Woman of the Week ~ Abigail (Wives of King David)

I'm continuing my study of King David's wives.  I am taking the names from 1 Chronicles chapter 3:

1 Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:
2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:
3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
4 These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.
5 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:

Verses: 1 Samuel 25:1-42, 1 Samuel 27:3, 1 Samuel 30:1-18, 2 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 3:3, 1 Chronicles 3:1

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Ahinoam ~ Woman of the Week (Wives of King David)

Ahinoam is one of David's lesser known wives.  There are no recorded words of Ahinoam in the Bible.  She is practically a blank slate, just mentioned in passing, overshadowed by Abigail whom David married around the same time.

Verses: 1 Samuel 25:43, 1 Samuel 27:3, 1 Samuel 30:1-18, 2 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 3:2, 1 Chronicles 3:1

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
1005 BC: David is still on the run from King Saul.  We don't know anything about Ahinoam's background other than she was from the town of Jezreel.  There is no mention of how she met David.  I thought she might be a sister of one of his followers, but the Bible does not say so.  She had one son, Amnon.
"Many think that this was his wife before he took Abigail; she is always mentioned first in the list of his wives, and she was the mother of his eldest son Amnon."  (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible)

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
1003 BC:  Two years of marriage had been spent in hiding, running from King Saul.  David and his clan are now settled in Ziklag.  There are 600 men with their wives and children.  David has aligned himself with Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath (1 Samuel 27:2.)  "This measure of David's, in uniting himself to the enemies of his God and people, was highly blameable; was calculated to alienate the affections of the Israelites; and led to equivocation, if not downright falsehood." (Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others {TSK})

1000 BC: David and his clan dwelt with the Philistines for a year and four months.  He and his men invaded the Geshurites, Gezrites, and Amalekites.  When it came time for the Philistines to invade Israel, Achish expected David and his men to come along.  The lords of the Philistines refused to let him come.  Achish sent them back.  Upon their return to Ziklag, they find the Amalekites have invaded, burned Ziklag and taken the women and children.  David and his men smote the Amalekites and recovered all, including his two wives, Ahinoam and Abigail.

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
978 BC:  Ahinoam has been married to David for 25 years, but there is no silver anniversary celebration, instead turmoil is coming.  Ahinoam's son, Amnon, became infatuated with his half-sister, Tamar.  I'll write about her soon, but when Amnon listened to the advice of a friend, destruction followed.   Even David was pulled in to the plot when Amnon requested Tamar to come.  2 Samuel 13:7 says, "Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, Go now to thy brother Amnon's house, and dress him meat."

After Amnon raped Tamar, 2 Samuel 13:21 says, "But when king David heard of all these things, he was very wroth."  There is no mention of Ahinoam, Amnon's mother.  Her son was in his early 20s, he was old enough to have his own house, but I'm sure this news broke her heart.

976 BC:  Two years pass and Amnon has not been dealt with by his father, David.  Absalom, the brother of Tamar and son of Maacah, finally takes the punishment in his own hands and has Amnon killed.  As far as we know, this was Ahinoam's only child. David mourned for his son, Amnon, but eventually still longed for Absalom.  Ahinoam had no one that was just hers to turn to for strength and comfort.

Even though there is so little written about Ahinoam, I feel very sorry for her.  My guess is she was not outgoing or outspoken, perhaps she felt very lonely in this large extended family.  I'm starting to feel like a broken record, but God got it right when He planned for one man and one woman.

The Katy Trail

We are settling in here in O'Fallon, Missouri.  Les and his team are working hard and I'm reminding my legs that running in heat and humidity will not kill me!  I ran three miles yesterday morning right from our hotel.  This morning I was looking for something a little longer so I drove... and missed my turn... and drove... and turned around and drove some more!

I finally reached my destination - The Busch Greenway Trail Head.  From there I followed the trail, climbing over a downed tree...

and after less than a mile I was on the Katy Trail.  The Katy Trail runs 240 miles of the former Missouri–Kansas–Texas Railroad.  Running largely along the northern bank of the Missouri River, it is the country's longest Rails-to-Trails trail. The nickname "Katy" comes from the phonetic pronunciation of 'KT' in the railroad's abbreviated name, MKT.

Since I got a late start, I only ran 5 miles, but I plan to do a lot more running in the area now that I know where to go.   As long as I'm faster than this guy, I'll be happy!

Woman of the Week ~ Ahinoam (Wives of King David)

I'm continuing my study of King David's wives.  I am taking the names from 1 Chronicles chapter 3:

1 Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess:
2 The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith:
3 The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife.
4 These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.
5 And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel:

I don't know if this was the order that David married them, but I'm going to go with the birth order of his sons.  I wonder how he kept it all straight!

