The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1891-01-01
THE KI toDoM DIVIDED.
Sunsia school Lesson for
January Z. 1891.

january Z. 1891.
LESSON TEXT Kings 12:i-17.
GOLDEN TExT-Pride goeth before destruc
tion, and q naughty spirit before fall Prov.
1918
TmE--B. c. 97s, Immediately after the death
Of Solomon.
PLAcE-The coronation assembly was held at
Shechem, between mounts Ebal and Gerizim,
then the metropolis of the tribe Of Ephraim.
PARALLEL ACCOUNT 2 Chron. TO-
HELPS OVER HARD PLACEs--1. ITO mako
him King" 1t was not for the purpose Of re-
volt that the company had assembled, but to
crown new King the son Of Solom and his
natural successor. q "Jeroboam." He was
youn, Ephraimite, that Solomon had made
chief of the forced labor, from the tribes OF
Ephruim aud Manasseh. "Who was yet in
Egypt" The prophet Ahijah had foretold
that he should be Solomon's successor over ten
tribes; and vt is probable that in view Of the
dissatisfaction of the people, he made some at
tempt to take possession before Soiomon's
death so that. his plot being discovered, he had
to escape to Egypt, where he heard OF the pro-
posed assembly at Shechem. g. "They sent
and called him" from Egypt, that he might
come and 81 eali 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 peo-
pie. T. ';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 Solomon's
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 8. "And he said unto them,
Depart ye yet for three days" This seemed o
reasonable request, and yet right heart would
have decided instantly in their behalf. 9. IRE.
hoboam consulted with the old men," Not
old men as in sense Of age, but used probably
as in the expression "elders Of Israel" 4. "f
thou wilt be a 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 impositons but a boast Of his superior
strength and frmness. II. II will add to your
yoke" Make it as much heavier as the body is
than the little finger. my father chas-
tised you with whips" It is quite pos.
sible that the forced laborers wero
kept AT theH toils oy tne iash. but VIII
cnas.ise you WIN & scorpions. = AS IS. .ne scorpion OF
lash ieaden halls with hooks nroiectinS from,
them, it is supposed this speech was only us. a
hguratively. 10. And the King answered the
people roughly" HIS speech was harsh ana
.arSor,o,. anu tho n,o nia ,ans os,,sai a
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
nats 'a' ,n ns papose ,rn anu own r MN"
II was a thing brought about by the Lord.
'Ahitsh the. prophet" A prophet Of Shiloh.
he had prophesied, some time before that the
ON tr,ssa 0e K;na anu ,t rune
ssvVhat ,ortion have We IN David,r The mama
a put for his house or family. The ten tribes
would have nothing more to DO with the royal
.s,S sa. snH Ienoup0Su u S,s 'mer ms scganCe @ Now
honoam to zoe 10 The afrairs of Judsh h,s trins
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 our
lesson to-day, that the people quarreled
among themselves, and, by dividing the
kingdom, threw away the great promise
contained in Sam. 7:1O-16; 2S:5, where
God says that He will make them q
great people, and that the children of
wickedness shall bother them no more;
neither shall they move away from their
own land.
The mama Rehoboam means tsen1aruer
Of the people," and we can picture the
hopes and bright visions of the future
that were in the minds of his parents
when he was given that name. But in
what strange irony do the acts Of his
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 have
been at the results. Where are we to lay
the blame for this failure? When we
remember that his mother, in place of