Demon Possessed Man

The story of the Demon Possessed Man happens after the desciples get out of the boat. The story links prophetically to Noah's flood and a period in history when the same demon was cast out.

Bible Story of the Demon Possessed Man

42 Mark 5:1-20 1ܘܐܬܐ ܠܥܒܪܐ ܕܝܡܐ ܠܐܬܪܐ ܕܓܕܪܝܐ ܀ 2ܘܟܕ ܢܦܩ ܡܢ ܤܦܝܢܬܐ ܦܓܥ ܒܗ ܡܢ ܒܝܬ ܩܒܘܪܐ ܓܒܪܐ ܕܐܝܬ ܒܗ ܪܘܚܐ ܛܢܦܬܐ ܀ 3ܘܥܡܪ ܗܘܐ ܒܝܬ ܩܒܘܪܐ ܘܒܫܫܠܬܐ ܐܢܫ ܠܐ ܡܫܟܚ ܗܘܐ ܠܡܐܤܪܗ ܀ 4ܡܛܠ ܕܟܠ ܐܡܬܝ ܕܒܤܘܛܡܐ ܘܒܫܫܠܬܐ ܡܬܐܤܪ ܗܘܐ ܫܫܠܬܐ ܡܬܒܪ ܗܘܐ ܘܤܘܛܡܐ ܡܦܤܩ ܗܘܐ ܘܠܐ ܐܢܫ ܡܫܟܚ ܗܘܐ ܠܡܟܒܫܗ ܀ 5ܘܒܟܠ ܙܒܢ ܒܠܠܝܐ ܘܒܐܝܡܡܐ ܒܒܝܬ ܩܒܘܪܐ ܘܒܛܘܪܐ ܐܝܬܘܗܝ ܗܘܐ ܘܩܥܐ ܗܘܐ ܘܡܨܠܦ ܢܦܫܗ ܒܟܐܦܐ ܀ 6ܟܕ ܚܙܐ ܕܝܢ ܠܝܫܘܥ ܡܢ ܪܘܚܩܐ ܪܗܛ ܤܓܕ ܠܗ ܀ 7ܘܩܥܐ ܒܩܠܐ ܪܡܐ ܘܐܡܪ ܡܐ ܠܝ ܘܠܟ ܝܫܘܥ ܒܪܗ ܕܐܠܗܐ ܡܪܝܡܐ ܡܘܡܐ ܐܢܐ ܠܟ ܒܐܠܗܐ ܕܠܐ ܬܫܢܩܢܝ ܀ 8ܐܡܪ ܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܓܝܪ ܦܘܩ ܡܢ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܪܘܚܐ ܛܢܦܐ ܀ 9ܘܫܐܠܗ ܐܝܟܢܐ ܫܡܟ ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܠܓܝܘܢ ܫܡܢ ܡܛܠ ܕܤܓܝܐܐ ܚܢܢ ܀ 10ܘܒܥܐ ܗܘܐ ܡܢܗ ܤܓܝ ܕܠܐ ܢܫܕܪܝܘܗܝ ܠܒܪ ܡܢ ܐܬܪܐ ܀ 11ܐܝܬ ܗܘܐ ܕܝܢ ܬܡܢ ܠܘܬ ܛܘܪܐ ܒܩܪܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܕܚܙܝܪܐ ܕܪܥܝܐ ܀ 12ܘܒܥܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܡܢܗ ܗܢܘܢ ܫܐܕܐ ܘܐܡܪܝܢ ܫܕܪܝܢ ܥܠ ܗܢܘܢ ܚܙܝܪܐ ܕܒܗܘܢ ܢܥܘܠ ܀ 13ܘܐܦܤ ܠܗܘܢ ܘܢܦܩ ܪܘܚܐ ܗܠܝܢ ܛܢܦܬܐ ܘܥܠ ܒܚܙܝܪܐ ܘܪܗܛܬ ܗܝ ܒܩܪܐ ܠܫܩܝܦܐ ܘܢܦܠܬ ܒܝܡܐ ܐܝܟ ܬܪܝܢ ܐܠܦܝܢ ܘܐܬܚܢܩܘ ܒܡܝܐ ܀ 14ܘܗܢܘܢ ܕܪܥܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܠܗܘܢ ܥܪܩܘ ܘܐܡܪܘ ܒܡܕܝܢܬܐ ܘܐܦ ܒܩܘܪܝܐ ܘܢܦܩܘ ܠܡܚܙܐ ܡܕܡ ܕܗܘܐ ܀ 15ܘܐܬܘ ܠܘܬ ܝܫܘܥ ܘܚܙܐܘܗܝ ܠܗܘ ܕܫܐܕܘܗܝ ܟܕ ܠܒܝܫ ܘܡܢܟܦ ܘܝܬܒ ܗܘ ܕܐܝܬ ܗܘܐ ܒܗ ܠܓܝܘܢ ܘܕܚܠܘ ܀ 16ܘܐܫܬܥܝܘ ܠܗܘܢ ܗܢܘܢ ܕܚܙܘ ܕܐܝܟܢܐ ܗܘܐ ܠܗܘ ܕܫܐܕܘܗܝ ܘܐܦ ܥܠ ܗܢܘܢ ܚܙܝܪܐ ܀ 17ܘܫܪܝܘ ܒܥܝܢ ܡܢܗ ܕܢܐܙܠ ܠܗ ܡܢ ܬܚܘܡܗܘܢ ܀ 18ܘܟܕ ܤܠܩ ܠܤܦܝܢܬܐ ܒܥܐ ܗܘܐ ܡܢܗ ܗܘ ܕܫܐܕܘܗܝ ܕܥܡܗ ܢܗܘܐ ܀ 19ܘܠܐ ܫܒܩܗ ܐܠܐ ܐܡܪ ܠܗ ܙܠ ܠܒܝܬܟ ܠܘܬ ܐܢܫܝܟ ܘܐܫܬܥܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܡܕܡ ܕܥܒܕ ܠܟ ܡܪܝܐ ܘܕܐܬܪܚܡ ܥܠܝܟ ܀ 20ܘܐܙܠ ܘܫܪܝ ܡܟܪܙ ܒܥܤܪܬ ܡܕܝܢܬܐ ܡܕܡ ܕܥܒܕ ܠܗ ܝܫܘܥ ܘܟܠܗܘܢ ܬܡܝܗܝܢ ܗܘܘ ܀ (SYP)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. 14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. (KJV)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: 4Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. 6But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, 7And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. 8For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. 9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. 10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. 12And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about 2000;) and were choked in the sea. 14And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. 15And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. 16And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 17And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel. (KJV/NC)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1And they came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2And when he was come out of the boat, straightway there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling in the tombs: and no man could any more bind him, no, not with a chain; 4because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been rent asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: and no man had strength to tame him. 5And always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him; 7and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not. 8For he said unto him, Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man. 9And he asked him, What is thy name? And he saith unto him, My name is Legion; for we are many. 10And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was there on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding. 12And they besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. 