And the LORD said unto Joshua, “Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand.” And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
The LORD begins today in the next phase toward the rest and refreshing of His people, speaking of it as Ai. Ai is, after Jericho, the second city taken in the invasion and conquest of Canaan (the Promised Land).
In the previous post, we discussed yesterday’s blood moon eclipse, which we know depicts the darkening and fall of the US government. It (the eclipse) alludes to its (the US government) perversion and total corruption away from its intended (Constituted) form. It’s moved away from securing and protecting the God-given rights of the governed (its foundational principle) – into intentional confusion: an irrational and now deluded creation that protects and defends only that which drains life (blood) from the living.
Like Jericho (meaning moon – phases into blood draining darkness), its (corrupt and deluded government) wall without anything to bind its stones (people) together, it took only a shout (the removal of the consent of the governed who it now oppresses) to bring it crashing down into ruin. It is against this heap (Ai – heap of ruin), the LORD now directs me to the stretch out the “spear” (He will put) in my hand, and He will give it into my (our) hand.
The “spear” LORD speaks of are His people, His army He directs by His words, as goads driving us through His plan, even while we’re ignorant of its (His) presence manifesting. “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.” Ecclesiastes 12:11
Friends, in examining this word “spear” we see it used to describe those without His light, roaring out word and ideas that cause the descent into desolation; and then of those (by His presence manifested in His word and work), He raises to combat the darkness. The wall in ruin is those who’ve now fallen into corrupt ignorance, now laying asleep, as a heap, in the dust of the earth. The restoration begins with one Shepherd, the LORD rising in him, as Joshua, as David, as Michael, who then become, are awaken, as many as the sands by the sea-shore, risen again as the stars of heaven. This (fall and rise) is what Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes 12.
Ecclesiastes 12
1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when you shall say, I have no pleasure in them;
2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders [preachers of God’s word] cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows [the foreseers] be darkened [be ignorant],
4 And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird [those who lead them into flying away, from God], and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high [their oppressors], and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish [new ideas and ways shall spring from the darkness], and the grasshopper [those, as the communists, who will consume until they devour all] shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home [death – in the dust and ruin of the earth], and the mourners go about the streets [wandering looking for an open door and refuge]:
6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern [when all mean of drawing living waters have been stopped].
7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it [and man will have found the death foretold in the garden].
8 Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity [all is now worthless].
9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads [as a spear in the hand of the LORD], and as nails fastened [to be trusted] by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one Shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished [receive My correction and warning]: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh [if there is no change].
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil [so you will know to refuse the evil (misleading) and choose the good, which comes from God: His good advice through the one Shepherd He has sent].
Daniel 12
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.
In the title, Joshua 8:18, the word rendered “spear” is the nine times used Hebrew word kiydown, “from the same as 3589 [kiyr]; properly, something to strike with, i.e. a dart (perhaps smaller than 2595):–lance, shield, spear, target.” The word it’s from (#3589: kiyd) is “from a primitive root meaning to strike: a crushing; figuratively, calamity:–destruction.” It (kiyd) only appears once, in Job 21:20, there telling of when the LORD rewards the wicked, first seeing their “destruction” coming, when they drink of the wrath of The Almighty (Shadday – the Highest Power).
Here Job is speaking to the enemies mixed among us, as friends claiming they know God: those whose god is their prosperity gained by wickedness; who now have no cloak to cover their knowingly misleading God’s people deeper into darkness and hell.
Job 21
2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations.
3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled?
5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth.
6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power?
8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them.
10 Their bull genders, and faileth not; their cow calves, and casteth not her calf.
11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ.
13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.
14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty [Shadday – the Highest Power], that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft comes their destruction upon them! God distributes sorrows in his anger.
18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carries away.
19 God lays up his iniquity for his children: he rewards him, and he shall know it.
20 His eyes shall see his destruction [kiyd], and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty [Shadday].
21 For what pleasure has he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst?
22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judges those that are high.
23 One dies in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet.
24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow.
25 And another dies in the bitterness of his soul, and never eats with pleasure.
26 They shall lie down alike in the dust [as a wall in ruin], and the worms shall cover them [in Gehenna].
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which you wrongfully imagine against me.
28 For you say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked?
29 Have you not asked them that go by the way? and do you not know their tokens [the signs shown in them, the significance of the destruction and ruin],
30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he has done?
32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb.
33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him.
34 How then comfort you me in vain, seeing in your answers there remains falsehood?
John 15
18 If the world hates you [as it hated Job], you know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If you were of the world, the world would love his own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his LORD. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23 He that hates me hates my Father also.
24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25 But this comes to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And you also shall bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Joshua 8
18 And the LORD said unto Joshua [Jesus], Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear [kiydown] that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear [kiydown], until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation unto this day.
29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remains unto this day.
30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man has lifted up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursing, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
From the post of 22 March 2021, below ending in the paragraph after Genesis 37 (also see the post of 5 May 2021):
Gerizim is from the one time used word garaz, meaning “to cut off.” It appears in Psalms 31:22, a Psalms of David, as he is blessing the LORD, realizing he wasn’t cut off from the LORD’s eyes. The Psalm tells of this blessing, now, this moment, when we see what He’s laid up for us, as He secreted us here, to be revealed with Him, in us.
