: Spilling salt is thought to bring bad luck, but tossing a pinch over your left shoulder is believed to ward off evil spirits lurking there.
  • Opening an Umbrella Indoors: This is considered bad luck, possibly due to the practical dangers of opening an umbrella in a confined space, which could cause accidents.
  • Friday the 13th: Many people consider this day to be unlucky, stemming from various historical and cultural beliefs about the number 13 and its associations with misfortune.
  • Avoiding the Number 13: Many buildings skip the 13th floor, and some people avoid the number altogether due to its negative connotations in various cultures.
  • Never Stick Chopsticks Upright: In China and Japan, sticking chopsticks upright in rice is a taboo, as it resembles incense sticks used at funerals, inviting death.
  • Beginner’s Luck is a “Thing”: “Beginner’s luck” is the idea that people new to a sport or game are likely to win when they try it out for the first time. It could very well be that beginners simply do better because they aren’t as stressed out about winning. Experts say that too much anxiety can hamper performance.
  • Knock on Wood or “Touch Wood” To Prevent Bad Luck
    • Druids and Pagan cultures believed that knocking on wood would enlist the help of tree gods.
    • You have probably performed this ritual a thousand times: You just finished the sentence that you never get sick, or that your car never breaks down, then you immediately search for something that’s made of wood so you can give it a few taps with your knuckles.
    • There are several theories of where this originated, but most agree that this belief started with the Druids. Their idea of divinity involved nature and the trees were their gods. Knocking on wood was considered a form of physical contact with them, which brought along good fortune. Most Pagan cultures around the ancient world also believed that trees were inhabited by spirits, so it was thought that by simply knocking on the bark of a tree, you could stir the aid of the nature spirit residing within. It’s unlikely that knocking on wood does little more than send people to the front door looking for the pizza guy.
  • Crossing Your Fingers Brings Good Luck
    • Ever wish or hope for something and then cross your fingers? The reason for this was that it is believed that bad luck is trapped at the point where the two fingers meet so when we cross our fingers, we stop the bad luck from escaping and allow our wishes to come true. Not very likely, but it’s still one we almost all practice.


If you are guilty of any of these, repent today. We are called to follow God not superstitions.

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Elijah and Enoch are the two Witnesses in Revelation

Elijah and Enoch are the two Witnesses in Revelation.
There is little question that Elijah the Old Testament prophet was caught up alive to heaven and is one of the two witnesses. The second witness is regarded as either Moses or Enoch. Since it is appointed once for every man to die, the other witness must be Enoch.

  • Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Enoch was the only other man in history that has never died physically. He was caught up to God at age 365 (Gen. 5:23-24).

Here is the evidence for these two being the witnesses.

Both are Old Testament Prophets
* Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
* 2 Chronicles 21:12 And there came a writing to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of David thy father, Because thou hast not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat thy father, nor in the ways of Asa king of Judah,		Rev. 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
Both have never died physically.
Gen 5:23-24 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.		Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
Elijah called fire down from heaven
2 Kings 1:10  And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.		Rev. 11:5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.
Elijah closed the heavens for 42 months
James 5:17 (ESV) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.		Rev. 11:3, 6 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Enoch prophesied about the Lord returning.
Jude 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, 		Enoch spoke about God’s Judgement
Jude 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
Malachi said Elijah would return.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:		Elijah comes before the day of the Lord.

Christ taught that Elijah must reappear and restore all things.

  • Matthew 17:11
    • And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

In Jewish tradition, Elijah is expected to appear during Passover, announcing the Messiah and revealing each Jew’s tribal lineage. Today, devout Jews believe Elijah will come before the Messiah’s arrival. Alongside another prophet, he will wield great power—sending plagues, stopping rain, and calling down fire from heaven on those who reject their mission.

  • Rev. 11:6
    • These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.

For forty-two months, no one can harm them, but after 1,200 days, the Antichrist will kill them.

  • Rev. 11:7
    • And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

This takes place around the middle of the Tribulation, leading the Antichrist to halt Temple offerings

  • Dan. 9:27
    • And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

He seizes control of half of Jerusalem (likely Arab East Jerusalem) and forces the Jewish section into captivity, where his followers loot homes and commit atrocities.