Verses: 1 Samuel 25:43, 1 Samuel 27:3, 1 Samuel 30:1-18, 2 Samuel 2:2, 2 Samuel 3:2, 1 Chronicles 3:1

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Saturday Surprise and Another Adventure!

It's raining! We need this and a whole lot more!

Things started getting crazy around here on Wednesday.  Les has been on a huge project since the first of the year.  It is THIS close to being finished and that means lots of work and pressure!  The teams have been working across six time zones - from Virginia to Hawaii.  They decided to bring everyone together for the final sprint.  We thought it was only going to be a week then realized Les was going to need to be gone for two weeks.  We don't like spending any time apart, but two weeks is just too long.  So we booked flights for both of us!

We are off to St. Louis, Missouri in the morning.  I've only been there once, it was years ago for a national Bible Quizzing tournament so all I saw was quizzers, coaches and buzzer systems.  We will have one full weekend and the Gateway Arch is on my list of things to see!

I'll be taking my laptop, so I'll still be blogging.  I'll also kick off marathon training with two weeks of heat and humidity!

Michal ~ Woman of the Week (Wives of King David)

Using the timeline I posted yesterday, I thought it would be helpful to point out the years that unfolded in the life of Michal throughout this post.  I think Michal's is a sad story.  She was used by her father repeatedly in his attempts to kill David.  She was left on her own after only one year of marriage, then given to another, while David took many other wives.  1 Samuel 18:20 says that Michal loved David, the only place in the Bible where a woman's love for a man is recorded, according to footnotes in The Jewish Study Bible.  However, there is no biblical record of David having loved Michal.  By the time we read about Michal mocking David, I think she was a very bitter woman.

Verses:  1 Samuel 14:49, 1 Samuel 18:17-28, 1 Samuel 19:11-17, 1 Samuel 25:44, 2 Samuel 3:13-16, 2 Samuel 6:14-23, 2 Samuel 21:8, 1 Chronicle 15:29

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

Michal was the daughter of King Saul.  1 Samuel 14:49-50 says, "Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, and Ishui, and Melchishua: and the names of his two daughters were these; the name of the firstborn Merab, and the name of the younger Michal: And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz."  It seems that these five were full blooded siblings.  Saul is also known to have a concubine named Rizpah (I'll be studying her soon!) who had two sons - Armoni and Mephibosheth.
Michal married David after he had been anointed by Samuel and killed Goliath.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
In 1 Samuel chapter 18, Saul had promised David his daughter Merab.  When the time came, Saul gave her to Adriel the Meholathite.  Verses 20-21 says, "And Michal Saul's daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him. And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain."

"And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David... His youngest daughter fell in love with him, because of the comeliness of his person, his gallant behaviour, his wise conduct, and the general esteem and reputation he was had in, as may be supposed: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him; not that his daughter loved David, or that he should be his son-in-law, but that he should have an opportunity, as he hoped, of destroying David, which he had lost by giving his elder daughter to another; as also of retrieving his credit with the people, which was greatly sunk by using David in the manner he did, who had become the darling of the people." (John Gill)

1008 BC - Married David
Saul wasn't concerned about a happy marriage for his youngest daughter.  He used her and her love for David, hoping that she would be a snare to David.  One important thing to remember is Saul hated David.  Saul knew God was with David, he knew the kingdom had already slipped from his hands, but he tried everything he could to stop David.  David was on the run from Saul for seven years until Saul died in battle.

1007 BC - David fled from Saul, Michal stayed with Saul.
David and Michal were only married about a year when "Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David." (1 Samuel 19:1)  Jonathan warned David then spoke to Saul, convincing him not to kill David.

There was peace for a short time, but an evil spirit came upon Saul and he tried to kill David with a javelin.  David escaped and Michal told him, "If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain."  She helped David escape through a window.  Once David was gone, she turned to what several commentaries said was her household god.  "Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth." (1 Samuel 19:13)  "A "teraphim", as the word is; which, if the same with those that Rachel stole from her father, they seem to be of the same sort with the penates or household gods of the Heathens, which were privately kept by Michal." (John Gill)

Michal knew she would be found out, but by placing the image in the bed and pretending that David was sick, she bought him more time to get away from Saul.  It wasn't until the next morning that Saul sent men for David and Michal's deception was discovered.  At that point Michal lied to Saul by saying "He said unto me, Let me go; why should I kill thee?"  "In answer to Saul's chiding, Michal is not so careful of her husband's reputation as she had been of his person, when she makes this her excuse: He said, Let me go, why should I kill thee? As her insinuating that she would have hindered his flight was false (it was she that put him upon it and furthered it), so it was an unjust unworthy reflection upon him to suggest that he threatened to kill her if she would not let him go, and might confirm Saul in his rage against him. David was far from being so barbarous a man and so imperious a husband, so brutish in his resolves and so haughty in his menaces, as she here represented him."  (Matthew Henry)

1005 BC - Michal is given to Paltiel in Gallim
David had been on the run for two years by now.  There is no mention that David tried to have Michal join him.  1 Samuel chapter 25 tells of David marrying Abigail and Ahinoam.   The last verse of that chapter says, "But Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Phalti the son of Laish, which was of Gallim."  I don't know if this happened before or after David took additional wives. Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible said, "Saul’s giving Michal to Phalti was intended to mark the final rupture of his own relations with David."  Again, she was a pawn in her father's hand.

