Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-11-05
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
November s.
Subject Davld's Grief Over Absaiom-2 Sam.
xviii, N.33-dolden Text, Prov. xviii,
D-Memory Verses, 3l.33-Commen.,,
tary on the Days Lesson.

I. The battle array Tvs. 1-s). l. The
time was about three months after Absa'
lom assumed the throne. 2. The place, was
the forest of Ephraim in Mount Gilead,
not far from Mahanaim, where David was.
This region is still covered with thick oaks
and tangled bushes, and thorny creepers,
growing over rugged rocks and ruinoua
prccipices. 3. The army of Absalom must
have been very much larger than Davids,
for 20, 900 men were slain, besides the many
that escaped. But they had no such discl'
pine and organization as David's troops,
and no "Old Guard" like David's band Of
900 heroes. H. The army of David was d.
vided into three divisions under three able
generals. Gideon had divided his handful
into three that he might make a simulta'
neous impression on three different partt
of the Midianite host. and thus contribute
the better to- the defeat of the whole. So
David divided his army into three, that,
meeting Absalom's at three different points
he might prevent a concentration Of the
enemy that would have swallowed up his
whole force.
III. The defeat and death of Absalom
Tvs. OLD. Absalom met the servants OF
David in battle and was defeated. In his
fight Absalom rode upon mule. For him
to ride upon a mule-perhaps Davld's own
was a mark of royalty q Kings |: 49,
3s). His head caught in the forked boughs
of tree, and he hung there. stunned and
helpless. Perhaps his long. thick hair got
entangled but there is nothing to support
the common idea that Absalom was sus.
pended merely by his hair. ,Josephus says
that his hair was "entangled. Then Joab
the heart of Absalom. He alone felt strong
enough to disobey the king. He did the
act for David's own sake. Doubtless he
thoroughly believed that Absalom's death
| was the only eifectual way of ending this
most guilty and pernicious Instruction,
and so preserving the country from rum.
Absalom living, whether banishcd or i'm.
prisoned would be a constant and fearful
danger. Absalom dead, great though the
kings distress for the time might be,
would be the very salvation of the country
Joab held back the people from further
| slaughter. Absalom's body was cast into
| pit and a great heap of stones thrown
| upon it.
III. Tidings from the battle Tvs, 1892.
| Swift runners brought the news from the
| battlefield to the king. "a. 'The two
gates The heavy Notifications had prob
| ably an outer and an inner gate at the base
| of hattlementcd tower, in which was
chamber ". 33l. On the fiat roof of this
tower. but shaded from public view, David
| waited to hear tidings of the battle. The
outer gate was level with the city wall, and
tween that and the inner. Compare Eli
going out and sitting by the wayside
Watching for tho coming OF some runner
| from the field of war u Sam. q: 49,:
"Watchman." Every gate and outpost OF
the tower would be guarded by yglant
watchmen at such time. Roof. The
| fiat roof Of the gateway on the side OF the
outer wall. The picture of the anxious
watcher at the gate OF Mahanaim gives us
a faint insight into the heart of the Father
| above. The world is full of Absaloms who
have risen IN against their heavenly rat her
1923. IF he be alone" David Judged
| that il the man was running alone he was
bringing news from the battle. 1t the
army had been routed many fugltlves
would have been coming together. Unto
the porter" One stood at the top OF the
tower, and the other was below to attend
to opening and closing the gate "A good
man" David had had proof of his fidelity
during the progress of the war, and was
sure Chat such as he would not be cho'cn,
for o. ihankkS work Of bearing BAD
n +. WA s 4"t Mn ."f the ie nsSs
word Of greeting. "Tell down" An act of
homage TO The king. "Delivered up" Lit,
orally, "shut up" restrained and confined
within bounds, instead of leaving them at
large.
%. Is-Ahsalom safe" There is ten
| dcrness in the words which reveals the
yearnng of the fatherly heart. He seems
more anxious about the welfare of the
| young man" than about the issue of the
battle. David was thinking of the omlnous
words, The sword shall never depart from
thy house The sword had devourcd one
son; was it now to claim another? And
where would it stop? Ahimaaz saw the
kings distress and gave an evasive answer.
Is the young man safe? This is a question
| frip nj
men should ask. Is the Young man safe
from intemperance, from bad companion
| from bad books, from dishonest conduct.
from bad habits? Is he safe in Jesus
| Christ? |. he safe in good home and
among good influences? is he safe for this
world? Is he safe for eternity? Ask your
self, also, what YOU are doing to make him
and keep him safe?
1922 Stand here" He has given his
message and is thus dismissed to rest after
! the toilsome running. He is, however, ala
lowed TO place himself near. that he may
! hear what further tidings the Cushite
brings. "Cushi." An Ethiopian slave in
the service of 1oab. Hath avenged.
Hath pronounced favorable verdict in his
cause and delivered him out of the hand OF
his enemies. Enemies OF my Lord: Tho
| Lord hath done thee justice on thy enc
mics. He answered the question about
Absalom indirectly, yet so as not only
| clearly to make known his death, but also
to express condemnation upon his hostile
attempt against his father and king.
| ". David mourns for Absalom ". 33).
49, Much moved" Seized with violent
trembling and grief "The chamber" An
apartment in. the upper part of the tower
Of one of the gates; the nearest place
where he could be alone. "Wept." Loudly
lamented. 20 my son Absalom' There is
not in the whole of the Old Testament a
passage Of deeper pathos than this The
simple beauty OF the narrative is exquisite,
and we are irresistibly reminded of Him
who, while He beheld the rebellious city of
Jerusalem and thought of the destruction
it was bringing npon itself, wept over it
| UMke 10: Az. "Dicd for thee" SO Moses
| Zen. 80: 32> and so st. Paul from. 8: 81
would have sacrificed themselves, had it
| been possible to save others. His wish to
die in Absalom's stead was no mere extrav-
| az ance of grief. David knew his own peace
was made with God; he could die at any
| time. IL Absalom were spared in life he
| might yet repent. The causes of David's
| grief were. l. David's love for Absalom.
| 2. The bitterness that Absalom had come
| to such sad end. 3. The consciousness
~ 1 l.