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24 of 325 Encyclopedia
Today the town of Bethlehem is much larger than it was in Jesus' day. But despite its small size in biblical times, Bethlehem was the location of significant historical events. Discovering its history helps us appreciate why the town was the perfect place for Jesus' birth.
Location
Bethlehem's unique location at the border between the mountains and the wilderness enabled its people to capitalize on the benefits from both environments. Fertile mountain valleys and hillsides that received adequate rainfall provided valuable cropland for farmers, while the wilderness nearby provided pastures for the shepherds' flock.
History
Both King David and Ruth lived in Bethlehem during a portion of their lives (Ruth 1:22; 1 Sam. 16:1-3; Matt. 1:1, 5). Both of them are listed in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah.
The Moabite nation (in which Ruth was brought up) began when Lot's daughters committed incest. The nation was eventually destroyed by Israel. The Moabites worshiped pagan gods, and their king practiced child sacrifice. Despite her past in a sinful nation, Ruth had an integral role in God's plan of redemption, which was fulfilled by the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Prophecy Fulfilled
Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, Micah prophesied that the Messiah would come out of Bethlehem. Jesus "' the Son of God, the King of the universe" would be from the line of David and would rule on the throne of David forever. Bethlehem links Jesus to the lineage and family of David.
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Biblical Covenants
Similar to a business agreement or contract made today, in the ancient Near East, there was a special covenant form in which a greater party (usually a king), established a relationship with a lesser party (a vassal). The greater party determined the responsibilities of each, and the lesser party accepted or rejected the relationship.
God used this kind of covenant when dealing with his people. For example, God made a covenant with Noah (Gen. 9:8-17). God, who controls all nature, promised to never again create a flood that would destroy all earthly life. After the flood, he sent a rainbow as a symbol of this covenant.
God also used this covenant form when he promised to make Abraham the father of a great nation (Gen. 15). God later renewed this covenant with Abraham's descendants, the Israelites, and gave detailed covenant terms through the Ten Commandments and the laws of Leviticus.
Jesus is God's perfect Son and he also makes a covenant with all believers, promising to give us salvation through his sacrifice (Heb. 13:20, 1 Cor. 5:7). The bread and cup today symbolize his broken body and shed blood, reminding Christians that God has faithfully kept the covenant.
In biblical times, a good name meant more than a good reputation. People understood that a name expressed the essence or identity of a person.
In the Near East, a person's name identified something about their character or circumstances, such as birth or family. Genesis 17:17 provides an illustration of this practice: Sarah and Abraham named their son 'Isaac,' which means 'he laughs.' When God told 100-year-old Abraham that his 90-year-old wife would give birth, he laughed.
Because names were so significant in biblical times, the power to name someone or something demonstrated authority. Genesis 17:1-5 gives an account of God's authority when he changed Abram's name to Abraham. Similarly, Pharaoh conveyed his authority over Joseph when he renamed Joseph as Zaphenath-Paneah (Gen. 41:45).
When God told Moses, 'I know you by name' (Ex. 33:17), God was declaring that he recognized Moses for who he was, his character, circumstances, and identity. God still knows each of his believers by name; he completely understands who and what we are.
The typical Galilean house was built of basalt (dark volcanic rock) with the stones carefully squared or "dressed" by a stonemason (sometimes translated as "carpenter").A wooden scaffold is used in the building process. Smaller stones wedged between the larger ones provided stability and strength.
The courtyard in the foreground is located between the various rooms of the complex. It was paved with basalt stones as well.Sometimes, the exterior of the house was covered with mud plaster. The door frame of the house was made of stone ashlars (shaped stones) and was covered by a wooden door.
Burial Practices
The Body
According to Jewish interpretation of the Old Testament Law, burial had to occur within 24 hours (Deut. 21:23). This was partly due to the climate in Israel, and partly because the body was considered to be ceremonially unclean and therefore had to be prepared for burial as soon as possible.
