If we don't know the past, we don't know if we are repeating it. It is possible the current American administration, and now Brazil and Spain's leaders, in applying pressure to stop construction in Jerusalem aren't informed regarding readily available Middle East history.
It is not hard to find this history. It's even kindly been translated into the common language of all of the above countries. In fact copies of this Israeli history are more readily available in these respective countries than books on their own national history.
In America, a Harris Poll in March 2008 found that the Bible was the number one book, amongst both Democrats and Republicans and across all societal divides of education or ethnicity. At least in America this history should be known well.
Last time Jews were in diaspora, as there was a diaspora before, other Arab and Persian ethnicities had, in the interim, been settled in Samaria and Judea.
When the Jews are allowed, we can note this, allowed by the leader of the superpower of the day Cyrus (of Medo-Persia), to go back to the Land and to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple, the Arab locals who had been there for over a generation didn't like it. It was the time of Zerubbabel. It was 538 BCE.
Things started heating up as soon as Jews began to lay foundation stones. We have some historical detail on this,
When the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple..they approached Zerubbabel ... “Let us build with you since we too worship your God, having offered sacrifices to him...”(Ezra 4:1)
The offer by the Arab adversaries was spurious. The historian notes they are adversaries to the influx of returning Jews. The implication is that they are lying. At the very least they intended to take over the work, as the work of their god. Their religion was a corruption of the Hebrew one (Samaritan religion and Islam claim to supersede Judaism, yet have a sense of inferiority in indebtedness). The Jewish leader Zerubbabel replied,
“we alone will build it...in accord with the charge that the king, king Cyrus of Persia, laid upon us”.(Ezra 4:3)
The Jewish leader, Zerubabbel is diplomatic, very like Netanyahu, and appeals to the superpower's wishes, rather than naming the real issue. The real issue was a possible influx of all the Jews returning and re-claiming their land. But everyone must have known the real issue, as the Arabs in the land set out to undermine the Jews building activity, and they,
“made them afraid to build. They bribed ministers in order to thwart their plans all the years of King Cyrus...until the reign of King Darius”(Ezra 4:4-5)
They did more than bribe people. When Cyrus is replaced by a new leader, the Arabs took advantage of the situation, and they worked hard to influence the new leader's perceptions. We have a copy of a very relevant document the Arabs made.
“And now be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have reached Jerusalem and are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city; they are completing the walls and repairing the foundation. Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls completed that they will not pay tribute...and in the end it will harm the kingdom...search the records and know this city is a rebellious city harmful to kings and states..We advise the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls completed, you will no longer have any portion in the province beyond the river ”. (Ezra 4:12-16).
Remembering how careful the Jewish leader was to abide by the superpower's wishes, these claims were a lot of nonsense. The Jewish historian is however, scrupulously honest and doesn't make any comment. They merely record that it had a official response from the Obama-like leader, Artaxerxes, who wrote an official order,
“Now issue an order to stop these men: this city is not to be rebuilt until I so order. Take care not to be lax in this matter or there will be much damage and harm to the kingdom” (Ezra 4:19-22).
The Jewish historian notes, without emotion, that the local Arabs of the day,
“hurried to Jerusalem, to the Jews, and stopped them by main force”(Ezra:4:23).
History perhaps never exactly repeats, as it is more like the weather, but the similarity is striking.
We could re-write that to fit today. The Palestinians, seeing a new set of leaders emerge in the post Bush era, if they were to write a letter to America, (or the Quartet on the Middle East), they might write,
“And now let it be known that the Jews who came from you to us have reached Jerusalem (since 1967) and are building there over the Green Line. Now be it known that if this city is rebuilt and completed that they will contravene international wishes and in the end it will harm the peace process (and that will harm the nations of the Quartet). Search the records of the United Nations and know that this city is harmful to states. We advise that if the city is built completely, you will no longer have any portion there (as you won't be able to make a Palestinian state).”
This ploy worked 2500 years ago. It's working today. Obama has used language not dissimilar to Artaxerxes'.
The differences in the situation merely highlights the similarities. Though Israel appears more of a sovereign nation than the province of Judah did, there are only a few degrees of difference between the power of Medo-Persia back then and the Quartet today.
