There are quite a few of these lesser-known-prophecies, but the one I would like to address in this letter can be found in the tenth chapter and verse 19 of Genesis. Gen 10:19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. (KJV) Wow, “A bunch of place names, that’s some prophecy” So be it, please read on. Prophecy Gen 10:19 Background information: Before we can follow the prophecy we need to look at a few elements in the history of Canaan. First element: Who were the people living there? Gen 9:18 And the sons of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth: and Ham is the father of Canaan... Gen 9:22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. Gen 10:15 And Canaan begat Sidon his firstborn, and Heth, Got that? Canaan (the country/area) was named after the first son of Ham, the son of Noah that “saw the nakedness of his father” Second element: What was the nature of this group? Gen 13:13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. Gen 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; Apparently they were not a particularly nice group of people. Note that a particular sub-set (ie “sinner”) is used to typify the overall group. Third element: What was the appearance of this area? – What did it look like? Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD (YHWH) destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD (YHWH), like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. A fertile and well watered place – today we know most of it as the Syrian dessert – not quite the same picture. (NB: remember this “little city” called Zoar). Forth element: What was the legacy of this group? Gen 9:1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. Gen 9:24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. It is important to note that God blessed Noah and his sons, therefore Noah could not curse Ham but the curse went to Ham’s first born son, Canaan, the father of the Canaanites. Also, the curse was not the propagation of the “sin of Ham” - this propagation was/is found in the nature of the people. The fifth element: (the last, but probably the most important) What was/were the sin/s of these people? Eze 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. Not quite what we have been taught is it? But this information is critical in understanding the prophecy, for, it tells us more about the nature of the Canaanites; they were filled with pride, given to idleness, were greedy and (subsequently) did not support the poor and needy. Further were they haughty and committed abominations before YHWH. It would seem to me that the ascribed sins of Sodom and her sisters (some of the other cities) were rather symptomatic of a deeper seated set of problems. I believe it might be appropriate at this stage to, as in my previous letters, categorically state that none of this should be construed as judgement or condemnation. Only our Creator Father can see into the heart of man and HE is therefore the sole judge of our intentions and actions. 1Sa 16:7 But the LORD (YHWH) said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD (YHWH) seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD (YHWH) looketh on the heart. This letter is merely re-stating that which is already recorded in Scripture. THE CANAANITES Great, now we’ve got the history sorted (mostly) let’s get to the prophecy itself. Let’s look at the verse again: Gen 10:19 And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; as thou goest, unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Admah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. Did you notice that the verse has two aspects (views) of Canaan; the first “as thou comest” and the second “as thou goest” These are then also the two aspects of the prophecy, firstly the origins of Canaan (where it comes from) and secondly the demise thereof (where it goes to). Please note, although this deals with the physical “land” the prophecy reflects (also) on the inhabitants of the country. Let us start with the city of Sidon; named for Noah’s great-grandson through his grandson Canaan (another link, proving the chain): צידן צידון tsı̂ydôn tsı̂ydôn tsee-done, tsee-done From (H6679*) in the sense of catching fish; fishery; Tsidon, the name of a son of Canaan, and of a place in Palestine: - Sidon, Zidon. * = צוּד tsûd tsood A primitive root; to lie alongside (that is, in wait); by implication to catch an animal (denominative from H6718) to victual (for a journey): - chase, hunt, sore, take (provision) The Hebrew word here indicates availability of food (fish) specifically and other (game) generally. Compare also the “food blessing” to Noah and his sons: Gen 9:3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. Our journey now takes us to Gerar; גּרר gerâr gher-awr Probably from (גּרר gârar); a rolling country; Gerar, a Philistine city: - Gerar. Once more we have a reference to food production, but now also including rolling (fertile) ground implying abundance. Definitely “fulness of bread” as Ezekiel put it! Compare again Lot’s observation in this regard: Gen 13:10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD (YHWH) destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Now we arrive at Gaza (the last of the incoming cities); עזּה ‛azzâh az-zaw Feminine of (עז ‛az – az*) ; strong; Azzah, a place in Palestine: - Azzah, Gaza. (*From H5810) - strong, vehement, harsh: - fierce, + greedy, mighty, power, roughly, strong. And we find the picture takes a turn for the worse. They will be a fierce and greedy people, assured of their own strength. (now I don’t want to pre-empt this whole discourse – but does this name not ring a bell even in our time?) So to summarise the origins of Canaan; it will be an “area” of comfort, food will be plentiful and readily available. The people however will not be of the same calibre. An “abundance of idleness”, in conjunction with haughtiness, will probably lead to their “committed abomination” and selfish greed will cause them to spurn the requirements