Shortly after death, family members came to mourn and prepare the body. The body was washed, anointed with various oils and spices, and wrapped with special, white linen grave clothes that contained spices (John 19:39-40).
The Mourning Process
Family and friends gathered for a very intense period of mourning involving loud expressions of sorrow and lamentation. Those who grieved frequently wore sackcloth mourning clothes, made of rough goat-hair fabric, as an expression of sorrow.
After the body was prepared, it was carried to the cemetery in a procession which included professional mourners hired to express the appropriate public grief. Often they were joined by someone playing the flute.
The period of mourning varied. Some believe that it lasted seven days as it does today in Orthodox Jewish tradition. However, a rabbinical document refers to the mourning period lasting three days, possibly because after this amount of time it was certain that the person was actually dead.
Following the sealing of the tomb, mourning continued for a total of thirty days.
Community Support
The home of the deceased was considered unclean during the mourning time; nothing could be prepared to eat in the home. Neighbors provided food or the family members went to neighbors' homes to eat, which provided a time of comfort and encouragement as the community helped the grieving family.
This extensive burial process served as a reminder of the many family members who had died in the past, and it made death a very significant part of community life.
Herod seized an opportunity to control world trade by building a seaport on Israel's coast, where the sea routes and the predominant land route intersected. Caesarea was a glorious city, covered with marble, and symbolizing the vast wealth that Herod accumulated by dominating world trade.
The Harbor
The Harbor, named Sebastos (Greek, Augustus), revealed Herod's determination to become the greatest Near Eastern King. No natural harbor existed, so Herod constructed a 40-acre harbor using two breakwaters. The south breakwater was 600 yards long, and the north breakwater was 300 yards long.
The base for these breakwaters was built of 40-foot by 50-foot concrete blocks that were poured under water at depths up to 100 feet, and the towering lighthouse at the harbor entrance could be seen for miles.
The Palace
Located on its own peninsula, the palace included a small port so Herod's visitors could enter the palace without having to go through the city.Its pool:115 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 8 feet deep,extended into the salty Mediterranean Sea, yet it most likely held fresh water. Herod welcomed his guests with luxurious rooms that included a large dining hall, hot and cold baths, and a semicircular colonnade that extended out into the sea.
The Theater
The theater was located outside of the city, probably because the vulgar and obscene performances that took place there were so offensive to Jewish residents.
The theater played a vital role in promoting Hellenism, a people-centered lifestyle that glorified human knowledge, accomplishment, and experience. Positioned so that prevailing breezes provided amazingly good acoustics, the theater could hold about 4,000 spectators, who sat on stone benches.
Located in the northeastern part of Israel at the foot of Mount Hermon, lay Caesarea Philippi, a pagan city built by Herod Philip, a son of Herod the Great.
For many years, people in this area had worshiped false gods, including Baal (Josh. 11:16-17; 12:7). And several miles away, in the city of Dan, King Jeroboam had set up the golden calf on a "high place" (1 Kings 12:25-31). During Jesus' time, the people in the region worshiped many Greek fertility gods.
At the base of a cliff more than one hundred feet high, people built temples and shrines dedicated to various gods, including "Pan," the fertility god of the mountains and forests. (In fact, the ancient name of Caesarea Philippi was Panias named after Pan.)
This cliff could also be referred to as the "Rock of the Gods," because idols and statues of gods and goddesses were placed into small openings cut into the rock.
In the midst of this pagan self-indulgence, Jesus challenged his disciples to deny themselves and follow him. Christians today must also have the courage to boldly live out Christ's message in a pagan society.
Herod built the Seaport at Caesarea for a number of different reasons.
- He needed a port on the Mediterranean because existing ones were outside his kingdom or hostile to him.
- He recognized Caesarea's strategic location along the Via Maris, the trade route between Rome and regions like Persia, Babylonia, the Orient, and the Arabian Peninsula.
