The Penn's Grove record., 1891-02-06
LESSON SURROUNDINGS.

INTERVENING EvByTs.-Judgment was
speedily pronounced by Elijah upon
Ahab, who humbled himself, 70 that
the full punishment wal deferred Il
Kings I'll 1920. After three years.
peace between Syria and Israel, Jeho-
shaphat visits Ahab, who proposes to
take Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians.
The former king wishes to know the
word of the Lord, and an assembly OF
prophets bids the kings 60 to battle.
But further inquiry leads t~oaprophecy
from Micaian, declaring that the others
we're allowed to entice Ahah to death.
Going into battle, Ahab disguised him
self, but was fatally wounded, and died
in Samaria, the dogs licking up his
blood when his chariot was washed u
Kings % 1-40). In the narrative .
description of the reign Of Jehoshaphat
oyer Judah follows Il Kings ~ : 4l.bO)
and q brief sketch Of that Of Ahaziah,
the son of Ahsb, over Israel Tvs. bl-
6S). The Second Book OF the Kings
opens with an account Of the message
OF Ahaziah to inquire Of Baal-zebub,
the god Of Ekron, respecting his re.
covery from sickness. ELIJAH Il sent
by the Lord to meet and rebuke the
messengers. who return to the king
with Eiiiah's prediction OF his death.
The king sends to capture Elijah, but
the band of fifty IL consumed by lire
from heaven. Another band meets
with the same death, but the captain
of . third band implores mercy, and
Elijah 10 hidden to 60 with him to the
king, to whom he repeats the predic-
ton Of sueedy death, which was full.
filed. Jehoram, the brother of Aha
ziah, succeeds him.
PLAora-Gilgal, which 70 identified
with Jiktslta, an elevated village eight
miles north Of Bethel. This may have
been the temporary homo OF the two
prophets. III is not the Gf gal spoken
Of IN Joshua and / Ssmuel.) Bethel
was on the direct road to Jericho, the
prophets passing through botb to some
SPOT on the east side Of the Jordan,
probably not far from the latter place.
TIME.-Probably immediately after
the death Of Ahssiah. This, according
to the usual chronology, wal IN D. 9:
800. Lenorment puts it at S9S, and
Professor Davis Of Princeton, in q re.
cent article, places all the dates from
Rehoboam to Jehoram about forty-two
years later, giving the close OF BE-.
s58 as the time Of the death OF Aha
ziah.
PERsoss.-Ehjah and Elisha; two
companies Of the ''sons OF the pro-
phets," at Bethel and Jericho respec-
lively; fifty from the latter place In
particular.
INorpENrs.-Elijah and Elisha start
from Gilgal, but the former asks his
follower to tarry; he refuses. A tBeth'
eli the sons of the prophets ask Elisha
if he knows that his master will be
taken away that day; he tells them that
he does. Again Elijah ssks Elisha TO
tarry, and he again refuse In Jericho
the same events are repeae>L. The two
90 unto Jordan, followed tor some dis
tance by fifty Of the sons OF the proPh-
cts. Elijah with his mantle divides
the waters Of the Jordan. and the two
pass over. Elijah asks Elisha what he
should do for him before he goes, and
he answers, "Let q double portion OF
thy spiris be upon me" The prophet
tells him ii 10 . hard thing, bat prom.
ises that 1t shall be 90 II Elisha sees
him when he Is taken up. A chariot
and horses OF fire part them, and
Elijah goes up ''by o whirlwind into
heaven"