The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-11-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR NOVEMBER s.
Subject: Joash, he Boy King. III King.
H., 1-18-Golden Text. Prov. XXX, g
Memory Verses, 1919 - Commentary
on the Days Lesson.

subject: Jonsh, the Boy King, Ill Kings
H., 1-18-Golden Text, Prov. XXX, e
Memory Verses. 1O-1. - Commentary
on the Days Lesson.
Introduction.-Our lessons now return
saw how Jehoshaphat, in his desire to
deep peace with the northern kingdom,
made the fatal mistake of uniting his son
Jehoram to Athaliah, the daughter Of
Ahab and Jezebel. Athaliah was the
image of her heather mother, and the
union was DISASTROUS in the extreme to the
kingdom of Judah. Jehoram was weak as
we'll as wicked, and was wholly under the
influence of his heather queen, and the
licentious worship of Baal was soon in.
troduced into Jerusalem and established
over the country.
throne. Tvs. 49,. /. "Athaliah." As soon
as Athaliah, Jehoram's widow, knew that
her son Ahaziah was dead, she at once
took steps to seat herself on the throne.
She was wicked and INSCRIPTIONS and en-
deavored to make her title to the throne
secure by ordering all of the male members
of the royal family to be put to death.
2. "Jehosheba." She was probably a half.
sister of Ahaziah and a step-daughter Of
Athaliah, being the daughter, OF Joram
by another wife. She was the wife OF
Jehoiada, the priest e Chron; 22:ll),
could arrange for hiding Joash in the
temple. Took Joash." He was an in
FAINT at this time, not a year old. The
b~edchamber." The original words signify
a chamber of beds. Not a regular sleep
ing apartment, for Athaiiah would leave
no such place unsearched, but a place
where beds were slowed away. 8. WAS
with her" That is, his nurse. "Hid y =.
elk years." He was concealed in one Of
the chambers which ran around the temple
on two sides and one enc and which were
''variously used as wardrobes or as dwell
ing rooms" We may safely conclude that
they were under the control Of the high
priest, Jehoiada. This would be a safe
hiding place, for Athaliah probably never
visited the temple, which, under her reign,
II. The plan to make Joash king Tvs.
4-ll). 4. "The seventh year." The sew.
enth year of Joashs age: See V. q.
"Jehoiada." The high priest. He was
brother.in-law to Ahaziah, and therefore
uncle to Joash. In the revolution which
be planned he showed great tact and abil-
ity. Always loyal to Jehovah, he was a
safe and wise counselor. Captains over
hundreds" (R. W. Their names are given
in 2 Chron. 23:l, 2. They were probably
officers of the army, having charge Of a
hundred men. Carries" (R. ". The
men of Caria, in Asia Miner. 'Guard;~
guard; the "Carites" are thought to be a
similar class. These officers were strictly
military. Made a covenant" etc. He
made q covenant with the five captains
whom he had taken into his confidence
and bound them under a solemn oath to
assist him in carrying out his plans.
S. "He commanded them" The de-
%vcription of the arrangement of the Levite
guards in the verses which follow Is OBJ
scure. The difficulty comes from our lg-
porance of some of the terms employed.
"A third part" etc, The guards were di-
vided into five companies. "On the Sab
bath" A large humber of Levites were
they relieved each other by turns, making
their shifts on the Sabbath. Jehoiada's
plan was to enlist the services of those who
we're retiring from duty as. well as those
who were entering upon duty. The kings
house" Oue.tkird of those who were
entering upon duty were to remain out
side, instead of entering the temple. as
usual, and guard the passageway leading
to the royal residence.
8. Gate of Sur" A third part were to
guard the gate Sur, which was probably
Fthe main entrance into the inner court
of the temple" "Gate behind the guard"
a third part were to guard this gate,
which was evidently Some well known
the temple, from which an attack might be
expected" BE. a barrier" (R. W: In
this way the Leyites' were to guard the
approaches to the temple and be a barrier
or defense. =,
7. "That 20 forth" Those relieved
from duty on the Sabbath instead of re-
turning home were to form themselves
into two divisions and act as the imme-
date b~odyguard of the youthful king.
Their particular duty is more fully, gwen IN
verse s. 8. within the ranges" with"
in the ranks" (R. W. g. every man his
men," That is, each of the five captains
took immediate charge OF the company OF
men put under him.
:. 10. f"David's spears and Shields" The
trophies of David's many wars, stored
probably in some of the chambers sur
rounding the temple. 1t would have ex-
cited suspicion if the captains and the
Jevites had entered the temple armed. ii.
1.-THE guard STOOD" etc. From each cor
ner Of the porch, on the right and left,
the men were ranged in lines between the
temple and the altar which stood IN front
of the porch, so that when the king came
forth he could advance between the lines
and be brought into the space enclosed
by them.
III. The boy king crowned ". l2). p;
alrHe brought forth" Jehoiada, who had
charge of Joash, brought him out and
oHiciated in the ceremony that followed.
'"The testimony" As a part of the coro-
nation ceremony the high priest gave
Joash a COPY of the law of Moses: See
Deut. l7:lS, 10. "They made him king"
The people appear to have all been of one
mind and rejoice greatly that the reign
of the wicked Athaliah was ended.
". Athaliah slain Tvs. 1915. 10.
when Athaliah heard the noise" The
arrangements had been made with such
secrecy that Athal.ah knew nothing of
what was going on. When she heard the
noise she hurried into the temple to as
certain the cause of the tumult. IA. The
king stood by the pillar" (R. W. Some
SPOT is here clearly designated which was
the special position Of the king on SUCH
occasions. We see that Athaliah took IN
the whole scene at q glance and knew
without being told what was going on.
is. The high priest commanded that she
be taken without the temple, so that the
sacred apartments would not be stained
with human blood. He also commanded
that any one who might undertake to lie
fcnd her should be instantly killed. 10.
Athaliah was slain.