  • Zech 14:2
    •  For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

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The Lukewarm Church: A Warning

To the Church at Laodicea

Revelation 3:14-11

  • And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
  • I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
  • So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
  • Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
  • I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
  • As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
  • Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
  • To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
  • He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

History

Laodicea was located about 50 miles southeast of Philadelphia, in the Lycus River
valley near Colossae and Hierapolis (cf. Col. 4:13-16). It was also located forty miles from Ephesus and was steeped in Greek culture. The city (and region) had experienced many earthquakes over the years.

The city was a cultural center with schools, libraries, and a banking center that brought strong economic and financial resources.
Two widely used eye and ear salves were produced in the city, as it was also a well-known medical center of its day. Its name means “People Ruling,” and represents the unbelieving, materialistic church of all ages.

Notes

  • Christ is the beginning of the creation of God in the sense that He is the origin and source of God’s creation
    • Col. 1:15-18
      •  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
      • For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
      • And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
      • And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
  • Christ is the head of the new creation
    • 2 Cor. 5:17
      • Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
  • The church is likened to lukewarm water, or as being virtually worthless, Christ says He will “spew them out,” or eject them from His company.
    • The hot waters of nearby Hierapolis were known for their medicinal qualities
    • Colossae was known for its cold, pure water.
    • Laodicea was forced to receive water by aqueduct from other areas. By the time it arrived at Laodicea it was lukewarm and provoked nausea.
      • The works of the Laodicean church were as worthless as the city’s lukewarm water.
        • The description does not refer to a backslidden condition, but rather to their lack of genuine faith.
  • Laodicea was famous for its wealth, its bankers, its medical school, its popular eye salve, and its textile industry.
    • Christ says that spiritually the people of the church are poor, blind, and naked.
    • True wealth is found only in God’s grace. This church had no spiritual value (gold), virtue (white raiment), or vision (eye salve).
      • He urges the Laodiceans to repent of their lack of genuine faith and of spiritual understanding.
  • In light of the spiritual condition of the Laodiceans described in verses 17, 18, the invitation of verse 20 seems to be evangelistically addressed to individual members of an apostate church, so they might receive Christ genuinely as Savior and Lord.
    • To sup (dine) means to have fellowship (cf. ; ) and to enjoy Christ’s blessings.
      • Luke 22:30
        • That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
      • John 14:23
        • Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
    • The promise to sit with Christ in His throne refers to reigning with Christ in His kingdom.
      • Matt. 19:28
        • And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
      • Rev. 20:4
        • And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

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Comprender la paloma como representación del Espíritu Santo

LA PALOMA: UNA IMAGEN DEL ESPÍRITU SANTO

La palomaCaracterísticas de una palomaParalelismos con el Espíritu Santo
BlancoExpresa el color de la pureza.El Espíritu Santo trae pureza.
Levítico 20:26: «Seréis santos para mí, porque yo, el Señor, soy santo, y os he apartado de las naciones para que seáis míos».
1 Tesalonicenses 4:7: «Porque Dios no nos llamó a la impureza, sino a la santidad».
CariñosoExpresa afecto acariciando y emitiendo arrullos.El Espíritu Santo trae amor y afecto.
Gálatas 5:22 Pero el fruto del Espíritu es amor, gozo, paz, paciencia, benignidad, bondad, fe,
benévoloNunca toma represalias contra sus enemigos,
cuando atacan a sus crías, no
lucha, sino que emite gritos de angustia.		No debemos vengarnos de nuestros enemigos; el Espíritu intercede en tiempos de dificultad.
Romanos 8:26 Asimismo, el Espíritu nos ayuda en nuestra debilidad; pues no sabemos orar como es debido, pero el Espíritu mismo intercede por nosotros con gemidos indecibles.
Al escuchar ruidos extrañosNo volverá después de estar asustadoEl Espíritu no contenderá siempre con los hombres.
Génesis 6:3 Y dijo Jehová: Mi espíritu no contenderá para siempre con el hombre, porque ciertamente él es carne; mas vivirán ciento veinte años.
Efesios 4:30 Y no entristezcáis al Espíritu Santo de Dios, con el cual fuisteis sellados para el día de la redención.
Lucas 12:10 Y a cualquiera que hable contra el Hijo del Hombre, le será perdonado; pero al que blasfeme contra el Espíritu Santo, no le será perdonado.
Al pasar el cursor por encimaLas alas apuntan hacia la cabeza y no hacia la cola.El Espíritu siempre guía a las personas hacia Cristo.
Juan 15:26 Pero cuando venga el Consolador, a quien yo os enviaré del Padre, el Espíritu de verdad, que procede del Padre, él dará testimonio de mí.
Plumas de las alasTiene nueve plumas principales en sus alas izquierda y derecha.Existen nueve dones (1 Corintios 12:8-10) y nueve frutos (Gálatas 5:22-23) del Espíritu Santo.
Plumas de la colaTiene cinco plumas principales en la cola.La iglesia cuenta con un ministerio quíntuple.
Efesios 4:11-12 Y él constituyó a unos, apóstoles; a otros, profetas; a otros, evangelistas; a otros, pastores y maestros; a fin de perfeccionar a los santos para la obra del ministerio, para la edificación del cuerpo de Cristo.

