King Ahaziah falls from the upper chamber of his palace and becomes severely injured. Instead of seeking guidance from the Lord, he sends messengers to inquire of Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether he will recover from his injuries. Elijah intercepts the messengers and delivers a message from the Lord, rebuking Ahaziah for seeking counsel from a false god. He predicts Ahaziah's impending death and relays the Lord's judgment upon him for his idolatry. In response, Ahaziah sends a captain with fifty men to apprehend Elijah. This turns out badly for that captain, subsequent military commanders, and the king himself.
The prophet Joel provides timeless lessons on judgment, repentance, and restoration. Though his historical context is debated, the universal themes in his narrative resonate...
The final week of Jesus’ life is called “Passion Week,” after the Greek verb, “to suffer,” pascho. But this week is also aptly named...
Nehemiah was a 5th-century BC Jewish leader who served as the governor of Judah after the Babylonian exile. He is best known for his...
