The National tribune., 1891-02-19
SUNDAY MEDITATION
Practical nn,Irs Taught By = Study of the later
national Suaday-SchsOI Lesssa Appointed for
March I, 1891. . H. 4:25-27


Zone reading these notes should frat carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboye.l
SUBJECT: R,IsISG TO LIFE OF THE Son OF
THE PARENTS AT SHUNEM.
l. Preliminary.
Elijah assembled, leaving hismantls for Elisha
Elisha assumed IT. Effort to find Elijah or his
body proved unsuccessful Elisha began in
earnest his prophetic work lie purified the
waters Of Jericho. He commanded two bears
70 tear IN pieces ~ insOlent children He gave
victory 10 the jews against tho Moabites. He
supplied a widow with oil in sufficient quantity
to cancel all her debts and to meet all her
current domestic wants. The above were all
miracles Our lesson calls Us to study his fifth
miracle.
Elisha resided at Samaria. but was from time
to time at Mt. Carmel. lie often visited his
scl'sols Of the prophets. In doing so he had
occasion frequently TO pass through Shunem.
There were no hotels in those days and places.
The prophet would become tired and hungry.
A lady OF wealth noticed his often passing her
home, and felt sure he would appreciate Il stop
ping place. She always made him welcome.
at length she suggested providing special accom-
mOdatiOHs for him. She knew he preferred a
retired room for rest, study, prayer and medi-
tatinn. The husband Joined heartily in the
enterprise and fitted upa convenient apartment
for the comfort of Elisha The prophet repeat
eddy ayailcd himself Of the agreeable quarters.
lie felt very grateful, and wanted TO show his
satisfaction and thanks IN some material form.
JehOTam was King. Elisha had lately done
him great favor by giving him victory over
the MOabites The prophet hence had inau-
ence at the palace. He proposed to secure 10
his host and hostess some governmental pro-
motion or advantage. She declined any such
favor Advanced in years as We know the hua-
band was, and as probably the wife was ". HI
ffns la. hs,I kskf
ton could be made to a Jewish wife than
motherhood. While she declined royal honor
she made no objection 70 maternity. The pro-
phet declared that the home would soon be
blessed with a babe. We recall the similar
births Of Isaac, Samson, ST. John Baptist.
/. Data.
To get full idea Of the case one should sfudy
carefully 2 XII, 4: 1881. 1t IS held that Ezra
wrote the account.
q Time
We date b. c. sol, or A. VI. 3113. Thus we
are carried back 2, 73I years. We do not know
on what day Of the week TO locate the lesson.
We know it was neither new moon nor a
Sabbath. The Jews celebrated the first day of
each month. Peculiar sacrifices were offered
tNu., Is: ll-l5.l 10 was treated saeredIy
No Buying nos selling was allowed. Am, 8 81
IL seems pious people were in the habit Of Wis.,
i;ing the prophets on sacred days for religious
instruction. What surprised the husband was
not the fact his wife was going to the prophet
Dnt that she was going on a purely secular day.
The fact the men were working at reaping also
shows that the day was not a new moon nor q
Sabbath Saturday.. 1t would be interesting
10 know that the miracle Of our Lesson, which
sets forth the doctrine OF the resurrection, hap
pcned on Sunday. II would be very like provi-
Dental condolences were il first day Of the
week. We may suppose the boy was taken
IPE ar "a m He ial ~ Tfzr
tion must have occurred quite into the evening.
This will be clear when We consider the dis
tanccs gone over BY the parties between the
deeease and the raising TO life.
g. Places
The family lived at Shunem. The name Is
also written SOlam and Sulam. IL Is in the
tribe Of IssaehSr. 1t Is 30 miles north Of Jeru-
salem, three miles from JezreeI FIVE from Mt
Tabor, and five from ut. Gilboa, south Of the
brook Kishon. We may locate il 10 miles from
Mt Carmel. Grove, the writer in Smiths Die
tionary, says, "Shuuem is connected in XII,
4:Sl with eOrnheds and more remotely with
Mt Carmel, and agrees with the position Of the
present Salam, q village on the southwest
flank Of the JebeI Duly .sO-called Little Her
mon, three miles north Of Jszrecl. five from
GilbOa, full in view Of the sacred spot on Mt
Carmel, and situated in the midst Of the finest
corn6eIds in the world"
One crossing the plain EsdreIon could be seen
approaching even when - far Of.' (Y. 25.)
cavern IS now shown, styled The Cave Of
Elijah" near the foot Of lLt. Carmel. There
was probably school Of the prophets at Mt.
Carmel. 1t was large part Of the business Of
Elisha TO visit the schools Of the prophets. On
his circuits he would have occasion many times
to pass through the village of Shunem.
4. The DeSased
The dead body was that of a child, a son.
h has h..s A Ii
him. ". 49, He sat ON his mothers lap for
several hours, aud died there. His mother
could carry him. Tvs. IS. b. His birth was
a miracle. He may have been aboat four years
OF age. He died OF a sunstrOke. He was an
only child. No other could be expected by the
mother. He had raised great expectations
His death was very sudden We have reason
10 think he was an attractive good child The
mother thought that, from the peculiar circum-
stances Of his birth. she had reason % com
plain of the sequel. Though probably from her
heart she could have said,
"'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never To have loved at all {"
yet she, wanting an argument To use with the
prophet, was inclined to murmur, and to init
mate that the decea5e did not accord with
exact justice.
5. The Mother.
We admire the energy, tact, promptness, per-
sistence, faith. Of the importuuate mother. She
was a successful advocate in the interest Of her
boy. We see her wealthy; considerate Of the
piOus prophet; preferring domestic enjoyment
to political advantage; covering tine decease
Of her boy from the knowledge of the father
in the hope the child might be restored and
the father saved the distress Of realizing his
sons departure from life; exhibiting executive
qualities admirable in general or a ruler;
instiuctively seeing through the insiueerity Of
Gehazi; determined to have Elisha 90 in per-
son 10 the bed-bier.
g. The Precedent
Doubtless the mother knew of the restora-
ton to life through Elijah of the son Of the
widow Of ZarePhath. q XII, Il: 1924. That
account should DO read, having rs it has, sew
eral similar circamstances.I The woman of
Shunem believed Elisha equaled Elijah in
power aud influence with Cod And she had
heard of the four miracles which Elisha had
performed.
Z. Geha=i.
We cannot form an exalted idea Of the SER
want Of Elisha. lie was not destined to become
the successor 10 Elisha in the prophetic office,
Us Elisha followed Elijah. Woman's quick
buttons saw through him. He lacked warmth
and sympathy. and, worse yet, he was hypO-
critic, selfish, and false. He was incompetent
TO enter into commences of feeling with a
mourning mother. lie even became rude
thrusting the pleading woman from her only
hope, Elisha Fittingly be was rebuked. The
woman. after all this could not tolerate the
idea OF Gehaz going TO her dead child. She
insisted Elisha must accompany her. And, as