RELIGIOUS & POLITICAL CENTERS OF ISRAEL (2)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) During the period of the judges, Israel may have more than one capital. This may explain why the Scriptures overlap with reference to some cities.
b) Samuel called the Israelites together at Mizpah, where he would anoint Saul as their first king. Up to this point, the political seat of the nation seems to have been the religious center of the nation as well. Below are the cities which probably served as both the religious and political centers of Israel since the days of Joshua. Saul may have been the first Israelite leader to separate the nation's religious centre (probably Mizpah at this time) from its political center (Gibeah - 1 Samuel 11:4 26:1). Politically, the nation grew strong for a while. But when Saul and his officials stopped seeking God's will, internal jealousies and strife soon began to decay the nation from within. When David became king he brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, his capital. King Solomon then completely united the religious and political centers at Jerusalem.
1. Shechem
i) Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. (Joshua 24:1 NKJV)
2. Ramah
i) 17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:17 NKJV)
ii) 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. (1 Samuel 8:4 NKJV)
3. Mizpah
i) 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah. (Judges 11:11 NKJV)
ii) So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the Lord at Mizpah. (Judges 20:1 NKJV)
iii) 17 Then Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. (1 Samuel 10:17 NKJV)
4. Bethel
i) 18 Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah first!” (Judges 20:18 NKJV)
ii) 26 Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (Judges 20:26 NKJV)
iii) 3 Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. (1 Samuel 10:3 NKJV)
The End ...
0. Introductiona) During the period of the judges, Israel may have more than one capital. This may explain why the Scriptures overlap with reference to some cities.
b) Samuel called the Israelites together at Mizpah, where he would anoint Saul as their first king. Up to this point, the political seat of the nation seems to have been the religious center of the nation as well. Below are the cities which probably served as both the religious and political centers of Israel since the days of Joshua. Saul may have been the first Israelite leader to separate the nation's religious centre (probably Mizpah at this time) from its political center (Gibeah - 1 Samuel 11:4 26:1). Politically, the nation grew strong for a while. But when Saul and his officials stopped seeking God's will, internal jealousies and strife soon began to decay the nation from within. When David became king he brought the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, his capital. King Solomon then completely united the religious and political centers at Jerusalem.
1. Shechem
i) Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God. (Joshua 24:1 NKJV)
2. Ramah
i) 17 But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the Lord. (1 Samuel 7:17 NKJV)
ii) 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. (1 Samuel 8:4 NKJV)
3. Mizpah
i) 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah. (Judges 11:11 NKJV)
ii) So all the children of Israel came out, from Dan to Beersheba, as well as from the land of Gilead, and the congregation gathered together as one man before the Lord at Mizpah. (Judges 20:1 NKJV)
iii) 17 Then Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah. (1 Samuel 10:17 NKJV)
4. Bethel
i) 18 Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, “Judah first!” (Judges 20:18 NKJV)
ii) 26 Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. (Judges 20:26 NKJV)
iii) 3 Then you shall go on forward from there and come to the terebinth tree of Tabor. There three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. (1 Samuel 10:3 NKJV)
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