Revelation 2
Revelation 2 is the second chapter of the Book of Revelation or the Apocalypse of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. The book is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, but the precise identity of the author remains a point of academic debate. This chapter contains messages to churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum and Thyatira, four of the seven churches of Asia located in modern-day Turkey, with messages for the other three churches appearing in chapter 3.
Text
The original text was written in Koine Greek. This chapter is divided into 29 verses.Textual witnesses
Early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter include:Old Testament references
- :
- :
- : ;
- : Psalm
New Testament references
- : Revelation 12:5; 19:15.
The message to Pergamum (2:12–17)
Verse 14
The instruction Balaam gave to Balak, which is here called his "doctrine", was that Balak should get some of the most beautiful women in his kingdom to ply the men of Israel, and draw them into uncleanness, and so to idolatry; this would provoke God's anger to the Israelites, so Balak might get an advantage over them. Israelites did commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab, eat things sacrificed to idols, and bowed down to Baal Peor, is certain ; but that this was brought about through the counsel of Balaam is not so plainly expressed, though it is hinted at in ; but the Jewish writers are very clear about this matter. Jonathan ben Uzziel, one of the Targumists on, has these words of Balaam,This now was the stumbling block he taught Balak to lay before them. And elsewhere it is said,
Both Philo and Josephus speak of this counsel of Balaam, much to the same purpose. The Samaritan Chronicle says that this counsel pleased the king, and he sent into the camp of Israel, on a sabbath day, 24,000 young women, by whom the Israelites were so seduced, that they did everything they desired them, which was just the number of those that were slain,.