A Lamp for the House of David

January 18, 2024

In 2 Chronicles in the context of the Divided Kingdom during the reign of Jehoram, king of Judah, the statement is made, “Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David because of the covenant which He had made with David, and since He had promised to give a lamp to him and his sons forever” (21:7). (The NET Bible reads, “But the LORD was unwilling to destroy David’s dynasty because of the promise he had made to give David a perpetual dynasty”).

To say that Jehoram was very wicked would be an understatement. His first act when his co-regency with his father Jehoshaphat (good king!) ended was to murder all six of his brothers! (21:4). Jehoram was married to Athaliah, the wicked daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and greatly swayed by them. Though King of Judah, “he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done” (21:6).

Lamp, dating to the time of the Divided Kingdom. Author’s personal collection. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Our inspired historian is stating that although Jehoram deserved destruction, as had indeed been meted out to several dynasties in Israel, that Yahweh, the faithful God of the Covenant, would insure that the lineage of David would continue. The use of the word picture of a lamp which continues to burn, and is not extinguished, was a fitting metaphor. The Davidic lineage (here seen in the kings of Judah, both good and bad) would continue until the Messiah came to earth, God Incarnate. This fulfilled the promise made in 2 Samuel 7; cf. 1 Chron. 17, and etc.). Indeed, “the Scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35).

I have earlier written about Judah’s King Jehoram here.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Arch of Constantine Inscription

January 4, 2024

In our previous post we saw Roman Emperor Constantine’s Arch, commemorating his victory over his rival Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge.

Arch of Constantine. (Colosseum on the right). Photo by Leon Mauldin.

There is a lengthy official inscription at the top center of the arch, explaining its purpose.

Inscription on Arch of Constantine. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Here is the Latin inscription with the English translation, from Rome, an Oxford Archaeological Guide:

IMP(eratori) CAES(ari) FL(avio) CONSTANTINO MAXIMO
To the emperor Flavius Constantine, the Great, P(io)F(elici) AUGUSTO S(enatus) P(opulus)Q(ue)R(omanus)
pious and fortunate, the Senate and People of Rome, QUOD INSTINCTU DIVINITATIS MENTIS
because by divine inspiration and his own greatness of spirit MAGNITUDINE CUM EXERCITU SUO
with his army TAM DE TYRANNO QUAM DE OMNI EIUS
on both the tyrant and all his FACTIONE UNO TEMPORE IUSTIS
faction at once in rightful REM PUBLICAM ULTUS EST ARMIS
battle he avenged the State, ARCUM TRIUMPHIS INSIGNEM DICAVIT
dedicated this arch as a mark of triumph

Claridge, Amanda. Rome (Oxford Archaeological Guides) (p. 308).

It is very popular to have group photos of tours taken with the arch as the background. Perhaps this will help in some small way to understand its historical significance.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin

Arch of Constantine, Rome

January 2, 2024

The early 4th Century AD was a tumultuous time in the Roman Empire. Diocletin retired in AD 305 and left power to his chosen successors. Maxentius (one of the previous rulers of Diocletian’s Tetracharchy, ruled over the west) declared himself emperor, 306 AD. This was contested by several rivals, igniting a round of civil wars. Constantine (son of Flavious Constantius, d. AD 306, “senior emperor” under Diocletian) emerged as a major contender.

Initially there were several rival claimants to the throne but two primary factions emerged: Constantine vs Mazentius. In AD 312, Constantine and his troops met Maxentius and his army near the Milvian Bridge (located over the Tiber River in northern Rome. Maxentius’s forces were defeated; in the retreat Maxentius fell into the Tiber River and drowned.

Arch of Emperor Constantine in Rome, Italy. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Following the battle, the empire was ruled by Constantine (most of the west), Maximinus Daia (the easternmost provences, and Licinius (the area between).

It was just before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge that Constantine was converted to Christianity. Later in AD 313 Constantine (and Licinius) issued the Edict of Milan, which granted toleration to all religions and restored confiscated property to the Christians church.

The Arch of Constantine was dedicated by the Roman Senate in AD 315. It commorates Constantine’s victory over Maxentius.

Right hand side of the Arch. Shows Battle at Milvaian Bridge in frieze above smaller arch. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Here is a close-up of the battle as depicted on the Arch.

Highlighted area depicts the Battle at the Milvian Bridge. Photo by Leon Mauldin.

Professor Gregory Aldrete notes, “The Arch of Constantine is one of the few surviving victory arches at Rome. It marks the first time that such a monument was erected to celebrate a civtory over fellow Romans rather than foreigners.”

Click images for larger view.

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Posted by Leon Mauldin