The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-04-09
GOOD AND EVIL IN JeHu



,ansernationai sunda y-sohooi Lesson Tne
April ~, 1891.
LESSON TExT.-9 Kings i0:l83i.
GOLDEN TRxT.,-Sfan looketh on tha outward
appearance but tho Lor looketh on the heart.
- Sam. 1877.
T1Mn.-At the beginning Of the reign Of Jehu,
=, c. ss4. A few years after the last lesson.
PLAcE.-Samaria and Jezreel the capitals OF
Israel
RuLERs.-Jehu. king Of Israel B. G. ss4ssa
He was the founder Of the fifth dynasty Of Is
rael Athaliah, daughter of Ahab, widow Of
Jehoram, king Of Judah, and sister-in-law OF
Joram late king Of Israel was usurper on the
throne Of Judah, B. C. ss4-s7a Hszael, king Of
Syria, b. @. 8SA
HELPS OVER HARD PLACE s.--18 "And Jehu
gathered all the people together:" Under the
pretense OF Wishing to serve Baal ev en- more
shan Ahab had done. "Ahab served Baal
little; but Jehu shall serve him much:" This
was true after a manner for Baal never before
had such sacrifice. 10 Prophets OF Baal;
prlests:" The prophets gave orncles
70 inQuirers and taught the mys teries Of the
Worship, the priests attended on the numerous
sacrifices. "All his servants:" Probably only
the more pronounced and leading worshipers
would come. "For have great sacrifice TO
DO to Baal:" This was very true literally but
they little dreamed that they were TO be the
victims. Let none be wanting:" Jehu's seal
would make thorough work. But Jehu did It In
subtilty:" deceitfully, treacherously. 20. PRO
claim solemn assembly," great religious
meeting. 81. "And they came into the house OF
Baal:" The temple Of Baal at SamartA built
by Ahab in imitation of the temple at Jerusa-
lem. ''The house was full:" litera lly ''brim
full" 22. "The vestry:" The place where vest.
ments or garments were kept for the priests
and worshipers. "Vestments for oil the wor.
shipers:'' So that those who were
to slay them would immediately
recognize them by their dress. %.
~And Jehu went and Jehonadab tho son
of Rechab" On his way to Samaria Jehu had
taken this man into his chariot over. 16), and
associated him in his revolution. Said unto
the worshpers of Baal Search:" AS the wor.
shippers would be full Of the thought that they
were to become possessed Of special privileges
in the new reign, they we're sure to be the best
agents in excluding any who could not show that
he had belonged to Baal's congregation before.
'The worshipers Of Baal only:" The presence
OF persons belonging to another religion was
usually regarded by the ancients as profana-
tion of the rites. "a. "Jenu appoi nted fourscoro
men," Thetemple probably had but one or two
entrances and therefore eighty armed men could
easily prevent the unarmed a nd panic-stricRen
multitude from escaping. "Lif e.. for. ..life:"
This seems severe, but it was the common rule
and custom q Kings % :39; Elk. 21:29). 25. las
soon as he had made an end Of offering:" 1t Is
called Jehu's Offering because he appointed the
sacrifice and furnished the victims "An end
pleted the Offering" "Jehu said to the guard:"
The "guard" is that body of runners" which
appears in the history as socn as a king was
appointed, and which played part in all state
parades. "And the guard. cast them out, and
went;" The manner in which the guards went
through the temple, casting tho worshipers be.
hind them as fast rs they were killed, and
pressing forward to the interior.-Todd Went
to the city OF the house of Baal:" The guard,
having slain all who were in the court, rushed
on and entered the sanctuary, there no doubt
completing the massacre-Cook 23 'sThey
brought forth the images" or "pillars:" Not
the great image Of Baal, for that was OF stone
but nero columns, obelislSs, or posts. And
burned them:" Showing that they were OF wood
"a. "They broke down tho image OF Baal:" We
may be almost certain that this chief obj cot OF
worship was Of stone. "And made 1t draught
house:" place of refuse aad filth "Unto
this days" When the record was made, or
when the book as we now have 1t was written.
g. "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out Of Israeli"
The worship of Baal never revived after this In
Israel %. 'Iow belt from the sins OF
Jereboarn:' WHO introduced the calf worship
into Israel. "yrho made Israel to sin," by
leading thera = tr.e borders Of idolatry, In op-
position to TIC "dnmand Of God. Golden
calves:" One in G--Jh place. so. "And the
Lord satd unto Jehn:" Proba bly, by the mouth
of Elisha because thou hast done we'll
according to all that was in my hearts" Jehu
had been expressly ordered to "smite the house
of Ahab." 'Thy children of the fourth genera
tion shall sit on the throne:" This promise
was exactly fulfilled (s Kings 15:l2). Jehu's
house reigned an hundred years. 81. "Jehu
took no heed to walk in the law Of the Lord
God of Israeli The law forbldding ell
images of worship. with all his hearts"
His disobedience was Jealous.
LESSON CoMsIENTs-'
Both Kingdoms were under the inhu-
ence of the imperious, strong willed
heather queen Jezebel, the impersona-
ton Of idolatry. The huge Baal tenn
pie, built by Ahab Il Kings 18:39) in
Samaria, with it's staff Of four hundred
and fifty white-robed priests, was main
tanned with great splendor. That Of
Asherah, at Jezreel, with four hundred
priests, still polluted the land by its rites
and worship Sacred pillars and images
glittered on oil sides. immortality was
sapping the national character, and the
future ruin OF Jehovah worship seemed
assured, If things continued a. they
were.
In Judah the baleful influence Of Jex'
ebel was no less threatening; Athaliah,
her daughter, repeating there tho part
her mother was playing In Israel
Wholly under her spell, her husband,
Jehoram, had allowed Baal worship to
be set up, in its most repulsive features,
in Jerusalem itself. After his death,
their only surviving son, Ahaziah, was
king only In name. In reality Athaliah
reigned. A temple to Baal had already
been built by her family, in part from
the stones Of the temple Of Jehovah.
which had been defaced to construct it;
and the sacred vessels had been taken
for the service Of the idol "a Chron.
A:4, y. A heather Camarilla Ia COM
pany of secret counselors or advisers
in opposition to the legitimate ministry
was supreme alike In Jerusalem and
6amaria- The moral and political can
Ger of heathenism had invaded the last
sanctuary Of Jehovah worship, The ma
tional faith was in danger of being
driven from the land. All was at stake.
Religion and even the nation itself
must perish If the family OF Ahab con-.
tinued to reign.-Geilzie.
The object Of what took place was
the saving of the nation Il was like