13And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea. 14And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pass. 15And they come to Jesus, and behold him that was possessed with demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. 16And they that saw it declared unto them how it befell him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. 17And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. 18And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. 19And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee. 20And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marvelled. (ASV)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1AND they reached the port on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gadarenes. 2And as he went out of the boat, he was met by a man from the cemetery, who had an unclean spirit. 3He lived in the cemetery, and no man could bind him in chains, 4Because whenever he was bound with fetters and chains, he broke the chains and cut the fetters, and no man could control him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the cemetery and in the mountains, crying aloud and cutting himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him, 7And he cried with a loud voice, saying, What have we in common, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God, not to torment me. 8For he said to him, Get out of the man, O you unclean spirit. 9And Jesus asked him, What is your name? And he said to him, Our name is Legion, because we are many. 10And he begged him eagerly that he would not send him out of the country. 11Now there was near the mountain a large herd of swine feeding. 12And the lunatics begged him saying, Send us to the swine, that we may attack them. 13And he permitted them. And the lunatics went out and attacked the swine; and the herd ran to the steep rocks, and fell into the sea; they were about two thousand, and they were drowned in the water. 14And those who fed them, fled, and told it in the city and also in the villages. So they went out to see what had happened. 15And they came to Jesus, and saw the lunatic, clothed and well behaved, and sitting down quietly, even the one who once had the legion within him; and they were afraid. 16And those who saw it told them just what happened to the lunatic and also to the swine. 17So they began to urge him to leave their border. 18As he went up to the boat, the lunatic begged him to remain with him. 19And he would not permit him, but said to him, Go to your home, to your own people, and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and that he has had mercy on you. 20And he went away, and began to preach in the ten cities about what Jesus had done for him; and they were all astonished. (LAM)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Ger'asenes. 2And when he had come out of the boat, there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who lived among the tombs; and no one could bind him any more, even with a chain; 4for he had often been bound with fetters and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the fetters he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out, and bruising himself with stones. 6And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped him; 7and crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me." 8For he had said to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!" 9And Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He replied, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10And he begged him eagerly not to send them out of the country. 11Now a great herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; 12and they begged him, "Send us to the swine, let us enter them." 13So he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