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Espíritu Santo, Estudio de la Biblia,

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Strength in God: Armor of Faith

I love you O Lord, you are my strength.  You are my rock and my deliverer. You are my light and my saver, who should I fear?

You, God, set my feet on the rock. You Shield me with love; I put my faith in you; So, I may quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked one.

You help me. Stand with the belt of truth, and the breast plate of righteousness.

I stand in your word, I hid it in my heart, I will stand ready to tell others of you, God. You help me put on the shoes of the Gospel of peace.


I will call upon your name God for your name is worthy to be praised
I will stand for you, for you, are my saver, I will put on the helmet of salvation.

And I will stand with the sword of the spirit, which is your word, that I have hid in my heart.


That I may stand in your light and love.

Bible verses:

  • Psalm 18:1
    • I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.
    • The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower
  • Psalm 27:1
    •  The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
  • Ephesians 6:16
    • Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
  • Ephesians 6:14
    •  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness.
  • Psalm 119:11
    • Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
  • 2 Timothy 4:2
    • Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
  • 1 Peter 18:3
    •  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

By Bell

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Poems and more, Poems and Stories by Bell

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Weekly Recap of Articles for Christians Jan 25th to Jan 31st

Bible

Education

Cooking/ House Keeping

Estudio Bíblico en Español

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Education, Weekly Recaps

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The 400-Year Prophecy and Israel’s Journey

Exodus 12:40 Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

This seems like a contradiction because the children of Israel only lived in Egypt for about 3 generations. However, it is helpful to look at the original prophecy of the 400 Years prediction.

And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years. (KJV, Genesis 15:13)

It basically says that the seed (descendants) of Abraham would be a stranger in a land that is not theirs and shall server them and afflicted them 400 years.

If we call the year of Ishma’el’s birth “0,” as he is Abram’s first seed, we can then use various passages to calculate how many years from then until Israel entered the land of Canaan.

Birth of Isaac: 

  • Abraham is 100 (Gen 17:17; 21:5)
  • Ishmael is 13 the year before Isaac’s birth (Gen 17:25)

Birth of Jacob: 

  • Isaac is 60 (Gen 25:26)

Birth of Joseph: 

  • Jacob is 91 – Jacob was 130 when entering Egypt (Gen 47:9)
    • Joseph was 30 when entering Pharoahs service (Gen 41:46)
    • 7 years of plenty (Gen 41:53,54)
    • 2 years of famine when Jacob came to Egypt (Gen 45:6)
    • Joseph was 39 (30+7+2) when Jacob entered Egypt
    • Jacob was 91 at birth of Joseph (130-39)
  • Birth of Levi: Jacob is 87
    • Jacob is 91 at birth of Joseph who was born in the 14 year of service to Laban (Gen 30:25,26)
    • Jacob is 77 when arrives at Labans (91-14)
    • Jacob serves 7 years and recieves Leah (Gen 29:27) who bears Levi, her third son approximately 3 years after being with Jacob.
    • Jacob is approximately 87 at birth of Levi (77+7+3).
  • The Children of Israel enter the land of Egypt 17 years before the death of Jacob (Gen 47:28) and when Levi is 87 years old.