- Herod needed a vast source of revenue to fund his great building projects, such as the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, as well as his palaces at Masada and Jericho.
- Herod also wanted to expand his influence, both to create favor with Rome, and to bring Roman culture and military support to Judea. He wanted to demonstrate his greatness as well.
- Lastly, Herod needed to create a buffer zone to keep the Parfians and Idumeans out of the Roman Empire.
This photograph shows the remains of the caldarium (hot bath) of the public bathhouse. The floor of this room, now gone, was originally placed on the more than 200 columns seen here. The floor itself was probably a mosaic.
The walls were faced with vertical rows of clay pipes through which hot air flowed from under the floor up and into the room. The hot air included steam from the water pipes. The caldarium functioned much like a sauna.
The town of Capernaum stood near the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee, situated along the busy Via Maris trade route, also known as the 'Way of the Sea.'
The prophet Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would live by "the way to the sea," (Isa. 9:1) and Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by living in Capernaum (Matt. 4:13-16). People from around the world could hear Jesus' message as they traveled on the Via Maris.
Tolls were collected by the Roman government, and it was in Capernaum where Jesus called Levi, the tax collector, to become his disciple. The town was also a military center for the Romans in Jesus' day, containing 3,000 inhabitants.
Because the surrounding area contained large amounts of volcanic rock, one industry of Capernaum was the making of food grinders and other food processing implements. Archaeologists have discovered many of these items, and they can be seen at Capernaum today.
Also at Capernaum was a syngagogue, believed to be built by the centurion mentioned in Luke 7:1-6. Archaeologists have uncovered a synagogue there, but it was probably built over the one of Jesus' day.
Capernaum, along with Bethsaida and Korazin, stands in the "evangelical" or "orthodox" triangle, three Galilean cities where Jesus performed most of his miracles. Devout Jews lived in this area, creating religious communities and synagogues where Jesus could teach about the kingdom of God.
Casting the Net
This modern-day fisherman demonstrates how to use a cast net, one type of net used in New Testament times (Mark 1:16-18). The net is 18 to 25 feet in diameter. The fisherman arranges it on one arm, stands in the boat, and throws it like a parachute into the sea.
The weights along the edge, which were made of stone in Jesus' day, carry it to the bottom of the sea. The fisherman can either pull out the fish caught in the net, or pull the bottom of the net together, trapping the fish inside. Either way, he must jump into the water. In John's account of the miraculous catch, Peter apparently was the "man in the water" (John 21:7).
We should appreciate the long hours, under difficult conditions, that Jesus' disciples worked. This conditioning certainly prepared them for the demanding mission to which Jesus called them.
Cisterns Herod built to provide water during times of siege and to fill his luxurious swimming pools and supply his bathing complexes. The amount of water needed was staggering. There were several swimming pools on top of the desert mountain, where little rain fell. The main bath complex was one of the largest in Israel, and there were several smaller, private ones for Herod in each of his palaces.
Since the floods in the wadi below were unreliable, Herod needed water sufficient for his family and staff. One scholar has estimated that if all the cisterns were half full, there would be enough water to sustain thousands of people for ten years.
The contrast between the surrounding desert and the abundance of water inside the fortress would have impressed anyone who visited this place. They probably marveled at the vision and ingenuity of Herod, a result that he passionately desired.
The water flowed into cisterns cut into the base of the mountain on the western side. It was then carried to the top of the mountain and emptied into cisterns like this one, which held more than 1 million gallons. The cistern was originally a quarry that provided stone for the buildings on Masada.
It has been noted that Herod frequently defied nature in his attempt to build a legacy for himself. Providing the amount of water needed on Masada was part of that legacy. Visitors to Israel are still amazed at the great vision Herod displayed in his building programs.
