The childhood game of Monopoly is a great look at personalities and how people cope with the unexpected. The game could last a very long time, sometimes days, but eventually either one person would win or one person would throw over the board so no one would win. Most of us think that throwing the game on the floor is an improper way to play with others, but nevertheless, some people do not care about etiquette or proper rules. This is why tyranny sneaks up on polite people. The tyrants change the rules over and over until polite people have forgotten that the tyrants were not actually in charge of anything and do not have the authority to make new rules. But by the time this realization occurs the tyrants have established themselves as overseers, rule makers, and unelected officials seemingly in charge of everyone. How do children resolve the issue of an emotionally unruly player in a game? Most children will refuse to play games with a tyrant bully. They will find something else to do and many times they will not include the one that overthrows the game. Once the mini tyrant has been ignored or neglected by the other children that tyrant changes his/her behavior.
We have such an upheaval of emotions in the middle east that is almost impossible to decipher because the terms are not black and white. There is a lot of gray area in it all. From a forty thousand foot view we see Israel, a very cosmopolitan society encompassing many different religions and many different nationalities, under siege from tribally emotional people. What is the reason? Israel owns Boardwalk, but the emotional tribalists own Park Place. Tyrants want what they can’t have. They want that monopoly. All the other surrounding nations have oil, so it is not hidden oil reserves that motivates them. Israel doesn’t have treasure, or even a temple. We cannot even make the case that the fallen angels came to Mt. Hermon, therefore these emotionally charged tribalists want that land because Mt Hermon is part of Syria, not Israel. Nothing stands out as precious in that nation other than the fact that Yahweh Elohim gave it to Shem’s heirs and Canaan attempted to steal it.
No educated person living in modern society thinks that a country the size of New Jersey should be exterminated. The emotionally charged tribalist individuals point to recent history claiming that the Jews stole Israel. According to Noah, this region was part of Shem’s inheritance so that argument is only made by the foolish and unlearned. It would be interesting for the people who call themselves Palestinians to take a DNA test. What we might find is that many may be either of Israeli descent or Roman descent or both. However if the DNA test comes back as being part of the Ottoman Empire then they are the trespassers on the land. Yes that is a very simplistic view. The reality is that it does not matter. Israel is a country that has been open to anyone who wishes to live peacefully, whether they are Jacob’s heirs, German Jews, Russian Jews, original Latinos, Arabs, or anyone else. The key words here are living peacefully.
There were a few things that Solomon knew. One was that the Holy Spirit was crucial for Solomon to rule over Israel. Solomon needed the Spirit of Wisdom to rule over the people and to keep his enemies at bay. Solomon tells us that the Holy Spirit makes the tyrants fail. It is too bad that Rehoboam didn’t learn this from his father because when he took over as leader he made a fatal mistake. Solomon knows what he needs to be a decent leader for Israel. He needs the Holy Spirit.
Wis 8:1 Wisdom reacheth from one end to another mightily: and sweetly doth she order all things.
Wis 8:2 I loved her, and sought her out from my youth, I desired to make her my spouse, and I was a lover of her beauty.
Wis 8:3 In that she is conversant with God, she magnifieth her nobility: yea, the Lord of all things himself loved her.
Wis 8:4 For she is privy to the mysteries of the knowledge of God, and a lover of his works.
Wis 8:5 If riches be a possession to be desired in this life; what is richer than wisdom, that worketh all things?
Wis 8:6 And if prudence work; who of all that are is a more cunning workman than she?
Wis 8:7 And if a man love righteousness her labours are virtues: for she teacheth temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude: which are such things, as men can have nothing more profitable in their life.
Wis 8:8 If a man desire much experience, she knoweth things of old, and conjectureth aright what is to come: she knoweth the subtilties of speeches, and can expound dark sentences: she foreseeth signs and wonders, and the events of seasons and times.
Wis 8:9 Therefore I purposed to take her to me to live with me, knowing that she would be a counsellor of good things, and a comfort in cares and grief.
