Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-08-03
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST s.

Subject: Josiah's Good Reign, III. Chron.
xxxiv., 1.13-Golden Text, Eccl. Kill,
1-Memory Verses, 1-3-Commentary
ON the Days Lesson.
l. Josiahs character Tvs. l, p. l.
Josiah" The fifteenth king Of Judah
| mot counting Athaliah, the usurper),
son of Anon and Jedidah. He was
married at the age of thirteen to Ze-
budah. 2. "Did-right." He grew up
into noble life in spite Of the worst
influences of an immoral and idola-
trous court and the example of an idol,
atrous father. I'm the sight" etc. He
was right not only Outwardly before
men, but in his heart before God.
"Ways of David" The character of
David was the standard by which the
sacred historians We're in the habit OF
trying his successors Il Kings II: 4; =
Kings IA: 3; IS: 8; 9 Chron. %: 1; 20:
-. David was regarded as the model
king Il Kings II: s: Is: 81. "The ways
of David which are here particularly
referred to We're those into which he
was led by his religious character and
zeal His father" His ancestor.
Turned not aside" Or. W This
phrase implies an undertaking ODE
dience to all the commandments.
II. IdolatrOus images destroyed Tvs.
80.
3. Eighth year" When he was
sixteen years old. Began to SEEK
1t is quite wonderful to see this young
man in the midst of the temptations OF
an idolatrous and corrupt court. begin,
at the first dawning Of his manhood,
to serve the Lord with all his heart.
| Those dwelling under unfavOrable In
fuenccs should take courage. Began
to purge The condition Of things In
Judah and Jerusalem at the time of
Josiah's conversion was most deplor-
able. For nearly seventy years idol
airy had prevailed. In the twelfth
year of his reign. and the twentieth
wear of bis age, Josiah set out In ear
nest to destroy the idolatry of his king
dom. In = Kings %: 3 the date given
is the eighteenth year of his reign.
High places" 1t was the practice of
the heather to erect affairs for their
idolatrous worship on the tops of hills
or mountains, snpposing they were
nearer heaven. "Groovcs.' The Ash
erim.'
/. They brake down." etc. The
temple was cleanscd of idols, the mol
ten images. idol affairs and Asherim
were ground to powder and their dust
sprinkled on the graves Of their wor.
sinners in the kings presence. 3.
Burnt the bones This was predict
cd of Josiah more than 300 years be-
fore this time Il Kings II: |. y. The
bones Of the idolatrous priests. with
the one exception of the prophet OF
Bethel (see / Kings IS: !, 80: Kings
%: 1918. were disentOmDed ana
burned upon their own affairs.
8. "In the cities" etc. The northern
kingdom was now under the AsSyrlan
government, but the remnant of Israel
maintained close relations with Judah
and looked to them as their natural
protectors. Josiah used his influence
and what power he had in removing
the idols from the land of Israel. The
AsSyrians probably did not trouble
themselves about his religious proceed
ings. AsSur-bani-pal. King of ASSyria,
left his kingdom in such disturbed
state that his hold on Palestine re-
lsxed and thus opportunity was given
to Josiah for his reforms with their
mattocks." "In their ruins Il. V.
Josiah overthrow idolatry in the cities
named. which were many Of them In
ruins.
III. The temple repaired Tvs. S-13).
s. eighteenth year" When he was
twcntysiX years old. This was the
year in which the great work begun
six wears before was carried fully out.
"Purgcd" The purging of the temple
had PROBABLY been the first work. From
purging he proceeded to repairs, and
these had evidently been carried on
for some considerable time before this
particular occasion. "Shaphan."
Called scribe in Kings %: 3. "Maa.
seiah." Not elsewhere mentioned.
Recorder" An officer of high rank in
the Jewish state. exercising the func-
tions not simply of an annalist, or
maker of records. but of chancellor or
president Of the privy council. His
title has reference to his office rs adj
wiser of the king. Repair the house.
! he first work was to clear away the
impediments and purge out the evils
that had gathered in and about III"
house of the Lord. 9. "Ililkiah.' son
of Stadium and grandson of Iadok Il
Chron. 6: II. Isl. "Delivcred the
money" The temple had not been lc-
paired since the time Of JOaSh, 200 or
more years before this, and it was no
doubt in bad condition. The arrange.
ment for receiving money appears to
have been the same as that adopted by
JoaSh G. Kings T.: 9-12l. when Il chest
was placed in the temple into which
the people put their offerings. lie
vites-had gathered" The money was
collected not merely at the temple, but
also by collectors who visited all parts
of Judah and Israel for the purpose of
soliciting contributions This work APP
pears I. have been done well and thor
oughly. 10. The money was placed i'll
the hands of the overseers and they
paid it to the workmen.
H. ITO floor the houses" $40 make
beams for the houses" r. V. BY "the
houses" we are to understand the
houses and chambers of the priests in
the temple and its courts.
l3. In this verse We are told "of the
Lcvites there were Scribes. and offi-
GERS, and portcrs." Here we have come
to a new order of things An order of
scribes forming a distinct division Of
the Levitical body. has been instituted.
When Hezekiah employed men to copy
the uncollccted proverbs Of Solomon
prov. %: u. class of scribes must
have been instituted. 1t is probably to
the rise of this class that we are in.
dcbted for the preservation of so many
prophecies of UeZekiah's time.
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