1000 BC - King Saul is wounded in battle and dies falling on his own sword.  David with the help of his allies assumes control of Judah, and is anointed its king.  He then marries four additional wives.

998 BC - Michal returned to David
They were only together one year, now some nine years and six wives later David wants Michal back.  I can't even imagine how she must have felt.  Her father and brothers were all dead.  The young man she loved and married has spent years as a warrior on the run and is now the king with six wives and at least six sons.  I'm sure that's not quite the marriage she had dreamed of.  Some commentaries said he wanted her back because he loved her, but others said it was purely political.

Sadly, Michal seemed to be married to a man who wanted just her.  When Ishbosheth took her from her husband, he "went with her along weeping behind her." (2 Samuel 3:16)  "Because of his great affection to her, unwilling to part with her, but forced to it at the command of the king." (John Gill)  That is such a sad picture to me!  And I wonder if it was then that the root of bitterness that had been growing reached full growth.  Maybe Michal was proud to be called back to the palace, but it wasn't going to be easy.

Did she reach  a place when she needed to reset? If so, did she?  For good or evil?
992 BC - The ark is returned. 
Six years after Michal is returned to David a great celebration takes place. The ark of God is brought back with sacrifices and great rejoicing.  On this great day, the verse that tells how much Michal has changed appears, "And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart." (2 Samuel 6:16)  "In the days of Saul the ark had been neglected, and Saul had in everything shown himself to be an irreligious king. Michal seems to have been of a like spirit." (Albert Barnes)  "She is said to be Saul's daughter, though David's wife, as having a good deal of her father's haughty temper and disposition." (John Gill)

Michal had gone from loving David to despising him.  This same phrase "she despised him in her heart" is also found in 1Chronicles 15:29.  As soon as David returned home, Michal went out to meet him.  She was so harsh mocking his worship.  "And said, how glorious was the king of Israel today; which she spoke in an ironical jeering way, meaning the reverse, how inglorious, mean, and despicable he had made himself to be, by his airs and gestures." (John Gill)  "Proud of her royal extraction, she upbraided her husband for lowering the dignity of the crown and acting more like a buffoon than a king." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown)

Following David and Michal's exchange is a very sad verse, "Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death." (2 Samuel 6:23)  I've studied quite a few barren women this year, but they all turned to God and He blessed them with a child or children.  Not Michal.  There was no turning to God for her.  "She that vilified David brought a reproach upon herself, as barrenness was always reckoned, and no one descending from her arrived to royal dignity, and sat on the throne of David"  (John Gill)  "David was contented thus to justify himself, and did not any further animadvert upon Michal's insolence; but God punished her for it, writing her for ever childless from this time forward. She unjustly reproached David for his devotion, and therefore God justly put her under the perpetual reproach of barrenness." (Matthew Henry)

966 BC David makes amends with the Gibeonites by having seven sons of Saul executed.
Twenty six years later, we read about Michal again.  "But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite"  This might seem like a contradiction to 2 Samuel 6:23, but the five sons here were probably the sons of Michal's sister, Merab, who Saul had given to Adriel.  There is no mention of Merab's death, but some commentaries said that Michal raised (brought up) these five sons because her sister died.  We don't know how old these sons were, they must have been grown men, but that wouldn't have brought any less sorrow to Michal.

There is no record of Michal's death.  When David was dying, there was competition among his sons on who would be the next king, but Michal is never mentioned because she was barren.  There was no one to remember her or carry on the family line of King Saul.

This study has left me feeling very sad for Michal.  She loved David and had one year of marriage with him before her world started falling apart. Maybe she was a spoiled princess, but being left behind and then expected to return to a husband who now had six other wives could not have been easy.  I'm pretty sure I would have rebelled or grown bitter myself.  I think there were a lot of lonely years that led to her bitterness.  Once again, God's plan for ONE man and ONE woman is still the only way for a peaceful marriage.

Timeline of the Life of King David

While trying to wrap my brain around the life of David and his many wives, I started searching for a timeline.   A quick Google search of "Timeline life of King David" brought up approximately 15 Million results!  It's a bit confusing when you take in to consideration the years are BC, but it was very helpful.  I'm sure I'll be referring back to this in the weeks ahead as I study.  The dates here are from a more detailed list, but I've chosen to focus mainly on David's wives and children.  You can read the complete list here.

