The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-09
THE SUNDAY. SCH0OE
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER s.

Sam. xxi, 1-13-Golden Text, Prov
XIV, 12-Memory Verses, 6, 7-Cono-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
I. Men of Israel Fled" It is supposed
that the battle was being fought in the
plain of Esdraelon and that the 1sraelites
fled before their enemies to the slopes OF
Mount iGlboa, whittier the Philistines fol-
lowed. "Fell down slain" 1t was impos-
sible for them to rally. Saul and his sons,
fought like heroes and no doubt threw
Themselves into the forefront Of the battle,
~ 2. " Followed 70 lowe hafd.s' SF HE onset Of the;
Philistines was directed mainly against that
quarter where Saul and his sons were fight
s than falls e" with the rest a l. s0p; God would
hereby complete the Judgment that was to-
be executed upon SauPs house: 2. He
would make Davids way to the crown
us th:: the difference between good and
bad is to be made in the other world, not
in this. Whatever may have been the
character of the others who fell, J0na-
than's fate. was not the result of his per-
sonal trapsgression but of his fathers gin,
and says to us in plain language that mo-
siner harms only himself, and that the
good often in this world suffer be-
cause of the bad. All relationships of life,
tiny, but no other is SO potent for good or.
i'll as that which a parent holds to his
child. But if Jonathan is sad illustration
of this truth, he is also a cheering proof
that if son must suffer for his fathers
character he need not walk in that fathers
footsteps"
II. The death of Saul Tvs. 3-6). 8.
"The archers." The men who shot arrows
with. the bow. "Hit-overworked." Alter
%ba of Pc oosu loHf
Saul out and pursued him. Their missiles
were aimed at him and some of them
may have hit him. "Sore wounded-greatI
ly distressed" The Revised Version gives
the correct meaning. The word nowhere
means to be wounded as our version has it
here. He saw that he was the mark Of
the Philistine sharpshooters, and he there.
fore writhed and quaked with terror at
the thought of falling by such hands.
according to Jewish writer's was Doeg,
would not yield to Saups entreaty. 1t
was his duty to protect the King. and he 4
was responsible for Saurs life. He dared 7
not stretch forth his hand against the,
Lords anointed; the very thought of such
an act filled him with fear Fell upon it. "
Thrust it through himself by falling over
upon it. It is believed by many, from the
construction of the original. that Saul
enued MS nIe Witn 1ne s"oro OF tne ar y
morbearer. If this be true, then Saul and
Doeg both fell by that weapon with which
they had before massacred the priests OF
God Il Sam. 2:Is). This account Of Saul's
death is every way consistent with itself 4
and with Saul's character, and is to be
regarded as the true and authentic record
of the sacred historian himself. The story
of the Amalekite, who stole the kings
crown and bracelet and brought them to
David. e Sam. l:4-l0), is to be treated as
o fabrication. =s,a l2sI
6. "Saw that SAUL" etc. He probably
drew the sword from the kings body and
did what he could to save him, but it war
too late. "He fell" Being answerable foIF
the kings life he feared punishment; %
from a nobler motive OF true fidelity
fused to survive his master. $50 Saul died
The real ground Of SauPs last dark act
self-destruction was not the extremity
the moment for fear of insult from
enemy, but the decay of his inner life d
the complete severance of his heart frd
God. He who would not leave the orderiny
Him to order the manner Of his death.
Suicide is great sin. l.. Note the causes:
Q) Not merely accumulated misfortnnes,
but long. continued wrong-doing. (2) Cow I
ardly fea of suffering. (3) Caring more
for diser zee than for sin. az Abandon:
ment of trust in God. as to this life and
the future life. 2. Note. the effects: ~
Others led by the example into the same
sin. (2) Personal dishonor not prevented.
mans memory. az The eternal loss Of the
soul. "All his men, Compare !. Chron.
1915. Some think this refers to his body
guards and means that they were all slain;5
others think the reference is to all his
household who went with him to the war (
and on whom his hopes for the future Z
hung.
III. The Philistines victorious Tvs. 7.l0).
7. "Other side of the valley" The inhab-
valley of Jezreel. The district to the north
is meant, in which the tribes of Issachar,
Zebulun and Naphtali dwelt. "Other side
Jordan" The panic spread even to the
eastern side of the Jordan. But possibly
the phrase here means "on the side Of the
Jordan" that Is, in the district between
the battlefield and the river. Fled. 1t
was very natural for the people in the
towns and villages there to take fright and
fee, for had they awaited the arrital OF
the victors, they must: according, to the
war usages of the time, have been deprived
either of their liberty or their lives.
$40. "The Philistines {. found"
On discovering the bodies of the king and
his sons on the battlefield, they reserved
them for special ipdignities. "Cut off.
The anointed of Jehovah fares no better
than the uncircumcised Goliath, now that
God has forsaken him. ITO punish it."
THAT the daughters of the heathen might
rejoice and triumph" e Sam. l:20l: .Saufs :
"of their IDOLS" Their idols were, ro- !
garded as the givers of the victory. The !.
Philistines divided the honors among their
deities. "Ashtaroth." A heather goddess
whose rites were filthy and abominabie:
The temple referred to here was doubtless
the famous temple Of Venus in Asketon
mentioned by Herodotus as the most an;
eient of all her. temples. "Beth-shan."
The modern Besian.. between the noun !
tains of Gilboa. and the River Jordan.
w. The burial of Saul and his sons Tvs.
lib, lib. Inhabitants Of" Mindful
of the debt of gratitude they owed to Saul
for rescuing them from Nahash (chap. III.
event all night" They made a journey
of about twelve miles. secured the bodies, !
and returned to their own side. OF the
Jordan in single night. This exploit, was,
]. A brave deed. 2. A patriotic deed. ..
A grateful deed. But the bravery, patriot
ism and gratitude had been better shown >
before Saups death by helping him. Hon
ors after death make poor amends for
neglect and unfaithfulness during hfe.
Burnt them" This was not Hebrew
custom. and was either resorted to prevent
any further insult from the Philistines, or,
more likely, seeing that only the flesh was
burned, because Of the manGed condition
of the bodies. Tasted. This was sign
of e.seral mourning.
History OF the Electron.
DR.. Kaufman, of Germany, in a recent
lecture traced the history of the develop
ment of, the electron. The roots Of tie