Despite Netanyahu being trained as an architect and valuing construction in economic development, and the fact that,
Mr. Netanyahu told MIT professors he hoped to use his combined studies in management and architecture towards alleviating Israel's acute housing shortage, MIT newsoffice 1996
there is no doubt the Quartet's pressure is resulting in restriction on construction on Netanyahu's watch. I explored the the deep irony of this in De-constructing America's Foreign Policy: Israel
But recognising a mere similarity in situation yields no practical wisdom, unless some useful information may be gained. The leaders involved with the Quartet, and others such as Brazil and Spain may note that enforcing such a stop on construction actually worked, in that the Jews stopped work for a while (or as Netanyahu would say, they had a suspension hash'ayah, or a waiting period hamtana), but these leaders should also note what happened after Artaxerxes stopped construction.
After a few years of this pressure, Jewish prophets arose rebuking the people for not building and the leaders of the Jews defied the orders and started building again. Not only that, they refused to stop while the dispute was being sorted out!
“But God watched over the elders of the Jews and they were not stopped while a report went to Darius.”(Ezra 5:5)
The Jews argued that they had the right to build, as actually, it was a decree by Cyrus. The parallel cannot be missed. Now many defenders of the Jewish settlements are writing that they are standing on solid ground, and that Jews have a legal right to settle in Judea and Samaria. They say that they have permission in international law back from the time of the UN Mandate, and that the only relevant document regarding settlement is a UN directive that Jews may settle West of the Jordan river! “Mandate for Palestine” The Legal Aspects of Jewish Rights Eli E. Hertz, ARE SETTLEMENTS ILLEGAL? Jerold Auerbach, also Betar-Tagar
About the year 520BCE, while the Jews and Arabs were arguing whether Jews were allowed to build, in the meantime back in the superpower's capital a very odd event materially changed the leader's view of the Jews. Darius was hoping to promote Daniel, a Jew, to a leading position, but there were many in power against this, either not liking Daniel, or not liking that he was a Jew. They went out of their way to set a trap. The subsequent events many people may know about, as this as the story of Daniel in the lions' den. Daniel is miraculously delivered, and the anti-Semites shown up for the schemers they are and executed. It's a miracle of astounding proportions that changes Darius' view on Jews and their God. Just, I note, at the very time when the question was to be put to him to sort out whether Jews could build in Jerusalem or not. As to who the modern equivalent to Daniel might be, we don't know, but Jews are not absent from American or European politics.
Darius as a result of the revelation to him of the power of the Jewish God, writes to resolve the dispute regarding building the settlement,
“I hereby issue an order concerning what you must do to help these..Jews..re-build. I also issue an order that whosoever alters this decree shall have a beam removed from his house... and his house confiscated. And may the God who established His name there cause the downfall of any king or nation that undertakes to alter or damage the house of God in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 6:8-12)
As the Bible account records the decree that stopped work, the one beginning work is likely to be authentic. Darius said it! He's not a Jew, either but a Persian. It would be a nice touch if the original of this decree turns up in clay in Iraq or, even better, Iran. One thing to note is that Darius adds a curse that has no time limit. It condemned the Romans. The decline of the Roman empire arguably dates from about the time the Romans prevented Jews from settling in the land the Roman's renamed as Palestina.
Based on the subsequent history of those preventing construction by Jews in Jerusalem and Darius' Curse, it may not be healthy in the long run to be the person or nation stopping construction work.
Notwithstanding the lack of lions dens or modern prophets, we have not been left without relevant words from the ancient Hebrew prophets about today's situation.
Ezekiel speaks of “the mountains of Israel being made desolate” (Ezekiel 33:28), which happened, but then goes on,
I will bring them [Jews] out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the settled portions of the land. ..upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there ...shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel.. I will look for the lost, and bring back that which was driven away, and will bind that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick..I will feed them with judgment. (Ezekiel 34:13-16)
As the mountains of Israel are Samaria and Judea, it follows that Ezekiel does not support that these mountains will be Palestinian. They were occupied by the nations and 'desolate', then they are to be again Jewish. It is on those mountains that the people are 'fed' (with the Torah). But, you may protest that Ezekiel, apart from being long dead is clearly too optimistic. However, Ezekiel does have a very good handle on the current situation, as in the context he has some more to say regarding some opposition.
