The National tribune., 1891-03-26

We recall > XII, 5:7. Benhadad besieged
/ Samaria and kept up the siege for seven wears.
/ At length tho inhabitants Of Israel's CapitaI
began to suffer terrible destitution of food
! To such extremes were the people brought
that the head Of an ass an animal uncleau
ccremouislly, and forbidden as edible bv the
Mosaic law-the head Of an ass was sold i'm the
market of Samsria for about $40 (6: 25.) In
deed. human bodies were eaten. Two mothers
entered into a bargain To share i'm the eating
Of their sous. the one agreeing 10 furnish her
boys corpse after that Of the other had been
consumed. O.: 5000 Jehoram. supposng
Elisha was the cause Of his trouble. or that he
could stop it, becomes mad and determines to
Stay him. l6:30-33.)
Q. Data.
3 Time.
We move along from our last lesson for about
one year, dating q. &. S92-
4. Place
The residence of the King Of Israel was
Samaria, the Capital OF the Kingdom. IL is
about ] ID miles from Damascus, southwest. IL
is also called Scbastc Schustieh. 10 is 40 miles
north Of Jerusalem. II was built on ut. Same
ron. On the top Of the hill are now the ruins
of the Church Of ST. John BAPTIST It was
erected in the time of the Crusaders by the
Knights Of 81. John. The travaler is there
shown also the tomb Of said St John aud his
family. As 10 origin Of Samaria see | XII.
il: -, 81. At first the Kings Of Israel lived nj
Shechem, aftcTward ut Tirzah, then they oc-
cupied Samaria. The word Samaria j. from
ShomeTOn Cor Sam"rOnl. from ShemcT Tor ShO-
merl from whom Omri purchased the site 10
was i'm the tribe OF Ephraim, about midway
between Dan aud Beersheba. IL Il also about
midway between the Mediterranean and the
Jordan, about % miles from citizen IL is now
q -
a palace of ivory. n ki.. %: 39l The city
was besieced b. G. 9l5 ly Benhadld. C2O:Il
Again by Benhadad. b. G. 3d. In u. G. 72I il
was bCsirEed Tor three years by Shalmanezer
King Of Assyria. aud captured. q ki I7:5 81
After the death Of Alexander the Great Samaria
passed into the hands of Egypt Antiochus
the Great seized IL from Egypt aud IL was ruled
by Syria The AsmoHeaus ruined it, Gahiniu5
when PrOconsu Of Syria rebuilt Samaria. and
it was for time called Gabiniana. Herod the
Great sent 20 u a colony Of 5000 men aud re-
stored ~ TO much prominence. IL is now OF
little consequence. HerOd called II Sebaste
out OF regard for Augustus. Sehaste Is Greek
Tor the Latin Augustus. Heroi had palace
there the ruins Of which are found now.
:. The Facts.
Seven years have passed. 7:I.2.) Tho
people have been fcariully punished. Elisha
Is authorized to foretcl the end Of the siege
lie declared that within % hours articles would
become as plenty and rs cheap as before Ben
hadad hemmed in the city; that peck Of the
best -four or two pecks Of barley would be sold
ia the market for 90 cents specially con-
hdentiai member Of Jehnram's Cabinet re-
marked skcptcally and sc1fingly that 10 bring
about such change Of quotations. God must
rain down wheat aud barley. Elisha told him
lac would see such prices in the market but
that. in punishment for jesting aud uubelieL
he should die without being permitted 10 share
ia the plenty.
6. Critical Notes.
]. "Ye." ". H. To wit, the elders OF the
city. g.: 81 Each ~ had % elders. But
how came these in session with EiishaY Some
think are to understand a collection Of
some Of the leading men of the city who were
IA sympathy with the prophet. IL seems from
q: y that the master 1.-THE King JehOraml fol-
lowed the messenger and revoked the order
calling for tho ION of Elisha. And
honae the relief Of ths lsTaelites Their King
acknowledged Co., 49, that the caIamities OF tho
siege were dgc 10 the Lord, implying OF COZ rse
they were inflicted for the purpose Of punish
ing the lsraelites "Ye" in such case includes
the King, aud Eiishas remarks were made
directly 10 him. We notice the statement Of
Elisha was not original, but direct cummuui-
cation. a prophecy, from God. Ouly God knows
the future, aud man knows il only by reyela-
tion from Heaven.
, Two kinds Of grains are mentioned: fine
flour lwhcatcnj and barley. wi
Two measures" " ID seah (IIe-
brew saton Tor satuml. Greek Jerome
makes il = moiius LATIN aud one-halL equal
to peck. Ordinarily, ia commentaries a seah
is put at 10 pints.
4. "shekcl." V.1) We may estimate It
at about 60 cents.
8. At the gate" ". ~ Eastern cities
were surrounded by walls Entrance and
egrcss were gained through gates. The gate
ways were generally used as places for market
ing. holding court, etc. Gen, %: 10, Is; |
"a: 20; iu., 4: l-l0D
q. " On whose hand the King leaned" (V2) |
Compare .: -, where Wa see said man was |
Naamau. The leaning Of the King WAS "A Gus |
tom of state, implying "a sort of stat clines4 or |
dignity. IL was symbolic of service ON the part
of the one against whom the King leaned IL |
also indicates confidence on the part Of the |
King
6. We're the words Of the lord tV. q said |
IN sarcasm, or as indicating fact, 10 wit, that |
"A plenty could not he secured save by an actual |
miracle. The death predicted ~ first leads the /
student TO think il WIS an infection. DIR. A. |
Clarke holds tie words express excCsable won |
der. Nearly all commentators believe the !
. lord spoke in ieer.nR. sroi.ing. incrcdulous.
laughing way, aud state his punishment was !
son x Co. Patrick. Henry, Gill. Scott, Kits, !
J0sephu7 Siackh"nse, George Smith Of. S. Al, !
j. Il. kendricls, ID. ID.
z SHggcHi0ns.
Now we are ready FOR the practical lessons. |
Let Us sit at the feet Of history aud heed her |
Oracics.
]. Trust God in all straits The lesson beau |
tiluily illustrates two proverbs: - The darkest |
hour is just before day" and Mans extremity |
Is God's opportunity" The lsraelites had /
reached the last pinch Of endurabIe necessity. |
must DO done on tho spot. God did |
not forget tho descendants of Abraham, did |
not even though they had forgotten him and |
desperately sinned. A father Furnishes, but he /
does not ruin. Josh, 23:ILl
.. Rejoice you are not bad or as many arc 1
aud others have been We are not ia siege;
no famine Is threatened; We enjoy peace; our
health IS excellent; no loathsOme eprosy visits i
our climate.
3. Cultivate peace; avoid wars; arHtrate il /
possible. il ~ sad 10 see neighbUring nations /
~ battle array How the passions are fired |
hat ..,...g L.