The National tribune., 1890-12-25
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

ETafilFAt bWlieN Aau-Et = Ntuty OF tuo lnteF-
national SHnaay-sehOOl Lesson Appointed for
Jan. Z, 1891. HI, IL Ills.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
Indicated above.l
SUBJECT: The SECESSION OF THE TEN
TRIBEs-JEROBoAM We. REHoBOAM.
l. Preliminary.
We are carried back 1855 years and find
ourselves at Shechem, in tho land OF Canaan,
Asia. We can learn much from events aud that
although they happened so long ago and so FAR
away. lsraels King, solomon, had died and Re
hoboam, probably his only son. was about TO Do
iuaugurated in his fathers place. When
Government is thus on the point Of changing
hands it often happens that the people seek
from the new sovereign some political fayors
or reliels. IL was so in the case of kehObuam.
Solomon had maintained very luxuriant Gov
cTnmCnt. The nation was comparatively new,
and was obliged TO defend itself from neIghbOF-
ing enemies Many public buildings bad been
constructed. specially the temple. Extensive
works had been built IN various places OF the
land of Israel. O.: l7-l9t Then the shameful
domestic life of the King led TO enormous ex-
tTavaggnee. Such expenses necaasitated large
revenues Doubtless the people folt severely
the heavy taxes levied. o.: l5.) Now a new
King was TO ascend the throne. So the masses,
taking advantage OF the incoming regime,
F1tAAtNu AG4lGl rum atlIi eaIi114Fb tlA-Ai1u
kehObOam asked for three days time 10 consider
the peoples plea. Meanwhile he c0nsuIts, first,
with the leading older men Of the land who had
been cOuuseiOrs If his father. Thoy advise him
D. treat the petition kindly and to get along
with the matter as quietly and peaccably as
possible. Then RehOb0am sought the young
men, his associates and boon companions, aud
wanted to know their opinion. They urged
him To reject the petition Of the people and 20
threaten his gu..Iggfz with zeVsrIfw IN vfBl1
that indicted by his father The new King
very unWiscly accepted the advice Of the i'm
prtuous inexperienced, naughty youths.
Hence his trouble. Hence tho revolt Of the
Ten Tribes. Hence the division Of the land sf
Israel into two parts or Kingdoms. What fear
ful results Of bad counsel. What evidence Of
the folly Of treating rudely the petitions Of the
masses. Rehoboam's father had uttered
truth" He that walkcth with wise men shall
b. wise; but a companion OF fools shall be de-
stroycd." prov, 1890
2 Data
There are two accounts Of this important his
toric fact this grand turning point in the affairs
OF the lsTaeitish people. l XII, II: l-lj aud ?
Chron., 10:l-l5. These should DO read and
compared with each other, noticing all differ
ences. 1t is also very profitable to read the Re-
viscd Version, both accounts.
3. Time.
We date 1920 A. ~, which corresponds with
90 b. q. Solomon had died little before. L
XII, u: l, refers to the coronation which would
succeed soon after the death Of the former
King.
A. Place
The scene Of the lesson was Shechem, in the
tribe Of Ephraim, 80 miles north Of Jerusalem.
The proper place for the coronation was the
Capital, Jerusalem. 10 was unwise Of Reho-
hoain 70 depart from what all must admit was
prOpFiety Hs to the scene OF the Inauguration.
There Was some precedent in favor OF Shechem
from tho fact that Joshua gathered the tribal
repre5eu tativcs there Tor his farewell interview
Jos, "a: ~ But Abimc!ech's conspiracy
ccutering at SheChem suggested evil. JerObOam
would not probably have yentured to 90 to
Jerusalem, even though Solomon was dead
We do not know why Shechem was selected
instead OF Jerusalem. We surmise the leading
men in the revolt against Rehoboam drew him
into plot on purpose to gain advantage.
5. References.
If orc examine these references he will have
a quite satisfactory commentary Oh the lesson.
There is great profit in thus studying the Bible
b. its own aid. One part will be found TO ex-
plain other parts.
