The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-10-19
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 20.
Subject: Elisha and Naaman, III Kings,
", 1~-14-Golden Text, Jer. xviii, IL
Memory Verses, S-1O-Conmentary on
the Days Lesson.

pueInOFy verses, oA
the Days Lesson.
I. Naaman's sad condition ". D.. l.
"Naaman." Naaman means beautiful or
pleasant to look upon" Captain" etc.
He was commander-in-chief of the Syrian
army. He had great ability, power and in
fuence. He had done much or his king,
and in some famous exploit had won a
memorable victory for the Syrians. !Ac-
cording to tradition he was the man who
drew the bow at a venture and killed
Ahab, King of Israel Il Kings 22:34). THE
Lord had given" The scriptural explana-
ton of Naaman's greatness is that the
Lord had given him the victory and made
the crystal of his prosperity, the fly in the
clouded his glory, the hateful presence that
followed him everywhere, the bitter dres
in his cup of joy. "A ieper." Leprosy was
supposed to be inflicted for the punish
ment of some particular sin, and to be,
more than other diseases, a mark of Gods
displeasure.
II. The captive's story Tvs. 2-4l. 2. by
companies" In %plundering parties who
made forays upon the neighborins Israel
ties. "a little maid" A young girl. She
was regarded by her captors as a chattel
dllu NuluCu lOl Cl SCI Y Inv a. IL
one doubts the steady progress of the
world in virtue and humanity it is only
necessary to spend an hour with history,
sacred or p~rofane. The horrors of antique
wal were Undesirable, and immeasure.
ably worse than the worse brutality Of
modern times. 3. "She said" Like JOS
eph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon this
captive girl becomes the instrument OF
making Jehovah known among the heath,
en-. Notice, /. Her forgiving spirit and
generosity toward those vino had wronged
her. 2. Her fidelity. 3. Her sympathy, the
f faith 0' "Nould c Go Si.S"'s a better I trans:
lation would be, ooh. that" Recover
him" Literally, gather" him from his
leprosy. An illusion to the Israelitish
custom Of shutting lepers out of the camp
and then gathering them in after the lep-
rosy was healed. This child must have
been familiar with the miracles of heal
ing wrought by the prophet Elisha.
III. Naaman seeking health Tvs. 5-9).
800 to, CO." That is, set out at once;
let no time be lost. "a letter." Benha.
dad very naturally supposes that the. ser.
vices of such a man would be at the COM
mand Of the king. "Took with him" etc.
not estimate the value accurately. The
money was probably weighed, and "tal-
ents" and "pieces," or shekels, were
standards of weight. A silver talent was
worth 1914. in all Sl9.440. "A gold shekel
was worth 1915, in all S5s, 800. According
to this Naaman took with him $77.940, a
orincely present. ".Raiment." Costly
robes.
6. Recover him." Doubtless Benha.
had had magicians drawing rich salaries
at his court. and in their supernatural
power he had. a good deal of sunerstitious
faith. But they were not able tc heal
lucky enough to have a magician able
to perform this cure, and as Benhadad's
prophets did as he ordered them it was
supposable that Elisha would obey .Je-
horam's orders. 1t was courtesy to Jeho-
ram not to mention Elisha's name; but
poor Jehoram had himself so little prac-
tical faith in Elisha that when he read
the letter he did not even think of him.
7. "Rent his clothes" A sign here Of
terror and alarm. Rending the garments
was sometimes an expression of grief.
Am I God" As much as to say, Who
but God can cure the leprosy? Who but
the one who is able to kill and make
alive? "a quarrel" Jehoram lived in
perpetual terror of his powerful and en-
croaching ~neighbor. He feared this was a
pretext for again invading his country.
s. elisha heard" No doubt the COM
ing of the Syrian general with his r%etinue,
and the fact that the king had rent his
clothes, caused a sensation in Samaria,
and the news came speedily to Elisha,
who appears to have had his home in the
capital city: "Wherefore,' etc. Have you
forgotten that there is a God in Israel.
"He shall know" 1t would be a great
injury to true religion to have Naaman
return with false impressions of the true
God; then, too. probably Jehoram needed
to be reminded of his obligations to God
and His prophet. 9. STOOD at the door"
and "chariots" (R. W and with money
to richly reward his benefactor.
~. Elisha's message and Naaman's
rage Tvs. 1912. 10. "Sent a messenger"
Not that he was wanting in politeness.
or influenced by priestly pride, or feared
the leprosy, or avoided intercourse with a
leper in obedience to the law; but Naa.
man was to understand that he was healed
by the grace and power Of God: at the
prayer Of the prophet. "Wash in Jordan"
This would humble him and test his ODE.
dance. It was so simple and easy chat
there was no excuse for refusal. Seven
times" The sacred number which rep.
resents Tile union of the finite and infinite,
and "any transaction or covenant in which
both God and man are engaged"
II. "Was wroth." The plan was too
simple. So the very simplicity of the gos.
pei is a stumbling block to the proud.
How was he to tell that Elisha did not
design to mock him by sending him on a
fools errand, so that be would come back
as a laughing stock both to the Israelites
and his own people? Some think Elisha
was ~disrespectful, but he knew what was
best for Naaman. II thought" Per.
sonal pride and heather magic formed
this fanciful picture. No wonder it proved
q delusive dream.
-. "Abana and Pharpar." The modern
Barada and Avail. ALBANIA signifies eco
in Arabic and clean" in Hebrew. Called
by the Greeks, "The golden flowing"
Better" Certainly from his point of
view the waters of his own country were
better than the Jordan, for the Syrian
waters were salubrious and invigorating,
and the Jordan was a deep. sluggish. dis.
colored stream. But Naaman Judged ac-
cording to appearances and not according
to faith. May l not wash in them and
be clean" No, for God has directed thee
to Jordan. and by its waters or none shalt
thou be cleansed.
V. Naaman accepts Gods way Tvs. 13i
mirab!e servants. They were wise and
other instance we're servants thus adj
dress their master. 1t indicates the af-
fectionate relation between Naaman and
those about him. II. Then went hi
down." etc. He submitted and oheyed
the words Of the prophet. His cure wai
perfect.