1 Chronicles 12:40

(1 Chronicles 12:40 ESV) And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

David's loyal warriors came from all over Israel! The diverse tribes of Israel all rallied together to support David, which was phenomenal.

The twelve sons of Israel formed the twelve tribes, listed from oldest to youngest: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, and Benjamin, each with their own land.

In the 12th Chapter of Chronicles, warriors came from the tribe of Benjamin, Judah, and Gad specifically, and eventually from all tribes. Warriors from the tribe of Manasseh are also mentioned. Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's sons and are treated as a single Tribe of Joseph.

This large kinfolk of Israel, once divided into twelve tribes and spread out over the land, were brought together again in unity by the leadership of David. This reconciliation and sense of unity with a shared purposed was the cause of great JOY.

The hope of a new time of peace between the tribes resulted in a party as food came riding in on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Every useful animal was used as a tool of transportation for flour, cakes of figs, clusters or raisins, wine and oil, and sheep and oxen meat.

Those who were once arguing were instead forgetting all differences and celebrating with JOY. Not only that, but the snacks showed up in abundance too! David was the one guy that could bring the people back together.

I ponder my feelings when I am reconciled with other people. Not only that, but it is a constant reconciliation with God as He forgives me daily.

When I experience reconciliation, I admit it is a cautious hope because I have had people turn on me multiple times for no reason whatsoever. I do not trust that the reconciliation is real. Care must be given and taken to build trust again. It is certainly awkward at first. With a quiet relief accompanied by an inward determination that forgiveness is real, trust is created.

I wonder if that is how these folks felt during their celebration with JOY and abundant snacks. The giving of what is their own to each other was the first step at building a new trust. Yep, wine, fig cake, and delicious meat at reunions helps too!

This is our second study on the word JOY in scripture that focuses on reconciliation and this is only the third study! I can certainly see how reconciliation of my sins through Christ could be foreshadowed in these stories.

Please pray with me. Hey God, thanks for this Bible study that shows me reconciliation can happen with even a very large group of people. If it can happen with that magnitude, it can happen with me and one other person. Also, I see that if reconciliation seems impossible, one person can make a difference to help it happen. I should not lose hope because life changes and minds can turn. The restoration to friendly relationships is always possible. Thanks for always forgiving me, Lord, and restoring me to a right relationship with You. Amen.

The King James Version of the concordance has 93 references in 89 verses to this certain word for "joy" as reference H8057. שִׂמְחָה is pronounced simchâh (sim-khaw) an relates to a religious or festival blithesomeness (cheerful disposition) or glee, which is fitting for this scene. H8057 is also translated in other Bible verses as exceeding(ly), gladness, joy(fulness), mirth, pleasure, rejoice(ing).

Dated November 26, 2025

My “arting” often revolves around photography. My “framed joy” is photography! At first I did not feel inspired at all to either quote or art on the joy verse of the week, but then it hit me! Let’s look at the verse again.

(1 Chronicles 12:40 ESV) …they ….came bringing food… abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

What a perfect verse for Thanksgiving week 2025! I pondered to myself, what are “cakes of fig,” and so I did an internet search for recipes. I found one I liked, but as I was making it, I changed it up.

I decided to make a Cake of Fig! I went shopping and these were my fig options in my local store. I am not sure I have ever eaten figs other than Fig Newtons, which I do like. Plus I know in my tea tastings that some of my readers know about, I often compare a tea flavor to figs, and then again, do I really know what they taste like? I was excited to explore the taste of this Biblical fruit this week! How fun, huh?

The fig preserves were in the recipe. I only found them as I was going to the check lane on an end cap of the grocery store isle. Wow! They are SO delicious! I want to go back and get another jar since mine is gone into the cake now.

These Black Mission Figs were in the produce section. Oh my! They are SO good and I will certainly be buying them again. I do like dates and raises which are comparable, but I think I love figs over dates and raisin now. Why did I wait so late in life to enjoy them?

I sliced one open to see what they looked like. Look at the little seeds! That would be what we call “roughage” for the bodily system! I could not believe how filling this fruit was to my stomach.

Next I tried the dry figs. I like the natural shape of them more, but the non-dried figs from the produce section were noticeably better. I can say that the way just a few of these figs make things move inside me is a delight! Who needs prune juice when you can eat tasty figs, right?

I first put 3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups of sugar, and 1 cup of canola oil into a bowl and whisked it up together. The consistency was so odd and yet fun and look at that bright yellow! In another bowl I whisked together 2 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin spice, and a 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon.

I learned to love cardamon from Kristin! It is her favorite spice. I love how it smells. I never had a passion for cardamom or even knew what it was until I bought it to experience what my friend loved. It grows on me all the time.

I had a measuring cup of 1/2 cup of milk which I took turns whisking in with the flour mixture. I loved not having to use a blender for this. I also had fun taking photos of my baking and I hope you are enjoying my photos.

I roughly chopped up some pecans. I love pecans! I added them to the mixture. Then I whisked in the jar of fig preserves. Finally I whisked in a teaspoon of vanilla.

There it is all in a bowl together as the batter. It was calling for another photo op with the figs.

I used a bundt pan to pour the batter into after it was sprayed with cooking spray.

Yep. Biblical figs are just photogenic! That is FRAMED JOY!

Here it is after it baked for 50 minutes at 350 degrees. It seemed odd that the middle fell like that. I had trouble turning it out onto a wire rack. I had to use a knife around it to loosen it. When I turned it upside down, I had a royal mess! I skipped photos of the royal mess.

I scooped up the royal mess into a big bowl. It tasted SO good! It really did not matter what a mess I had because the taste was so comforting!

I have tried to describe the taste, but my words fail me. The best I can come up with is like a spice cake combined with bread pudding!

The sliced fig just had to make a photo op appearance on top of the Cake of Fig. It seemed appropriate.

I made a milk glaze by softly boiling on the stove top 1 cup of sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 stick butter, and 1 tablespoon white corn syrup (Karo). It was supposed to cover the outside of the bundt cake, but instead we poured it over plated Cakes of Fig and it quickly soaked into the gooeyness of goodness!

I would make this recipe again, but probably put it in a 13 x 9 pan where it could just be cut into servings after it cools. I could glaze the top of the pan after it cools. Having it a mess though is fun and oh so cozy yummy!

Oh my! This is SO good warm! In fact, the next day I microwaved my serving had had it with a bit of warm roasted oolong tea. What a JOY!

To bring this all together with the Bible study this week, the people celebrated with food. This Thanksgiving we celebrate with food as well. Celebrations always seem to be centered around food. Food brings us JOY! I really found JOY in food and framed JOY this day. In an odd way, I felt connected to Biblical times making and eating my Cake of Fig. Oh, and if you go back up and look at the Bible verse, they also had wine with their Cake of Fig! They also mention flour, oil which I used.