The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-08-21

Time.-Ellsha died early in the reign OF
Jehoash, sl2-S2s B. c. (or 7s7-7SD- This
lesson is forty-hve years after our last
Place.-The interview took place in Sa-
maria. Aphek. according to George Adam
Smith, was six miles east OF the Sea OF
Galilee. on the main road from Damascus
Elisha was now an old man OF over 50
years. He had been a prophet for sixty
three years. During the last forty-hve'
years he has not been mentioned In the
history. but was quietly doing his good
work Rulers.-Jehoash was king of Is
rael, the third king of the fifth dynasty.
beginning his reign of sixteen years q. {.
S42 (197. rev. chron.), at the close OF the
reign Of Joash OF Judah. Monuments
The Black Obelisk, found by Layard
among the ruins OF Nineveh. and now in
the British museum, has references TO
Jehu. There is a picture representing
Jehu bringing tribute to Shalmaneser
with an inscription THE tribute of Jehu,
son of Omri. silver. gold. bowls OF gold.
etc. The conquest OF Damascus from Ha-
zael is also recorded by Shalmaneser.
IA. The king came down from his palace
to the low1y abode of the prophet. "and
wept over his face" The blessing
frightened as 1t took its flight" 20 my
father" Expressing the kind and loving
interest the aged prophet took in the
young king. ''rhe chariot of Israel, and
the horsemen thereof" The prophet OF
God was of more value for the defense OF
the kingdom than an army with chariots
and cavalry.
Is. Take bow and arrows" VS.. l. to
II describe a synlbolical action as prep
aration for the test which was to follow.
1t said to the king. Shooting the arrow
means victory over your oppressors. And
the king understood the symbol
16. Elisha put his hands upon the
kings hands" To show that Gods pow
er would work through the kings hands:
The touch. too. would bring memories OF
Eiisha's good deeds of help in tho past.
IL open the window (or lattice) east
ward" Toward the scene OF the recent
defeats of Israel by Syria, and where
| Syrians still held the country. The main
part of Syria lay to the northeast, but one
| could look towards II through an easter!y
window THE arrow of the Lords deliv-
erance" This was said to explain to
Joash the meaning of the symbolical &C
! ton and the one to follow it, 1t meant
| deliverance from the power OF syria
| "Aphek" A town called FIX. six miles
east of the Sea of Galilee. on the road to
Damascus.
Is. Ind he said. Take the arrows. -"
| That is. those left in the quiver. 'Smite
| upon the ground" Shoot them one after
| another to the ground out of the same
| eastward window. He was not merely
to shoot. he was to hit" And he smot'
/ thrice and stayed" He had so little faith.
/ so little earnestness he was so weakly
unbelieving and unperceiving. that Instead
4 of shooting till the prophet told him 10
stop, or till every arrow was gone. saying:
This means victory" Another arrow Of
triumph from the Lord" he sped three ar
| rows and basely stayed his hand
4 10 And the man of God was wroth-
He was indignant that when such bless
| ings were offered. when such deliverance
for his native land was almost thrust up
on him. such a noble and splendid careel
was open before him. the young kini
\ should be so weak, so blind, so wicked a!
| TO throw away his opportunity. and lik
| the swine, trample such pearls under MS
! feet. Thou sho oIldest have smitten five
| or six times" You should have shown
| zeal. and faith, and earnestness by shoot
| ing more arrows. Now thou shalt smite
| Syria but thrice" Gain only three VIC
tories instead of entire. deliverance from
the foreign yoke.
The fuIfllment of the promise is found
| in VS.. 22-25 1t is expressly said that II
| was Gods gracious mercy that preserved
| them, and his covenant with Abraham
that God would make his children ar
everlasting nation as the stars of HEAVIER
for multitude
20. And Elisha died. and they buried him
And the bands of the Moabites invaded
the land at the coming in of the year.
q. And it came to pass. as they were
buryinR a man. that, behold. they spieC
a band of men: and they cast the mar
into the sepulchre of Elisha: and wher
the man was let down, and touched thu
bones of Elisha, he revived, and stooC
up on his feet.
o. But Hazael king of Syria oppressed
Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
o. And the Lord was gracious unt'
them, and has compassion on them, an
had respect unto them, because of hi
covenant with Abraham. Isaac and Jacob
| and would not destroy them, neither cas-
he them from his presence as yet. 4.
a. So HazaeI king of Syria died: AM
Benhadad his son reigned in his stead.
25. And Jehoash the son Of Jehoahai
took again out of the hand Of Benhada'
| the son of Hazael the cities. which he ha'
! taken out of the hand OF Jehoahaz hi
father by war. Three times did Joasi
beat him, and recovered the cities OF Is