1040 BC: Saul reigns from roughly 1040-1000 BC

1035 BC: David is likely born in Bethlehem between 1040 and 1030 BC.

1025 BC: David is anointed by Samuel (1Sam 16) at age 10-13.

1020 BC: David defeats Goliath probably at 15-17 years of age (1Sam 17)

1008 BC: His success as a warrior has made Saul offer him the hand of his daughter Michal “as a snare.” (1Sam 18:21). Michal marries him, and she loves him (1Sam 18:27-28).

1007 BC: At Jonathan's warning (and Michal’s), David flees from Saul to Samuel at Ramah (1Sam 19). Michal remains behind with Saul.

1005 BC: David is living “off the land” as he encounters Nabal and Abigail at Carmel (1Sam 25). His men kindly provide protection for Nabal’s flocks expecting to be paid, but Nabal rebuffs them. David threatens to kill Nabal for his affront until Abigail diplomatically intercedes with food and praise. David has married Ahinoam of Jezreel (1Sam 25:43). When Nabal dies shortly after this incident, David marries Abigail as well. In David’s absence, Saul gives Michal to Paltiel in Gallim, which is probably on the border near Jerusalem.

1000 BC: David with the help of his allies assumes control of Judah, and is anointed its king with Hebron as his capital (2Sam 2:7). He reigns for 7 years and 6 months (2Sam 2:11). While there, he marries Maacah, daughter of the king of Geshur. He also marries Haggith, Abital, and Eglah (2Sam 3:1-5) and has  sons and daughters by all but Michal (2Sam 6:23).

David’s Sons:
Amnon by Ahinoam of Jezreel
Kileab by Abigail (Nabal’s widow)
Absalom by Maacah the Caananite (Maacah also bore David's daughter, Tamar)
Adonijah by Haggith
Shephatiah by Abital
Ithream by Eglah

998 BC: Michal is returned to David by Ishbosheth (3:14).

997 BC: David conquers Jerusalem (2Sam 5:6). He rebuilds it, and moves there from Hebron.

993 BC:  David is publicly anointed king over all of Israel, north and south (2Sam 5:17). David’s 33-year reign at Jerusalem begins (1Chr 3:4). His total kingship lasts 40 years (1Kgs. 2:11).

992 BC: Ark returned to Jerusalem to a tent (2Sam 6). Michal mocks David for dancing.

982 BC: After 7-10 years of war, David has solidified his empire (2Sam 8). David’s sons become royal advisers 2Sam 8:18 (though too young – probably 14-18 years old; it distorts their sense of self importance).  Mephibosheth is found and David honors his pledge to Jonathan (2Sam 9).

980 BC: While indulging his children, and allowing his generals to run their own war, David falls prey to the temptations of the flesh, of peace, and of plenty: he sleeps with Bathsheba (2Sam 11). Uriah is slain in April. In December, Nathan confronts David and he repents. The child dies (2Sam 11-12; Ps 51).

979 BC: Solomon is born, youngest of David’s sons, and future heir to the throne.

962 BC: David’s health begins to fail him (1Kgs 1:1-4). A beautiful young woman is sought to serve him and keep him warm in his old age (Abishag). Adonijah, 4th born son of David, attempts a coup with Joab.  At Nathan’s insistence, Bathsheba convinces David to declare Solomon king-in-waiting (per the promise in 2Sam 11:24-25; 1Chr 22:9), and have him assume the throne (1Kgs 1:5-53; 1Chr 23:1; 26:31). David agrees.

961 BC: David calls for a National Assembly, and passes to Solomon his pattern for the temple (1Chr 28). He exhorts the people to give willingly, in joyful worship (1Chr 29:10-20). Solomon is anointed a 2nd time, publicly, and is now co-rex (1Chr 29:1-25). In private, David instructs Solomon to walk with God, and after his death, to deal with Joab and Shimei son of Gera, the traitors (1Kgs 2:1-98).

961 BC: David dies a natural death at 70-75. Although David begins to rule at age 30 for 40 years, he may be older than 70 if we add Solomon’s over-lapping time of rule. (2Sam 5:4-5; 1Kgs 2:10-11; 1Chr 29:26-30; see Ps 90:10). David is buried in Jerusalem (2Sam 5:4-5; 1Kgs 2:10-12; 1Chr 29:26-30), having served God’s purposes in his own generation (Ac 13:22, 36).

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I love supporting our sisters!  If any of you have bought from her, I'd love to hear your experiences.

