The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-07-21
Jehoshaphat's Reform


hoshaphat startedan educational EN-
bassy through the kingdom of Judah.
y This commission of prince, priests,
and Levites is unique. Its methods
were an advance upon those of the
poet. 1t carried with it, and left be-
hind it, written literature. They
had the book of the law of the Lord
with them, and went about through
out all the cities of Judah and taught
them" This is said to have been the
germ OF the synagogue, an institution
which played so large part in later
Hebrew history. This first recorded
systematic measure of public instruc-
ton, partly accounts for the prosper
1ty and strength Of the kingdom. This
was one of the means by which 1.-The
Lord established the kingdom 1t
was peripatetic and popular semi
nary. In addition to this pedagogic
merans, the king placed his country IL
the mo thorough state of military
defense. He garrisoned the fortified
cities, created military posts, and
formed the first standing army of
which there is record. A final meas
ure was the thorough organization
of public justice. But in all this the
personal character of the ruler, can
not be ignored. His was an elevated
spirit His heart was lifted up in
the ways of the Lord He was I'M
affected by the current spirit of idol
ism. He sought the Lord, and walk
I'd in his commandments He WELD
ed the exemplary power of his high
position to the uttermost This was
the man, these were the means, by
which a genuine and substantial
prosperity was brought to the king
dom.
No wonder then that in Hebrew epic
Jehoshaphat's name is linked to Hez-
ekiah,s like Lincoln's to Washing
toms. He is eminent among those
who have ruled their fellows. But
there is blot on his otherwise bright
state which he eff cted between his
son and the daughter of Jezebel. By
this means he sought to make Jeze-
bells husband Ahab, king of Israel
his ally. Soon Ahab had Jehosha-
phat involved with him in a war
against Syria for the recovery of Ra-
moth Gilead, and this, too, in spite
) Of the warning of true prophet
Our version makes tame state
ment when it says 1.-THE king returned
to his house in peace What the
original says is that he got home
whole, and that by narrow margin;
by the skin of his teeth and nothing
to spare. There were two kings on
that field of battle, one was taken
and the other left. For while it
looked as if both would be taken.
The crafty Ahab had induced Je-
hoshaphat to wear his royal insignia,
while he himself went incognito. The
Syrians naturally took the king of
judah for the king of Israel and were
about to kill him when diverted by
some exigencv of battle.
The emotions of the king on his
homecoming may be imagined. The
boignancy of his shame was that it
was so unnecessary. He had gone
contrary to written law and oral
warning, and so had given 1.-The
heathen' occasion for rejoicing. At
the gate of his capital he was unex-
pectedly reigned up by a fearless
prophet. The Inundated king was
asked in hearing of his yanquished
army why he had given the hand of
fellowship to the Lords haters, and
the question had with it an ominious
suggestion of impending punishment.
Jehoshaphat took his rebuke better
than his father had, who on similar
occasion, put Jehu's father in the
stocks. 1t is true the bitter cup was
sweetened by word of commenda-
ton. Nevertheless there are good
things found in thee 1t has been
aptly said that this oracle of blame
and praise inspired the king to
attempt still further reforms.
The Teachers Lantern.
Here is the dawn of Jurisprudence a
thousand years before Christ. 1t is
the passage of the administration of
justice from the heads of families, as
in the Bedouin of to-day, to officers
especially designated and exclusively
engaged in the hearing of cases. A
graduation of courts is indicated,
Petty, superior, and supreme. A dis
elimination as to cases is outlined,
viz, such as come under statutes,
such as are capable of arbitration and
such as are criminal
2 Jehoshaphat's charge to his judges
might well be written on the walls of
modern courtrooms: I'VE Judge not
for man but for the Lord. Fear and
take heed There is no iniouitv with