Magic Spells, Curses, and Incantations

Part I of III.

--Sermon by Dr. Bob Benchoff, November 23, 2002

Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,

Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,

Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah,

Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,

Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,

Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Hedaiah!

Now these were the chief of the priests in the days of Jeshua.

Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel:

Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Heremiah, Ezra; moreover there were those over the thanksgiving; also there were those over against them in the watches.

The Wall

At the dedication there were psalteries, and people came from the plain country.

And people gathered from Netophathi.

The Dung Gate

"Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate: And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah." ..."and Ezra the scribe before them."

The Furnaces

And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them: "...from beyond the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall."

"And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate."

The Rulers

..."I, and the half of the rulers with me."

..."loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer."

That day they offered great sacrafices.

And at that time some were appointed over the chambers.

The Treasures

..."for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits"..."to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law"..."and the porters kept the ward"..."according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son."

From Nehemiah 12.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From the book of Moses [13]:

The Kingdom of God

They found it was written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever, because they invoked Balaam to curse them.

The Magic

In the chamber Eliashib prepared meat and frankincense;

the vessels and the tithes of corn;

new spirits, with oil;

the singers per command;

likewise the porters per command;

likewise the priests' offerings per command.

The Grieve

..."of Artaxerxes king of Babylon"...

..."I leave of the king:

And I came to Jerusalem and understood

of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah

out of the chamber."

Again

..."the chambers:

and thither

brought I again

the vessels"...

..."the meat"...

"and the frankincense."

The Potions

..."I perceived the portions of the

Levites

had not been given them:"

for those that did the work had fled.

..."contended I with the rulers"...

and the

..."house of God forsaken?"

And all was and were brought;

into the treasuries;

under Zadok the scribe, and

Hanan son of Zaccur, and the others,

and distribution was made, and remembered.

The Sabbath

..."some treading wine presses"...

"and bringing in sheaves,

and lading asses;

as also wine,

grapes, and

figs,

and all manner of burdens,

which they brought into Jerusalem

on the sabbath day"...

"wherein they sold victuals."

..."I testified against them"...

..."sold on the sabbath unto the children"...

..."bring all this evil upon us,

and upon this city? yet you

bring more wrath upon Israel

by profaning the sabbath."

And the gates were shut.

The Aftermath

..."saw I Jews that had married"...

"And their children spake half"...

"and could not speak in the Jews' language,"...

"And I contended with them,

and cursed them,

and smote certain of them,

and plucked off their hair,

and made them swear"...

regarding pure racial discrimination.

"Did not Solomon"...

"sin by these things? yet"

..."nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin."

"Shall we then hearken

unto you

to do all this great evil,"...

Defiled Priesthood

..."Horonite:"

..."therefore I chased him from me."

Covenant

..."of the priesthood"...

"Thus cleansed I them from all strangers,

and appointed the wards of the priests

and the Levites,

every one in his business"

..."and for the firstfruits."

For Part II of III

click here to enter The Shadow Gate

to explore the making of your fears.

__________________________________________________________________

To visit the Internet Church of Christ founded by Dr. Bob Benchoff, click here.

__________________________________________________________________

To visit the back page of the Internet Church of Christ founded by Dr. Bob Benchoff, click here.