What was "Cistern Water"
In Israel, the rainy season is only five months long, stretching from November through March. Since fresh springs like those at En Gedi are rare, most ancient cities, towns, and even households used cisterns to catch and store rain runoff from rooftops, courtyards, and even streets.
Consequently, cistern water wasn't like the clean, fresh, flowing water of a spring. It was usually stale and dirty - perhaps even fouled by dead animals.
Furthermore, cisterns were dug by hand out of solid rock and were plastered so they would hold water. They needed constant care because the plaster tended to fall off, which allowed the precious water to leak out. When a cistern failed to hold water, it created a desperate situation for the people who depended on it.
Cisterns Were Used for More Than Water!
In addition, cisterns served as prisons (Jer. 38:6-13), symbolized prosperity (2 Kings 18:28-32), and served as hiding places (1 Sam. 12:6). Cisterns were built by kings as well as common people; they were used as tombs (Jer. 41:7-9), and also were used in teaching metaphors (Prov. 5:15-18).
Gezer, Dan, Arad-these place names have little meaning for most Bible readers. But they did mean something to the writers of the Text. These places brought certain pictures and events to mind, much like the names "New York," "Hicksville," and "Washington DC" bring images to our minds today.
Just like our own cities, each city mentioned in the Text had unique features. Some were isolated desert cities. Others stood on busy trade routes. Some cities were small and rarely noted. Others were fiercely fought over because of their strategic location.
But no matter what city they lived in, God's people were always called to the same task: To show the world what it means to live for the one true God. Whether we live in a large metropolis or a tiny village, our calling remains the same today.
City gates played a significant role in ancient life. Because openings in city walls created a weak place, ancient people strengthened their gates to prevent their city from being easily invaded. Building a gatehouse inside the city wall became a customary practice. Also, the sewer channel under the main street could run out below the city gate.
During peacetime, city gates became the focal point for social and commercial activity. The chambers operated as a city hall where legal matters and business transactions were conducted. The room above the chambers served as a guardhouse (2 Sam. 18:33); the towers provided added protection and a lookout point (2 Sam. 18:24); and the area outside the gate became a marketplace.
The city gate became a gathering place for prophets, kings, judges, and other officials. These leaders would "sit in the gate." For example, Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) and Ahab (king of Israel) sat on their thrones in the gate of Samaria (1 Kings 22:10).
City Gates in the Bible Since gates were the center of city life, it is not surprising that scripture writers often described important officials as "sitting in the gate." Understanding the important role of city gates brings new light to many biblical stories:
- When God's angels arrived in Sodom, Lot was "sitting in the gateway," apparently serving as an influential judge in that evil city (Gen. 19:1, 9).- Parents of a rebellious son who wouldn't submit to their discipline were told to take him to the city gate and present him to the elders there. The males of that city would stone him to death. And because the gate was at the center of city life, word of what happened would spread quickly and the people of Israel would be less likely to do evil (Deut. 21:18-21).- Boaz went to the town gate to settle legal matters regarding his marriage to Ruth (Ruth 4:1-11).- When a soldier arrived at Shiloh and reported that Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant, Eli, as a prominent city official, was sitting in the gate. When he heard the news, he fell off his chair, broke his neck, and died (1 Sam. 4:10-18).- King David stood by the gate when giving last minute instructions to his army, before their fight against Absalom. After Absalom's death, David returned to his place at the gate, and the people came to him (Sam. 18:1-5; 19:1-8).- Mordecai learned of plans to assassinate the king while "sitting at the king's gate," which indicates that he was a community leader. He told Queen Esther, who in turn told the king (Esther 2:5-8, 19-23).
The American concept of a king is usually negative. The Revolutionary War experience prompted most Americans to view kings as tyrants who cared little for the common person.