Birth of Kohath: 

  • Levi is ~35 – Levi was younger than 40 when Kohath was born as Levi was 43 when he went to Egypt with his 3 sons (Gen 46:8,11)
    • if this is correct Kohath would be 8 when entering Egypt.
    • Birth of Amram: Kohath is ~40 (an average generaton)
    • Birth of Moses: Amram is ~40 (an average generaton)
    • Israel leaves Egypt when Moses is 80 years old.

The children of Israel enter the land of Israel after the 40 years of wandering, which is 400 years after the birth of Ishmael.

These numbers are approximate calculations. The other 30 years can be time getting to the promise land and how much time that it should have taken to take the land. Instead, they are wandering in the wilderness for 40 Years. They still were journeying in a land that was not their own.

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Comprender a Jesús como el Pan de Vida

Los cereales son uno de los principales grupos de alimentos. Antiguamente, se ubicaban en la base de la Pirámide Alimenticia, ya que se recomendaba consumir más cereales que otros alimentos. Muchos de nuestros alimentos básicos de consumo diario provienen de este grupo. Según el diccionario, el pan es el “alimento básico; especialmente: el pan”. Así como el pan es importante hoy en día, era una fuente de alimento vital en tiempos de Jesús. Para la mayoría de las personas de aquella época, los cereales eran el alimento principal que consumían a diario. Jesús les dijo: «Yo soy el pan de vida; el que a mí viene, nunca tendrá hambre; y el que en mí cree, no tendrá sed jamás» (Juan 6:35). Esta fue una declaración trascendental.

Cuando los israelitas viajaban por el desierto, comieron maná del cielo. El maná era un tipo de pan que Dios les proporcionó. Lo recogían seis días a la semana. El sexto día recogían suficiente para el sábado, ya que no se les permitía trabajar en el día de reposo. Jesús dijo: «Yo soy el pan que descendió del cielo» (Juan 6:41).

Más tarde, Jesús dice: «Yo soy el pan vivo que descendió del cielo; si alguno come de este pan, vivirá para siempre; y el pan que yo daré es mi carne, la cual daré por la vida del mundo» (Juan 6:51). Aquí Jesús se refiere al pan espiritual. Una manera de comer este pan espiritual es leyendo la Biblia. «En el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo estaba con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios» (Juan 1:1). En el libro de Marcos, «Jesús tomó pan, y lo bendijo, y lo partió, y les dio, y dijo: Tomad, comed; esto es mi cuerpo» (Marcos 14:22). Dado que Jesús es la Palabra, podemos “comer” su cuerpo estudiando su palabra y desarrollando una relación más cercana con Él. Es maravilloso saber que Jesús es nuestro pan de cada día. Él nos proveerá de pan físico y espiritual, porque Él es «el mismo ayer, y hoy, y por los siglos» (Hebreos 13:8).

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Shamgar a minor Judge of Israel

Shamgar was the third judge of Israel. Shamgar was one of the “minor” judges. But the distinction between “major” and “minor” is due more to the lack of information about the “minor” judges than to the lesser importance of the individuals themselves.

Judges 3:31

  • He was succeeded by Shamgar, the son of Anath. He killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, and he delivered Israel.

Shamgar killed more than 600 Philistines with an oxgoad. These Philistines were terrorizing the main travel routes. He did this with an oxgoad.

An oxgoad means an instrument of learning. It was used to teach the oxen where to go. It was long and pointed. Sometimes it had a metal tip. It was used to drive animals.

Shamgar is mentioned in the song of Deborah.

Judges 5:6-7

In the days of Shamgar, the son of Anath,
    in the days of Jael,
the highways were deserted,
    travelers took winding paths.
Village life ceased in Israel,
    it ceased until I, Deborah,
    until I rose up as mother in Israel.

