Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-09-03
THR SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER s.

Subject: Death Of Saul and Jonathan, I
Sam. xxi. l-13-Golden Text, Prov.
xiv, Ia-Memory Verses. Q, 7-Com-
mentary on the Days Lesson.
I. Men of Israel Fled" 1t is supposed
that the battle, was being fought in the
plain of Esdraelon and that the lsraelites
fed before their enemies to the slopes Of
Mount iGlboa, whittier the Philistnes fol
lowed. Fell down slain" 1t was impos.
sible for them to rally. Saul and his sorrs
fought like heroes and no doubt threw
themselves into the forefront of the battle,
but all in vain; God was against them.
2. Followed hard" The onset of the
Philistines was directed mainly against that.
quarter where Saul and his sons were fight
ing. "Slew Saui's sons" iona.
than falls with the rest. /. God would
hereby complete the judgment that was to
be executed upon Sauls house. 2. He
would make David's way to the crown
clear and open. ;. God would also show
us that the difference between good and
bad is to be made in the other world, not
character of the others who fell. Jona'
than's fate was not the result of his per
sonal trapsgression but of his fathers sip,
and says to us in plain language that no
siner harms only himself, and that the
good often in this world suffer be-
cause of the bad. All relationships OF lite
have some influence upon our earthly des
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. 3G. 3
"The archers.' The men who shot arrows
with the bow. "Hit-overworked.' Ate!
the death of Sauls sons the archers singled
were aimed at him and some. Of them
may have hit him. ''Sore wounded-ereat
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 wmthed and quaked with terror OF
the thought of falling by such hands.
4. Would not" The armorbcarer, who
according to Jewish writer's was Doea
wosld not yield to Saul's entreaty. II
was hts duty to protect the King. and he
was responsible for Saups life. He dared
not stretch forth his hand against the
Lords amounted; the very thought OF such
an act filled bin with fear. "Pell upon it,
Thrust it through himself by falling over
upon it. 1t is believed by many. from the
oOHstTuCLlOU VI tUt OEiEilhI, f1dt i'uNi
ended his life with the sword of the ar
morbearer. IL this be true. then Saul and
Doeg both fell by that weapon with which
they had before massacred the priests OF
God Il Sam. 22:lS). This account of Sanls
death is every way consistent with itself
and with Saufs character, and is to he
regarded 0s the true and authentic record
Of the sacred historian himself. The story
Of the Amalekite, who stole the kings
crnwp and hraoolet and brought them IN
David e Sam. l4l0), is to be treated as
fabrication.
Sc Saw that Saul" etc He probably
drew the sword from the kings body and
did what he could to save him. hut it was
400 late. "He fell" Being answerablc for
the kings life he feared punishment: or
from nobler motive OF true fidelity, re,
fused to survive his master. 80 Saul died.
The real ground OF Sau,'s last dark act OF
self-destructioR was not the extremity of
the moment for fear OF insult from the
enemy, but the decay OF his inner life and
the complete severance OF his heart from
God. He who would not leave the ordering
OF his life to God would neither permit
Him to. order the manneg OF his death.
Suicide is great sin. l.. Note thc causes:
az Not merely accumulated msfortunes,
but long.continued wrong-doing. (2) Cow.
ardly fear OF suffering. 81 Caring more
for disgrace than for sin. "a 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.
81 A browning and lasting reproach to the
mans memory. a. 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
others think the reference is TO all his
household who went with him to the war
and on whom his hopes for the future
hung.
Ill The Philistines victorious Tvs 7.lO.
7. "Other side of the valley" The inhab.
itants on the opposite side OF the great
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
the victors. they must. according to the
war ussges of the time, have been deprived
either OF their liberty or their lives
$40. "The Philstines found"
On discovering the bodies of the king and
his sons on the battlefield, they reserved
them for special indigni.les, Cut of.
The anonted of Jehovah fa-os no better
than the uncrcumcised Goliath now that
God has forsaken him. ''To punish it"
That the daughters of the heather might
rejoice and triumph e sam. l:2ol. Sauis
head and armor were the signs OF victory.
"Of their idols Their idols were re-
garded as the givers Of The victory. The
Philistines divided the honors among their
deties. Ashtaroth." A heather goddess
whose rites were filthy and abominable.
The temple referred to here was doubtless
the famous temple of Venus in Asketon
mentioned by Herodotus as the most an:
Gent OF all her temples. "Beth-shan."
The modern Besian. between the noun,
talnS OF Gilboa and the River Jordan.
". The burial of Saul and his sons Tvs.
lll3). lib. Inhabitants Of" Mindful
Of the debt of gratitude they owed to Saul
for rescuing them from Nahash (chap. ~.
Went 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,
l. A brave deed, >. a patriotic deed. 3.
A grateful deed. But the bravery, patriot,
ism and gratitude had been better shown
before Saul's death by helping him. Hon
ors after death make poor amends for
neglect and unfaithfn!ness during life.
BURNT them" This was not Hebrew
custom. and was either resorted to prevent
any further insult from the Phiistines, or,
more likely, seeing that only the flesh was
| burned. because of the mangled condition
Of the bodies. Pasted" This was sign
a ranara1