The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-04-02

pointed for April IL, 1891. g XII. 10: 1928.
lone reading these notes Should first carefuily
study tie paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated abOve.l
SUBJECT: JEHU's EXPERIMENTATION OF BAAL-
ITEs
Prr,min1rieJ.
Oar last lesson was an account Of the close Of
tho seven years famine ia the city Of Sama-
ria We are now 10 study the history OF Je-
hu's destruction Of the followers OF Baal, tho
last act in the drama OF Ahab.
When Elijah fed from Jezroel in fear OF Jsze-
bel II XII, IS: &c: 1879 he at length reached
Horeb. (V. 81 Before he left tho mountain
three commissions were given him Il. lie was
TO anoiut Hazael 10 be King over Syria; 2. To
anOint JChu rs King of lsrSol; 3. To call
Elisha 10 become his own successor US. Is
2lD These duties were laid on Elijah II.
G. 906, - years before our lesson this
week. Elijah proceeded at once 10 inform
Elisha that il was the will of Jehovah he
succeed Elijah as prophet Elijah did not per-
form the other commissions We do not know
why. IL has been surmised that XII, 81 : %.
is explanation. Ii remained for Elisha 20 exc
cute the said two commissions In XII, S:7-
10, we have account off the amounting of Ha-
Zsel 20 become King Of Syria. Tweuty-One
years had elapsed since God babe Elijah thus
to set apart Hazael. We have in 9: l-13 &C
GtAlA hl Alie amounting u tGlu &s kluE OF H.
Tael, % years from tho time Jehovah ordered
Elijah thus to call Jehu 10 the throne.
We find that nine years after the prophecy
20 Elijah, Ahab was killed by Syrian arrow.
n Xxi, %: 3Ll Just before our lesson, Hazel
became King Of Syria, having murdered Ben
haGad By smoiEering or suiiOcaing him.
l5:I5.) He at once began an attlcI, on the Is
Taeiites. Jehoram, King Of Israel. was wounded
and retired 10 Jrzrecl. AhaZiah was King Of
HnAnh Roth IL rpInfaN Ahnviah
was the son Of a sister Of Ahab. and Jehoram
was son Of Ahab. Knowing Jchoram was
wounded, Ahazah won't - Jezreel to visit
him.
We now reach the story Of Jehu. Recall the
fact that two decades before, God told Elijah
al Horeb that be would employ Jehu to aveHgs
the idoiatry OF Ahab, .Iczebel, aud all the fam
ily. II XII, 1910 TIC time has arrived for
the furious driver to begin has work. Elisha's
servant aEOints Jehu King Jehu falls npon
the two Kings, JohOram and Ahaziah. at Jez-
reel, aud Stays both. JehOram was buried in
Naboihs vineyard. This had been predic
q Hi, 81 10. II, 29.) Then Jczebel was cast
from = window. killed. and the corps eaten By
dogs Jehu now proceeds 10 eKterminate the
entire family OF Ahab. - XII, 10: LAD
We are ready for an examination in special
Of the lesson.
A great reformation has been going on. led
by Jchu. lie seemed TO drive moral aud polit-
zeal measures furiously. rs he did his chariot
horses. %: 20) Jehoaedab a very devout
man, so admired the Kings actions as to go
and congratulate and encourage him. ION Re-
chab and Jehonadab, read Jer., 35th chapter,
aud Chron., >: 3d. JehOBadab did not per-
ceiye that Jehu was not totally freed from idol
airy, and joined him probably in the hope that
the true worship nj ght be established in Israel
As in Judah. He did not see that Jehu's idea
was rather political than religious; that his
great aim was rather TO eXteTmiuate Ahabs
family. as future seekers Of the throne, than to
Fe-cs.ablish mOn0theism; that he wanted the
religion Of Baal totally routed, since II was SO
associated with the Ahab dynasty. Jeh0padab
might have suspected Jehu when ne considered
how Elisha was ignored in the seeming refor-
nation. What Ahab did was well SO FAR "a 10
went toward driving out Baslism. 1t was de-
fectiya In the fact il did not along with the
hercsins and evils Of the Balltes. expel the
two golden calves, one at Bethel and the other
at Dan 10: %, set PIP by Jeroboam. We see
Jchu was looking mere 70 his own honor than
10 Gods rights. 10 was thought by all the
King OF Israel impolitieto allow the people 70
go 10 Jerusalem for worship. lest their hearts
should be won over 10 the King of Judah. Hence
the calves at Dan and Bethel were never re-
moved until taken eli 10 the captivity OF the
10 tribes
Jchu found Jehonadsb gnd he were IS one
IN tic work OF reform. For further c0nsnlta-
ti0n aud to gain popularity with the people,
v ho all had confidence IN leL0uadab, Jehu in
yiied him 10 enter the chariot and ride into
Samaria. lie was Jealous not only for the
Lord, but for the king-lcss FOR God than for
Jehu.
God commanded Jehu for thoroughly clear
ing the country Of Baalism 90 was never re-
established in that landl, and rewarded him
accord !ngly BIZ granting him the most cOutinu-
Gus succession wiz. four geueratiOns) of any
King Of Israel. But this was only temporary
reward. Jehu took no heed 20 walk in the
law Of the Lord God Of Israel with all his
heart" Hence, by divine permission aud 70
punish Jehu. Hazel fearfu!ly annoyed the
Kingdom Of Israel. us: 32 49,