[John 19.23] – The soldiers took His garments and divided them four ways but the under garment which was woven in a continuous piece with no seams they drew lots for. [John 19.26]  When Jesus saw His mother standing nearby and the disciple whom He loved He said, Dear Woman here is your son and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother’, from that time on she lived with John. From time to time when Jesus said He thirsted the soldiers raised a sponge dipped in sour wine bitter myrrh or gall on a spear or stick but when He tasted it He refused to drink. God was merciful and Jesus died before sundown that day.

The Centurion prepared to break the legs of the three on the crosses to hasten death but when he came to Jesus he saw that He was already dead and merely plunged his short sword, the gladius, into His side where blood and fluid came out. Close by observing these proceedings was a righteous man called Joseph of Arimathea, a village in Judea, a follower of Jesus who had abstained from voting for the death sentence. He hurried to Pilate in the fortress and asked for Jesus’ body that he might bury Him before the Sabbath. Pilate expressed surprise that Jesus was dead so soon and enquired if this was so, on being assured it was he gave permission for the body to be taken down and handed over for burial. John 19.19 states Joseph was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who had visited Jesus secretly at night. Nicodemus brought spices with him, a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and hurriedly the two men wrapped the body in clean linen. There was a garden nearby with a rock cut tomb which had never been used before and Jesus’ body was placed in there and the stone rolled across the opening. The Jewish leaders, fearful His disciples would steal the body, asked Pilate to place a guard at it [Matt21
.62].

Faithful to the: end Mary Magdalene and other women followed the two men to see where they laid Jesus then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes to dress the body. They then rested because the sun had set and the Sabbath had begun.

Early on Sunday when Sabbath had ended and while it was still dark Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, and finding it empty burst into a frenzy of weeping and moaning. Jesus stood before her but so distraught was Mary she failed to recognise Him and thinking Him a gardener asked if he knew where they had taken her master. Then Jesus said ‘Mary’ and her eyes were opened. She must have made a movement towards Him because He said ‘Touch me not because I have not yet ascended to the Father’. The other women arrived at the tomb and found it empty but an angel told them Jesus had risen and gone ahead of them into Galilee. Meanwhile some of the guards ran into the city and reported to the Chief Priests all that had happened. [Matt 28. 11] When the elders met they gave a great deal of money to the guards and told them to say ‘in the night while we slept His disciples came and stole His body away’.

The disciples did not believe the women because it sounded like nonsense to them but finally Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb and found it as the women had said. They still did not understand from scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead [John 20.3]

Lilian Apr 2012

Matthew 27.45: Mark 15.33: Luke 23.44: John 19.25

Crucifixion was an ancient form of execution carried out by Rome on slaves and non-Romans for capital offences against the State. Alexander the Great has the dubious honour of introducing it to Europe. Though closely associated with Rome it originated with the Phoenicians, present day Tunisia, Persians and other eastern countries. In 337AD Constantine I banned its use when he declared the Christian Faith to be the new State religion. A crucifix with an image of Jesus is the main religious symbol for Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox, but most Protestant Christians prefer to use the cross without the figure.

There were many forms of cross but from the Biblical description of making Jesus carry a cross bar it suggests a post or pole already driven into the ground at the place of execution and a bar affixed to this at the time of execution by ropes or nails. Depictions of crosses usually show the victim high up but in fact their feet were only a few inches above the ground within reach of the execution party.

Jesus, weakened by scourging, lack of sleep, water and food was too weak to carry the cross bar through the narrow streets crammed with onlookers and the Centurion in charge of the execution seized a man from the crowd, Simon of Cryrene (Libya), and gave him the cross bar to carry behind Jesus. At the site were two other criminals already nailed up, one on the right and one on the left, and one of them joined in the mockery and jeers against Jesus but the other criminal rebuked him saying. “We indeed are justly punished for our misdeeds but this man has done nothing wrong.” To Jesus he said, “Remember me when you come to your kingdom”. Jesus replied, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise.”

Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It stated in Aramaic, Latin and Greek ‘Jesus of ‘Nazareth, The King of the Jews’. The chief priests protested to Pilate ” Do not write ‘The King of the Jews’.” And Pilate said “What I have written, I Have written”

At the sixth hour darkness fell all over the land until the ninth hour, the sun was obscured and the veil of the temple was torn in two opening direct access between God and man. At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, EIoi, lama sabachthani”, which translated meant “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me”. Jesus uttered a loud cry and breather His last. The Centurion who was standing close to the cross said, “Truly this man was the Son of God”.

There were also women looking on from a distance, among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary His mother, Mary the mother of James the younger, Salome, the other Mary watching all these things. These women used to follow Him and provide for Him when He was in Galilee and there were many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem.

Lilian
Feb 2012

JUDAS Matthew 27 v 3-6 PILATE Matthew 27 v ll

Judas who had not expected Jesus to be put to death, returned to the Temple court saying, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood’. ‘What is that to us see to it yourself,’ they said. Judas threw the silver on the flag stones and went out and hanged himself. It was illegal to put ‘blood money’ into the Temple treasury so after some debate it was decided to purchase the Potters’ field as a burial place for strangers.

The Jews would not enter the Roman Antonia Fortress because of the law on ritual cleanliness so Pilate descended to the outer courtyard to meet the delegation. He listened to the charge of blasphemy. ‘Blasphemy? Blasphemy? What is that?’ ‘If it is something to do with your religion see to it yourselves. The High Priest and elders tried again, He calls himself ‘King of the Jews’. Pilate turned to Jesus and asked ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is as you have said’. The crowd continued to shout abuses so Pilate asked, ‘Do you not hear what these people say against you?’ Jesus made no answer. Pilate said, ‘I find no fault in this man’.

The High Priest tried again, ‘This man has caused disturbances in Galilee and now he has come amongst us here and is misleading our people and causing unrest.’ Pilate asked Jesus, ‘Are you a Galilean?’ Jesus nodded assent so Pilate called the guard and ordered them to take Jesus to Herod Antipas who was in Jerusalem for the Passover saying ‘He is one of yours’. Herod was pleased to see Jesus as he had heard much about Him and hoped to see a sign but Jesus stood dumb before him. Finally, Herod grew impatient and ordered the guard to take Jesus back to Pilate with the message, ‘Do whatever you like with Him I have no further interest in this man’.

There is a cryptic phrase in Luke 23 v 12 to the effect, ‘From this day Herod and Pilate became friends for before they had been enemies with each other’. The background to this statement occurred some time previous when Pilate took money from the Temple treasury to build an aqueduct to bring water into Jerusalem. This caused fury amongst the Jews and a riot broke out. Pilate’s response had been to send in the troops and many were killed. Amongst those who lost their lives were Galileans and Herod was furious, accusing Pilate of exceeding his jurisdiction in killing Herod’s subjects. Herod took the appearance of Jesus, a Galilean, at his palace as a sign from Pilate he recognised Herod’s sovereignty.

Pilate tried again to acquit Jesus but the crowd became more threatening shouting abuse and waving their arms. They threatened to report Pilate to Emperor Tiberius for refusing to execute a rebel against the Emperor and Rome. Pilate said, ‘I will flog Him and release Him. The mob would have none of this and grew louder and more volatile until finally Pilate yielded, ‘what will you have me do?’ ‘Crucify Him, Crucify Him, they yelled. Pilate made his third attempt reminding the people at Passover he could release a prisoner so he asked them, ‘whom shall I release?’ ‘Jesus or Barabbas?’ ‘Barabbas they yelled, release to us Barabbas’. So Pilate gave the order for Jesus to be crucified. (It is worth noting that no such tradition of releasing a prisoner at Passover is recorded in the early manuscripts.) The soldiers led Jesus away, dressed Him in a purple robe, put a crown of thorns on His head and mocked and abused Him before leading Him out for crucifixion.

While Pilate was sitting on the Judge’s seat his wife sent a message, ‘Do not have anything to do with that innocent man’, but it came too late, judgment had been passed.

The legality of Jesus’ trial has been doubted many times and there are elements about it which point in the direction of a miscarriage of justice, but everyone was at fault the disciples deserted Him; Peter denied Him; Judas betrayed Him; the crowds who had followed Him stood by and did nothing. Pilate tried to save Him, blamed the religious leaders and the crowd they whipped up, washed his hands symbolically of the whole affair saying. ‘On your heads be it’ – Isaiah 53 vs 1-12.

