ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Monite Sune 12, 2023

Canaanites' Superior Weaponry  רכב

Lelei hake ‘a e naunautau ‘a e Ha’a Kenani

JOSHUA 11:4-5

AND THEY CAME OUT WITH ALL THEIR TROOPS, A GREAT HORDE, IN NUMBER LIKE THE SAND THAT IS ON THE SEASHORE, WITH VERY MANY HORSES AND CHARIOTS. AND ALL THESE KINGS JOINED THEIR FORCES AND CAME AND ENCAMPED TOGETHER AT THE WATERS OF MEROM TO FIGHT AGAINST ISRAEL.

SIOSIUA 11:4-5

4 Pea na‘a nau ‘alu mo ‘enau ngaahi kongakau kotoa pē, ko e kakai tokolahi ‘o hangē ko e ‘one‘one ‘i he matātahi hono lau, pea ko e me‘a tokolahi ‘aupito ‘a e hoosi mo e sāliote. 5 Pea fetautaulaki ‘a e ngaahi tu‘i ko ia, pea na‘a nau omi, ‘o nofo fakataha ‘i he Vai ‘o Mēlomi ke fai tau mo ‘Isileli.

(LILIU FAKA-TONGA)

Na’e ma’u ha saliote ‘e ono ‘i he fonualoto ‘o e Tu’i ‘Isipite ko Tutakameni (Tu’i Tati), ko e fakamo’oni ki he manakoa mo e ‘iloa ‘o e saliote tau ‘i ‘Isipite. Ko e rekev ("saliote"), mei he veape, rakav ("ke heka"), na’e ngaue’aki ki he fai tau, tuli manu mo e fefononga’aki. ‘I he hisitolia mo e ta’anga ‘a ha’a ‘Isileli, na’e ‘asi ‘a e saliote mo Felo ‘i he tohi ‘Ekisoto (15:4) “Ko e ngaahi sāliote ‘a Felo mo ‘ene hōsitē kuo ne tolo ki tahi na.” Pea ‘i he hili pe ‘a hono kapa ‘a e fonua, na’a nau fehangahangai mo ha ngaahi saliote tau tokolahi mo ha kongakau kaukaua ‘a e Tu’i Hasoa. Na’e ‘ikai hanau vavatatau. Ka neongo ‘enau pokosi’i ‘i he ‘ao honau fili, ka ko Sihova, na’a ne tau ma’a kinautolu ‘i he Tahi Kulokula, na’a ne toe unuhi ‘e ne heletaa ke haofaki’i hono kakai. Ko e tau saliote kaukaua ‘a e fili, “na‘a ne hele uoua ‘enau fanga hoosi mo tutu ‘enau ngaahi sāliote ‘i he afi” (Siosiua 11:9).

Na’e malie ‘a e mafuli ‘a e rekev (saliote) ‘a ee na’e ‘asi ‘i he hisitolia ‘o ‘Isileli ‘i he tau pe, kae fakahoko ia ‘i he Fukava Fo’ou ko e vaka ‘o e Koosipeli ‘i he hili ‘a e Penitekosi. Na’e ngaue’aki ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e kupu mei he palofisai ‘a ‘Aisea, ke fakamo’oni ai ‘a Filipe ki he tangata ‘Iunoke ‘Itiopea, lolotonga ‘ene fononga ‘i he saliote (Ngaue 8:28). Hange ko e “tuki huo ‘aki ‘enau ngaahi heletā” na’e liliu ‘a e saliote ko e me’angaue ke vaka ai ‘a e Koosipeli. 

“‘Oku pole sāliote ni‘ihi, Pea pole hoosi ni‘ihi; Ka ko kitautolu ni ‘e ngata ‘I he Huafa ‘o Sihova ko hotau ‘Otua” (Saame 20:7).

Six chariots were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen ("King Tut"), witness to the popularity of chariotry in ancient Egypt. The rekev ("chariot"), from the verb rakav ("to ride"), was used for warfare, hunting, and transportation. In Israel's story and song, chariots were linked with Pharaoh and his army, whom God "cast into the sea" (Exod. 15:4). Shortly after Israel began the conquest of the land, they faced more chariots-a vast and powerful army, led by the king of Hazor. God's people were simply outgunned. Yet the Lord, who battled for them at the Red Sea, brandished his sword for them here as well. The much-feared chariotry of the enemy was reduced to ashes in the aftermath (Josh. 11:9).

In a strange twist, the rekev, so closely associated with war in Israel's past, became the location of evangelism after Pentecost. Using prophecies from Isaiah, Philip witnessed of Christ to the Ethiopian eunuch inside a moving chariot (Acts 8:28). Like swords beaten into plowshares, the chariot was transformed into a vehicle of Gospel.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we, O Lord our God, put our trust in your saving name (Ps. 20:7).