The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-05
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Copyright W cap,
 

wear out the nation by her despotism. At the same time she was encouraged in sense of security. Jehoiada, on his part, was all the while fostering the Jehovistic party. That he could do the more effectively since the queen had in- advertently left him in possession of the temple with its. treasury ,armory, and fortress. When the time was ripe Jehoiada took the five captains of the royal guard into his confidence and showed them the infant heir to the throne. Now, soldiers who were will ing to serve under Athalia as long as they thought the house of David ex- tinct. would waver in their allegiance when they learned that a scion of the old royal stock survived The next step was to secure the presence of the largest company possible in the temple to witness the coronation and protect the kings person. This could be done without creating suspicion by detain- ing the Levites who. according to their course, would be going off duty. At tention did not need to be attracted either by the carrying of rams into the temple inclosure. A sufficient supply could be. had from the votive arms hung there by David after his victories. The deploying of his forces Ss nave uOnG credit to one of largest experience in military affairs. The chief object was the pro- lection of the person of the little king. The coronation was effective and spec tacular. Standing on a raised plat- rom between the two great pillars of the court, strength and Beauty" the boy prince was in sight of all. When the crown was placed on his fair brow another thing was done which, under the circumstances, was very significant. The yellow scroll of the law was laid upon his head. He was to be under. not above. the law. He was to govern rehgiously- When this was done, hands were clapped, triumpets blown and the cry "GGod save the king!'' was raised.
 At sound of the tumuIt, the oueen rushed upon the scene. She came alone. If guards had accompanied her from the palace, they had been stonnad at the temple gate. Athaliah took In the import of the scene at a glance She made one last and furious drive to recoup her fortunes. She stood un- on her imperial majesty, and ignored the lhegitimacy of her own authority when she cried, "Treasonv No one came to her side as she hoped Through open ranks she was allowed to leave the temple which could not be polluted by her blood At "the way of the horses entry" like her mother. this crowned monster. usurper. and murderess met her well-deserved fate.
 The Teachers Lantern.
 Half measures are usually weak measures. All Athaliah's cruelty counted her nothing, because she was not quite cruel enough. IT she had killed Jehoiada together with the oth- CTS. she might have reigned longer After all. she was too unsuspicious She left the old high priest in possess sion of the dilapidated temple. That was hen undoing.
 Eight words suffice to describe tho evilist attitude a woman can assume toward her offspring. His mother (Athaliah) was his (Ahaziah) cotinsel- or to do wickedly." She was the em- press dowager of her day.
 This account and the parallel one in Second Chronicles are evidently from, the same original manuscript They afford an excellent example of the manner in which some parts of the Bible are made up of excerpts from lost and forgotten originals. The two accounts supplement each other in a