Woman of the Week ~ Michal (Wives of King David)

I'm starting an extended study today about the wives of King David.  It's quite an undertaking!  1 Chronicles chapter 3 names the sons of David - 19 in all.  I left one thing out of my list of things that makes marriage "hard" - polygamy!  Being married to a king might have sounded exciting, but being one of many wives was not easy.  Just take a look at this family tree:

I'm starting with who I believe was David's first wife, Michal.

Verses:  1 Samuel 14:49, 1 Samuel 18:17-28, 1 Samuel 19:11-17, 1 Samuel 25:44, 2 Samuel 3:13-16, 2 Samuel 6:14-23, 2 Samuel 21:8, 1 Chronicle 15:29

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

Esther ~ Woman of the Week

There is so much that could be written about Esther!  I probably should have written two posts since it's taken me two weeks to get this done.  It was hard not to write too much about the king, Mordecai and Haman, but I really tried to just focus on Esther.

When I think of Esther, one thing that stands out is her submission to authority.  She followed Mordecai's instructions time after time.  She also submitted herself to the hands of the keeper of the women and found favor.  Even being brought before the king was not something she desired, but she submitted herself to the laws of the land.  The things we admire about Esther could not have come about if she had not been submissive.

Verses:  The Book of Esther

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
Esther's Jewish name was Hadassah.  Her parents were deceased and she was raised by Mordecai her cousin.  Esther 2:6 says about Mordecai, "Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away."  We assume that Esther was also carried away in that captivity since she was brought up by Mordecai.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
Following the dismissal of Vashti, a search went out for a new queen.  "This was the usual way in which the harem, or seraglio, was furnished; the finest women in the land, whether of high or low birth, were sought out and brought to the harem. They all became the king's concubines; but one was raised as chief wife, or sultana, to the throne; and her issue was especially entitled to inherit." (Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others  {TSK})  "Those who suggest that Esther committed sin to come at this dignity, do not consider the custom of those times and countries. Every one that the king took was married to him, and was his wife, though of a lower rank." (Matthew Henry)

In spite of being put in a difficult situation, Esther continued to be submissive and found favor with the chamberlain.  "Her beauty and her behavior recommended her to him, and he concluded within himself that she was the person that of all would be acceptable to the king." (John Gill)

Esther spent twelve months preparing for when she would meet the king.  During that time, according to Esther 2:10, "Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it."  "Lest she should be despised and ill treated on that account; fearing, if the king knew it, he would not marry her." (John Gill)

Chapter 2 verse 15 says that when it was Esther's turn,"she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed."  "The other virgins perhaps loaded themselves with precious ornaments of various kinds, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, anklets, and the like. Esther let Hegai dress her as he would." (Albert Barnes) "In which her modesty appeared because she did not seek to dress to command her beauty but sought the eunuch's appointment." (1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes)

Esther 2:17 "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti."  Esther would not be one of the king's concubines, but she became queen.  "The choice fell on Esther, who found favor in the eyes of Ahasuerus. He elevated her to the dignity of chief wife, or queen. The other competitors had apartments assigned them in the royal harem, and were retained in the rank of secondary wives, of whom Oriental princes have a great number." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown {JFB})

Matthew Henry said, "The king himself fell in love with her. She was not solicitous, as the rest of the maidens were, to set herself off with artificial beauty; she required nothing but just what was appointed for her  and yet she was most acceptable. The more natural beauty is the more agreeable. The king loved Esther above all the women. Now he needed not to make any further trials, or take time to deliberate; he is soon determined to set the royal crown upon her head, and make her queen. This was done in his seventh year and Vashti was divorced in his third year; so that he was four years without a queen."

Even as queen, Esther continued to listen to the voice of Modecai.  Esther 2:20, "Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him." "Showed great humility in her, notwithstanding her advancement, great respect to him, and a sense of gratitude for the kindness he had shown; and this charge to her was still continued by Mordecai, partly that she might not fall into contempt, and partly to prevent hatred and envy to the Jewish nation, through her promotion; but chiefly so it was ordered in Providence, the proper time being not yet come." (John Gill)

Esther chapter 3 introduces Haman, a man who would do his best to destroy Mordecai and the Jewish nation.  The decree was for all Jews to be destroyed  "And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey." (Esther 3:13)

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
Esther chapter 4 is the turning point for Esther.  It begins with Mordecai in sackcloth and Jews everywhere fasting and praying.  Esther was grieved that Mordecai was in sackcloth before the palace, but she did not know the reason.  Mordecai sends word of what is going to happen and commanded Esther to go before the king.

A sad commentary of the ways of the kingdom is described in Esther 4:11, "I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days."  Though the king "loved" Esther, he was not fully committed to her.  "She had reason to fear that the royal affections had become alienated from her, she had little hope of serving her country’s cause in this awful emergency." (JFB)

Esther 4:13-16 are probably the most well known verses in this story, "Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."

