The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-12-31
THE Ki.,GOOM DIVIDED.


JNWuNTy - hoVAs
LESSON TENT Kings 1e:i.i7.
GOLDEN TEXT-Pride goeth before dcStruc
ton and naughty spirit before fall.-Prov
1918.
s TIME-zB C. go, Immediately after the death
OF Solomon. I
PIACE--The coronation assembly was held nj
Shechem, between mounts Ebal and Gerizim,
then the metropolis Of the tribe of Ephraim.
PARALLEL AcCoUNT-2 Chron. 10.
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs-l. ITO make
him King" II was not for the purpose OF re-
volt that the company had assembled but to
crown new King, the son OF Solomon and his
natural successor. .. "Jeroboam." He was
young Ephraimite, that Solomon had made
chief Of the forced labor from the tribes OF
Ephraim and Manasseh who was yet in
Egypt" The prophet Ahijah had foretold
that he should be Solomons successor over ten
tribes; and 1t is probable that, in view of the
dissatisfaction of the people, he made some at
tempt to take possession before Soomon's
death, so that his plot being discovered, he had
to escape to Egypt. where he heard Of the pro-
posed assembly at Shechem. 3. '"rhey sent
and called him" from Egypt, that he might
come and speak TO Rehoboam in their behalf.
He, having been in charge Of the forced labor,
knew better than most the full extent of the
dissatisfaction and grievances OF the PEG
pie. 4. THY father made our yoke griev-
ous." The yoke, as laid upon beasts OF
burden, has in all time and in all countries
been used as a type Of complete servitude.
Their chief grievances were the excessive tax
alton and the luxury and cost Of Solomons
court. Make thou his heavy yoke
lighter" This the people had q right to ask;
the temple and other great works were com
pleted, and there was no longer any need for the
lavish expense. s. And he said unto them,
Depart We yet for three days." This seemed o
reasonable request, and yet o right heart would
have decided instantly in their behalf. g. RE
hoboam consulted with the old men," Not
old men as in a sense OF age, but used probably
as in the,expression elders Of Israel" Z. IF
thou wilt be servant unto this people, this
day." The advice was not that the King should
permanently resign the office Of ruler, but that
he should for once be led by his people.
Answer them" Grant their request. 8. But
he forsook the council Of the old men - and
consulted with the young men," His first
| cOunselors' advice did not suit his designs, so
he sought that of the young men, those who
had been his companions from his youth up.
Q. And he said unto them" He put to them
| the same question he had asked the old men.
! 10. "My little finger shall be thicker than my
fathers loins" This is not threat Of still
heavier impositions; but boast of his superior
strength and frmness II. II will add to your
| yoke" Make 1t as much heavier as the body is
| than the little finger. "My father chas-
tised you with whips" 1t is quite pos.
sble that the forced laborers were
kept at their tolls by the lash. But will
chastise you with scorpions" As the scorpion
was q kind Of whip. having at the end of the
lash leaden balls with hooks projecting from
| them, 1t Is supposed this speech was only used
fguratively. 10. And the King answered the
| people roughly" His speech was harsh and
cruel, and his manner rough and insolent. 1914.
| "ForsOok the old mems counsel spake
to them after the counsel of the young men,"
He did not follow the advice given him by the
wise men Of his fathers day, but told them the
| things that suited his purpose and own mind
better: 10. For the cause was from the Lord. v
1t was thing brought about by the Lord.
"Ahijah the prophet" A prophet Of Shiloh.
He had prophesied some time before, that the
Kingdom should be divided, and Jeroboam rule
over the tribes. See | Kings II 5000. 49,
What portion have we in Davidf" The name
is put for his house or family. The ten tribes
would have nothing more to do with the royal
family and renowned their allegiance. Nov
see to thine own house." They meant for Re
hoboam to see to the affairs Of Judah, his tribe
and to have nothing more to do with them.
| LESSON COMMENTS.
With the beginning of the New Year,
we begin our studies in new part Of
the Bible. The story is sorrowful one,
Israel had been prosperous under the
reigns of David and Solomon; but after
the death of Solomon we find, by oul
lesson to-day, that the people quarreled
among themselves, and, by dividing the
kingdom, threw away the great promise
contained in Sam. 7:10-16; 1915, where
God says that He will make them {
great people, and that the children o.
wickedness shall bother them no more
neither shall they move away from thei
own land.
The name Rehoboam means 'enlarge
of the people" and we can picture thu
hopes and bright visions of the futur,
that were in the minds Of his parent
when he was given that name. But il
what strange irony do the acts of hi
life contradict the meaning Of his name
How many parents of our time look for
ward to bright future for their chill
dren, and yet how many are disap
pointed, just as Solomon must hav
been at the results. Where are we to la
} the blame for this failure? When w
remember that his mother, in place Q
being Christian woman, was an idola
ter, worshiper of Molech; that tn
young prince grew to manhood in a
Eastern harem, where he was waite
upon, flattered, favored and courted
encouraged to regard himself as bein
of superior kind who can scarcely d
: wrong-he had no special instructor
no business to employ himself in, bu
was left with heather mother, and ba
, companions, to lead him into wron
, ways and wreck his life.
+: Who then was to blame for his bein
: conceited, short-sighted, proud, selfish
: tyrannical and weak? His father an
. mother in part, for his character; bu
he, himself, was chiefly to blame for hi
failure. He might have compared tn
religion of his grandfather David wit
that of his mother, and thus made hi
! surroundings a means of reaching I
better things.
io""S pcoPic Shoulu tudHh pou IL
! restraints, and burdens, and the nece,
sity of work, for good parents and thei
? government, and for Christian training
D Parents should not leave their childre
to seek the ways of the world and evi
companions. We see that the new Kin
l had many dangers battle with. Their
: was danger from the surrounding sui
l declarations who had been overawed b
1 Solomon's power, wisdom and abilit,
: danger from luxury and wealth; DANCE