Not all bad This view of kingship would not have been shared by most ancient cultures, however. In biblical times, kings played a number of positive roles in the cities they ruled:
- Kings delivered their city people from famine (as Joseph did when storing grain for the king of Egypt.)- Kings delivered their people from enemy attacks. The city walls and fortified gates gave protection to those within. The city became a refuge from advancing armies.- Kings provided justice. They functioned as a "sheriff" who kept order in the city and the surrounding areas.- Kings ensured that the city's economy would remain strong. Because the city gate was a center of commerce, as well as the king's place of judgment, the king could determine who sold what items at what times.
God as King By understanding the biblical concept of kingship, we can better appreciate biblical references to God as our king. The scripture writers did not share our negative views of kings, and they were not trying to describe God as an uncaring tyrant. Rather, they saw God as having positive authority, just like the ancient kings.
Most cities from the biblical period were fairly small, and people lived in closely knit, well-defined communities. Jerusalem of David's time covered 9-10 acres with a population of 1,500-2,000 persons. Jerusalem during Jesus' time occupied about 250 acres with a possible population of 40,000-45,000. At that time, it was one of the larger cities in the eastern part of the Roman Empire.
Typically, large cities like Jerusalem in the ancient Near East were walled. Timely payment of taxes and faithful service to the king gave the people the privilege of living safely inside city walls and using the stored food in time of famine.
Many smaller towns were also walled. The main gate was the town's social center, as well as a place of commerce. Galilee was quite heavily populated, and the small towns and villages had large public buildings such as synagogues, theaters, and baths. The synagogue occupied the higher elevation in town, and the market functioned near the city gate.
Towns generally had a nearby source of water (a spring or stream), and were circled by small farms. Each farmer had an acre or two of land. They cultivated olives and grapes on hillsides, and grain and vegetables between the trees or vines, or in the valleys. Small flocks of animals were taken out to graze on hillsides where it was impossible to farm. The city generally was organized around small, narrow streets running at right angles to each other. Homes lined these streets and were built right up to the gutters.
The False Claims of the Cults
Each of the cults in Pergamum was a counterfeit, a clever copy of the things that God alone provides. Each god took credit or honor away from God, thus giving it to something human or of human invention.
False Gods | False Claims | The Truth |
---|---|---|
Zues | Acclaimed as king of kings, lord of lords, creator of the universe. | God alone is the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Creator of the Universe. |
Dionysus | Reputed to provide joy, eternal life and meaning; said to be able to change water into wine. | God alone provides these through Jesus, who turned water into wine and rose from the dead. |
Demeter | Said to provide daily bread, resurrection and eternal life through the blood of animals. | God aloe provides these through Jesus, who fed thousands miraculously and shed his blood and rose from the dead so that people might receive eternal life. |
Asclepius | Reputed to provide good health, healing from disease, and eternal life. | God alone provides these through Jesus, who healed many people, rose from the dead, and provides eternal life. |
Emperor Worship | Emperor was viewed as lord of all, the supreme source of truth in the Universe. | Jesus, seated at God's right hand, is Lord of Lords and King of the Universe; God is the source of all truth |
People Today | Give themselves or other things credit for what (healing, etc) | People today need to have a personal relationship with the one, Messiah. |
Cliff at the Garden Tomb This cliff face is located just outside the garden tomb. It was originally a quarry, but the rock quality was poor. It is just outside the city of Jerusalem, near the main gate. The area in front of the cliff was probably the place where people were stoned according to Jewish law. (Some suggest this is the place where Stephen was stoned. See Acts 7:54-60.)
While there is no archaeological evidence that indicates this was the crucifixion site, this place can help us picture the location where Jesus was crucified, for it fits the biblical description. It is outside the city and in a public place, as Roman law demanded. It is near a garden and tombs and probably was a place of execution.
The caves in the face of the cliff remind some people of a skull, two eyes with the bridge of a nose between. Though Jesus was crucified at Golgotha, the place of the skull, there is no certainty that these caves looked the same then or that the hill was called Golgotha because it looked like a skull. It is likely that if Golgotha was a hill, Jesus was crucified at its base, not on top, because the Romans wanted to keep victims as close to passerby as possible so they might serve as examples.