Esther was obviously fearful, but after hearing the words of Mordecai, she settled in her heart to do what she could to save her people.  She didn't rush to the king, but went into a time of prayer and fasting. "Esther hereupon resolved, whatever it might cost her, to apply to the king, but not till she and her friends had first applied to God. Let them first by fasting and prayer obtain God's favour, and then she should hope to find favour with the king.  She believed that God's favour was to be obtained by prayer, that his people are a praying people, and he a prayer-hearing God. She knew it was the practice of good people, in extraordinary cases, to join fasting with prayer, and many of them to join together in both." (Matthew Henry)

"If I perish, I perish."  Such brave words!  "I will put my life in danger and refer the success to God, seeing it is for his glory and the deliverance of his Church." (1599 Geneva Bible Translation Notes)  "Signifying, that she readily and cheerfully risked her life for the good of her people; and if such was the pleasure of God, that she should lose it, she was content, and acquiesced in his will, leaving herself entirely in his hands, to dispose of her as he thought fit." (John Gill)

In chapter 5 Esther went before the king and found favor.  She didn't reveal her people at that time, only requested that the king and Haman join her for a feast.  They joined her with her only request being that they join her the next day for another feast.  Haman went "forth that day joyful and with a glad heart."  His ego was so puffed up, until he stepped out and saw Mordecai who still would not bow to him.  It was at that time that gallows were made for the purpose of having Mordecai hung.

Esther's second banquet took place in chapter 7.  She finally reveals her people, "Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:  For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage."  "She makes use of these several words, to express the utter destruction of her and her people, without any exception." (John Gill)

The king had to ask, "Who is he?"  "And Esther said, "The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman."  Now the shoe was on the other foot - Haman was begging for his life from Esther.  But it was to his own gallows that he was taken and hung.

It wasn't enough that Haman was hung, the decree that the Jews would be destroyed was still written and still a law.  "Haman, the chief enemy of the Jews, was hanged, Mordecai and Esther, their chief friends, were sufficiently protected; but many others there were in the king's dominions that hated the Jews and desired their ruin, and to their rage and malice all the rest of that people lay exposed; for the edict against them was still in force."  (Matthew Henry)

Again, Esther went before the king without being called.  The king allowed Esther and Mordecai to write new letters, "Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey." (Esther 8:11)

Matthew Henry said about chapter 9, "We have here a decisive battle fought between the Jews and their enemies, in which the Jews were victorious. Neither side was surprised; for both had notice of it long enough before, so that it was a fair trial of skill between them. Nor could either side call the other rebels, for they were both supported by the royal authority.  The enemies of the Jews were the aggressors. But the Jews were the conquerors."

The final verses about Esther show that she continued to lean upon Mordecai's counsel and spiritual guidance.  He helped her write letters establishing the Feast of Purim.  Esther 9:29 says, "Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim."  Verse 32 says, "And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."  A new festival was instituted, "It was called the feast of Purim, from a Persian word, which signifies a lot. The name of this festival would remind them of the almighty power of the God of Israel, who served his own purposes by the superstitions of the heathen." (Matthew Henry)

Instead of perishing, Esther was spared and was used to bring deliverance to her people. The Feast of Purim still takes place today.  According to the Jewish virtual library, "Esther, while she needed some convincing, was able to save the Jewish population in Persia. She is considered one of the most heroic women in Jewish history. Her story is read every year on Purim."

I Have A Question

I want you to answer the following question in your mind before reading the rest of my post.  Don't reason it out, just a quick "yes" or "no."

Is Marriage "Hard"?

I asked Les that question last night and thankfully he gave me a resounding "No!"

Why am I asking this question today?  It started with a post I read yesterday.  The writer has been married about six weeks and has heard frequently that marriage is "hard."  She wondered if the other shoe was going to drop soon.  There was a link in her post to another post with the same title and it had a link to an additional post with a similar title!

First, I want to say shame on the people who are giving marriage a bad name to a young woman who is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime!  Then I want to ask, "Why is YOUR marriage hard?"  Not anyone else's marriage, but YOURS, that you feel you need to say such a thing.

Marriage CAN be hard for many reasons:

• Not understanding and following Biblical roles in marriage.
• Selfishness on the part of one or both parties.
• Silence, holding grudges, saying, "I'm fine" when you're not. 
• Unforgiveness
• Unspoken expectations.
• Unfaithfulness
• Financial hardship due to poor stewardship

Marriage CAN be easy for many reasons:

• Following Biblical roles in marriage - with Christ as the head, the husband loving as Christ loved the church and the wife submitted to her husband.
• Giving on the part of both parties.  
• Communication, forgiveness, speaking up.
• Forgiveness
• Reasonable, spoken expectations.
• Faithfulness
• Financial hardship in spite of good stewardship (job losses and unexpected expenses happen, but they won't crush a marriage that has been based on good stewardship.)