14The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16And those who had seen it told what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine. 17And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighborhood. 18And as he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19But he refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decap'olis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marveled.(RSV)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

6When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7He shouted at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" 8For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!"

9Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" "My name is Legion," he replied, "for we are many." 10And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

11A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12The demons begged Jesus, "Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them." 13He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

14Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man -- and told about the pigs as well. 17Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

18As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.(NIV)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2When he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, 4because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. 5Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him, 7and crying out with a loud voice, he said, 'What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don't torment me.' 8For he said to him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!'

9He asked him, 'What is your name?'

He said to him, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' 10He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now there was on the mountainside a great herd of pigs feeding. 12All the demons begged him, saying, 'Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.'

13At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. 14Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

The people came to see what it was that had happened. 15They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid. 16Those who saw it declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs. 17They began to beg him to depart from their region.

18As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19He didn't allow him, but said to him, 'Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.'

20He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.(WEB)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. 2When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs. 3He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains, 4because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him. 5Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones. 6When he saw Yeshua from afar, he ran and bowed down to him, 7and crying out with a loud voice, he said, 'What have I to do with you, Yeshua, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don't torment me.' 8For he said to him, 'Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!'

9He asked him, 'What is your name?'

He said to him, 'My name is Legion, for we are many.' 10He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country. 11Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding. 12All the demons begged him, saying, 'Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.'

13At once Yeshua gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea. 14Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

The people came to see what it was that had happened. 15They came to Yeshua, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid. 16Those who saw it declared to them how it happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs. 17They began to beg him to depart from their region.

18As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19He didn't allow him, but said to him, 'Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.'

20He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Yeshua had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.(WEB/HNV)

42 Mark 5:1-20 1AND they reached the port on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gadarenes. 2And as he went out of the boat, he was met by a man from the cemetery, who had an unclean spirit. 3He lived in the cemetery, and no man could bind him in chains, 4Because whenever he was bound with shackles and chains, he broke the chains and cut the shackles, and no man could control him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the cemetery and in the mountains, crying aloud and cutting himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and worshiped him, 7And he cried with a loud voice, saying, What have we in common, Jesus, Son of the most high God? I adjure you by God, not to torment me. 8For he said to him, Get out of the man, oh unclean spirit.

9And Jesus asked him, What is your name? And he said to him, Our name is Legion, because we are many. 10And he begged him eagerly that he would not send him out of the country. 11Now there was near the mountain a large herd of feeding swine. 12And the lunatics begged him saying, Send us to the swine, that we may attack them. 13And he permitted them. And the lunatics went out and attacked the swine; and the herd ran to the steep rocks, and fell into the sea; they were about 2,000, and they were drowned in the water. 14And those who fed them, fled, and told it in the city and also in the villages. So they went out to see what had happened. 15And they came to Jesus, and saw the lunatic, clothed and well behaved, and sitting down quietly, even the one who once had the legion inside him; and they were afraid. 16And those who saw it told them just what happened to the lunatic and also to the swine. 17So they began to urge him to leave their border. 18As he went up to the boat, the lunatic begged him to remain with him. 19And he would not permit him, but said to him, Go to your home, to your own people, and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and that he has had mercy on you. 20And he went away, and began to preach in the 10 cities about what Jesus had done for him; and they were all astonished. (BRB)

Background

In this area Jesus and the disciples encounter a man possessed by a demon. The man sees Jesus from afar and runs to Jesus, begging with Jesus that he not torment the demon, which is what the demon has been doing to the man. In all cases of deliverance the words that a demon speaks are related to the sin that gives them power and their nature or character that drives how they attack their victims.