Psalms 31
A Psalm of David, Maschil [giving instruction]
1 In you, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in your righteousness.
2 Bow down your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be you my strong rock, for a house of defense to save me.
3 For you are my rock and my fortress; therefore for your name’s sake lead me, and guide me.
4 Pull me out of the net that they have laid secretly for me: for you are my strength.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit: you have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
6 I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the LORD.
7 I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy: for you have considered my trouble; you have known my soul in adversities;
8 And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy: you have set my feet in a large room.
9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.
10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.
11 I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among my neighbors, and a fear to mine acquaintance: they that did see me without fled from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man out of mind: I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I have heard the slander of many: fear was on every side: while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.
14 But I trusted in you, O LORD: I said, You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand: deliver me from the hand of mine enemies, and from them that persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant: save me for your mercies’ sake.
17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon you: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.
18 Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
19 Oh how great is your goodness, which you have laid up for them that fear you; which you have wrought for them that trust in you before the sons of men!
20 You shall hide them in the secret of your presence [paniym] from the pride of man: you shall keep them secretly in a pavilion [cukkah] from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the LORD: for he has shown me his marvelous kindness in a strong city.
22 For I said in my haste, I am cut off [garaz] from before your eyes: nevertheless you heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto you.
23 O love the LORD, all you his saints: for the LORD preserves the faithful, and plentifully rewards the proud doer.
24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the LORD.
The speculative meaning of the name Ebal is said, “perhaps,” to be bald. It’s actually derived from the word ‘abal, meaning to bewail. In this word’s use, we find the meaning of the blessing and the cursing.
It (‘abal) first appears in Genesis 37:34 as we are told of when Jacob, for many days, “mourned” what he thought was the death of His son Joseph. We know, as in the Psalm above, Joseph was merely cut off from the sight of Israel, where God has secreted Him until he was revealed at the appointed time.
Genesis 37
28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32 And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be your son’s coat or no.
33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned [‘abal] for his son many days.
35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.
Friends, the word ‘abal appears 39 times. Most tell of the mourning of God’s people who’ve separated themselves from Him, or of the earth (those who’ve foolishly said “there is no God”) mourning at His reappearance.
The word kiydown (spear) is used once at the beginning of Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 6:23, telling of the spear that comes against the “daughter of Zion.” We’re told it comes from the people of the “north,” which (tsaphown – north) we know means it’s hidden in darkness (in ignorance); the verse before (21) saying this is the stumbling-block before the people, and the father and son shall fall, and the neighbor and his friend shall perish. Even earlier, in verse 19, the LORD says this is the fruit of their thoughts, after verse 17 says he told the watchmen to sound the trumpet, and they said, “We will not hearken.”
This description speaks of God’s people turning on themselves, after their prophets and watchmen fell into corruption.
Jeremiah 6
10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.
13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
14 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.
15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand you in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
18 Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
20 To what purpose comes there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me.
21 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbor and his friend shall perish.
22 Thus says the LORD, Behold, a people comes from the north country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth.
23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear [kiydown]; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against you, O daughter of Zion.
24 We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
25 Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.
26 O daughter of my people, gird you with sackcloth, and wallow yourself in ashes: make you mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.
27 I have set you for a tower and a fortress among my people, that you may know and try their way.
28 They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters.
29 The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melts in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away.
30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD has rejected them.
The only other time kiydown is used in Jeremiah, in Jeremiah 50:42, rendered “lance,” its almost the same as verse 23 above, but now speaking of it coming against the “daughter of Babylon [confusion].” Here it’s the LORD coming, to thoroughly plead the cause of His people, to give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. His voice is the roar of the Lion of Judah, against the swelling of Jordan (the pride of those whose words carried all into death and hell). It’s from this disquieting the wicked flee: from the one He describes (in verse 44) as a Shepherd who is like Him, who He made to stand before Him (paniym – Stand as Michael, His archangel, His presence manifested in plain sight).
Jeremiah 50
31 Behold, I am against you, O you most proud [zadown], says the LORD God of hosts: for your day is come, the time that I will visit you.
32 And the most proud [zadown] shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him.
33 Thus says the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.
34 Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.
35 A sword [the word of God’s truth] is upon the Chaldeans [those who’ve used deceptive words to manipulate and control the world into confusion now turned mass delusion], says the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.
36 A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.
37 A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.
38 A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.
39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited forever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
40 As God overthrew Sodom [burning] and Gomorrah [ruined heap] and the neighbor cities thereof, says the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.
42 They shall hold the bow and the lance [kiydown]: they are cruel, and will not show mercy: their voice [qowl] shall roar [as the lion in verse 44 below] like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses [in the strength of the LORD], every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against you, O daughter of Babylon. [and they shall spoil the spoilers]
43 The king of Babylon has heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail [they now understand what they have brought forth].
44 Behold, he [the LORD in us] shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them [the ignorant deceivers] suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me [as Michael]? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that Shepherd that will stand before me [paniym – as My Presence]?
45 Therefore hear you the counsel of the LORD, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.
46 At the noise [qowl – the voice of the lion’s roar] of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
Psalms 61
1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.
2 From the [this] end of the earth will I cry unto you, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.
3 For you have been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in your tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of your wings. Selah.
5 For you, O God, have heard my vows: you have given me the heritage of those that fear your name.
6 You will prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations.
7 He shall abide before God forever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him.
8 So will I sing praise unto your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.
