“The Idols of Egypt Will Tremble”
We’ve been taught that idols are nothing more than carved blocks of wood or stone. That happens not to be the case.
Again this week, we encounter the Hebrew word used by Isaiah translated to “idols,” ellilim, which scholar Christopher B. Hays showed in a recent academic paper derives from the Akkadian name of the Mesopotamian father-god, Ellil. This is fascinating, because scholar William Gallagher noted in a paper published about 30 years ago that Ellil is the origin of the name translated “Lucifer,” Helel, in Isaiah 14:12.
In other words, rather than lifeless wood or stone, the “idols” of Isaiah are actually minions (demons?) of the entity we identify as Shemihazah, the fallen Watcher who led the rebellion of Genesis 6:1–4.
Isaiah’s oracle concerning Egypt prophesies the coming of a “fierce king,” probably the Assyrian king Esarhaddon, who conquered Egypt in the year 671 BC. But as with many of the Bible’s prophecies, there is a “not yet” fulfillment, and the chapter concludes with the Lord’s declaration that a day would come when Egypt (“My people”) and Assyria (“the work of My hands”) would make peace, worship God, with a highway between the two and Israel as the center of the nations.
By the way, this is our 500th Bible study going back to September 2014.
We’re asking for your help to Build Bunker Better! We’ve decided to remain in our home, but we need certain upgrades to make it safe for Derek given his recent mobility limitations compounded by mild COPD. Find out more at Gilberthouse.org/donate.
Sharon’s niece, Sarah Sachleben, has been battling stage 4 bowel cancer and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah.
Follow our new channels on Telegram:
And subscribe to our Substack channels for free excerpts from our books: Gilberthouse.substack.com and SharonKGilbert.substack.com.
If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources:
- Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821)
- Modern English translation by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James VanderKam (link to book at Amazon)
- Book of 1 Enoch – Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (link opens free PDF)
- Book of 1 Enoch – R. H. Charles translation (link opens free PDF)
The SkyWatchTV store has a special offer on Dr. Michael Heiser’s two-volume set A Companion to the Book of Enoch. Get both books, the R. H. Charles translation of 1 Enoch, and a DVD interview with Mike and Steven Bancarz for a donation of $35 plus shipping and handling.
Get our free app! It connects you to these studies plus our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker. Best of all, it bypasses the gatekeepers of Big Tech! The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at GilbertHouse.org/app.
We have merch! Check out our new GHTV, Redwing Saga, Armored Sheep, and PID Radio T-shirts and mugs here.
JOIN US IN ISRAEL (NOTE NEW DATES)! Our next tour of Israel is Oct. 24–Nov. 3, 2027, with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information and to reserve your place, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel.
NOTE: If you’e going with us to Israel, you’ll need to apply for a visa online before you travel. The cost is 25 NIS (about $7.50). Log on here: https://www.gov.il/en/departments/topics/eta-il/govil-landing-page
Click here for the complete archive of our New Testament Bible studies to date, click here for the Old Testament studies to date, and click here for our studies of the Book of 1 Enoch to date. Or go to www.spreaker.com/show/gilbert-house-fellowship for all of the audio.