“Sh’va was recorder, Tzadok and Evyatar were cohanim, and ‘Ira the Ya’iri was David’s cohen.”-2 Samuel 20:25-26
When we last left off, we were examining the closing verses of 2nd Samuel Chapter 20.
This was the list of King David’s high-ranking cabinet members.
We’re gonna finish up today.
So, let’s get moving.
Next up on the list were the two High Priests, Tzadok and Evyatar.
Now, the very mention of two high priests should immediately set off alarm bells ringing.
Why?
Because nowhere in the Torah does it say it’s okay to have two priests.
There is only supposed to be one.
So clearly, David was trying to be politically expedient here by letting both High Priests serve at the same time.
Later, when Solomon assumed the throne, he would rectify the situation by booting out Evyatar.
Why would he get rid of Evyatar and not Tzadok?
It all had to do with bloodlines.
Evyatar did NOT come from the legitimate bloodline of High Priests starting from Aaron.
But wait.
Things get even worse.
Next, we’re told that David had his own priest called Ira?!
Who in the heck was Ira?
A personal butler or something?!
Earlier, David had appointed one of his sons to be the family priest.
But now, this dude named Ira was serving in that function.
We’re told Ira was a Yairite, which means he probably hailed from Gilead.
Either way, this homie was NOT a Levite.
That’s a really important detail.
In the Biblical era, kings and rich families in the Middle East often had their own private priests.
But for a king of the Hebrews to adopt these worldly standards?
That’s not a good witness for the God of Israel at all.
The Jewish sages say this detail is mentioned to link it to the famine in the next chapter.
In other words, the famine wasn’t just about Saul’s family killing the people of Gibeah.
It was also God’s way of judging David for appointing a priest who never should’ve been one.
In both cases, it was God’s punishment for the kings’ wrongdoings.
So we see how far David’s government had drifted into Canaanite-style worship…especially when it came to the priesthood.
The King of Israel had two High Priests and his own family priest.
Do you know what this means?
David was probably taking part in sacrificial rituals forbidden by the Torah.
Not good, my friends.
This leads to our takeaway.
This whole fiasco stems from one thing:
Torah ignorance that leads to disobedience.
Period.
I can’t think of any delicate way to put it.
The King of Israel was to be the supreme living witness of God’s Scripture on this earth.
Tragically, David fell short, as we all do.
Fortunately, there is one to come who won’t fall short.
His obedience to God’s Torah will be so perfect…
He will be described as the Word made Flesh.
See you all next time.
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Do not think that I have
come to abolish the
Law or the Prophets;
I have not come to abolish
them but to fulfill them.”
-Matthew 5:17
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him;
and without him was not
anything made that was made.
In him was life;
and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness;
and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John.
The same came for a witness,
to bear witness of the Light,
that all men through him might believe.
He was not that Light,
but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
That was the true Light,
which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world was made by him,
and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own,
and his own received him not.
But as many as received him,
to them gave he power to
become the sons of God,
even to them that believe on his name:
Which were born,
not of blood,
nor of the will of the flesh,
nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word was made flesh,
and dwelt among us,
(and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father,)
full of grace and truth.”
-John 1:1-14
NEXT TIME WE BEGIN 2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 21
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