The National tribune., 1891-05-28

We have no certain assurances IS 10 the au-
thOrship % the Books Of the Chronicles A
they now exist, IL is supposed they arc COM
piatious made by Ezra. In Kings We have
record rather Of the secular or civil side Of
HcZekiah's life. Lengthy descriptions are
given Of the two iuyasious Of Judah By SEN
uacherib. The account in ? Chronicles men
tons in special the religious feelings, facts,
aud acts Of the King.
9. Tine.
We date 726 B. c. Hezekiah ruled from 727
Il. G. TO GJ3 T. c., or about 20 years. Ho began
his grand reformation in the first month Of the
first year Of his reign. (V. 81 The 81 first
month" means the first Of the church year, to
wit, Nissan. 1t corresponds about with our
month April. In it occurred the Passover, the
great national feast-day Of the year. IL was
associated with religious ideas and specalties.
It's recurrence may have suggested reform. IL
was, at any rate a fit time TO put into opera
ton revived ecclesastic methods and spirit.
At that season of the year the people could DO
the more impressed. Ideas thrive best in suit
able vehicles. People are more sensitive 10
the real spirit of any day il il be the astual
anniversary OF said day. The first month"
may not have been long after the actual FIRST
month of the first year Of He20kidh5 reign.
That King was not the kind Of man to delay
long for n mere sentiment. He would, how
ever, require some little period Of time for
getting adjusted 20 his civil position before
commencing national revolution in church or
religious matters aud ordinances. No one
could set out in the very first month Of his
reign to regulate any but the most essential
political and royal concerns Of the kingdom.
,. Place.
The lesson centers in Jerusalem, and gpe-
eially on Mt. Moriah, in the temple. We can
not say precisely what is to be understood by
tho East Street" ". ~ A time after our
lesson Hezekiah met his military leaders in
the street Of the gate Of the city" t32 g.
Some think we are 70 understand "tho street
Of the house Of God" Ezra, 10: 81 Others
understand "the street that was before the
water gate" (Neh., g.: 1, 3, 49, But the above
street Tor streets seems place for more secu-
lar gatherings. Hence certain commentators
hold we are TO understand some longitudinal
Enclosure within the temple area-say between
the gate NieanOr and the entry to the Holy
Place, or perhaps IL was the court Of the priests.
The object OF Hezekiah was to meet the priests
and Leyites for special instruction and exhOrta-
ton.
l. HezeEiah
Judsh's King at the time Of this lesson was
Hezekiah. His fathers name was Ahaz. The
son inherited the crown. Ii is TO the credit Of
Hezekiah that with father so given TO idOla-
try the youth was devoted TO religious inter-
ests. The mothers name was Abijah. She
was the daughter Of ZechaFiah. ". H. In 2
XII, IS 2, her name is printed Abb. Dean Stan
ley thought her father was the Zcchariah who
was Uzziah's fayor.te prophet. = Ch., 26 81
Others nave been more convinced lie was " the
faithful witness" referred to IN Isa. So In
the British Museum we find represented huge
pair Of human headed bulls, having detailed
/ insert ptions recording the wars between Sem
nacherib and HeZekiah. These we're found in
ruins at Ninevah. Hezekiah played q very
I'm la. Trf
read in 2 XII, IS: ., "a lie trusted 10 the Lord
/ God Of Israel so that after him WAS none like
+ him among all the Kings Of Judah nor any
I that were before him" We are reminded Of
I his great-grandson, Josiah. ,See Gu, "a: 2 }
/ Hezgkiah began TO reign when p years old.
| 20: IL We recall the fact Hczekiah was sou
\ Of Ahaz This has led sons 10 the view that
I there must at an early date have crept into
I the text an error Of figures. Figures were
/ represented then by letters and some letters
\ are similar in form. Cannon Cook says: " lt
I has been observed that this statement, com
\ bined with that Of ? Kings, 80, that Ahaz
/ was only % at his accession and reigued but
\ Is years, would make it necessary that Ahaz
/ should have been married at tine age Of 10 and
/ have had q child born to him when he was II.
i BOchart aud Keil have perhaps shown that this
/ is not impossible; but It's imprDbability is SO
/ great that most suggest corruption Of some Of
I the numbers"
! 1t was in the reign Of Hezekiah, to wit, B. C.
/ 72l, or four years after he began % rule, that
I the captivity of the Ten Tribes at the hand Of
/ ShaImaneser King Of Assyria, took place And
\ it was during lis reign that. so far as we know,
| the first attempts were made TO gather into a
/ single volume the sacred writings so far as
/ they then existed. DR.. Ormeston says: i" In
! many respects Hezelsiah was one Of the abless
/ and most remarkable Kings that ever sat upon
the throne Of David. His personal character
| was high for virtue, piety and public spirit
\ lie was q wise statesman. a powerful ruler and
a thoroughly fearless religious reformer. He
/ was greatly beloved i'll life and honored in
| death"
/ Dr. John Kitto declares, "He was most
i piOus Prince, and thoroughly imbued with the
| principles Of theocracy. He testified the most
lively zeal for the service and honor OfJehOyah !;
/ while as a King he was disposed 20 manifest the
/ most unTeseTved reliance on him, and sub
servience to him, as Sovereign Lord Of the
/ Hebrew people" He was the only man to
i whom was granted certain knowledge for years
i beforehand of the exact date Of his death. For
| Is years the King viewed death in advance.
/ u X, 20: g. His life WAS spared in answer to
| the prayer Of the prophet Isaiah, and for pur-
/ pose. The interval was spent ia the improve
/ ment Of Church and State. II he erred be sub
mitted graciously 10 rebuke. He enjoyed the
/ ministry of the prophet Isaiah. Micah also
/ then prophecied. Hezekiah not only gave
great strength TO all the religious enterprises Of
/ his kingdom, but also built up all its material
/ interests. Considering the age in which no
/ lived. his descent, his environments. the case
| Of Hezekiah Is remarkable. The success of his
/ kingdom made Judah prey to enemies who
/ were persistent i'm attacking it. 1t was saved
/ by divine interpositon. The King died aged
only 81 years, but his name yet lives and in
| spires to goodness.
5. The Sins Detailed
/. The doors of God g temple were shut. They
ought TO have been open night and day. (YA
/ aud ~
3 Gods house was suffered to get out Of re-
| pair. Nv. 81
| 3. The priests and Levites became Indifferent
| ceTcmOnially unelean. silent in acquiescence
/ and negligent. (Vs. aud H. They did not
/ I'll the lamps Of the Holy Place with oil and
keep them lighted; they failed to burn incense
be fore tho Holy of Holes; they offered no
sacrifices. (V. ~
4. The temple was neglected as to suitable,
| decent care. (V. 81
B. The people in general trespassed; broke
Gods laws (V. g.
G. The people did evil in Cor befOre) the eyes
of the Lord. CV. 81 He is specially brazen
| in sin who does evil when he is conscious tho
good are beholdiug him. To break the laws of
a King in the very presence of the King ia
| proof Of inyeteracy in evil.
2. The people forsOok God, abandoned his
i. Il n =. -