As the sun is climbing to noon over the Council of Elrond Bilbo tells of his finding of the Ring. Frodo, less willingly, recounts all his dealing with the Ring from the day that it passed into his keeping. Afterward, Gandalf tells all he has learned, and whether it is the One which Sauron seeks. Join us as we continue to read through The Lord of the Rings.

The Council of Elrond Pt. 4

Bilbo compliments Frodo on his storytelling prowess. But the younger hobbit is not satisfied; the story does not yet seem complete. “I still want to know a good deal,” he said. Galdor of the Havens agrees.

The Wise may have good reason to believe that the halfling’s trove is indeed the Great Ring of long debate, unlikely though that may seem to those who know less. But may we not hear the proofs?

The Lord of the Rings: One Volume Edition, p. 249

Galdor finds that what has been heard so far is quite convincing. But what of Saruman? He is learned in these things, the lore of the Rings, yet he is not present to offer council. Would he affirm the things said thus far? Galdor is speaking from wisdom.

Proverbs 18:17 NASB
The first to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and examines him

Many of the Proverbs of Solomon deal with council. The wise receive council instead of acting on the information provided only by oneself, or those on one side of an issue. The New Testament gives an excellent example in the form of the Bereans:

Acts 17:10-11 NASB
The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

The Hunt For Gollum and Answers

Elrond anticipated the questions of Galdor. And in order to answer them he calls upon Gandalf to make the matter clear.

[T]he gap in the knowledge of the Wise has been filled at last. Yet too slowly. For the Enemy has been close behind, closer even than I feared.

The Lord of the Rings: One Volume Edition, p. 250

Gandalf reveals that the Necromancer in Dol Guldur was none other than Sauron, taking shape again. The White Council was able to drive him out of Mirkwood – the very year of the finding of the Ring – but he was prepared and fled to the Dark Tower. There he openly declared himself and began ever more eagerly seeking the One Ring.

Gandalf’s attention turned to Gollum and how he came to possess the Ring. He enlisted the aid of Aragorn to track the creature, while he travelled to Gondor to search for records among its scrolls and books of the markings which were said to adorn the One Ring.

Enjoy the film The Hunt For Gollum by Chris Bouchard.

MUSIC:

• The Band O’ Shearers from the album Barley Rigs, by Broceliande

Additional Resources:

• The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, by Robert Foster
• Christianity in Lord of the Rings, by Peter Kreeft
• The Fellowship of the Ring Audiobook read by Rob Inglis

What stood out to you in The Council Of Elrond Pt. 4? Let us know in the comments below.

On The Secret Fire Podcast we travel chapter-by-chapter and book-by-book through J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth viewing it through Christian lenses. We invite you to join us each week as we continue the adventure on the Arkenstone server in Lord Of The Rings Online.

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Theme song: Hobbit’s Dance from the album Memories Of Middle Earth, by Brobdingnagian Bards

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