Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-24
&eadiuq fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
(Original.]


REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
foriglnal]
OF Gehazi we know very little. He was
the servant of Elisha, and in no other ca
pacity does he appear. OF his nationality
we know nothing. How long he was in the
employ of Elisha, no one knows, but he
seems to have continued to attend the
prophet until the time of the visit of Naa-
man, the Syrian. There is a tradition
among the Jews to the effect that the four
lepers who sat at the entering in of the gate
of Samaria, were Gehazi and his three sons.
This is possible, but that is all that can be
said of it. No one can prove the statement
and no one can refute it.
1t is Gehazi's connection with Naaman,
the Syrian, that gives to him notoriety.
After Elisha had sent Naaman away in
peace, and when he was gone little way,
Gehazi followed him. Jewish writers inter-
pret "a little way" to mean about a mile.
So soon as Naaman departed, Gehazi began
to reason with himself thus, "My master
hath spared Naaman, the Syrian, in not re-
ceiving at his hands that which he brought !;
but, as the Lord liveth, l will run after him,
and take somewhat of him." The proba-
bility is that Naaman had proposed to give
himself, but Elisha forbid his receiving it..
This cut the covetous Gehazi to the heart,
and he was not long in manufacturing a
most palpable lie in order that he might get
possession of Naaman's money. No sooner
did the thought enter his mind than ne set
out in run-as fast as he could go-to over
take Naaman. When Naaman discovered
him. he, fearing that something of some
kind might be wrong, lighted from his
chariot to meet him, and inquired, us all
WE'LL" What thoughts passed through the
mind of Naaman we can only conjecture.
Possibly he was alarmed lest some mlshaP
had befallen Elisha, or he may have feared
lest some act of his had incurred the dls-
pleasure of the, man OF Goa. no o1haeos maeter
what Naaman thought, Gehazi, GREATNESS.
ly running, answered that "all was we'll"
There is nothing wrong with my master,
but there have just arrived from Mount
Ephraim, two young men, sons OF the
prophets, and my master desires that you
give them talent of silver and two changes
of raiment. Had Naaman thought for one
moment, he would have discovered the
falsehood contained in this statement, but
evidently being full of gratitude on account
of the benefit so recently received, ne urged
Gehazi to take two talents of silver. 1t
would seem that Gehazi at first objected TO
taking anything but one talent ofsilver ana
two changes ofraiment. The reason OF this
probably was the difficulty of carrying so
much money back. TO overcome TINS dlfl-
Guilty, Naaman bound the talents IN bags,
and laid them and the two changes OF raj
ment upon two of his servants to be carried
back.
Since each talent weighed about one hum
dred and twenty pounds, it made very
good load for q single man. Loaded with
Silver the servants of Naaman proceeded
and Gehazi followed. This was mark of
honor. Hence we may infer that Naaman
was so grateful that he was ready to honor
even the servant of Elisha. Gehazi had no
notion of going back to the house of his
master, with his silver and changes of raj
ment. Hence, when he came to the tower,
it is said he took the talents of silver and
changes ofraiment from Naaman's servants,
and having deposited them in house, ne
dismissed the servants and went IN ana
stood before his master.
It is hard to tell, with any degree OF Ger
tainty, what is meant by "toWer' in this
place. Perhaps it means some Wayslde for
tifcation. The Septuagint version renders
the passage thus, "When they came INTO
the dark place." No doubt this is the idea.
It was place in which he could conceal his
The picture is we'll drawn. 1t is life-size
and life-like. How long Gehazi had been
absent from his masters presence we can
only conjecture. It was comparatively only
short time He ran as fast as ne could
until he overlook Naaman, and the delay in
obtaining his desire was only so long as 1t
required him to make it known. lie en-
tered into the presence of his master with a
countenance radiant with feigned innocence
and when his master asked him where he
had been, he replied promptly, "Thy ser
want went no WHITTIER"
Dean Swift, perhaps, says ne never heard
q lie which was not as foolish as 1t was
wicked Gehazi exhibited marvellous
amount of stupidity as we'll as mate wick
edness. He knew that his master was a
man of God, and would not approve OF his is
course in this matter, he also knew, that in
all probability, God would reveal what he
had done to his master. In the face of all
that he knew, or had the means of knowing,
he deliberately plans theftand undertakes
to cover it up with batch of lies.
Gehazi was servant, and consequently,
we may safely infer, was poor, but he was
covetous. 1t would seem from the language
of Elisha, that he had either bargained for
oiveyards, and vineyards, and sheep and
oxen, and men-servants and maid servants,
or he designed thus investing his two tai
ents of silver and his two changes of raj
ment. Elisha rebuked him and then pro-
nounced his doom. 1.-THE leprosy of Naa-
man shall ceave unto thee, and thy seed
forever" No sooner were these words ut
tered than the poor convicted man went
out from the presence of his master leper
as white as snow.
What startling illustration have we in
Gehazi of the truthfulness Of the proverb.
"He that maketh haste to be rich shall not
be innocent" and she that maketh haste to
be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth
not that poverty shall come upon him."
Gehazi was living honorably and comforta-
bly,, as the body servant of one Of the best
men that ever lived. He was not satisfied.
He craved oliveyards, and vineyards, and
sheep, and oxen, and men servants, and
maid servants. For thirty pieces of silver
Judas Iscariot betrayed his Lord and Mas
ter. For the paltry sum of about twenty
dollars he betrayed innocent blood and
when he received the money he threw it
down at the feet Of those who bestowed it,
and went out and hanged himself.
REBUKED.-The following is a good les
son to some persons who consider them
selves well-bred :
Afew years agOas stranger rose IN city
pulpit to begin the service, several of the
congregation began to leave the church.
He was lame man, and the pulpit was
near the door.
"Wait moment, my friends" said the
preacher, "till I get my hat, and I'll go
with YOU"
Down he came, limping, hat in hand, and
left the church. This abrupt closing of the
services taught the people that there was at
least one minister who would not be treated