The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-11-08
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER IL.

Subject: Rebuilding the Walls Of Jeru.
salem, Neh. w., 7-1S-Golden Text
Matt. xvi, 41-Commentary on the
Days Lesson.
CONNECTING LINKS. The king gave Nehe.
miah leave OF absence, and an appoint.
ment as governor, with letters command.
ing the other governors to give him all
needful aid, together with o military es.
cort. Ezra had refused to ask for an es.
cort, because to do so In his case after his
profession would have seemed to the
heather king distrust OF his God. Nehe.
miab, with equal faith, accepted an escort,
the use Of means being one proof OF faith,
and not Of unbellef. He probably reached
Jerusalem after three or four months
journey. Thee days after his arrival he
went out alcne In the night to investigate.
Not until he had done this did he make
known his business; then he told his plans
to leading men, and all the people agreed
to assist in the work Of rebuilding the wall.
7. "Sanballat." An officer Of the Persian
government, holding a military command
at Samaria. BE was O native OF the land
of Moab; therefore his hatred to the Jews.
'Tobiah." A descendant Of the hated race
81 Ammonites. "Arablans." Headed prob
ably by Geshem, and in league with the
The building OF the wall was construed into
design to fortify themselves and then re.
rolt and become an independent State.
'Ashdodites." Inhabitants OF Ashdod, one
81 the great cities Of the Philistine plain.
9. "We made our prayer unto our God"
Nehemiah was conscious that he was work.
ing according to Gods will, and he knew
:he source OF power. "Set a watch" Op-
oosite to the place where they were en-
.LoGl -kt, L. - L H.
| ,ity. Faith and works go together. Watch
ing and praying, weak when apart, are q
Gibraltar of strength when united. Pray
ing Is not substitute Tor the use OF means,
out the power that inspires zeal and activ-
ty, quickens the invention, sharpens the
intellect.
10. Judah sald." Hindrances without
and complaints within. Many Of the
people had no heart for the work; some OF
snemIes. 6:17-9. Even the high priest had
relationship with hostile foreigners (Am-
nonites-Tobiah and his son married Jew
sh women), and gave them favors.
1874, S, %. strength Of the bearers"
Drawing men from the working parties to
act as guards left too few laborers for the
great task.
II. "Our adversaries said" They
caused rumors OF some sudden attack or
night assault to be circulated, 80 as to
| cause constant and disheartening fear.
r. "The Jews that dwelt by them"
Those who dwelt among the Samaritans
and other enemies and found out their evil
designs. They were anxious to have their
friends and kinsmen return to their homes
and families.
10. "In the lower places" Within the
! wall where 1t was not yet raised to its due
height. and therefore most liable to the
snemies' assault. "Higher pluces." Where
the walls were finished and the towers
Or throw stones. A device to show the
enemy that they were fully prepared for
their intended assault and give notice
that their secret plan was known. After
their families" In family groups, so that
the men that guarded the wall had their
klnsmen nearest them. Thus the soldiers
need not be distracted by anxiety for their
families, for those whom they desired to
defend were at hand.
IA. "Be not ye afraid of them" The pa
gan allies had Joined their forces; their
and an attack impending, when Nehemiah
made this short, stirring appeal, No con-
dict followed, for the enemy saw from
distance that the whole people awaited
them In perfect order and equipment; so
hey lost heart and turned back. "Re-
member the Lord" The best Of all argu-
nents for patriotic courage. Flight for
your brethren, sons. daughters, wives,
houses" They must fight for their lives
and religion and property.
Is. ave returned, all OF us, to the wall"
Noble persistence In good purpose. The
momentary withdrawal from the work to
changed their purpose nor damped their
ardor for the building Of the wall.
16. "Halt Of my servants" Probably
special band Of men given as personal
guards, either by the king OF Persia or the
people atJerusalen. "Half. =. wrought.
ialf. :. held" This Is no unusual thing.
sven in the present day In Palestine; peo-
pie sowing their seed are often attended by
an armed man, to prevent the Arabs from
.obbine them OF their seed, which they will
aot fail to do II not protected. These SER
wants held these weapons not only for
themselves, but for the laborers who would
Immediately quit their work and take their
Weapons on the first alarm. "Rulers be-
nind." The chiefs stood behind the labor
ers stationed at different places along the
wall, directing and encouraging them,
:eady to lead on the armed force II an at
Jack was made upon the lsborers.
II. .They that builded," Masons, brick
rayers. and the like. "They that bare bur-
lens" The carriers of material
1s. "He that sounded the trumpet" The
workmen labored with trowel In one hand
and sword In the other; and as In 80 large
circuit they were far removed from each
other, Nehemiah, who was night and day
on the spot, and by his pious exhortattons
and example animated the minds OF his
oeople, kept a trumpeter by bis side, 80
that on any intelligence OF surprise be-
Ing brought to him an alarm might be i'm.
mediatey sounded and assistance rendered
% the most distant detachment OF their
brethren. By these vigilant precautions
the counsels OF the enemy were defeated
and the work was carried on apace. God,
Ehen He has Important public work to do,
never fails to raise up instruments for ac-
,omplishing 1t, and In the person OF Nehe.
miah, who to great natural acuteness and
,nergy added fervent piety and heroic de-
cotton, He provided a leader whose high
qualities fitted him for the demands OF the
Crisis. Nehemiah's vigilance anticipated
,very dif1culty-his prudent measures de-
,eated every obstruction, and with aston
Ishing rapldity this Jerusalem was made
again city fortified. The work was com
oIeted in the brief time Of tlfty-two days
i6: 15), the last Of September. The walls
must hnye been three or four miles long to