The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-09-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS.
FOR SEPTEMBER ~.

! oUuJcCtt G1AJ4A IAAtu ~ p Ant4 AGITEnH
III Kings, liz 1-11--Golden Text, Gen.
", 24-Memory Verses, 8-11--Comanen.
tary ON the Days Lesson.
/. Elijah and Elisha journeying togeth.
er Tvs. Isl. J.. When the Lord would
take up Elijah" A great truth is here
disclosed. Our lives are absolutely at
Gods disposal. It 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 q mighty influence
for God But now his work was ended,
Although no mention of Elisha as Eli.
| jams companion is given in the history
between the day of Elisha's call and thu
time Of the events in this chapter, YET
from Kings 10: q and 2 Kings 8: n
we conclude that Elisha had spent most
Of his time with the aged prophet, min
istering to his necessities From Gil
gall" This was the Gilgal few miles
northwest Of Bethel, not the Gilgal near
Jericho, A school Of the prophets wac
cho. q ITO Bethel" About nine miles
southeast Of Gilgal 4. ITO Jericho"
| About thirteen miles southeast Of Bethel.
81 Sons Of the prophets That is, the
/ young men attending the theological SEM
lnaries, first organized by Samuel for the
preparation OF religious teachers for the
people. These ancient colleges were un-
der the superintendent Of a recognized
prophet, who was called the father
/ while the students were styled his chill
dren or sons. They were places of retire
m1 rs adapted for study. and DEVOTION
! The 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 intimation 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
mead, might also intimate the manner
Of Eljah's removal. yea, know
Elisha replies with solemnity and empha-
sis. Literally, the Hebrew is, OF course
! know; hush. Elisha cannot bear the
questioning. He thinks Of his own weak
ness and Of the great responsibilities
His soul is burdened.
6. "Tarry here Elijah had made the
same request at Gilgai and Bethel.
| Whether this was to try the strength OF
Ehsha's affection, or because under the
weight of these hours he preferred retire
ment, or because he would utter words
which Elisha might not hear, or because
he thought God would have no one wit
ness his translation, we may not affirm.
'To Jordan About five miles from Jeris
cho is bend in the river Jordan where
tho ascension OF Elijah is supposed to have
taken place. HAs the Lord hveth, etc.
This double oath, expressive Of the most
| intense earnestness, is repeated three
times Tvs. 2, Al. The two clauses of it are
separately used with some frequency
SJndg; ,S 3; 10; Ruth g 3; u; Sam !; 2Sl.
refused with gentle, respectful persistence.
! He will not be dissuaded from his pur-
pose to remain with Elijah to the end
7. Fifty men" We see how large were
the prophetical schools of Jericho How
surprising to come upon SO large a body
Of mlen. .deycting. themselves to q holy life
while Ahab's children were still on the
throne. STOOD to view" If forbidden
the qualification of personally accompany
ing their master, they would at least
watch his movements as long as possible.
What they saw we are not told. 5, His
i mantle" The shaggy garment which had
been 50. long his prophetical badge. 1t
was probably 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,
"Smote the waters AS if they were an
enemy in his way. Eljah's mantle was to
him at Jordan what the rod OF God was
to Moses at the Red Sea (Exod IA: 10,
2l); and many things in the lives Of these
two prophets who should meet Christ on
VIC AuOOAV WCAS puAditCls NcIC uAflQ>
/ ed" ION the one side rushing hastily on:
on the other, towering up like a wall Of
crystal"
II. Elisha's request Tvs. 0, 10Y. 9. ask :,
1 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 Elisha's aims are
spiritual or material. How would we an
swer such question? Before | be tak-
err, What Elijah does for Elisha must be
done before his departure, for there viii
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 world.
| Christ is our advocate before the throne:
we need no other. "A double portion !,
There. is nothing here of selfishness or
ambition.
10. "a hard thing" It was hard "a be-
cause God and not Elijah must bestow
such a gift, and ~ because it depended
upon Elisha's fitness to receive it. IF
thou see me" If he was able to retain
to the end the same devoted perseverance,
Ill. Elijah's translation ". l1). III.
''Talked." We can understand how much
Elijah would find Of exhortation and en-
couragement to bestow as parting eounsels
on his successor. What moments were
those! 1t was walking and talking on
the verge Of heavenl "Chariot Of fire.
etc. We cannot agree with those COM
mentators who think this was merely 4
display Of flame and fire. "a fiery phe-
nomenon," which appeared Nas a chariot
Of fire." etc. These were creations of the
spiritual world. This heavenly scene was
no hallucination, but the chariot and
horses of fire were part of that vast host,
| the sound of whose movements David
once heard over the mulberry trees q
Sam. 5: 2a), and who at later time filed
the mountains round about Elisha II
Kings 6: ~. Parted them, etc The
fiery chariot separated the two prophets.
"A whirlwind." The text does not say
that Elijah went up in the chariot of fire,
but he went up by whirlwind1 1t has
been usually and very naturally assumed,
however, that the translated prophet as
cended in the chariot, and that the char
| lot was borne aloft on the wings Of the
wind Compare Pisa. l04: 3. Into heav-
4 en-" The abode Of Gods saints who rest
from their earthly labors. Elijah's trans
lation is proof Of the existence Of anoth-
/ er world beyond us, and that the soul
| lives after it leaves this life Nearly nine
| centuries later we see Elijah on the Mount
4 of TRANSPORTATION. Death does not end
1 all it is the beginning Of a new existence
! which VIII never end.
| 1TaniIa's New Street Cars.
! About the time New York City expects
A. 1-k .f.-4..