The photograph here displays a column style used by Herod on Masada. The columns were made of sandstone pieces that were plastered to look like fluted columns. When new, they probably looked like polished limestone or even marble. In the same place, the stone panels are painted to look like marble. Even when Herod could not afford the greatest luxury, he attempted to create that impression.
In between the columns, you can see the remains of fresco panels that Herod included in most of his palaces. The stone wall was plastered and then painted in deep, rich colors. Much of the plaster has fallen off, but enough remains for us to envision the beauty of entire rooms decorated in this manner. This style of decoration was popular with wealthy people during Jesus' time and after.
Commerce was an important part of ancient life, allowing people from various regions to trade with each other and acquire needed supplies.
Occupations varied from place to place. In fertile areas, agriculture thrived. In the wilderness, shepherds raised sheep and goats. Some cities developed food-processing industries. Others offered services to travelers who passed by.
In this section, you can learn more about the commercial activities and occupations of biblical times.
The City
Ancient Beth Shemesh guarded the Sorek Valley of Israel's Shephelah; a place where the pagans and the Israelites often interacted.
Beth Shemesh stands in Israel's Shephelah;foothills lying between the coastal plain and Judea Mountains. Several broad valleys extend up from the coastal plain, through the Shephelah, and into the mountains beyond.
The Shephelah valleys became the crossroads for commerce and culture in the ancient world. They formed natural trade routes linking the major powers of Rome and Egypt with the empires of Persia, Babylon, and Assyria. Whoever controlled the foothills could dominate the relationship between these powers. As a result, ancient people frequently clashed for control of these strategic valleys.
Built by the people of the coastal plain, Beth Shemesh stood like a guardhouse over the Sorek Valley. According to Joshua 19, the Beth Shemesh region was given to the small tribe of Dan for its inheritance. However, despite frequent fighting between the Israelites and pagans, the pagans were not driven out of the area.
The People
The sophistication and technology of the Philistines became attractive to God's people, and they began to adopt pagan Philistine values.
During the time of the judges in ancient Israel, the sophisticated Philistines dominated cities along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The Israelites lived in more primitive settings among the Shephelah hills and Judea Mountains.
The foothills, where Beth Shemesh was located, served as a buffer zone between the Philistines and the Israelites. Because control of the Shephelah meant power over culture, many battles between the Philistines and Israelites took place there.
The Philistines worshipped fertility gods such as Dagon "the god of grain" and his mistress Ashtoreth, who was associated with war and fertility. They also worshiped a god called Baal-Zebul, thought to be Dagon's son. Worship of these gods was so evil and abhorrent that the Israelites changed the name of Baal-Zebul to Baal-Zebub, meaning "lord of the flies."
Unfortunately, the Israelites did not always shun the evils of Philistine culture. As a primitive people, they became attracted to the sophisticated Philistine lifestyle. Over time, many Israelites drew away from God, and some even participated in the Philistines' detestable religion.
Samson's Calling
Though Israel's disobedience had caused them to be defeated by the Philistines, God was faithful and sent them a hero named Samson.
As punishment for the Israelites' participation in pagan worship, God "delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years" (Judges 13:1). But ever faithful to his covenant, God would not abandon his people.
An angel visited a childless couple from the tribe of Dan and told them they would have a child. The angel also explained that the child must be a Nazirite: one who was set apart from his culture.
The couple's son was Samson, and they raised him in accordance with Nazirite vows: He did not cut his hair, drink wine, or touch anything dead (which meant that he could not eat meat). When God's people saw Samson's unique lifestyle, they were reminded that they must also be set apart and live differently from the surrounding, ungodly culture.
God blessed Samson and empowered him to do great things: He burned Philistine wheat fields, he carried the Philistine gates of Gaza forty-five miles to Hebron, and he was able to kill many Philistine soldiers (Judges 15). As long as Samson remained faithful to God's values, he was effective in his calling to confront an evil culture.
