The picture is repeated yet AGAIN! The pattern is undeniable.
As I have recently reminded my readers, Biblical history often IS prophecy. We explored this years ago with a close look at Joseph, then later explored several end times prophecies revealed in David and through Elijah. More recently, we have explored several very interesting connections between Lot, David, and the Second Exodus.
Yesterday, something teased my mind concerning Joash and I had to look at 2 Chronicles 24 again!! And, there is another shadow picture paralleling and confirming several recent articles!
As most of my readers know – some uncomfortably so – I have been contending for the truth of what Scripture actually says about marriage, contrary to false church doctrines of monogamy-only. Part of my reason is that I refuse to denigrate the Patriarchs where the church judges them, God, the Word, etc for a non-existent ‘sin.’ But, I digress.
A common, and false, charge against polygyny is that there are no positive examples in Scripture. This is patently false with multiple examples of righteous men and their families. But, there is one indisputable shining example that I often point to because it is so amazingly clear. But, in the pointing, I have missed another picture that I want to share today that further confirms previous articles and what Scripture says and images concerning God’s two brides.
2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters.
2 Chronicles 24:2-3
In using these verses in a recent defense of truth and the Name of my King, I failed to notice the very next verse! In that defense I wrote,
2 Chronicles 24:2-3 “Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoida the priest. Jehoida took two wives for him and he became the father of sons and daughters.”
Later, in the same chapter, we are told that Jehoida ‘had done well in Israel and to God and His house.’
Can we safely assume that the High Priest knew the Torah, particularly if he ‘did well in Israel and to God and His house?’ Can we assume Scripture is telling the truth when it said, in the same breath, that Joash ‘did what was right in the sight of the Lord’ and the High Priest gave him two wives?
Either, the High Priest and the king colluded in sin and then ensured the Biblical text did not record it, or, they didn’t sin. Which is it? If polygyny is a sin, then it is a sin for all times and all people. If it is not a sin at that time, then it is not and cannot be a sin now, or ever!
~Pete Rambo, Dear Ephraim….
The next verse, however, says something very interesting demonstrating that this is again a prophetic shadow picture that connects with the recent pictures in the recorded stories of Lot and David connecting to the Second Exodus and the ascension of the Son of David to the throne!!
4 Now it came about after this that Joash had a heart to restore the house of the Lord.
2 Chr. 24:4
Recall, Joash is a son of David. This is important.
When Yeshua comes up from Bozrah (Isaiah 63) at the end of the Great Tribulation having preserved His Qahal (Assembly) in the wilderness, see King David as Prophecy of the Second Exodus, the first thing He will do is restore the Temple. He will build the Third Temple, prophesied in Ezekiel 40-48.
The names of Joash and Jehoida are also interesting. Joash’s name, who is a brief picture of Yeshua, means “given by YHVH.” Selah.
Jehoida means, “YHVH knows.”
As with all pictures, they begin to break down when pushed too far. The passage continues by telling of the progress, or lack thereof, in the restoration. However, clearly, Joash follows YHVH and Jehoida’s priesthood until Jehoida dies. Regretably, Joash then falls away.
The parallels in the first few verses are unmistakable connectors to prophecy and other pictures, though. Joash is a ‘son of David’ who has two wives, given by the High Priest, who bear him sons and daughters. And, early in his tenure as king, he restores the Temple and upgrades Temple service with gold and silver utensils, etc.
Here is a rough table to note some of the parallels:
| God | Two wives, Sisters, Daughters of one woman Regarded as such in Egypt before the wilderness Two kingdoms with different purposes/destinies Read: Ten Parts in the King | Ezekiel 23:1-4ff Jeremiah 3:6-10ff Jeremiah 13:11 (in Heb.) Jeremiah 31:31-34 Hosea 1&2ff |
| David | Two wives in the wilderness Two wives representing northern and southern kingdoms when he ascends the throne | 1 Samuel 25 1 Samuel 27 2 Sam. 2:1-4 |
| Lot | Passover/Exodus story Escape to the wilderness Two daughters (presumably) of one mother Leads to two nations | Genesis 19 |
| Joash | He is a son of David Has two wives that bore him ‘sons and daughters’ Restores the Temple | 2 Chronicles 24:1-4; 15-16 |
God confirms, in His Word and through previous events, what He is doing or will do. The Joash story matches the pattern and again confirms the fact that God indeed has given two brides to Yeshua: the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
May He teach us and reveal the fullness of Himself and His plan!!
Selah.
natsab 