Lilian Dec 2011

There is no Roman record of these events as Judaea, annexed to Syria in AD6, did not hit the headlines until the revolt of the Jews in AD66-70. The only record we have is a Jewish one mainly in John Chs. 18-21, Luke Chs. 22-24 and Josephus Bk 18 Ch3 para 3. We can only guess when it happened as the dates we have are those concerning Pontius Pilate’s term in Judaea AD26-AD36-7 when he was recalled to Rome and committed suicide on his way there.

Pharisees, pious reformers of the Law, dogged Jesus’ footsteps while he was teaching in Galilee nit-picking His interpretation of the Law while Jesus charged them with ypocrisy. Then Jesus came to Jerusalem for Passover followed by an excitable crowd. threw the stall holders and money changers from the Temple Mount and started to teach. Alarm bells rang among the Temple authorities who saw their authority being challenged and trouble arising with the Roman authorities who might see the unruly mob as a threat to the Pax Roma (peace).  They started to plot how best to get rid of Jesus.

Judas Iscariot, one of the disciples, went to the Temple authorities and asked, ‘What will you give me to betray Him to you?’ If Jesus had to be identified then He had nothing distinguishing about Him and could disappear in a crowd. In the Temple they weighed out 30 pieces of silver.  After Judas identified Jesus with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane He was led away by the Temple guards to the home of Caiaphas, the High Priest, where members of the governing council the Sanhedrin were gathered. Jesus was closely questioned about statements He allegedly made regarding His relationship with God. Jesus remained silent so they tried to get false testimony against Him but they did not find any though many came forward. Eventually, two men came saying they had heard Jesus say He was able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in three days.

The High Priest stood up and said to Jesus, ‘Why do you not answer. What is it these men are testifying against you?’ Jesus kept silent. The High priest said, ‘I command you by the

living God that you tell us whether you are The Christ, the Son of the Living God?’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you have said. Nevertheless, I tell you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of Heaven.’ The High Priest tore his robes and said, ‘He has blasphemed, what further need do we have of witnesses? You now have heard the blasphemy. what do you think?’ ‘He deserves to die’, they said in unison.

Then they blindfolded Him and slapped and punched Him saying, ‘prophesy to us you Christ who hit you?’ They agreed together if He did not recant He should be sentenced to death and taken to the Romans for execution. A vote of condemnation could be changed but must wait until the day after the trial when a voter could change his original vote. Early next morning the Council met to confirm the vote of condemnation. There were no dissenters so Jesus was bound and taken to Pilate.

to be continued …

Lilian Oct 2011

There is nothing new under the sun. Eccl 1 v 9

The background to the Judean census is interesting as an example of a Roman census held when a new territory was annexed. One of the main purposes of a census was a headcount of all males, something Caesar Augustus was greatly concerned about in relation to governing the people peacefully and recruitment into the army, as the Empire expanded an ever pressing need. The people were not required to go to their place of birth because once they came into the Empire they were all subject to Roman rule. Taxes were levied on the wealthy based on their social standing and on everything else. Remember Matthew who was sitting in the tax collector’s booth when Jesus called him. Matt 9v9.

JUDEA: We need to go back to 30BC when Herod the Great was installed as a Client King over the Holy Land by Augustus Caesar. Rome preferred to rule through local client kings whenever possible. They shouldered the daily trials and tribulations of their territory keeping it peaceful, sending the taxes to Rome and carrying out the directions of the Senate. Herod was not popular with the Pharisees and the religious rulers but highly regarded by Augustus who approved of the way he kept the Pax Roma (peace), sent the taxes to Rome and undertook a massive building programme along Roman lines – paid for by the Jews under his rule.

Herod sent his three sons Archelaus, Antipas and Philip to the Imperial Court in Rome to be educated and went there in 17BC to bring them home at which time he took the opportunity to present his Will to Augustus naming his successor as Archelaus. This was an unheard of privilege as rulers were only appointed by Rome. Herod died 4BC, and as soon as the burial formalities were over Archelaus hastened to Rome to have his kingship ratified, followed hot foot on his heels by his half brothers Antipas and Philip.