In this case the demon easily acknowledges that Jesus is the son of the Most High God, suggesting the man has problems in this area. The demon does not want to leave the country, suggesting a problem relative to geography.

Finally, Jesus demands the name of the demon and from that dialog the demon's name is revealed: Legion.

Demons gain their right of entry into people based on the sins of the individual. Delivering someone of a demon involves a process of discovery where the enabling sins are discovered and repented of. The full process of delivering this man is likely not covered in detail by Mark because he is telling a parable about some event in world history. That event is dated by the number of pigs that head down the mountain: about 2000.

Jesus and his disciples crossed the sea by boat, prophetically matching Noah's ark. Now, following the standard rules for parables and time, 2000 pigs rush into the sea and are drowned. Those 2000 pigs represent 2000 years, the 2 millennia between Noah's flood and the Tower of Babel. The account says there was about 2000 pigs,1 so the exact number of years from Noah's flood to this event is likely close, but not exactly, 2000 years.

Tower of Babel

The Tower of Babel is one of the times when Jesus came down in person before his birth 2000 years ago. His goal at the tower of Babel was to break up a large group of people who were at the time attempting to build a city and a tower that reached into heaven. What he wanted mankind doing at that point in history was spreading out across the world, forming many countries. The way he did it at the Tower of Babel was to confuse the languages of the people so they would stop working together. This also forced the people to congregate in smaller groups, today called countries.

That linkage allows a complete explanation of the rest of this parable.

At the Tower of Babel, the people building the tower did not want to be sent out over the whole world. Here the demon does not want to be forced out of the country. These two thoughts are the same, only differs by the scale of the perspective.

The scattering of the people at the time of the Tower of Babel lead to what the Bible calls the Gentile nations. The pig is often a symbol of Gentiles. The Seas are also a symbol of the gentile peoples, or peoples around the world. When Jesus gives the demons permission to leave this man and enter the pigs and thus enter the sea, the parable is exactly following the historical account of the Tower of Babel.

When the people in the area learn of what has happened with the demoniac and the 2000 pigs, they beg Jesus to leave their area. They are asking Jesus to do what the demon did not want. Likely the people of the area are possessed by the same spirit, only without the same overt problems exhibited by the demoniac.

At the end of the parable the man does want to leave his country, confirming he has been set free of the demon. In the historical account of Babel Jesus had come down to earth. Everyone saved knows they will eventually leave the planet, but not until it is the right time. Before leaving with Jesus eventually we must go and tell others about our encounters with him. Eventually we will get in the boat with him and leave for the New Jerusalem. Until then...

Demoniac's Commission

Jesus commanded the man to go and share with others how he had been delivered. In did this in the area of the Decapolis. This was a region along the south east shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the tribal allotment that was once the eastern half of the tribe of Manasseh. Manasseh, the western half, had also controlled the city of Samaria, which was the capital of the northern kingdom of ancient Israel. The northern kingdom was known as "The Ten" because when civil war divided the kingdom after Solomon's reign 10 tribes who's capital was eventually Samaria were separated from two tribes who's capital was Jerusalem. Everywhere in scripture that "Ten" is used the prophetic story is pointing in some way at the northern kingdom of ancient Israel.

The northern kingdom was deported at the time of the Assyrian invasion, when they lost control of their historical tribal lands. Their exact locations are considered a mystery by the majority of Christians. The Bible explains that the first location where the Assyrians hauled the northerners was Halah, Gozan, Hara, the Habor River area and the cities of the Medes. This last location is important because 200 years after the Assyrian deportation the Medes controlled ancient Babylon and would eventually supply the Babylonian Kings.

One of the most famous stories in the Bible is Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a statue. That statue describes the general flow of human history from that point and ends with a period before the return of Jesus when the world is depicted as being in a season of "Ten Toes" The Ten are still the northern kingdom's 10, but have now spread around the whole world.

This parable connects the Ten Cities to the story of the Tower of Babel, itself a story involving the entire world. The linkage is deliberate, explaining that the Lost Tribes are linked directly to the entire world.


1Mark 5:13