Instead of being a king that beats people over the head, Solomon wants the Spirit of Wisdom to teach him what he needs, to do a good job as king. Solomon’s concern was that he was young, but with the help of the Spirit of Wisdom, he could rule well.
Wis 8:10 For her sake I shall have estimation among the multitude, and honour with the elders, though I be young.
Wis 8:11 I shall be found of a quick conceit in judgment, and shall be admired in the sight of great men.
Wis 8:12 When I hold my tongue, they shall bide my leisure, and when I speak, they shall give good ear unto me: if I talk much, they shall lay their hands upon their mouth.
Wis 8:13 Moreover by the means of her I shall obtain immortality, and leave behind me an everlasting memorial to them that come after me.
The Holy Spirit brings immortality to the believer. The Holy Spirit also makes tyrants afraid.
Wis 8:14 I shall set the people in order, and the nations shall be subject unto me.
Wis 8:15 Horrible tyrants shall be afraid, when they do but hear of me; I shall be found good among the multitude, and valiant in war.
All leaders and rulers should have a personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will correct those who are doing things that are offensive to Yahweh Elohim. Notice the offenses of the old inhabitants before the rulership of Joshua leading the people into Israel. The Canaanites were a mixed bag of tricks.
Wis 12:1 For thine incorruptible Spirit is in all things.
Wis 12:2 Therefore chastenest thou them by little and little that offend, and warnest them by putting them in remembrance wherein they have offended, that leaving their wickedness they may believe on thee, O Lord.
Wis 12:3 For it was thy will to destroy by the hands of our fathers both those old inhabitants of thy holy land,
Wis 12:4 Whom thou hatedst for doing most odious works of witchcrafts, and wicked sacrifices;
Wis 12:5 And also those merciless murderers of children, and devourers of man's flesh, and the feasts of blood,
Wis 12:6 With their priests out of the midst of their idolatrous crew, and the parents, that killed with their own hands souls destitute of help:
Wis 12:7 That the land, which thou esteemedst above all other, might receive a worthy colony of God's children.
What is Solomon saying here? The sons of Jacob inhabited the land until there was a famine. In Goshen they became not only comfortable but because of their comfort they became slaves. They could have left after a few years but it was a lot of trouble to move. Once it was time for the exodus, that generation of the heirs of Jacob had to be cleansed.
Wis 12:8 Nevertheless even those thou sparedst as men, and didst send wasps, forerunners of thine host, to destroy them by little and little.
Wis 12:9 Not that thou wast unable to bring the ungodly under the hand of the righteous in battle, or to destroy them at once with cruel beasts, or with one rough word:
The Lord did mighty miracles for the Israelites.
Wis 12:10 But executing thy judgments upon them by little and little, thou gavest them place of repentance, not being ignorant that they were a naughty generation, and that their malice was bred in them, and that their cogitation would never be changed.
Wis 12:11 For it was a cursed seed from the beginning; neither didst thou for fear of any man give them pardon for those things wherein they sinned.
The nations of Canaan that took land not portioned to them were defeated by the Israelites over and over. It was a cursed seed. Why? Because Noah cursed the fourth son of Ham. Noah was castrated by Ham, and Ham’s fourth son was cursed for it, as Noah could not have a fourth son. Their malice was bred in them. But there is another curse they put themselves under.
Jasher 7:10 Noah awoke from sleep and knew all (abuse) that his younger son had done to him. He cursed him saying, “Cursed be Canaan; an enslaved servant shall he be to his brothers.” 11 And he blessed Shem, and said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant. 12 God shall enlarge Japheth, and God shall dwell in the dwelling of Shem, and Canaan shall be his servant.” 13 Ham knew that his father had cursed, him, his younger son, and he was displeased that he had cursed him, his son. And Ham parted from his father, he and his sons with him, Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 124). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Canann did something that he was told not to do. In those years everyone knew this land was for Shem’s heirs.
