The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR AUGUST 6

subjects Josiah's Good Reign, II. Chron.
xxxiv., f-f3-ooIden Text, Ecci. Kill,
1-Mernory Verses, 1-3-Co1nmentary
on the Days Lesson.
1. Josiah's character Tvs. /, q. 1.
Josiah" The fifteenth king of judah
mot counting Athaliah, the usurper).
son of Anon and Jedldah. He was
married at the age of thirteen to Ze-
budah. 2. "Dld-right." He grew up
into a noble life in spite Of the worst
influences of an immoral and idola-
trous court and the example of an idol
atrous father. "In 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 were in the habit of
trying his successors Il Kings IL: A; .
Kings Ia: 3; IS: 8; 2 Chron 2S: 1 20:
y. David was regarded as the model
king Il Kings II: s; 10: 81. "The ways
Of David" which are here particularly
referred to were 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 obe-
dience to all the commandments
III. 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
tiuences 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
year of his age, Josiah set out in ear
nest to destroy the idolatry Of his king
dom. In 2 Kings %: 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. supposing they were
nearer heaven. Grooves" "The Ash
erin"
4. They brake down." etc. The
temple was cleansed of idols, the mol
ten images, idol affairs and Asherim
were ground to powder and their dust
sprinkled on the graves of their wor-
shippers in the kings presence. >.
Burnt the bones" This was predict.
ed of Josiah more than 800 years be-
fore this time Il Kings 13: /. y. The
bones of the idolatrous priests. with
the one exception of the prophet of
Bethel (see Kings 10: l, 30; . Kings
%: 1918. were disentombed and
burned upon their own affairs.
6. I'm the cities" etc. The northern
kingdom was now under the Assyrian
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-
laxed, and thus opportunity was given
to Josiah for his reforms. "With their
mattocks." 'In their ruins" K. V.
Josiah overthrow idolatry in the cities
named, which were many of them in
ruins.
III. The temple repaired Tvs. S-13).
8. Eighteenth year" When he was
twenty-siX years old. This was the
year in which the great work begun
six years before was carried fully out.
"Purged." The purging of the temple
had PROBABLY been the first work. From
purging he proceeded to repairs, and
these had evidently beer carried on
for some considerable time before this
particular occasion. "Shaphan."
Called scribe in 2 Kings %: 3. "Maa-
seiah." Not elsewhere mentioned.
Recorder" An officer of high rank in
the Jewish state, exercising the func-
tons 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 as ad-
wiser of the king. Repair the house."
The first work was to clear away the
impediments and purge out the evils
that had gathered in and about the
house of the Lord. o. "Hilkiah." Son
of Shallum and grandson OF Zadok Il
Chron. 6: II. 13). Delivered the
money" The temple had not been re-
paired since the time Of Joash, 200 or
more years before this, and 1t was no
doubt in bad condition. The arrange
ment for receiving money appears to
have been the same as that adopted by
Joash e Kings 12: 9-12), when a chest
was placed In the temple into which
the people put their offerings. "Le-
vites-had gathered" The money was
collected, not merely nj the temple. but
also by collectors who visited all parts
of Judah and Israel for the purpose of
soliciting contributions. This work ap-
pears to have been done well and thor
oughly. 10. The money was placed in
the hands of the oyerseers and they
paid it to the workmen.
II. ITO floor the houses" "To make
beams for the houses" 4. 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
Levites there were scribes, and Off
Gers, and porters." Here we have come
70 new order of things. An order of
scrlhes, forming a distinct division of
the Levitical Body. has been instituted.
When Hezeklah employed men to copy
the uncollected proverbs of Solomon
PROV. %: u. class of scrlbes must
have been instituted. 1t is probably to
the rise of this class that we are in
debted for the preservation of so many
nrnnhaciaS nf Iazof.tab,e fi,,a