Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-08-20
Lesson for August 20.

Scrfptures-Ifme Wen SPENT
- Lesson for August %.
\ Golden Text.-"Honor thy father and
thy mother: that thy days may be lons
upon the land which the Lord thy Coz
giveth thee. EXODUS 20: II.
This lesson Is found in 2 Sam. 10: 1-12,
and has for its subject Absalom's rebel
lion.
Introductory.
The forgiveness Of David's sin carried
with 1t no exemption from the conse-
uuences of his evil example and neglect
OF parental duty. Aboutsthe frst thing
he did, after the birth Of solomon, was
10 go down to Rabbah and take the city.
after 1t had been forced into subsection
by Joab's long siege. Cruel and barbar-
Gus punishments were inflicted on the un-
fortunate inhabitants. We are told to
judge these cruelties according to the SEN
iiments of the age; but il David's spiritua!
history was anything like that related In
the ffty-frst, fifty-second and other
psalms, he must have been far in ad.
vance of his age, and we are obliged to
admit strange inconsistencies In his char
acter, even after that great crisis in his
life. The worst part Of Davids punish
ment was the sins of his children. These
began with the crime Of Amnon against
his half sister lamar which David al
lowed TO go unpublished, though he was
''very wroth." This is about the only
place where we can sympathize with Alb
salon, the brother of the wronged girl.
10 behold his father. who in earlier years
had been famous for piety and abhor-
renee Of even the thought Of sin, fallen
so low that he permitted such terrible
crimes to so on in his own household, sit
ting by in impotent wrath, must have
provoked the hearty contempt Of Absa-
lon. The young man waited his time,
and finally took vengeance into his own
hands and procured the death of Amnon.
That was one goodfor- nothing out of the
way. But David, who had felt it n pious
duty to execute the murderers of Ish-
bosheth and to torture and mangle the
people OF Rabbah, now mourned bitterly
for the wretch Amnon, and Absalom was
obliged to flee. He took refuge in Ke-
shur, Il district southwest of Damascus,
and remained there three years. Then
Joab contrived a scheme TO bring about
reconciliation. Whether David still felt
resentment, and Joab acted the part Of
pencemakcr, or on the contrary David
desired to bring his son back but did not
know how to do so without sacrificing
royal dignity, is not certain, on account
OF the ambiguity of Sam. 10: 80 and
IL: l. The English versions support the
latter alternative, but the other interpre-
tation OF the original has much in its
favor Joab, like Eathan, got David to
comylit himself as to general case,
stated in particular form, and then en-
forced the decision upon his own case.
The wOmans guilty son should not be
executed, because that would simply add
another tragedy to the list; very well
then, let the king recall Absalom, The
elaborate form of persuasion described in
= Sam. IA: 172O does not seem like an ar
gument addressed to man whose mind
was already favorably inclined. But it
had its effect, and Joab was given per-
mission to bring Absalom back. but not to
allow him to come into the kings pres
encc After two years of residence in
Jerusalem, still under the royal displeas-
ure. the last restriction was removed and
Absalom was received by his father.
Explanatory.
at came to pass after this" a natural
consequence Of David's vaclllating course
during the past seven years. The read
mission Of Absa,om to favor was not due
to any repentance of his, but to the efforts
of Joab Absalom had probably been
mcditating treason during those two years
Of disgrace at Observation-Disclosures
and horses" a chariot and horses. 1t is
still the custom in the East for distin-
guished travellers to have one or more
men TO run before them to clear the road.
Absalom had fifty, apparently intending
to overwhelm the people by his magnif-
ccnce before he stole their hearts by un-
expected condescension.
Beside the way of the gate" that is,
"by the side OF the road leading to the
gate of the kings palace. where he sat to
transact business OF this custom.
which still prevails in some eastern COM
munities-not in the case of kings, but in
that Of municipal officers-the name Sub
lime Porte, applied to the Turkish govern
ment, Is a relc.-Absalom's method of
ingratiating himself with the people is
startlingly similar to the ward politi-
clans of New York and Chicago in 1896.
He probably despised his supporters, won
by slch methods, as heartily as our Crok
ers and Platts despise their tools Doubt
less the self-respecting Israelites who
came to court and behcld the disgusting
spectacle of the kings son kissing every
body that came along wondered what
the kingdom was coming to.
"After forty years." should he, without
doubt. four years. Probably the time is
counted from Absalom's reconciliation
with his father-Absalom's vow was, Of
course, pre.ext for summoning an as
sembly. 1t acquired plausibility from
the fact that Hebron was his birthplace
and the home Of his childhood
'.Tben l will serve the Lord" that is.
will offer sacrifice to him; it is promise
TO do a particular act, not to adopt n
general line of conduct.
"AbsalOm reigneth in Hebron" "Ths
choice Of Hebron clearly shows that Alb
salon expected to find his chief support
in the tribe Of judah. II is probable that
the old tribal jealousies had been revived,
and that Judah resented It's absorption
into the nation at large. Such n spirit
of discomfort would account for the slack
ness of Judah to bring back the king
when the rebellion was over %: III. He
bron itself, too, probably contained many
persons who were aggrieved by the re-
moval of the court to Jerusalem. kirk
patrick. sa
"That were called" invited to the sac
rificlal feast without knowledge Of the
reasonable plot. Once involved in Alb
SALONS sacrifice" they would be strong
" tempted to side with him in order to
save their own heads.
r"Ahithophe:" he has been compared
to Judas. Perhaps Ps. Al: 9srefcrs to
him., which disi quoted In reference to