Jasher 10:27 In the fourth week in the first year in the beginning of it in the four and thirtieth jubilee, were they dispersed from the land of Shinar. 28 Ham and his sons went into the land that he was to occupy, which he acquired as his portion in the land of the south. 29 Canaan saw the land of Lebanon to the river of Egypt was very good, and he did not go into the land of his inheritance to the west that is to the sea, and he dwelt in the land of Lebanon, eastward and westward from the border of Jordan and from the border of the sea. 30 Ham, his father, and Cush and Mizraim, his brothers, said to him, “You have settled in a land which is not yours, and which did not fall to us by lot, do not do so. If you do you and your sons will be conquered in the land and be accursed through a war. By war you have settled, and by war will your children fall, and you will be rooted out forever. 31 Do not live in the land of Shem, for to Shem and to his sons did it come by their lot. 32 Cursed are you, and cursed will you be beyond all the sons of Noah, by the curse by which we bound ourselves by an oath in the presence of the holy judge, and in the presence of Noah our father.” 33 But he did not listen to them, and settled in the land of Lebanon from Hamath to the border of Egypt, he and his sons until this day. For this reason that land is named Canaan.
Lumpkin, Joseph. Enoch, Jubilees, Jasher: Banned from the Bible (p. 129). Fifth Estate. Kindle Edition.
Why would Canaan put his sons in that position? Who knows, maybe he thought he could own Boardwalk someday. They were bred with hostility because of the curse. Their cogitation, or their thoughts, were hostile and would never change. In later years David spent a lot of time as a giant slayer, cleaning out the land for Israel.
If we see people who have been bred with malice we think that we can teach them to behave differently, with love and compassion. We cannot. They are bred with malice. There are entire populations in every nation bred with malice, whether it is malice towards other people groups, other nations, or law enforcement. Because they are taught to be hostile their thoughts are not going to change unless they make an intentional effort to change. Canaan wanted what he was not supposed to have and a majority of his descendants were killed when Joshua led the Israelites back into the land.
Wis 12:12 For who shall say, What hast thou done? or who shall withstand thy judgment? or who shall accuse thee for the nations that perish, whom thou made? or who shall come to stand against thee, to be revenged for the unrighteous men?
Wis 12:13 For neither is there any God but thou that careth for all, to whom thou mightest shew that thy judgment is not unright.
Wis 12:14 Neither shall king or tyrant be able to set his face against thee for any whom thou hast punished.
No one can blame Yahweh Elohim when the nations perish because they live by putting themselves under a curse. Ezekiel told us that today everyone is responsible for their own curses, no one is under a generational curse. Therefore those that are bred in malice with hostile thoughts are responsible for their own behavior. They curse themselves. No one can blame their forefathers for their own self imposed curse. No one can blame the other nations for their own self imposed curse. No one can blame Yahweh Elohim for their own self imposed curse. No king and no tyrant can set their face against Yahweh Elohim.
Wis 12:15 Forsomuch then as thou art righteous thyself, thou orderest all things righteously: thinking it not agreeable with thy power to condemn him that hath not deserved to be punished.
Wis 12:16 For thy power is the beginning of righteousness, and because thou art the Lord of all, it maketh thee to be gracious unto all.
Once again, people are responsible for their own sins and the righteous are not punished along with the unrighteous. Peter tells us this as well.
Solomon goes back even further in time, to the age of the flood of Noah. Solomon is laying out the reasons why the people are not blessed.
Wis 14:6 For in the old time also, when the proud giants perished, the hope of the world governed by thy hand escaped in a weak vessel, and left to all ages a seed of generation.
Wis 14:7 For blessed is the wood whereby righteousness cometh.
Wis 14:8 But that which is made with hands is cursed, as well it, as he that made it: he, because he made it; and it, because, being corruptible, it was called god.
Wood made the ark and is “blessed”, but wood also makes idols and is “cursed”.
Wis 14:9 For the ungodly and his ungodliness are both alike hateful unto God.
Wis 14:10 For that which is made shall be punished together with him that made it.
Wis 14:11 Therefore even upon the idols of the Gentiles shall there be a visitation: because in the creature of God they are become an abomination, and stumblingblocks to the souls of men, and a snare to the feet of the unwise.
The idol and the idol maker are punished together. They are both stumbling blocks in front of men.
