The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-09-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER II.

IL htngs, IL, 1-11-GOlden Text, Gen,
v, :4-Memory Verses, o.1i-CoIninen.
tary ON the Days Lesson.
I. Elijah and Elisha journcying togcth
er. Tvs. l-Sl. l.. When the Lord would
take up Elijah" A great truth is here
disclosed. Oar lives are abso.uteiy at
Gods disposal. 1t had been at least ten
or twelve years since Elijah had asked
that he might die, and during all that time
he had been welding a mighty influence
Tor God. But now his work was ended
Although no mention OF Elisha as Eli.
between the day of Elisha's call and the
time Of the events in this chapter. yet
from l Kings 10: q and . Kings 3: II
we conclude that Elisha had spent most
OF his time with the aged prophet. min.
istering to his necessities. Prom Gil
gal" This was the Gigal few miles
northwest of Bethel, not the Gilgal near
located here as well as at Bethel and Jeri
cho. 2. ITO Bethel" About nine miles
southeast of Gigal. 4. ITO Jericho"
About thirteen miles southeast OF Bethel.
5. Sons OF the prophets" That is, the
young men attending the theological sem.
inares, first organized by Samuel for the
preparation of religious teachers for the
people. These ancient colleges were un.
der the superintendent OF recognized
prophet, who was called the father"
while the students were STYLED hia chill.
dren or sons. They were places of retire.
ment, adapted for study and devotion.
mhe students were permitted to marry.
The subject of study at these Institutions
was the law of Moses. Attention was Civ.
en- to music and sacred poetry. Know.
est thou etc. Not only was Elijah him.
self conscious of some great event at hand,
but Elisha and the bands of prophets in
Bethel and jericho had an intimaton that
the departure OF Elijah was very near.
From thy head" That is, from being
thy, head; thy. spiritual father, teacher.
leader and director. The expression,
which is literally Taken from over thy
head" might also intimate the manner
OF Eliiahs removal. Yea, know"
Elisha replies with solemnity and empha.
sis. Literally, the Hebrew is, Oh course
| know; hush. Elisha cannot bear the
questioning. He thinks OF his own weak.
which will be upon him when left alone
His soul is burdened.
g. "Tarry here" Elijah had made the
same request at Gilgal and Bethel.
Whether this was to try the strength OF
Eiisha's affection, or because under the
weight OF these hours he preferred retire
ment, or because he would utter words
he thought God would have no one wiz.
ness his translation, we may not affirm.
ITO Jordan About five mics from Jeri
cho Is bend in the river Jordan where
the ascension of Elijah is supposed to have
taken place. As the Lord lveth,' etc
This double oath, expressive OF the most
intense earnestness, is repeated three
times Tvs. ., A.. The two clauses of it are
separately used with some frequency
lJudg. 5: 10; Ruth 3: l3; / Sam. |: 26),
but seldom united. will not leave" He
refused with gentle, respectful persistence
He viii not be dissuaded from his pur
pose to remain with Elijah to the end
:. Fifty men" We see how large were
the prophetical schools of Jericho. How
surprising to come upon so large a body
OF men deyoting themselves to a holy lie
while Ahabs children were still on the
throne. stood to view" Ii forbidden
the qualification oil personally accompany
ing their master, they would at least
watch his movements as long as possible.
| What they saw we are not told. s. His
mantle" The shaggy garment which had
been so long his prophetical badge. It
was probably a sheepskin. The skins of
beasts dressed with the hair on were worn
by prophets as an insignia Of their office.
Wrapped it," Tightly round and round,
as the word means, in the form OF staff.
'smote. the. waters" As if they, were an
enemy in his way. Elijah's mantle was to
him at Jordan what the rod of God was
| to Moses at the Red Sea (Exod. IA: 10,
! 2D; and many things in the lives of these
two prophets who should meet Christ on
! the mount were parallel. Were divid-
cd" 'On the one side rushing hastily on {;
on the other, towering up like u wall OF
| crystal"
II. Elisha's request Tvs. 9, lO). Q. "Ask"
! What is your last request! Elijah thinks
not of himself, but of the needs of the one
he was so soon to leave behind him. The
test will show whether Elsha's aims are
spiritual or material. How would we an.
| swer such a question? Before | be tax.
en-" What Elijah does for Elisha must be
! done before his departure for there will
/ be no communication between them after.
wards. There is no warrant in the Scrip
lures for the doctrine of the intercession
of the saints after they had left this word.
| Christ is our advocate before the throne
we need no other. "A double portion" i"
! There is nothing here OF selfshness OF
ambition.
10. "A hard thing" It was hard % be.
cause God and not Elijah must bestow
such a gift, and (2) because it depended
upon Elisha's fitness TO receive it. If
thou see me-" Ii he was able to retain
to the end the same devoted perseverance,,
and keep his eve set and steadfast on the
departing prophet. the gift would be his.
iII. Eliiah'5 transla ion ", III. II.
Talked" We can understand how much
Elijah would find of exhortation and en-.
couragement to bestow as parting counse,s