11 March 2010

God smote Ahaz with the king of Syria

Ahaz was another king that God didn't like very much. He just wasn't enough like David to suit him.
Ahaz ... did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD, like David his father. 2 Chronicles 28.1
And, it's true; he did seem to lack parenting skills.
Moreover he ... burnt his children in the fire. 28.3
But worst of all, he was a compulsive incense burner, burning incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree in Judah.
He burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree. 28.4
So, of course, God had to put a stop to that.

He did it in the usual way; he smote him by delivering him into the hand of another king (this time the king of Syria).
Wherefore the LORD his God delivered him into the hand of the king of Syria; and they smote him … And he was also delivered into the hand of the king of Israel, who smote him with a great slaughter. 28.5
The text doesn't say how many of Judah's soldiers died in this smiting. But since in the next verse 120,000 soldiers die in one day, I figure it must have been at least 10,000.

God's next killing: 120,000 valiant men

4 comments:

Daniel Clements said...

I think god makes it very clear that he prefers the "savoury" smell of burning animals, not incense. And only He is allowed to burn children, I presume.

twillight said...

Burning children - isn't that in a sense incest?

Incense / incest...

Maybe the whole point here is to teach you the importance of correct spelling?

busterggi said...

Considering the smell all those goats the Israelites were herding maybe Ahaz was just trying to freshen the air.

If Yahweh likes the smell of burning animals so much maybe he also likes the smell of the shit they left brhind.

Matthew Blanchette said...

Who knows? Maybe Yahweh's just kinky, that way... :-S