Pastor White mentioned in Bible study last night that recent prenuptial agreements now include cell phone etiquette, such as leaving cell phones off during date nights.  I personally think a prenup is an exit strategy.  If you are planning on marrying someone, shouldn't those plans be "til death do us part?" 

Life, at times, is hard.  That's life.  Bad things happen to all of us.  Hardships come.  But sharing life with the one who knows me better than any other, who loves me in spite of my failures, who cries with me, and laughs with me, that is not hard.

Life, most of the time, is wonderful.  That's life.  Good things happen to all of us.  Blessings come.  Sharing life with the one who knows me better than any other, who loves me and cheers on my successes, who cries with me, and laughs with me, that is not hard, it's wonderful!

One Thousand Miles!

Note:  I'm still working on my Esther post.  The holiday weekend had me a bit distracted, so I'm giving her another week.  There's just too much there to write a hurry up post.

Some days I run, some days I ride, and some days I do both!

I got up this morning with one goal in mind - ride 15.24 miles or more.  My total distance of running, walking and cycling as of yesterday was 984.76.  I ended up riding 15.56 miles and have now crossed the 1,000 mile mark for 2015!

I haven't crossed 2,000 miles in a single year since 2011 but that is my goal for this year.  I started out a bit slow - the first quarter I had 379.01 miles.  January was my lowest month due to the flu.  Things started ramping up in the second quarter with 579.24 miles, bringing my year to date total to 958.25 for the first half of the year.  One run and two rides later and now I'm at 1,000.32 miles!

Two weeks from now I'll start training for marathon number 4 - the Revel Canyon City Marathon.  This may sound strange to some, but I love the whole marathon training process!  It's a lot of work, but I love knowing what I'm going to do in the morning, how far and how fast I need to run.  Intervals, easy runs, long runs - it's all part of the process of reaching the goal!

My running blog has been pretty boring lately, but with marathon training starting up I'll be posting my weekly plans and results there.  It is still private like this blog, but if you're interested in reading it, send me an email or leave a comment and I'll add you to my readership.

America

I'll get my Esther post up later today, but I think it's interesting that I would choose a woman who saved her people from destruction on a week that we celebrate the founding of our country.  God made a way to overturn a law that was written by an evil man with evil intentions.

Les and I have had quite a few discussions in the past week about the state of our nation.  I love our country, but am so sadden to see the direction it is going.  I'm thankful for the freedoms I have grown up with, but am very weary of hearing tolerance screamed in my ears.  God doesn't tolerate or condone sin and I won't either.  That doesn't mean we are hateful, but we've got to stand on God's side.

I get a lump in my throat singing "God Bless America."  He has done that for decades, but I'm not sure how much longer that will continue.  God may not continue to bless America, but He will bless His people, no matter what country they are in, and keep them as the apple of His eye.

June 30th ~ Bubbles (Photo A Day)

We are in the process of customizing a cover for our pool.  With our current drought conditions, we really need something to slow down the evaporation rate.

Who knew bubble wrap came in industrial strength?!  It came in one giant sheet that we will be cutting to fit our free form shaped pool.

And that's the end of the Photo A Day Challenge for June!

June 29th ~ Sport (Photo A Day)

Of course my number one sport is running, following closely by cycling.  I did both this morning but didn't take a picture of either one. 

This is from yesterday morning's 8 miler, it was hot and humid - I felt like I was in Hawaii instead of California!

Red face and silver hair!

And this is from a ride that I did last week:

 

Woman of the Week ~ Esther

Verses:  The Book of Esther

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings

What is she most known for?

Victories? Defeats?

How can I be like her?

How can I avoid being like her?

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?

June 28th ~ Twilight (Photo A Day)

The sky was quite colorful at twilight this evening.  I couldn't stop with just one photo!

June 27th ~ Ticket (Photo A Day)

Over ripe bananas?

Banana muffins are just the ticket!

I prefer muffins to banana bread because they cook much more evenly.

Vashti ~ Woman of the Week

This study was very interesting to me.  Although Vashti is only mentioned in two chapters of the Bible, the commentaries had a lot to say about her actions.

Verses:  Esther 1:9-22, Esther 2:1

Background – parents, husband, children, siblings
The book of Esther only tells us that Vashti was the queen, to Ahasuerus the king.

