We have discussed the harbingers associated with those people who have claimed the declaration: “the bricks have fallen, we will rebuild with hewn stones;” i.e., the house if Yisra’el. Yesha’yahu had much to say about this judgment, but he is not alone. Here are the words of Amoc:

Amoc (Amos) 2:6-8

Thus says YAHUAH; For three transgressions of Yisra’el, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes; 7 That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name: 8 And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.

9 Yet destroyed I the Emoriy before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath. 10 Also I brought you up from the land of Mitsrayim, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Emoriy. 11 And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Naziyriym.  Is it not even thus, O ye children of Yisra’el? says YAHUAH. 12 But ye gave the Naziyriym wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not. 13 Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves. 14 Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself: 15 Neither shall he stand that handles the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rides the horse deliver himself. 16 And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, says YAHUAH.

Yisra’el has always been capitalist in nature.  Let us take a moment on this.  Yisra’el is the house of the northern kingdom, called Jezreel in most English editions, but properly interpreted as Yitzra’el.  This is the kingdom of the ten tribes who broke away from Solomon’s (Shalomah) kingdom following his death, because of the imposition of unjust taxes by his son, Rechav’am.

Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy (2 Chronicles) 10:1-5

AND Rechav`am went to Shekem: for to Shekem were all Yisra’el come to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Yarov`am the son of Nevat, who was in Mitsrayim, whither he had fled from the presence of Shalomah the king, heard it, that Yarov`am returned out of Mitsrayim. 3 And they sent and called him. So Yarov`am and all Yisra’el came and spoke to Rechav`am, saying, 4 Your father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease you somewhat the grievous servitude of your father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve you. 5 And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.

So we begin with a demand for tax relief by the northern kingdom; i.e., the house of Yitsra’el.

Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy (2 Chronicles) 10:6-7

6 And king Rechav`am took counsel with the old men that had stood before Shalomah his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people? 7 And they spoke unto him, saying, If you be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be your servants forever.

Here is a lesson for all future leaders: listen to the old men, because, if they walk in the fear of YAHUAH, sometimes they know what they are talking about, because they have despised wisdom, they have gained understanding, and they hold knowledge.  Let’s see how the young hot head handles the advice from the oldies.

Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy  (2 Chronicles) 10:8-15

But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him. 9 And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that your father did put upon us? 10 And the young men that were brought up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shall you answer the people that spoke unto you, saying, Your father made our yoke heavy, but make it somewhat lighter for us; thus shall you say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins. 11 For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 12 So Yarov`am and all the people came to Rechav`am on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day. 13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rechav`am forsook את (eth) the counsel of the old men, 14 And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of ELOHIYM, that YAHUAH might perform his word, which he spoke by the hand of Achiyahu the Shiyloniy to Yarov`am the son of Nevat.

Rechav’am responds with arrogance, ignorance, and brute force.  This lesson in history has not gone unnoticed.  And the house of Yisra’el did then what it always does, engages in revolution and civil war.

Divrei Hayamiym Sheniy  (2 Chronicles) 10:16-19

And when all Yisra’el saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? And we have none inheritance in the son of Yishay: every man to your tents, O Yisra’el: and now, David, see to your own house. So all Yisra’el went to their tents. 17 But as for the children of Yisra’el that dwelt in the cities of Yahudah, Rechav`am reigned over them. 18 Then king Rechav`am sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Yisra’el stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rechav`am made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Yerushalayim. 19 And Yisra’el rebelled against the house of David unto this day.

The house of Yisra’el has always been capitalist in nature, seeking new frontiers to practice the Torah, and to live free of oppressive taxes.  “No taxation without representation” was the battle cry of the American Revolution, a revolution brought to separate the house of Yisra’el from the bankers of Yahudah and the nations under his scepter and under his law givers. 

But consider the words of Ezra:

Ezra Reviy’iy (4 Ezra) 13:29-50

Behold, the days come, when EL ELYON will begin to deliver them that are upon the earth. 30 And he shall come to the astonishment of them that dwell on the earth. 31 And one shall undertake to fight against another, one city against another, one place against another, one people against another, and one realm against another. 32 And the time shall be when these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen which I showed you before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom you saw as a man ascending. 33 And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave the battle they have one against another. 34 And an innumerable multitude shall be gathered together, as you saw them, willing to come, and to overcome him by fighting. 35 But he shall stand upon the top of the Mount Tsiyon. 36 And Tsiyon shall come, and shall be showed to all men, being prepared and built, like as you saw the hill graven without hands. 37 And this my Son shall rebuke the wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into the tempest; 38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall destroy them without labour by the Torah which is like unto me. 39 And whereas you saw that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him; 40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Husha  the king, whom Shalman’ecer the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the waters, and so came they into another land. 41 But they took this counsel among themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth into a further country, where never mankind dwelt, 42 That they might there keep their statutes, which they never kept in their own land. 43 And they entered into Perath by the narrow places of the river. 44 For EL ELYON then showed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over. 45 For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a half: and the same region is called Arzareth.  46 Then dwelt they there until the latter time; and now when they shall begin to come, 47 EL ELYON shall stay the springs of the stream again, that they may go through: therefore saw you the multitude with peace. 48 But those that be left behind of your people are they that are found within my borders. 49 Now when he destroys the multitude of the nations that are gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain. 50 And then shall he show them great wonders.