of the poor and needy. The correlation between the meaning of the Hebrew names given to the cities/towns, the observations of Lot and the condemnation expressed by Ezekiel, cannot be pure coincidence, there must be a greater reason for this. I believe the reason is a prophecy; for the Canaanites then, Israel later and for us now! (more regarding this later). It could be argued that the first aspect (origin) of the proposed prophecy regarding Canaan is speculative and/or circumstantial. The second aspect (demise) is however far more substantial and conclusive. The reason for such an observation is simply this; we have a recorded historical event with a known result. Moreover there is also a test for determining the validity of prophecy: Jer 28:9 The prophet which prophesieth of peace, {{{when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD (YHWH) hath truly sent him}}} So without much further ado, let’s visit the route of the demise of Canaan. Our first stop is that well known city of Sodom, place of residence for Lot and his family: סדם sedôm sed-ome From an unused root meaning to scorch; burnt (that is, volcanic or bituminous) district; Sedom, a place near the Dead Sea: - Sodom. No surprise here, burning and fire seem to feature prominently in the later history of Sodom. And so on to our second stop in this journey, Gomorrah, that sister-city of Sodom: עמרה ‛ămôrâh am-o-raw From (עמר ‛âmar) ; a (ruined) heap; Amorah, a place in Palestine: - Gomorrah. עמר ‛âmar aw-mar A primitive root; properly apparently to heap; figuratively to chastise (as if piling blows); specifically (as denominative from H6016) to gather grain: - bind sheaves, make merchandise of. Now here is a name busy in meaning; we find destruction (no surprise) and chastisement (no surprise) referring to later history, and then reference to (abundant) food which links to the origin aspect. The next stop is Admah, first of the three cities not often mentioned in this account of history: אדמה admâh ad-maw Contracted for (אדמה ădâmâh) ; earthy; Admah, a place near the Dead Sea: - Admah. אדמה ădâmâh ad-aw-maw From H119; soil (from its general redness): - country, earth, ground, husband [-man] (-ry), land. Interesting, again we find reference to (fertile) red soil but there is more than meets the eye. An element of responsibility is added in the concept of “husbandry”. And then further on to Zeboim the second city of this trilogy: צביּם צביּים צבאיםo tsebôı̂ym tsebı̂yı̂ym tsebı̂yim tseb-o-eem tseb-ee-yeem tseb-ee-yeem Plural of (tsebı̂y tseb-ee) ; gazelles; Tseboim or Tsebijim, a place in Palestine: - Zeboiim, Zeboim. צבי tsebı̂y tseb-ee ...in the sense of prominence; splendor (as conspicuous); also a gazelle (as beautiful): - beautiful (-ty), glorious (-ry), goodly, pleasant, roe (-buck). All I can say is “what a beautiful name” The last city in the trilogy is called Lasha: לשׁע lesha‛ leh-shah From an unused root thought to mean to break through; a boiling spring; Lesha, a place probably East of the Jordan: - Lasha. In the name of this town we find reference to “springs of water” that which is so prominent in Lot’s observation. A summary of the second aspect of Canaan would then read something like this; there will be fire (burning taking place) there will be heaps of rubble. Land for which responsibility was given and which is beautiful, and also including “the springs of water” will be involved. Now let’s put the two aspects together and “re-write” the verse: And the founding of Canaan will be in an area where fish and game is plentiful. The soil is fertile and well watered. This will result in “fulness of bread and abundance of idleness”. The accumulation of this abundance will however be based on fierce greed and will not benefit the poor and needy. Then will there be a great fire which will burn to heaps of rubble the beautiful land for which responsibility was given and even including the water fountains. I believe this is a reasonable reflection of what we know to have happened historically. Co-incidence - or Prophecy - which the Canaanites should have noted? AND Y’ISRAEL? Did they not inherit the same geographical area? Gen 12:5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brothers son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the {{{land of Canaan}}}; and into the land of Canaan they came. :6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. :7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, {{{Unto thy seed will I give this land}}}: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him. Yes they did. And was their history not virtually the same as that of the Canaanites? Deu 6:10 And it shall be, when the LORD thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not, 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; 12 Then beware lest thou forget the LORD (YHWH), which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. They started off exactly the same... Isa 17:9 In that day shall his strong cities be as a forsaken bough, and an uppermost branch, which they left because of the children of Israel: and there shall be desolation. And they ended up exactly the same... Co-incidence - or Prophecy - which Y’israEl should have noted? AND WE PEOPLE? Currently living in the (spiritual) Promised Land? Are we not following exactly the same route as the Canaanites and Y’israEl??? Remember that little town Zoar? The Canaanites? It was the one town not affected during the destruction of the Canaanite Valley: Gen 19:23 The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. And Y’israEl? 1Ki 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him. And we people? Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elects sake those days shall be shortened... Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. A parting thought: Mat 24:4 And Yah’shua answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Shalom and Shalom
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:59:05 +0000
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