Wis 14:12 For the devising of idols was the beginning of spiritual fornication, and the invention of them the corruption of life.
Wis 14:13 For neither were they from the beginning, neither shall they be for ever.
Wis 14:14 For by the vain glory of men they entered into the world, and therefore shall they come shortly to an end.
Wis 14:15 For a father afflicted with untimely mourning, when he hath made an image of his child soon taken away, now honoured him as a god, which was then a dead man, and delivered to those that were under him ceremonies and sacrifices.
This is one reason that idols were made, the untimely death of a child. Someone would make an idol of their child and mourn, but it became something else. The parent would then pretend that the dead child was a god. Haven’t there always been religions with strange superstitions that believe our dead loved ones are in heaven or the nether regions directing things on the earth? Of course, if one believed that they would worship their dead relation. And then it spirals and snowballs into ceremonies and sacrifices. Solomon has an interesting perspective here.
Wis 14:16 Thus in process of time an ungodly custom grown strong was kept as a law, and graven images were worshipped by the commandments of kings.
This then became a law of the nations. What kind of a stretch would it then be to claim that if one dies killing an enemy that one is rewarded in the afterlife? Can people be bred with malice and hostility towards a perceived enemy and then told to think on their rewards in heaven? Isn’t it interesting that those who promote those ideas never go out and act on what they tell the lower classes to do?
Wis 14:17 Whom men could not honour in presence, because they dwelt far off, they took the counterfeit of his visage from far, and made an express image of a king whom they honoured, to the end that by this their forwardness they might flatter him that was absent, as if he were present.
Now they can carry pocket idols to worship on the road so they won’t miss a worship service if they are traveling.
Wis 14:18 Also the singular diligence of the artificer did help to set forward the ignorant to more superstition.
Wis 14:19 For he, peradventure willing to please one in authority, forced all his skill to make the resemblance of the best fashion.
Wis 14:20 And so the multitude, allured by the grace of the work, took him now for a god, which a little before was but honoured.
Because the craftsmen were so skilled they made aesthetically pleasing idols. People then believed the craftsmen to be a god. Instead of simply honoring the idol maker, they worshipped the idol maker.
Wis 14:21 And this was an occasion to deceive the world: for men, serving either calamity or tyranny, did ascribe unto stones and stocks the incommunicable name.
The craftsmen then claimed that the stones and merchandise were The Elohim, the incommunicable name of Yahweh Elohim, the I AM, YHWH. This then turns into tyranny. Everyone must buy this idol, every one must serve this idol, everyone must carry this idol. Kings decided what national god they would have. Solomon was surrounded by kings and their kingdoms that had various national gods.
Wis 14:22 Moreover this was not enough for them, that they erred in the knowledge of God; but whereas they lived in the great war of ignorance, those so great plagues called they peace.
Wis 14:23 For whilst they slew their children in sacrifices, or used secret ceremonies, or made revellings of strange rites;
Wis 14:24 They kept neither lives nor marriages any longer undefiled: but either one slew another traiterously, or grieved him by adultery.
Wis 14:25 So that there reigned in all men without exception blood, manslaughter, theft, and dissimulation, corruption, unfaithfulness, tumults, perjury,
Wis 14:26 Disquieting of good men, forgetfulness of good turns, defiling of souls, changing of kind, disorder in marriages, adultery, and shameless uncleanness.
Wis 14:27 For the worshipping of idols not to be named is the beginning, the cause, and the end, of all evil.
So this is the beginning, the cause, and the end of all evil. All of a sudden because of the tyranny of kings and rulers to impose incommunicable named idols, entire nations were filled with calamity and bloodlust. In other words, they tried to claim their idols were YHWH. YHWH means “I AM” or “I Exist”. This is not a name one should attribute to an idol. This is why bloodlust, manslaughter, theft, dishonesty, corruption, unfaithfulness, confusion, perjury, and the disquieting of good men took place. Entire nations became filled with defiled souls. The worshipping of idols with the unspoken name of YHWH is the beginning, the cause, and the end of all evil.