Verse 1. RshoJ0qm, 11:43; l Ch., g. 10; 2
CHI, o 81; 1871. In st. Matt, Ii, it is writ
ten ROboam. RehoJguSs rent 10 Shechem Oh,
10 4 Shechem. Gen, 80 Is, 10; josh, 20 = !;
-: l, 81 JGd. 9:1; Ps., %: 8. Printed sichem
in Gen.. Il g. and Sychem in Acts. Z: rs.
Verse ,. Jesob0ln, II &c 81 2 Ch., 10: 2. 3 ;
Jerstsum get ia Eggpt, ii 30. This reference
shows he returned alter the death OF Solomon.
Herrd " It, SEQ they sent and called him."
in verse 3.
Verso 3. They sent and called him. 2 Ch.,
1913.
1TieroHs, 47, % y, %, 20 Is; 1 Sa, 8: IL
l.. -
%: 4. Lighter ysks. Compare Ch., 10; 40,
TO- noticing the word " ease" for lighter in
verses and o. Read st. Matt 1l:1; -. 80 :;
Is, 50 q. Grisr0'u. = Ch.. 1914 / John, s.: 5.
Verse .. Three dGys. " u; 2 CHI, 10 ), u
Verse g. Consulted. , Ch., 10: 8; Prov,
27:J. Compare ease Of Ab5alom, ? sam, 1G 20;
I1:J. HiH old men, Oh. 10: 6; job, II: II; ;
- 7. Solomon his (RchoboaatsJ tqfhsr, IL :43; ;
Ch., ): 10; 2 Ch., .: -; 1891; Zee, . IS,
10.
Verse 7. Speak good words. Contrast
"TOughly" in verse l3. See Ch., 1877; 2
Sam, 10; 1-6; Prov Is: 1; Fec, 1874 Zech.,
LIB.
Verse 8. Forsoot counsel Of hs OH. Ch..
10: ); %: 10. 10; Prov, I;2-5, %, 30; 10 20;
Fec, 1922, 3
Verso 0. What counsel girs ysf 2 Ch., 1879;
2 sam. II 5, 8 2 CHI, 1913, IL.
Verse 10. Finger thicker than thigh. 2 Ch.,
10 10.
Verse II. 4ddea to yoke. 2Ch., q: IL; Ex,
l: Is, Il; 5: 50, IS; l Sam, %; Ch.,
10 :: 10; Jer., % Is, II. Whips, 2 Ch 10 IL,
IL Scorpions, V. II; ? Ch., 10: IL Eze., 2 6 !;
Rev, 9:3-IO
Verse -. Cutse CaS from the Lord. Deu., 2 80; ;
Jud., l4:4; ! sam, = p , CHI, 10: Is; - z;
p: To- 20; / XII. - %; Ps.. 3 10; Am, 3 8 !;
Acts, .: %; "a That he might perform his
saying V. "a 2 CHI, 10 10; / XII, II: II, %
-; = XII, o: 50; 10: 10; Is, 46: 10 IL ST.
john, 10 %, 81, %, 81 81; Acts, 3: 10; 1927
20
G. Suggestions.
Human nature is the same in all ages How
suggestive is the paragraph we have been
studying IL has lessons for rulers and sub
jects. There must be- concession on one side
and respect on the other-ecoHOmy for the one
and cordial payment Of taxes by the other
Aged men must counsel wisely, and young men
must curb impetuosty. Men cannot be con-
tTOlled by harshnes5 and threatening-they
eau be governed by reason. kindness, policy.
Men are not beasts. The whip is for the horse.
prov, 2G: 81 You cannot brighten subjects
into obedience.
/. In great emergencies it is well to consult.
Probably IL would have been better in the case
Of RehobOam if he had acted on the spot in
eOnciliatOTy manner. The people would be-
provoked at the thought the new King must
take three days time before deciding whether
OF not he would try 20 lessen the burdens for a
long time boTno by them. Rchoboan would
have gained much influence il he had respected
- 81. H..