Modern Day Battle of Jericho

History repeats itself over and over for we are ‘slow’ learners:
[Ps.82:1] God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
The singer Asaph beholds Elohim presiding over a great congregation and rendering judgments before what the text innocently refers to as ‘gods’.
Before us is a courtroom, the matter before it is the ever-present, nettlesome problem of the wicked and the injustices which seem to sweep along in their path.
In addressing the ‘gods’, G-d is not acknowledging pagan deities or recognizing the existence of other supernatural beings like Himself; rather, He is addressing he earthly judges and administrators of His Law whom He has set up to represent Him. Our L-rd depends on these administrators, functioning as magistrates in the divinely ordained state, to bring a measure of immediate relief from the injustices and brutalities of life.
Other passages refer to this class of Israelite rulers and judges as G-d’s representatives on earth. Accordingly, Ex. 21:6, using the same word, orders the slave who voluntarily wishes to be indentured for life to be taken ‘before the judges.’ Likewise, Ex. 22:8 advises the owner who complains of a theft, even when no thief has been found, to ‘appear before the judges.’ Using the same word, the psalmist affirmed in 138:1, ‘I will praise you, O L-rd, with all my heart; before the ‘gods’ (rulers or judges) I will sing your praise.’
Here uses this same word to refer to the executive or judicial branches of government-or those scholars have translated the word as ‘gods’ in the past. In verse 6 it makes it crystal clear by making all believers who ‘are sons of the Most High to be ‘gods’.
[2] How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah.
The last place the question will appear is in Psalm 94, a passage which calls for G-d to bring on His judgment of the wicked. It is a question first asked in Psalm 4 and leads us through twelve psalm passages to its final answer in Psalm 94.
[3] Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
[4] Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
1982, Israel grew tired of PLO attacks and launched an offensive called ‘Peace for Galilee’. On June 6, 1982, the Israeli Army launched ‘Operation Peace for Galilee.’ They moved into Lebanon to disperse the PLO. Arafat’s terrorists had continually harassed the Israeli nation. After a renewed round of Ketusha rockets, Menachem Begin decided the nation had suffered enough.
Under the leadership of Ariel Sharon the IDF moved into Lebanon. The attack began at 11 a.m. on Sunday and within forty-eight hours; many of the PLO’s fixed positions and much of its long-range Soviet-built artillery had been eliminated from Southern Lebanon. By the time a cease-fire came at eh end of the week, at least sixty thousand troops, led by more than five hundred tanks had swept across the sixty-three mile long Lebanese border, and pushed the PLO all the way to Beirut.
Israel could have captured Yasser Arafat, but the U.S. Government asked them to halt on the outskirts of Lebanon’s capital. That move proved to be expensive. Israel had to maintain the cost of occupation for several months, draining their economy and producing unparalleled inflation. Days dragged on into weeks as the PLO took their time evacuating Beruit.
The August 16, 1982, edition of TIME magazine brandished the headline ‘Beirut Goes Up in Flames,’ though Israel tried to explain that their attack was not ‘the real thing.’ TIME gave a dismal picture of Israel’s blitz, but at least reported Israel’s battle strategy. Above the first paragraph in the TIME article they quoted the cliché: ‘…Joshua fought the battle of Jericho, and the walls came tumbling down.’
Arafat was stalling. Demands were being negotiated for a pull-out, but it was obvious that Arafat was making the most of the situation. Israeli supersonic jets began to circle the city throughout the day breaking the sound barrier with every turn.
The noises of explosions sounded fierce, but were created by those aircraft traveling faster than the speed of sound. They dropped a few bombs in strategic locations for visual effect and completely unnerved Arafat’s PLO. The intensive bombardment lasted for eleven hours, from 6 a.m. until 5 p.m. More than sixty Israeli warplanes took part. According to Beirut reports, ‘Israel dropped their payloads of death and destruction on the besieged city, making some 220 bombing runs. The jets were flying so low that their markings were clearly visible, their noise a deafening howls,’ wrote the Western correspondent for TIME. The PLO dropped their demands and began leaving two days later. Israel explained that they weren’t really bombing Beriut off the map, they were just marching around the walls of Jericho making a lot of noise!
Israel was getting a bad press! The news media received most of its information from Arafat’s brother (head of the Red Crescent, and Arab division of the Red Cross) – exaggerated out of all proportions. Menachem Begin came to the UN General Assembly to explain that they went after the PLO to rid the world of terrorism. However, many of the delegates walked out on his speech.
The world refused to understand Israel’s need to break up the training bases for terrorist who operated in several countries around the world. Israel found underground storage areas with enough military supplies to last the PLO for ten years. Records and files ere found to determine that Russia was planning on invasion of Israel and the Middle East for the near future. Israel had put a dent into Russian war plans. Israel was not allowed to finish the job. The conflict continued into the 1983.
[Ps. 83:2] For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
[3] They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
[4] They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
[5] For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
The war dragged on into 1983. Arafat met with Jordan’s King Hussein in an effort to rally support for his dispersed PLO. The enemies of modern Israel included almost the entire Arab world. As a matter of fact, the enemy is named in verse 6-8.
[6] The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
[7] Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
[8] Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
Jordan is described by the ancient tribes listed in these verses – Edom, Moab, and Ammon. The Ishmaelites, children of Ishmael, make up the bulk of the modern Arab world. The Hagarenes were children of Hagar. Gebal was a city on the Mediterranean, twenty-five miles north of Beruit. In Greek and Roman times it was called Biblos because of the manufacture of papyrus there. Today the city is called Jebeil. It was listed along with Tyre in Lebanon.
The Philistines or Palestinians are listed. Also, there is some evidence that among the Palestinians are descendants of ancient Edom. Amalek and Assur also have offspring among the Arabs today! Incredible, but there it is. It seems to be a 3,000 year-old description of Israel’s modern enemies along with their attempt to destroy G-d’s Chosen People in 1982-1983! Verse 14-16 indicate that the conflict will continue.
[14] As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;
[15] So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.
[16] Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.
The Song of Moses (Ps. 90-100) appears to bring Israel’s continuing conflict to a glorious conclusion with the coming of the Messiah.
The number 83 comprise the Hebrew word meaning ‘unripe figs.’ The fig tree put forth its leaves in 1948, but now the fruit appears. We can be sure Israel will someday bear fruit. Psalm 1:3 reminds us, he (Israel) shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.. In the millennium Israel will be placed at the head of the nations!