Solomon has an interesting perspective. The root of nations that breed malicious people start by disrespecting the name of Yahweh Elohim by putting that name on an idol. Think about the nations surrounding Solomon. The nations all had their own national god and which they carved into idols. They made groves and altars in high places. They kept the people in subjection and enslaved to these national religious practices and the nations fell apart morally.
Wis 14:28 For either they are mad when they be merry, or prophesy lies, or live unjustly, or else lightly forswear themselves.
Wis 14:29 For insomuch as their trust is in idols, which have no life; though they swear falsely, yet they look not to be hurt.
Wis 14:30 Howbeit for both causes shall they be justly punished: both because they thought not well of God, giving heed unto idols, and also unjustly swore in deceit, despising holiness.
Wis 14:31 For it is not the power of them by whom they swear: but it is the just vengeance of sinners, that punisheth always the offence of the ungodly.
Wis 15:1 But thou, O God, art gracious and true, longsuffering, and in mercy ordering all things,
Wis 15:2 For if we sin, we are thine, knowing thy power: but we will not sin, knowing that we are counted thine.
Wis 15:3 For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the root of immortality.
It is the just vengeance of the sinner that is their own punishment. In other words the sinners punish the ungodly. One sinner punishes another. The door of vengeance is open when one sins. Said another way, when the ungodly commit an offense the sinner’s just vengeance is to punish them. Notice how Solomon takes the position that “we” the nation of Israel, know Yahweh Elohim’s power and his righteousness is immortality. If then the nation of Israel is set apart by the knowledge of Yahweh Elohim, while the other nations misused his unspoken name, the only correction for this inbreeding of malice is to come to know Yahweh Elohim, and not attribute his name to religions and observances that are not His Ways.
This is important to understand. We think we should just accept everyone’s religious beliefs and have dialogue regarding everyone’s religious practices, but we cannot. There is only one way to immortality. There is only one Messiah. Therefore all the other gods simply bring death.
This in itself is not tyrannical because no one is forcing someone else to receive eternal life. If someone wants it or not it is between them and Yahweh Elohim. I can present the option but I can’t force immortality on anyone. This is the proper way to promote Yahweh Elohim’s gift. However we generally want to short cut the process and force everyone to do what we do. We cannot force morality on people. People have to want it, just like they have to want eternal life.
Solomon instituted a tax and rotating labor from all the tribes to build the palace and the temple. The temple was to benefit the entire nation. The palace was the kings residence as well as the government offices. However after the palace and temple were finished, the tax and the rotating labor should have been eliminated. As we know, Solomon’s downfall was all the women that he married. The problem with so many wives is that they all had their own religions. Solomon was able to keep the surrounding nations from making war against Israel while the building projects were taking place by marrying women from various nations but when that was finished the women all wanted places to worship of their own. When Solomon died his son Rehoboam took over. Rehoboam didn’t learn from his father’s success and did didn’t learn from his fathers failure.
It had already been prophesied that Jeroboam would be king over the northern ten tribes because Solomon built high places for his wives. The question was when. It is possible that Rehoboam could have been a great king and put off the splitting of the nation. However, relatively quickly Rehoboam lost the ten tribes and became king over Judah and Benjamin. Notice how Rehoboam deals with the people.
2Ch 10:1 (Brenton) And Roboam came to Sychem: for all Israel came to Sychem to make him king.
2Ch 10:2 And it came to pass when Jeroboam the son of Nabat heard it, (now he was in Egypt, forasmuch as he had fled thither from the face of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt,)that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
Shechem is somewhat in the middle of Israel. It was a good place to make Rehoboam king, except that it was not in the temple. Solomon was anointed king over the Gihon springs, the site of the future temple, by Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah. Now that the temple was built, it seems odd that they would go to Shechem instead of the temple. Already we see Rehoboam is not observant of Yahweh Elohim.
2Ch 10:3 And they sent and called him: and Jeroboam and all the congregation came to Roboam, saying,
2Ch 10:4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now then abate somewhat of thy father's grievous rule, and of his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
2Ch 10:5 And he said to them, Go away for three days, and then come to me. So the people departed.