Augustus, aware of potential trouble between the Herod brothers, decided to reduce their status and divide the territory three ways. Archelaus was reduced to an Ethnarch (Governor) and given Judea, Idumea and Samaria which he only ruled for ten years. Antipas was given Galilee and Perea, Jesus’ homeland, which he ruled peacefully until AD40 and Philip was given the Decapolis, Greek cities east of the river Jordan, and ruled until AD37.

Archelaus was not a wise ruler and lacked the statesmanship of his father. According to the population he was a hypocrite, manipulator, tyrannical, cruel and sensual. He was passionately in love with his widowed sister-in-law Glaphyria, whom he married in defiance of the Pharisees who regarded the union as unlawful. In his short reign he deposed three High Priests for profit, ‘cash for honours’. Numerous delegations went to Rome lodging accusations against him until Augusts had heard enough and sent for Archelaus to come to Rome where in AD6 he was exiled to Gaul (France). Glaphyra accompanied him into exile.

Quinius, Roman Legate in Syria, was ordered to Judea to restore law and order and conduct a census so the territory of Judea, Idumea and Samaria came under Roman rule. The Jews were allowed to conduct their Temple services, keep their religious laws and the Temple tax without interference, but from then on Rome chose the High Priest and the ceremonial robes were taken into custody and only released for special ceremonies. The death sentence was forbidden and could only be issued by Roman authority a rule that was to play a vital role in Jesus’ trial some 27 -28 year later.

Lilian  Aug 2011

Olympics.

PAUL: I Corinthians 9v22

I have become all things to all men, so that by all means I may save some’
Nowhere is this more clear than in Paul’s ministry to the Greeks where he uses the analogy of the Games at least twelve times to press home a point. Acts 20v24 ‘I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task’; Timothy 4v8 ‘train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things’. Philippians 3v13, 14.’but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize’; 1 Corinthians 9v24. ‘Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever’. The writer of Hebrews says 12v1 ‘let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us’.

The crown, stephanos in Greek, had no cash value but guaranteed an athlete praise and honour in his own community when he returned victorious. These ‘crowns’ were wreaths woven from natural greenery at Delphi it was made from wild bay leaves, Argos, from the wild myrtle, Corinth from wild parsley and at Olympia, the greatest crown of all was made from wild olive leaves and as Paul said all were perishable but the crown of glory he offered would never fade away. Long after Paul’s death in Revelations 2 last part of verse 10, ‘be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life’.

The games, held annually and dedicated to Greek gods, moved round four centres in southern Greece. The Pythian at Delphi, Nemean at Argos, Isthmian at Corinth and the winners of these events competed every fourth year at Olympia called the Olympiad. This event would be comparable to the fervour of our football cup finals when Greeks from all around the Mediterranean came to Olympia in July when the harvest was in and the moon was full. The Olympiads were used for dating other events for example in the third year of the 10th Olympiad such and such event took place. We can picture Paul travelling in the Greek world very aware of the importance of the games, though it is recorded in a secular writing that he was stoned and jeered out of one gymnasium by the athletes training there.

The games were instituted c776BC and Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea AD3l6, an early church historian, lists the names of the winners from that date until AD22l. Around 25BC Herod the Great gave financial help to the Greeks when he heard the games had fallen on hard times. In AD393 the Roman Emperor Theodosius I banned the games in an effort to stamp out Paganism. The present Olympics were restarted in 1896.

Lilian  Jun 2011

LINUS: 2 Timothy 4.21

Linus was a friend of Paul living in Rome at the time of Paul’s imprisonment awaiting trial and he sent greetings to Timothy at the end of Paul’s second letter. Two of the early church fathers, Irenaeus and Eusebius, record that Linus was appointed Bishop at Rome following the deaths of Peter and Paul. Also mentioned at the end of Paul’s letter is a lady called Claudia who became Linus’s wife and through archaeological excavations and the writings of Tacitus, the Roman recordist, we can know something of her lineage.

