The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-09-06
SUNDAY MEDITATION.
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lessen Appointed for Sept.
Is, 1894.

Is, 1894.
Subject: Christ and the Woman at Jacob:
Well. st. John, 4:5-I5.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboye.I
INTRODUCTION.
his fs an interesting lesson. 1t exposes
| much of human nature. We see how inge-
| niOusfy Christ brings out the woman's ideas
There is fine illustration of figurative Ian
guage-the presenting salvation under the
similitude of water We see how large q
part national prejudice plays in human
affairs. We have an inkling as to the loose
ness of early morals. We see the general
conception of a prophets position among a
people. With the utmost courtesy and with
the most generous consideration of the WON
ans feelings, Jesus yet takes no apologize
attitude as to her sin, but rebukes her very
severely We get an idea of how we should
treat the immoral. We have in the sequel
great encouragement to work for their re-
form.
We should study Vs. $40. There is not
time. 1t would be well in special TO finish
up the account Of the interview of our Saw
i0r with the woman until the Disciples ap-
pear. vs.. 5-26. But we cannot do justice
to all this in a single lesson. We consider
now in particular verses SIS, inclusive.
Time.
We date December, A. D. o. The time of
the year is fixed by V. 30. The barley har-
vest was early in March. We may say the
sixth hour was noon.
Place
We locate near Shechem, in Samaria. 1t
is also called Sychar, Neapolis, Nablouse,
Nablus, Sichem. Gen., SO: 49, 10, reports
Jacobs purchase. Then it became Joseph's.
JOS, "a: 81.
Sdmdritdns.
After the captivity of the Ten Tribes Shall
manezer sent TO occupy the land of Israel
peoples from idolatrous lands. The Jews
not carried off by degrees allied with these
new settlers. The Pentateuch became their
Bible. They built Temple of their own
About $50 persons Of this religion yet sur
viye.
Definitions and Explanations.
1. Cometh. 5, 7. Comes is the more
modern form of the word. So saith" in
10, II, has now the form says. Omit
" from" before whence in V. II. For at"
V. 10, say he. Instead of which, in VS..
8, II, say who. ,..r,
. To city. V. s. Not into, but as near
as Jacobs well.
3. Parcel 5. The original means spot
or place. Our word, parcel, means a small
part-French, parcelle; from the Latin pars;
and from pars we get the diminutive par
ticula, particle. We could render it piece
(of ground). IL
a. Wearied 6. IF La were noon we see
more reason for his being tired after long
walk of the morning. We remember he was
made flesh. LA. Hence he knew all of
the weakness of our physical nature. This
limitation of the fieshiled to his death. Phil,
2:5-S. Here is comfort for US. Our Savior
knew by actual experiences our weakness of
body. Heb, Is. We are not to suppose
Christ an athlete. Is, SO: 2, and st. Mark,
1921, "A, are suggestive. Christ as a man
became hungry, thirsty, weary. Probably
he was not robust, and this may be one rea-
son why he did not 90 into the city. The
Disciples seem to have left him to rest while
they went for food.
5. Thus. 6. Some say thus wearied, or
being so weary he sat down. So Barnes,
a throne, seat. or cushion, but las circum-
stances required) on the ground. So Bengel.
Ancients in general and many modern COM
say: Just as he was, just where
it happened, without any pitching of a tent"
Leaning to this view Bloomfield suggests as
an alternative the translating accordingly
instead of thus.
g. On the well. 6. On the well cErb, or
pear its mouth, on the projecting margin; or
on" may mean by or near.
z. Draw water. 7. The Eastern custom
was to bring 10 well pitcher, ordinarily
carrying it On the head The pitcher was
ct down into the we'll by a cord. Each |
person, or each party of persons, carried n
;ord. 1t would seem Christ's Disciples had
The cord belonging to his party, bat they
we're absent. V. s.
8. Dealings. 8. Raschi said at is an
domination to eat the bread or drink the |
wine of a Samaritan Dealings mean friendly |
intercourse. We find the Jews could buy !
IF Samaritans and sell to them. The Dis |
:ipies had gone into the city on purpose to |
buy.
s. Generally it is thought the words for |
he Jews had no dealings with the Samari- |
ans " were uttered by the women, and yet |
many hold the words are remark added |
by the writer in explanation OF the woman's |
question.
8. Gift of God. 10 We know Christ is !
,alled a gift to our world. 3:16. So the
Holy Spirit is gift. st. Lu., H. - Every |
privilege we enjoy is gift. St JAS,
|: II. Eternal life is a gift. Ro., 6 30 |
some consider the gift meant in the lesson
was the blessed interview enjoyed by the |
Others think Christ is meant
Christ under the figure of living water DIR. |
George Campbell thinks the word is gen.
,ral one pointing to the universal bountiful-
1ess of God. Bengel says plainly: 1.-THE
yiit is the living water" We generally I'M
lerstand by the word all that is meant in
he term salvation. To be presented this
yiit by Christ himself was indeed a peculiar
blessing. Christ does not seem to use the
anauage of repuke. Jesus saw she was
and wanting only in light in order
20 be a genuine Christian, Her will was not
n the way, but a lack. of knowledge limited
ier. The sequel shows she acted correctly
Is soon as she knew the facts.
10. Living water. 10. Water that gives
ife No fault is found with Jacob nor with
he well. The water of the well answered it's
purpose perfectly enough. but it left the spirit
lal nature unslacked. :, Living water is run
ng, not stagnant water. George Campbell
aid: THE water of springs and rivers
would be called living; that of cisterns and
POOLS dead, because metionless." We know
hat at times Jacobs well had living water;