Jeroboam was the labor leader. Maybe he was attempting to unionize the workers. He was also the tax advocate for the people, attempting to lower their tax burden. Just like most social justice warriors Jeroboam turned himself away from Yahweh Elohim for compromises on social causes. Going back to our Monopoly analogy, Jeroboam is the guy who will let someone not pay rent when landing on his property if they don’t have enough money, because he wants the people he is playing with to be happy.
2Ch 10:6 And king Roboam assembled the elders that stood before his father Solomon in his life-time, saying, How do ye counsel me to return an answer to this people?
2Ch 10:7 And they spoke to him, saying, If thou wouldest this day befriend this people, and be kind to them, and speak to them good words, then will they be thy servants for ever.
The old folks knew the social grumblings of the people. They were not supposed to be slaves, they believed they were working “together” to build something they would all benefit in. However Rehoboam didn’t see them that way. He was trying to monopolize the utilities, the railroads and key properties around the board so that everyone had to pay him rent.
2Ch 10:8 But he forsook the advice of the old men, who took counsel with him, and he took counsel with the young men who had been brought up with him, who stood before him.
2Ch 10:9 And he said to them, What do ye advise that I should answer this people, who spoke to me, saying, Ease somewhat of the yoke which thy father laid upon us?
2Ch 10:10 And the young men that had been brought up with him spoke to him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak to the people that spoke to thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, and do thou lighten somewhat of it from us; thus shalt thou say, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
2Ch 10:11 And whereas my father chastised you with a heavy yoke, I will also add to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, and I will chastise you with scorpions.
2Ch 10:12 And Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam on the third day, as the king had spoken, saying, Return to me on the third day.
2Ch 10:13 And the king answered harshly; and king Roboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
2Ch 10:14 and spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
The young people had an “in” with Rehoboam. They thought if they supported him they would receive cabinet positions in his kingdom. This would benefit these young men, not the people. The young people did not respect their elders or the other tribes of Israel.
2Ch 10:15 And the king hearkened not to the people, for there was a change of their minds from God, saying, The Lord has confirmed his word, which he spoke by the hand of Achia the Selonite concerning Jeroboam the son of Nabat, and concerning all Israel;
2Ch 10:16 for the king did not hearken to them. And the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David, or inheritance in the son of Jessae? to thy tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So all Israel went to their tents.
2Ch 10:17 But the men of Israel, even those who dwelt in the cities of Juda, remained and made Roboam king over them.
2Ch 10:18 And king Roboam sent to them Adoniram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. And king Roboam hasted to mount his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
2Ch 10:19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David until this day.
Rehoboam was they guy who owned a few key properties and thought that he could control the board and win the game. He grew up with a silver spoon in his mouth. He looked at the people as just worker bees or drones. He did not care if they were overworked and overtaxed. He considered them slaves. He was a tyrant. The people had had enough playing games with Rehoboam. Instead of owning 12 properties, Rehoboam now only owned two. The people walked away. When Adoniram went to collect Rehoboam’s luxury tax the people killed him. Rehoboam tried to usurp the board and the other players said no. Rehoboam flipped the board and left.
The tyrants always lose out in the end when the people won’t play along. Today no one is obligated to play with a tyrant. Individuals can walk away and ignore them. Nations can walk away and ignore them. Solomon realized he needed the Holy Spirit to rule well and to make tyrants afraid. He understood that no one, no tyrant can set their face against Yahweh Elohim. Yet the tyrants forced national idol worship on their people. They then disrespected Yahweh Elohim by claiming their idols were the unspoken name, YHWH. Today the tyrants continue to try and deceive the whole world claiming their god is the incommunicable name of Yahweh Elohim, the I Am. They persecute others using calamity or tyranny forcing people into worshipping their made up god. One would have thought that Rehoboam would have attempted to rule differently, instead of his first move as a leader being a tyrant. No one likes a tyrant. No one wants to live with a tyrant. No one wants to play monopoly with a tyrant. There is hope with every roll of the dice, but eventually we will stand up and walk away. A tyrant only has power when people are present. No one is selling Boardwalk. Time to walk away from the tyrants.