What is she most known for? Victories? Defeats? How can I be like her? How can I avoid being like her?
Vashti is known for not coming when the king called for her, but there was so much more going on than simple disobedience.  Esther 1:7-8 says, "And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king. And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure."  This went on for seven days before the king called for Vashti.  I've seen a few drunks in my day, but seven days of drinking must have caused all good sense to leave these men's brains!  "As the feast days advanced, the drinking was more freely indulged in, so that the close was usually marked by great excesses of revelry." (A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments by Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown {JFB})

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible put it very clearly:

"When the heart of the king was merry with wine; when he was intoxicated with it, and knew not well what he said or did; and the discourse at table ran upon the beauty of women, as the latter Targum; when the king asserted there were no women so beautiful as those of Babylon, and, as a proof of it, ordered his queen to be brought in: 

Even though he sent by them again, as the Targum; and so says Josephus (o); which might not purely arise from pride in her, and contempt of him, but because she might conclude he was drunk, and knew not well what he did; and therefore had she come at his command, when he was himself and sober, he might blame her for coming, nay, use her ill for it, and especially if she was to come naked, as say the Jews (p); and besides, it was contrary to the law of the Persians, as not only Josephus (q), but Plutarch (r) observes, which suffered not women to be seen in public; and particularly did not allow their wives to be with them at feasts, only their concubines and harlots, with whom they could behave with more indecency; as for their wives, they were kept out of sight, at home (s); and therefore Vashti might think it an indignity to be treated as an harlot or concubine."

I asked Les, "When is it okay for a wife to refuse her husband?"  "When it goes against God's laws."  If she had exposed herself to these drunken men, it would have gone against God's moral laws.  Even if she had come, modestly attired, she would have gone against the law of the Persians. She was put in a no win situation by her husband.

"This refusal of Vashti's, to expose herself to the view of such a group of drunken Bacchanalians, was highly praiseworthy, and became the dignity of her rank and the modesty of her sex." (Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge by Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others {TSK})

Because of her refusal, the king was "very wroth, and his anger burned in him."  Unfortunately, he asked the counsel of the same men with whom he had spent the last seven days drinking.  Esther 1:16-20 tells of the plan of Memucan, one of the king's seven princes.  He first convinced the men that all women would despise their husbands and become disobedient as well.  "It is an exaggeration of her crime, and made with a design to incense the king the more against her." (John Gill)

"This reasoning was inconsequent and false. Vashti had not generally disobeyed the king, therefore she could be no precedent for the general conduct of the Persian women. She disobeyed only in one particular; and this, to serve a purpose, Memucan draws into a general consequence, and the rest came into the conclusion, being either too intoxicated to be able to discern right from wrong, or too intent on reducing women to a state of vassalage, to neglect the present favourable opportunity." (TSK)

Vashti was removed from her place as queen and would no longer be allowed to come before the king.  The decree meant they were divorced

Did she reach a place when she needed to reset?  If so, did she?  For good or evil?
Interestingly, it was not Vashti who wanted to reset but Ahasuerus.  Esther chapter 2 begins with a sober and regretful king, remembering Vashti.  "He remembered Vashti; her beauty, and was grieved, that she was removed from him; and so Josephus says, that he passionately loved her, and could not bear parting with her, and therefore was grieved that he had brought himself into such difficulties: the Targumists carry it further, and say that he was wroth with those that advised him to it, and ordered them to be put to death, and that they were.  What she had done; that it was a trivial thing, and not deserving of such a sentence as he had passed upon her; that it was not done from contempt of him, but from modesty, and a strict regard to the laws of the Persians. What was decreed against her; that she should come no more before him, but be divorced from him; the thought of which gave him great pain and uneasiness."  (John Gill) 

"On recovering from the violent excitement of his revelry and rage, the king was pierced with poignant regret for the unmerited treatment he had given to his beautiful and dignified queen. But, according to the law, which made the word of a Persian king irrevocable, she could not be restored." (JFB)

We don't know how Vashti spent the rest of her life, but her obedience to the law of the Persians and disobedience to the king put in place a plan that would bring a Jewess to the throne.  We'll look at Esther next week, but I believe the God used Vashti before Haman ever planned the destruction of the Jews.

"Ahasuerus's feast ended in heaviness, by his own folly. Seasons of peculiar festivity often end in vexation. Superiors should be careful not to command what may reasonably be disobeyed. But when wine is in, men's reason departs from them. He that had rule over 127 provinces, had no rule over his own spirit. But whether the passion or the policy of the king was served by this decree, God's providence made way for Esther to the crown, and defeated Haman's wicked project, even before it had entered into his heart, and he arrived at his power." (Matthew Henry)

June 26th ~ Sunglasses (Photo A Day)

This is not a new picture, but it's a favorite!  Christmas 2010 we were trying to create our Christmas cards and every picture we had of ourselves we were wearing sunglasses!  Our cards did not have this picture, but it's still a favorite.

 

I wear sunglasses year round.  My baby blues can't take glare.