Claudia’s father, (C) Togidubnus, was a Roman client king, tribal chief of the Late Iron Age Regnenses or Regni people of West Sussex with a timber framed palace at Fishbourne near Chichester. (He may have been a son of Cunobelinus, ‘Old King Cole’, of Colchester fame.) Togidubnus had warehouses on the River Lavant, a harbour constructed to accommodate ships from the Continent, and was trading with the Legions in Gaul (France) before the Roman invasion of Britain in AD43. Later, when the Romans arrived in Britain, he became their main army supply depot and was recorded as ‘very loyal’ by General Aulus Plautius and others. The Romans did not take his territory over as they did elsewhere but kept Togidubnus and his people as an independent client kingdom, a buffer state, against the last unconquered rebellious tribes to the west.

All of this activity made Togidugnus a wealthy man and he later built a small palace in stone with a bath house, mosaic floors and under floor heating on the Roman villa style. An excavated inscription though broken would seem to imply that Togidugnus was given Roman citizenship by Claudius after whom he called his daughter. This honour would have entitled Togidugnus to attend the Senate in Rome and would have opened important doors into society for his daughter Claudia at Rome.

Paul’s Roman citizenship gave him freedom to travel throughout the Roman Empire and if Paul had reached Spain as he intended, Rom 1 5v24, he could have progressed through Roman Gaul, crossed to Britain and have been with friends at Fishboume, West Sussex.

Lilian  Dec 2010

Esther: Hadassah in Hebrew meaning Myrtle. Esther Ch 1-10

Only the second book in the Bible dedicated to a woman and its primary purpose was as a role-model to show the Jewish women that when God calls they must do their part no matter how dangerous or inconvenient – the welfare of their people must come first. Esther’s Jewish name suggests that she may have belonged to the tribe of Benjamin who were exiled to Susa, Babylon, from Judah c597BC. Her ancestors like her cousin Mordecai’s probably came across with Daniel and like him did not return to their homeland, so in c486BC the story opens with Esther at the Royal Court of King Xerxes in Persia, modern Iran.

Xerxes was a foolish man, vain, extravagant, boastful and fond of drunken revelry and when he exiled his queen Yashti during one of these brawls Mordecai saw an opportunity for Esther to advance herself from the harem and perhaps gain the King’s favour. First she gained the favour of Hegai the man in charge of the royal virgins who provided her with the diet and beauty treatments required to make her presentable to the King. It was a long preparation period but when she finally entered the King’s presence he was so pleased with her he made her his Queen. All was not well however in court circles, Mordecai overheard a plot to kill the King and in gratitude was promoted to high office in the palace which raised the jealously of the wife of Haman the King’s main advisor. Haman was descended from the Royal line of Amalekites long time enemies of the Jews and, nagged by his wife, succeeded in getting an order signed by the King to destroy all Jews in the kingdom on a certain date.

Mordecai went to Esther and asked her to approach the King and beg for her people to be spared. This posed a double danger for Esther. Firstly no one could approach the King unless called to do so and secondly she had kept her Jewish nationality hidden. Esther called on all Jews in Susa to fast and pray and with the words ‘if I perish, I perish’ entered the King’s presence with her request. The King was very angry when he was told what Haman had planned and had him hanged on the gallows he had erected for Mordecai but the laws of the Medes and Persians could not be revoked so the King gave permission for Mordecai to issue an edict that on the day the Jews were to be killed wherever they were in the land they were to assemble and to defend themselves and to kill any people who threatened their life or property.

The Jews assembled in their cities throughout the land and none could stand against them and there was a great slaughter of their enemies on the thirteenth day of Adar and next day the fourteenth of Adar they rested and made it a day of feasting and rejoicing. Mordecai instituted these days as feast days to be kept annually for all time and named them Purim and so they have been kept through the generations as instituted by Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther.

This is the last of the Biblical women.

Lilian

JOB’S WIFE: Job 2 v9

We are told little about this woman except that she was not in sympathy with her Husbands stubborn allegiance to God as she saw it. When Job was visited with disasters she said, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die.’ But Job said to her. ‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?’

