The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-11-07
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
International Lesson Comments For
November 10.
Sabieet: Israel Oppressed Ia Egypt, Tx. l., LA
Golden Text, Ex H., IA Memory
Verses, 8, 9, II, i4--commentsrj
on the Days Lesson.


!. These are the names" Thougf,
this book il continuation Of the book OF
Genesis. with which prohsbly it was in
former times eonjoined. Moses thought il
necessary TO introduce it with an account
of the names and number Of the family OF
Jacob when @,ey came to Egypt, TO show
that though they were then very few. vet
in short time. under the special blessing
OF God thev had multiplied exceedingly.
and thus the promise to Abraham had
heen literally fulfilled. ellis household"
Which fact is Of some inheritance in com.
putting the time needful for their increase
10 such large number As went out from
Egynt in the exodus. A hint MS to the
numbers Of the households may he Fained
from the fact that in Abraham's house.
hold there were 81 least 3lS nen who
could bear arms. Gen. IL: IA. The serv.
ants were reckoncd ms part OF the house.
hold. and were admitted to the covenant
and recognized as Israelitcs Gen. II: 81.
o.. Seventy souls" This number in.
cluded Joseph and his two sons. and It
must have also included Jacob himself.
but it did not include the wives and
daughters.
6. "Joseph died" That is, Joseph had
now been some time dead, as also all his
brethren. and all the Egyptians who had
this is reason whv the important serv-
ices performed bv Joseph were forgotten.
Death removes the most useful men and
the largest families. "All that genera
ton" All the men Of that age, Egyp.
tians as well as Israelites
7. 'Were fruitful" There arc FIVE ox.
pressions in this verse Joined together to
give emphasis to the fact that there was a
remarkable increase of the Israeltes, be-
vond all ordinary calculations. One orig
inal word implies that they increased like
fishes or insects. From the call Of Abra-
ham at lIaran to their deliverance from
Egypt was 43O years. During the first 2l5
years they had increased to only seventy
souls, but during the latter half Of the
time, while they were in Egypt, they in
creased to over 000.000 fighting men, be.
sides women and children. And this pros
perity came notwithstanding the great
prosecutions to which they were subjected.
1t is thus clearly shown that the blessing
OF God Is the great secret of true prosper
ity "The land" OF Goshen. "Was
filled" When the women and children
are taken into account it will be seen that
there must have been a great host. A
conservative estimate has placed the num-
Der at 100000 souls.
8. "a new king" One of another fam.
lily, according to JOsephus. The old rulers
under whom Joseph served were over
thrown, and an entirely new dynasty came
into power that had no knowledge of or
interest in Joseph. (Which knew not
Joseph" This new king was not in sym.
pathy with Gods plans and purposes; he
was envious in. his disposition ". 81,
shrewd in his plans ". l0), and cruel in
his requirements. VS.. II, u.
o. "Said unto his people" He proba-
bly, summoned a council OF his mobiles and
elders to consider the subject. "More and
mightier." They had risen to great pros
perity, for during the lifetime of Joseph
and his royal patron they had probably
enjoyed free grant OF the land
shrewd, but it was not wise. Sin is al
ways folly. Such a policy is at once short
sighted and wicked; short-sighted, since
kind treatment would have made this rap
idly growing people their fast friends and
helpers; wicked, because it violates COM
mon morality. When men deal wickedly
dealing wisely, especially If their wicked
ness seems TO be to their worldly advan.
tage. LEST they multiply" As well
might the monarch Of Egypt have sought
to stem with his puny hand the oceans
tide as to prevent the increase of those
who were the subjects Of Jehovah's ever
lasting purpose. "Join our enemies"
The greatest enemies of Egypt were on
Che east, and the first great danger the
king saw was that the Hebrews would
join themselves to some invading army ard
fight against the Egyptians. "Out of the
land" The king was also afraid the He
hrews might escape. The Egyptians would
lose a large revenue IL the lsraelites should
leave them, and steps were taken to pre-
vent this.
H. "TaslsmGsters' Having first obliged
them, it is thought, TO pay luminous rent
and involved them in difficulties the new
government, in pursuance OF its oppressive
policy, degraded them TO the condition Of
serfs, employing them in rearing the pub.
lie works, with taskmasters, who ancient
ly had sticks-now whips-to punish the
indolent, or spur on the too languid.
Treasure cities" "Store cities" r. v.
Cities whero arms and provisions were
gathered, necessary for armies and cara
yans. "Pithom." Meaning "a narrow
place" This was city of Lower Egypt,
situated on the eastern bank Of the Nile.
"Raamses." The same as Rameses. 1t
was probably near by. These two fortified
cities, built by the Israelites for Pharaoh,
were both in Goshen. Eameses was the
point from which the Hebrews started at
the time Of the exodus.
-. "The more they multiplied" The
king not only oppressed the people, bue
he ordered the male children destroyed.
VS.. l6 90 But the mare Pharaoh afflicted
them the more God blessed them. Aifiic-
tions serve the purpose Of developing the
moral character. Divine chastisementA
tend more to growth than to destruction.
IL. 10 serve with rigor." Intending
TO depress their spirits and to rob them
OF everything valuable; to ruin their
health and shorten their days and so di-
minish their numbers. The word trans.
lated "rigor" is very rare one. 1t is de-
rived from word which means 'to break
in pieces" Ito crush"
IA Their lives bitter" This God per
mitted for wise and just reasons: /. As
punishment for their idolatry, into which
It appears many of them had fallen. 2,
TO wean them from Egypt, which was in
many respects a desirable land. 3. TIC
quicken their desires for Canaan. 4. That
they might be aroused to earnest prayer
for deliverance. 8. That Gods power
might be displayed in their freedom,
with hard bondage" So The bondage
which Satan puts upon his servants Is
hard and makes the life bitter. The way
OF the transgressor is "hard" and full Of
misery" But deliverer wos provided.
and SO in Christ we may all be set free
John s: &c., "And in brick" Ruins o.
great brick buildings are found in all parti
Of Egypt.