Because you [Mt Sier] have said, “These two nations and these two lands shall be mine [Judea and Samaria], and we will possess it”; whereas the LORD was there: Therefore, as I live, says the Lord GOD, I will act with the same anger and envy which you acted out in your hatred against them; and I will make myself known through them when I judge you. And you shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have heard all your taunts which you have spoken against the mountains of Israel, saying, “They are laid desolate, they are given us to consume”. (Ezekiel 35:10-12)
Ezekiel is clear about the opposition and captures the essence of the angry words of the Palestinian leadership.
He is backed up by Jeremiah. The context of the following is of Israel (not the first return of Judah in 536BCE)
Again you shall plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria. Men shall plant and live to enjoy them. For the day is coming when watchmen shall proclaim "come, let us go up to Zion"..Shout at the crossroads of the nations... Save, O LORD Your people, The remnant of Israel. I will bring them from the Northland, gather them from the ends of the earth, the blind and the lame among them...(Jeremiah 31:5-9) JPS translation
The last section echoes Ezekiel. Jeremiah sees Jews in peaceful possession of Samaria and going up to a place they call Zion.
Despite appearances to the contrary, it is not 'if' but 'when'. For, Ezekiel and Jeremiah's prophecies written over 2500 years ago, have only been possible since 1967 and back then Israel carried an air of being far more secular than today. It is as if the 'occupation' since 1967 and the international opposition has created a waiting time, to allow for the rise of a return to faith in Israel.
How long there will be a suspension hash'ayah, or a waiting period hamtana, or protests such as those against the units at Gilo, due to the hate of Palestinians and their desire for the land of Judea and Samaria (as a stepping stone to all the land), and to the international pressure is hard to say.
But the last time Jews were prevented building in Jerusalem, the miracle surrounding Daniel so changed circumstances in the capital city of the superpower of the day, such that they actually contributed materially to the subsequent building work!
In addition, no new prophets need to arise to tell Jews to rise up and build. The Jews living in Judea and Samaria are reading Ezekiel and Jeremiah. It is written already that Jews will settle the mountains of Israel and dwell there, despite the 'anger' shown in a bid to possess the mountains of Israel by those styled 'of Mt Seir'. Mt Seir is an area associated with the ancient brother-enemy of Israel in modern Jordan, but not of Jordan, which is a reasonable description of West Bank Palestinians.
These words, amazingly, have been translated into the native languages of all the nations of the Quartet, and may be found readily on their bookshelves. All they have to do is read them. And learn from history.
Or we wait and see those national leaders which ignore the lesson of Jerusalem's history, by their involuntary actions, help fulfil the words of Hebrew prophecy.
I write this and test my logic. I see a few possible scenarios in the next 5-7 years,
'Business as usual', or similar cycles of a quasi-peace broken by violence.
A Palestinian state is made in some of the territory formerly occupied by Jordan after 1948 (whether this state is linked to Gaza or not)
Israel obtains peace and full control over most of Judea and Samaria.
Actually all the options are unlikely, but one must occur. The first option is unlikely because historically change is normal in the ebb and flow of nations. The second scenario is unlikely because of irrational Arab demands, hard line Islamic rhetoric and Jewish needs for security and religious Zionism. In addition, this scenario requires a sustainable state where hard line Isalmics don't take over and they don't attack Israel. This, therefore, of all three, is the most unlikely! We have Gaza. The third option is as Ezekiel and Jeremiah predict (which is to occur after Israel is again a nation regathered). Of all the options the third seems the most impossible, but it does not make it less unlikely.
Israel's history underlines Ezekiel's answer to the question put to him,
"Can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." (Ezekiel 37:3)
Over all of history the servants of God have known the signs of the times: their times. They have seen the direction of events toward the Kingdom of God on earth replacing the kingdoms, republics and democracies of humans.
We were asked what early documents establish that Rosh of Ezekiel 38 is Russia. The answer is in 2 parts, as we explain the trajectory from fulfilled prophecy in history to prophecy yet to be fulfilled.
The Revelation 12 Sign
There is much written about the sun, moon and planets aligning on in September 2017. We have many reasons for suspecting that 2017 will be a prophetically significant year, and the time of the Jewish feast of Sukkot could be more significant than any other time, but we need to understand the scripture before we consider the stars.
An article prompted by National DNA day April 25 celebrating the understanding of DNA.
