The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1899-11-16
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER 70.

Subject; Public Heading OF tho Scripture q.
Neh. vlii., 1-12-Golden Text Neh.
WILL, 3-Commentary on the Days
Lesson.
CONNECTING LINKS. "The place OF m eet-
Ing was In the open square OF Ophel, SOUTH
east OF the temple area, and near the water
gate, through which water was brought
Ior use In the temple. At this time, under
] Ezra, began n new era OF Bible study. He
inaugurated n class OF scribes for copying
and teaching the law, and synagogue
| meetings for reading 1t. II Is thought that
Ezra returned to Persia after he had spent
eight months In Jerusalem working re-
| form by separating the Jews from their
heather wives but in his absence they had
relapsed into their former condition, and
| were In this state of dlsobedience when
Nehemiah came to them. Here is the first
| mention OF his name in Nehemiah. and It
is probable he followed Nehemiah to Judea,
| to assist In another movement OF reform"
| l. "All the people gathered" From the
surrounding country from 10000 to $4,000
| IN number. IL was at the time OF the Feast
OF Trumpets. Trumpets were blown every
where. They proclaimed n day OF rejoic-
ing; they were a public acknowledgement
OF Jehovah as King, n summons for the
people to range themselves under His ban
| ner; they we're q call to repentance:
| Rouse ye, rouse ye from your slumber;
awake, awake from your sleep, you mind
| DOQk Oh Int lAW. Inc WDOl0
| body OF sacred writings, collected into one
volume of Ezra, the first great scribe. Our
| Old Testament.
! 2. "All that could hear" Men. women
and children who were old enough to
understand.
8. "He read therein from the morn
Ing until midday" Or from daylight"
He began as soon rs It was light enough
| and read on Che and his assistants, V. -
| TIL noon, that is, for six hours or more.
| The reading appears to have been varied
by occasional exposition (vs. Z, 81. "The
enrs OF all the people were attentive
| Though there Is no word in the Hebrew for
attentive" yet the meaning is quite cor
Iectly given: THE ears OF all the people
were to the book"--iixed on that, and on
| nothing else
4. Ezra stood" with thirteen repre-
sentative men from Jerusalem, upon an
elevated platform where they, in turn,
| read the Scriptures. Hero they could be-
seen by all and heard distinctly. Nothing
is known OF most Of these persons, perhaps
tho chief OF the courses OF priests who
iniulstered in the temple service. They
gave dignity to the service and honored
Ezra in the sight OF the people. Those
mentioned in verse were Levtes.
3. Ezra opened tho book" The book
was long strip OF parchment. rolled upon
| Il stick at either end; therefore called a
roll or scroll. The writing was In
parallel columns across 1t. Such rolls are
still used In Jewish synagogues
6. Ezra blessed the Lord" offered
prayer. In that prayer Gods goodness
and mercy, faithfulness and truth power
| and righteousness, were recognized, and
His faithful promises were pleaded.
T. Caused the people to understand
| the law" They stood beside the reader
and expounded the law by turn during
pauses in the reading, or were stationed ar
| intervals in the crowd, dividing IL into
| RiiIe, alnQgna N nd nj fan att .
F, time. This was part OF the regular work
OF the priests and Levtes. On this
| occasion 1t was probably necessary for
them to translate and explain the law In
the common tongue for the benefit OF
large part of the people. They eNpounded
the mind and will of God in what they
read, and applied 1t to the peoples pres
ont condition.
3. "Read distinctly" So that every
word could be distinctly heard This was
tho first way In which they caused the peo-
| pie to understand. The Israelites having
been lately brought out OF Bahylonlsh cap
tivity, In which they had continued sew
| enty years, were not only corrupt, but
they had In general lost the knowledge Of
| the ancient Hebrew to such degree that
when the book of the law was read they
did not understand 1t. Therefore the
Levites translated 1t into the Chaldee dla-
lect. Caused them to understand"
They gave both translation of the He
brew words into the Chaldee and an expo-
sition OF the things contained In them, and
OF the duty incumbent upon them by virtue
thereof.
.. Nehemiah the Tlrshatha." Hitherto
Nehemiah has called himself pechah-tho
ordinary word for governor" Now he is
called Tirshatha, moro honorable and
| reverential title for governor. The new
title Is among the indications that this por-
iion OF the book is written by another.
"This day is.holy." Mourning was unsulta-
BILE for II day of high festivlty, the opening
day OF the civil year and OF the sabbatlcai
month, itself Il sabbath or day OF rest, and
one to be kept by blowing of trumpets.
Low. 1928, 25; Mum. 29:1-6. A day ap-
pointed for general rejoicing In Him who
has turned our captivity restored to us
| tho law, and again established us
among His ordinances. 1t appears that
the people were not only ignorant
OF their ancient language, but also Of tho
rites and ceremonies of their religion, not
being permitted to observe them in Baby
| lon. Therefore the rites and ceremonies
must be explained. See vs.. 10, IA. "All
J the people wept." They realized how dir.
ferent their lives had been from the lives
commanded by God. They had failed in
personal duty. They had failed In the pub
llG,worship of God. They had failed us IL
nation. They saw, also, the punishment
which God had threatened for siu, and un-
derstood clearly why they lad been made
| 'hptiNSS uhu WuJ lut HhllOH WIS 81 poor
and weak when 1t might have been tho
central glory OF the world
10. $50 your way, cut and drink" OBJ
servo Gods appointment. They should
testify the genuir reness of their repentance
by the falthfulness with which they l.apt
the feast. "Send portions" 1t waF an
ordinance OF God that in these feasts the
poor should be specially and literally pro-
! vded for. Deut. 1911; 16:l1-15. "Neither
| be ye sorry" We must not be merry when
God calls us to mourning. We must not
a1lct ourselves when God has given us
occasion to rejoice. Even our sorrow for
sinners must not hinder our JOY in Gods
servlc "Joy OF the Lord" conscious
ness OF Gods favor, mercy and long-suffer-
ing.
II. "Levites stilled all the people,"
flushed their loud lamentations. Emotion
needs control when II is In danger OF run
ulng into mere physical excitement.
IL. "Went to make n great mirth. be-
cause they understood the words OF the
law" They now knew Gods will and
their own duty, which they resolved to
practice. This gave them ground OF hope
and trust In Gods mercy, and therefore
1, sa.,