The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-07-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 81.
subject: omri and Al,ab. L Kings, xvi.
%3 333--Golden Text, Prov. XIV, 3D.
Memory Verses, 3O.33 - Commentary
on tho Days Lesson.

on tho Days Lesson.
Introduction and Ahab were
both infamous Kings. Their wickedness
knew no bounds. OF each it was said that
he did evil in the sight of the Lord above
"all that were before him." The king
dom of Israel continued only 254 years af-
ter the division Of the kingdom, and dur
ing that time there were nineteen different
Kings mot counting Tibni Omri's rival,
of nine different houses or dynasties. All
OF these Kings were ungodly and seven
usurped the throne by bloodshed. Omri
was the sixth King of Israel and the
foander of the third dynasty. Ahab, the
SON and successor of Omri, fully established
Baal worship. No King of the Jews has
left sadder record. Under him idolatry
and wickedness became fearfully prevalent,
the prohpets of God were slain and His
worship forbidden.
Commentary;-I. The reign, character
and death of Omri Tvs. 23.28). 23. "Be.
the four years he was contcsting the king
dom with Iibni. From verse Is we see
that his reign must really have begun in
the. twenty:seventh year of Asa's reign;
and comparing the two statements we con
clude that four years later, at the death
of Tibni, in the thirty-frst year of Asas
reign, he began to reign alone. Twelve
years" This is supposed to include the
whole time of his reign-four years with
Tibni and eight years alone. There is,
the chronology here. "In Tirzah" He
reigned six years i'll Tirzah and six in Sa-
maria
"a "The hill Samaria" The palace of
Tr2ah being in ruins. Omr, in select
ing the site of his royal residence. was nat
uraly influenced by considerations both of
pleasure and advantage. In the centre of
a wide amphitheatrc of mountains, about
six miles from Schechcm, rises an oblong
hill with steep, yet accessible sides, and
long flat top extending cast and west, and
rising 500 or COO feet above the valley.
What Omri probably built as mere
palatial residence, became the capital Of
the kingdom instead of Shcchem. The
choice OF Omr was admirable in selecting
position which combined strength. beauty
and fertility. "Shcmcr." The Hebrew
form of Shomer, from whence the hill WAS
called Shomcron or Samaria Two tel
ents." About $500 This was large SUM-
%. Evil. Worse than ALL" lie was
worse than the wicked Kings who had
reigned before him. "EIc went farther
than they had gone in establishing iniquity
by law, and forcing his subjects to comply
with him i'll it; for we read III Micah Is
of the statutes of Omr,' the kceping of
which made Israel n dcsoation." We can
not doubt that these statutes OF Omri
were measures adopted for the more com
plctcly isoiating the people from the house
OF the Lord at Jerusalem aud of perpetu-
aung-pcrhapS mcreaSing-thcir idolatrous
practices 2G. made Israel TO sin" Note
the power of wicked life: ]. 1t is the
more dangerous when associated with ma
tcrlal prosperity (v. pa. .. 1t transforms
King into a tyrant Tvs. %, 26). s. 1t
Is the less cXcusablc III a man of Valor and
capacity ". 2D. 4. 1t entails suffering
and woe on succeeding generations. u.
And his might" 1t appears that he stood
we'll in the army, for it was in camp that
he was elected to the throne, yet i'm his
relation to Jehovah he stood worse than
any of his predecessors and was farthcst
from God y man may be sli.tul and use.
full to himself and others IN all material
and worldly things, while in spiritual and
divine things he works only mischief and
destruction. What without religion is so.
called civilization! 2S. "Omri slept" He
died a natural death.
II. The reign and character Of Ahab
SIX Kings of Israel buried. Began Ahab."
More particulars are recorded OF Ahab
than of any of the other Kings of Israel.
30. Did evil !. Above all" lie even
exceeded the iniQuity OF his wicked father.
81. "a light thing" He not only broke
the second commandment by introducing
false gods, but he broke the frat also by
bringing in hcathen deitics. The great
sin of Ahab, which distinguished him
from his predecessors was his introduction
OF the worship OF Baal. consequent upon
his marriage with Jczebcl, a name even
more infamous than his own; and his
formal establishment OF this gross and
paipabie ldolatry as the .clgon Of the
state. "Jezebel." One of the worst char.
actcrs mentioned in the Scriptures She
used every effort 10 establish idolatry in
Samarla and cXterminatc the worship of
God. Prophet and people were compelled
to hide from the storm of her wrath Her
influence was lso powerfully felt in Judah.
"Ethbaal. y Jczebcls royal father was
priest OF Baal and murdered his own
brother, King Philetos. He was fit
parent of this woman "Xidonians." This
term was used among the Hebrews with
much latitude. Joscphus calls Ethbaal
King OF the Tyrians and Iidonians. 1t is
probable that both Tyre and Iidon with
the adjacent towns, were often under one
government. Served I}aal." The chief
male god among the Phoenicians. as Ash.
toreth was the female divinity. An unholy
alliance would never be entered into ii the
soul were not first dcmoralzed The re.
suits show that mixed marriages are dan,
gerous. A want of mutual religious con.
vlctions between the husband and wife is
almost certain 10 impair the sacred rch-
tionship.
32. Reared Altar" etc. lie
built temple aud in it erected an altar
where sacrifice might be offered to Baal.
Splendid shrincs were built, especially one
OF vast size III the capital, and the rites
and ceremonies of the new cult were eY.
hbited on grand scale, with scnsuous
accompamments of all kinds-music. stat.
nary, procession of robed priests. victims,
incense, bands of fanatics worked up to
frenzy by religious excitement, and the
ilke. Astarte's emblems were erected and
license was given, under cover of her wor-
ship, to th grossest liccntious excuses.
-. Made a grove" The Asherah-R.
Y. This was an image to represent the
female divinity, of which Baal was the
male. Did move" Ahab actually yyor-
shipped these heather deitics, and crushed
out the true religion. We can be guilty of
no greater sin than to reject God and
the salvation He has provided through
His Son. See John 3:l9, SO. 1t is not the
greatness of our sins which causes our con.
demnntion. hut the unhnievinp rejection