THE WIDOW OF ZAREPHATH: 1 Kings 17v9-24

Elijah met the widow at the gate of the city, gathering sticks. He asked her for a drink of water and as she left to get it he called after her to bring him a little bread in her hand. But she said, ‘As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.’ Elijah told her to go and do as she planned but to make him a little bread cake from it first and bring it out to him then she could make one for herself and her son’. He told her the Lord God of Israel would replenish the flour and the oil until the day He sent the rain upon the earth and it was so and she and her household ate for many days. Now it came to pass that the widow’s son became seriously ill so that no breath was left in him and his mother turned on Elijah and blamed him for the illness. Elijah took the boy from his mother and carried him up to his room and laid the child on his own bed. Elijah stretched himself three times over the boy and called to the Lord. The Lord heard Ehjah and the life of the child retuned to him and he revived. Elijah carried the boy down to his mother alive and she said, ‘Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth’.

A LITTLE ISRAELITE MAID

She was taken captive from the land of Israel when the Arameans invaded her county and ended up as a maid in the household of Naaman a captain in the army of Aram (Syria). Naaman was a leper and the little maid said to his wife one day, I wish my master was with the prophet who is in Samaria because he would cure him of his leprosy’. When Naaman heard this he went to his master, the king of Syria, and related what the little Israelite girl had said. Naaman was very highly thought of by the king and those who served under him and laden with gold, silver and-clothing he set off with the King’s blessing for Israel. The rest is history as they say (2 Kings 5: 6-14).

GOMER WIFE OF HOSEA: Hosea 1v2-3,1:4v6_9

The wife of Hosea and daughter of Diblaim was a prostitute whom God ordered Hosea to many and with whom he had three children. Eventually she left her husband and retuned to prostitution when Hosea gave her up but God told him to go and redeem her from her slave master, her pimp, for the price of a slave.

Lilian

JEZ-E-BEL: 874-853BC: 1 Kings 16:31 – 2 Kings 9:34-37

One of the most reviled women in the Bible, daughter of Ethbaal, king of Tyre and Sidon, and wife of Ahab, king of Israel of the northern kingdom.  In Hebrew her name meant ‘there is no nobility’ a probable distortion by the writer of Kings to show his utter contempt for her and all she stood for.

This was in all probability a political marriage uniting Israel with the powerful kingdom of Tyre and Sidon, ancient Phoenicia, and heartland of the worship of Baal and his consort Asherah.

Jezebel directed her energies to bringing the worship of these pagan gods to Israel and employed 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophetesses [1Kings 18:19] she persecuted the prophets of the Lord including Elijah [1 Kings 19:1-9] against whom she issued a death sentence.  Ahab joined his wife in the worship of Baal and Asherah and most of Israel followed him.  This idolatrous religion eventually led to God’s punishment when the Northern ten tribes were taken captive by Assyria in 721BC.

Jezebel believed in the divine right of kings – ‘they can do no wrong’, so when Naboth refused to sell his God given inheritance, his vineyard, she arranged for a false charge of blasphemy to be brought against him and had him executed.  She then took possession of the vineyard [1Kings 21 :8-16].  Her defiance of the Lord led Elijah to prophesy that dogs would devour her body [1 Kings 21 .23].  .Jezebel lived at least ten years after Ahab but was eventually killed when Jelu, an army commander and 10th king of Israel, ordered her to be thrown from a second floor window into the street below where the dogs devoured her leaving only her skull, hands and feet. Her son was also killed on Jehu’s orders thus wiping out that family line.  Jezebel’s evil character is referred to in [Rev 2:20] when a false prophetess in the Thyatria church is accused of being like Jezebel and leading them astray into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.

HULDAH 2 Kings 22:14-20,2 Chron 34:22-28

Huldah, a prophetess and wife of Shallum, lived in Jerusalem during King Josiah’s reign when the Book of the Law was found by workmen repairing the Temple.  Shaphan the King’s secretary read from the Book of the Law to King Josiah who was greatly disturbed and sent his High Priest and others to enquire from Huldah what was the meaning in the book.  Huldah prophesied two events: (1) The destruction of Judah due to idolatry and (2) There would be peace during Josiah’s life time because his ‘heart was responsive’ and he had repented and turned to the Lord.

Lilian  Apr 2010