Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1904-09-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER II.
Subject: Elijah Taken Up Into Heaven,
III Kings, H., 1-11-Golden Text, Gen
W, 24-Memory Verses, 8-11-Conmen-
tary on the Days Lesson.

tary on the DAYS Lesson.
1. Elijah and Elisha journeying togeth.
er Tvs. l-S). l. "When the Lord would
take up Elijah" A great truth is here
disclosed. Our lives are absolutely 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
for God. But now his work was ended
Although no mention of Elisha as Eli
jah's companion is given in the history
between the day of Elisha's call and the
time of the events in this chapter, yet
from l Kings 49, 81 and Kings 3: II
we conclude that Elisha had spent most
of his time with the aged prophet, min
istering to his necessities. "From Gil.
gal" This was the Gilgal few miles
northwest of Bethel, not the Gilgal near
Jericho. A school of the prophets was
located here as well as at Bethel and Jeri.
cho. 2-'"To Bethel" About nine miles
southeast of iGilgal. 4. ITO Jericho"
About thirteen miles southeast of Bethel.
S. "Sons of the prophets, That is, the
young men attending the theological sem
inaries, first organized by Samuel for the
preparation of religious teachers for the
people. These ancient colleges We're un.
der the superintendent of recognized
prophet, who was called the father
while the students were styled his chill
dren or sons. They were places OF retire.
ment, 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
head" might also intimate the manner
of Eliah's removal "Yea, | know"
Elisha replies with solemnity and empha.
sis. Literally, the Hebrew is, OF course
l know; hush. Elisha cannot bear the
questioning. He thinks of his own weak.
ness and of the great responsibilities
which will be upon him when left alone.
His soul is burdened.
6. Garry here" Elijah had made the
same request at Gilgal and Bethel.
Whether this was to try the strength of
Elisha'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 Jeri.
cho is bend in the river Jordan where
the ascension of Elijah is supposed to have
taken place. Gas the Lord liveth," etc.
This double oath, expressive of the most
intense earnestness, is repeated three
times Tvs. 2, A.. The two clauses OF it are
separately used with some frequency
I'D O. q. D,,th o.. Q.
but seldom united. "Will not leave" He
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 propheticaf schools of Jericho. How
surprising to come upon so large body
of men devoting themselves to a 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. s. His
been so 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,
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. ID: l6,
2D; and many things in the lives of these
two prophets who should meet Christ on
the mount were parallel. "Were divid-
ed" 'On the one side rushing hastily on;
on the other, towering up like wall OF
crystal"
III. Elisha's request Tvs. 0, 10y. O. "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 Elisha'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 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" 1t was hard (1) 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-" If he was able to retain
to the end the same devoted perseverance,
and keep his eye set and steadfast on the
departing prophet, the gift would be his.
III. Elijah's transla- ion ". 1D. Ii.
"Talked." We can understand how much
Elijah would find of exhortation and en-.
enlargement to bestow as parting counse,s
on his successor. What moments were
those! It was a walking and talking on
the verge of heaven! Chariot OF fire.
etc. We cannot agree with those com.
mentators who think this was merely a
display of flame and fire." "a fiery phe-
nomenon," which appeared "as chariot
of ,tire," etc. These were creations OF the
spiritual world. This heavenly scene was
no hallucination, but the chariot and
horses of fire were a part of that vast host,
the sound of whose movements David
once heard over the mulberry trees q
Sam. S: 24), and who at later time filed
the mountains round about Elisha q
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 event up by whirlwind." 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 Psa. l04 8. "Into heav.
en-" The abode of Gods saints, who rest
from their earthly labors. Elijah's trans.
lation is a proof of the existence OF anoth,,
err world beyond us, and that the soul
lives after it leaves this life. Nearly nine
centuries later we see Elijah on the Mount
of TRANSPORTATION. Death does not end
all! it is the beginning of new existence
which will never end.