Samson's Falling
Samson's haircut made him lose his strength;but it also symbolized his lost distinctiveness. He compromised with the pagan culture he was supposed to confront.
In time, Samson faltered and became attracted to Philistine culture. Instead of confronting their evil value system, he compromised his own values and disobeyed God.
As he participated in a wicked culture, Samson violated all of his Nazirite vows: He killed a lion with his bare hands, thus touching a dead body. He drank wine at a wedding party. And he allowed his hair to be cut after committing sexual sin with Delilah. By adopting pagan values, Samson failed to be set apart for God.
Consequently, Samson's mission, walk with God, and body became weak. He lost both his spiritual and physical effectiveness. The Philistines were able to capture and imprison this once unbeatable man.
Only when Samson finally acknowledged God as the source of his strength was he able to defeat the Philistines, but he lost his life in the process (Judges 16:28-30).
Israel's compromises
Like Samson, the Israelites compromised with pagan values. They eventually lost the ark of the covenant;a symbol of God's presence.
Like Samson, the Israelites also failed to live out their distinctiveness. They too became weak and ineffective when they compromised with the evil they were called to confront.
The Israelites lived simply and were attracted to the Philistines' advanced culture. Instead of using their strategic position in the Shephelah to confront pagan culture, they allowed the ungodly values to influence them. They failed to drive the Philistines out of their land.
First Samuel 4 reveals how ineffective the Israelites became. In an effort to defeat the Philistines, who were invading their mountain dwellings, the Israelites took the ark of the covenant in battle. They had wandered from God, but at the last minute, they desperately turned to him for help.
But the Israelites' last-ditch effort did not work. They ignored God's commands to keep the ark of the covenant in the Most Holy Place. And they mistakenly placed their hopes in the physical object of the ark, rather than trusting in the power of their God.
As a result, the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant, and the symbol of God's presence was carried off to the pagan land.
God Intervenes
Once again, God intervened to help the Israelites and preserve the plan of salvation: The ark of the covenant was returned to Israel at a place near Beth Shemesh.
Fortunately, God always remained faithful to his covenant. Even though the Israelites had failed to be distinct, God would not allow the Philistines to ruin his plan for salvation. Just as he provided Samson to deliver the Israelites once before, so God intervened to return the ark of the covenant to his people as well.
After capturing the ark, the Philistines encountered trouble. Their cities were afflicted with sickness and rats as they moved the ark from place to place. Finally, they decided to return the ark, along with gifts of gold, to the Israelites.
Placing the ark on a cart, they sent it with two calves toward Beth Shemesh. They watched the calves walk away, saying, "If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the Lord has brought this great disaster on us" (1 Sam. 6:9).
God guided the calves straight to Beth Shemesh, where the Israelites rejoiced. They offered a sacrifice to God and left a standing stone to mark the spot where God's presence had been returned (1 Sam. 6:15, 18).
The Shephelah Today
When God gave the Promised Land to the Israelites, he commanded them to possess it completely-to confront and remove pagan influences.
But instead of driving out the Philistines, the tribe of Dan allowed them to stay. And Samson compromised with the evil values he was supposed to confront. In both cases, God's people failed to carry out their calling completely and then faced serious consequences.
As God's people today, we are also called to confront the ungodliness of our world. We must influence today's shephelah; those front lines where God's values and secular values clash.
Unfortunately, many of us repeat the Israelites' mistakes and jeopardize the mission. Instead of confronting the sinful aspects of modern culture, we often compromise our vales to fit in with a selfish and materialistic world. When nonbelievers see us adopting these sinful values, they become cynical about the God we are supposed to represent.
But imagine what would happen if every Christian became a shephelah person;remaining faithful to God while actively confronting the evil around us. With God's blessing, we could effectively transform the world.
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