Shamgar

  • Strong’s H8044 – šamgar
    • Outline of Biblical Usage 
      • Shamgar = “sword”
      • son of Anath and a judge of Israel; with an ox-goad he slew 600 Philistines and delivered Israel
    • Strong’s Definitions
      • שַׁמְגַּר Shamgar, sham-gar’; of uncertain derivation; Shamgar, an Israelite judge:—Shamgar.

Anath

  • Strong’s H6067 – ʿănāṯ
    • Outline of Biblical Usage
      • Anath = “answer”
      • father of Shamgar
    • Strong’s Definitions
      • עֲנָת ʻĂnâth, an-awth’; from H6030; answer; Anath, an Israelite:—Anath.
    • Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon

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Discovering Naphtali: Leadership and Legacy in the Bible

Naphtali was born to Rachel’s handmaid, Bilhah.

  • Genesis 30:8
    • And Bilhah Rachel’s maid conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Naphtali had four sons:

  • Jahzeel
  • Guni
  • Jezer
  • Shillem

When the census was taken in Numbers 26:48-49, the descendants of Naphtali was great.

  • Of the sons of Naphtali after their families:
    • of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites:
    • of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
    • Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites:
    • of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
  • These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.

Jacob gave a prophecy of Naphtali’s descendants in Genesis 49:21.

  • Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

He Giveth goodly words is an interesting prophecy.

Goodly

  • שֶׁפֶר shepher, sheh’-fer; from H8231; beauty:—× goodly.

Words

  • אֵמֶר ʼêmer, ay’-mer; from H559; something said:—answer, × appointed unto him, saying, speech, word.

Naphtali was the northern most tribe of Israel occupying a long, narrow piece of land about 80 kil. (50 miles) north to south and 16 to 24 Kil (10 to 15 miles) from east to west. The land of Naphtali was mountainous and very fertile.

Isaiah 9:1-7

  • Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
  • The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.
  • Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
  • For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
  • For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
  • For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
  • Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Jesus fulfilled this prophecy about Nathali seeing a great light when Jesus spent most of his ministry in the land that Nathali was given after the Exodus.

Matthew 4:12-6

  • When Jesus learned that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 
  • Departing from Nazareth, he settled in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, 
  • in order that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
    • “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the passageway to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
    • The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who dwell in a land darkened by the shadow of death light has dawned.”

Naphtali was a tribe of brave warriors people.

  • Members of the tribe fought bravely under Deborah.
    • Judges 4:4-6
      • Now Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, a prophetess, was then a judge in Israel.  
      • She used to sit underneath the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites would come up to her for judgment there. 
      • She summoned Barak, the son of Ahinoam, from Kadesh of Naphtali, and she said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun with yourself and march toward Mount Tabor.
    • Judges 4:10
      • Barak had summoned Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh. Ten thousand men were under his command, and Deborah went up with him.
    • Judges 5:18
      • The people of Zebulun risked their lives, as did Naphtali on the heights of the field.
  • They responded to Gideon’s Call
    • Judges 6:35
      • He sent messengers all throughout Manasseh, summoning them to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, so that they too gathered around him.
    • Judges 7:23
      •  The men of Israel from out of Naphtali, from out of Asher, and from out of Manasseh gathered together and pursued the Midianites. 
  • When Saul’s son Ishbosheth challenged David for the throne 37,000 fighting men who were led by 1,000 captains joined David.
    • Chronicles 12:34
      •  From Naphtali there were one thousand captains along with thirty-seven thousand men armed with shield and spear. 

When the tribes divided into 2 kingdoms, it was part of the 10 Northern Tribes.

Descendants

The speculative descendants of Naphtali include:

  • Ethiopian Jews, or Beta Israel, trace their ancestry to the Tribe of Dan, whose members, along with those from the tribes of Gad, Asher, and Naphtali, migrated south to the Kingdom of Kush—present-day Ethiopia and Sudan—during the destruction of the First Temple.
  • The Mountain Jews of the Caucasus.
  • The Bukharian Jews of Central Asia.
  • Nordisk Israel identify the Tribe of Naphtali with Norway.
  • Pacific Islanders (Cook Islands, Samoans, Hawaiians, Tongans, Fijians, etc.).

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bible, Bible Study, General Bible Study, People of the Bible

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