“‘We are among those in Israel who are peaceful and faithful. Why are you destroying a city and a mother in Israel? Why swallow up the inheritance of Adonai?‘ Yo’av answered, “Heaven forbid! Heaven forbid that I should swallow or destroy anything!”-2 Samuel 20:19-20
The last time we left off, Joab was in the midst of laying siege to the city of Abel-Beth-Ma’acah.
However, before he could get too far, the residents of the town sent a wise woman to persuade Joab of a different course of action.
This wise woman was called a CHAKOM ISHAH.
She went to the top of the towering defensive wall where Joab had concentrated his forces and called out to Joab.
Thus began one of the more fascinating exchanges in Scripture.
The wise woman lays down her argument to Joab as follows.
FIRST, she makes it clear that this particular city, which Joab is attacking, is a peaceful town whose citizens have always been loyal to the king.
SECOND, the woman stresses that this city is a historical landmark.
She refers to it as a “mother” city.
Therefore, to destroy it would be a tragedy of gargantuan proportions.
To really drive her point home, the woman asks Joab…
“Why swallow up the inheritance of YAHWEH?”
Joab’s response was as instant as it was humble.
“Yo’av answered,
‘Heaven forbid!
Heaven forbid that I should
swallow or destroy anything!‘”
-2 Samuel 20:20
Now, what exactly is a “mother city?”
It was the chief city.
In ancient times, cities were established in a simple yet organized manner.
You’d have one main city, which was usually a large walled fortress.
Then you’d have a bunch of small villages surrounding it.
The villages relied on the main city that was under the authority of the local ruler (equivalent to a mayor, I guess you could say).
Together, they were one big team that shared food, trade, and military resources.
If outside enemies showed up, everyone teamed up and gave the attacking forces hell.
If an exceptionally powerful force tried to attack them, then the villagers would flee to the mother city for safety behind its strong walls.
So here’s the takeaway.
When the wise woman pointed out to Joab that he was destroying the inheritance of YAHWEH, she was speaking in Torah terms.
The point she was making is that the Israelite people and the land were the Lord’s inheritance.
And Joab was in the process of destroying that holy inheritance.
Anybody who has studied the Book of Leviticus with me knows one thing with the utmost certainty.
You don’t mess with God’s Holy Property without the severest of consequences!
This is probably the one God principle 99.9% of all Christians anywhere are completely ignorant of.
And that last sentence might just be an understatement.
So today’s lesson is a reminder that one of the strongest sins you can commit against the Lord is to trample on His holy property.
Capish?
If you don’t believe me, ask Ananias and Sapphira, who were killed by the Lord for this exact violation.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Then Peter said,
‘Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled
your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit
and have kept for yourself some of the
money you received for the land?
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold?
And after it was sold,
wasn’t the money at your disposal?
What made you think of doing such a thing?
You have not lied just to
human beings but to God.”
When Ananias heard this,
he fell down and died.
And great fear seized all who heard
what had happened.
Then some young men came forward,
wrapped up his body,
and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in,
not knowing what had happened.
Peter asked her, ‘Tell me, is this the price you
and Ananias got for the land?’
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘that is the price.’
Peter said to her,
‘How could you conspire to test
the Spirit of the Lord?
Listen! The feet of the men who
buried your husband are at the door,
and they will carry you out also.’
At that moment she fell down
at his feet and died.
Then the young men came in and,
finding her dead,
carried her out and
buried her beside her husband.”
-Acts 5:3-10
Leave a Reply