The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1905-02-02
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR FEBRUARY S.

cometh He" Our Lords route lay
through historic ground. He, doubtless,
passed through Gibeah, the ancient capital
of the kingdom of Saul; through Bethel,
where Jacob had his dream of the ladder
and the angels; near Shiloh, the first
dwelling place of the tabernacle, and the
ark in Canaan, and the scene of the down
fall of the house of Eli. At the end of
that journey three objects of special inter
est occur in succession: Jacobs: well,
Joseph's tomb. and the ancient city OF
Shechem, between the mountains of Geri-
zim and Ebal. "Sychar." Formerly She
chem, at the foot of Mount GeriZim, be-
tween Gerizim and Ebal. 1t is noted in
the Scriptures as the place where Abraham
first stopped on his coming from Haran to
Canaan; where God appeared to him and
promised to give the land to his seed, and
where he first built an altar to the Lord.
In the fourth century, about B. G. 332,
Sanballat erected a temple on Gerizim in
opposition to the Jewish temple. Parcel
of ground" Purchased of the children of
Hamor (Gen. 1910, and given to Joseph
(Gen. 48:22).
6. Jacobs we'll" The well Jacob dug.
The word for well in the Greek means
fountain. The well has been filled with
rubbish until it is only about seventy-ive
feet deep. Formerly it was thirty feet
deeper. It is about eight or nine feet in
diameter and is walled with masonry.
"Jesus-being wearied." He was a man,
as well as God, and became weary and
hungry. He journeyed on foot, sharing
ships of the way. "Sixth hour" There is
a difference of opinion here. According to
the Jewish reckoning this would be noon,
but many learned men think John used a
Roman method of reckoning and that it
7. "Of Samaria." She was not from the
city of Samaria, seven miles away, but
from the country of Samaria; one of Sa-
marian race and religion. ITO draw
water" She probably brought her line
and bucket Qeathern or crockery), for
Orient wells are not provided with these.
Note how our Lords choice of a nearer
breaks down rabbinic prejudice all around.
Give Me to drink" Jesus used His thirst
as a means of approach to the woman's
heart, and turned the conversation from
ing waters of salvation. Let us follow our
Saviour's example by doing good in our
hours of relaxation. 3d. Disciples
gone" The story throughout reads so
much like the words of an eyewitness that
some have thought John renamed with
the Saviour while the rest went to the viz
lage. Meat" Food, not necessarily fish.
Ii. The Samaritan woman ". 81. 9.
"How is it," etc. In Oriental manners
there were many strict regulations against
women conversing with men, especially
strangers. But these restrictions were less
regarded at the wells and fountains than.
in other public places (Gen. 24:l3-24;
EXod. 2:l6, ~. Jesus rejected all re-
s~traints of caste. His disciples were them
selves surprised that He should converse
liberty to object to it (v; 20. How did
she know He was a Jew? BY His dress
and by His dialect. The word jew" is
here used broadly to describe the race
which filled both Judea and Galilee. She
probably recognized Him as a Gahle?n
by the writer to give the reason for her
surprise. They have no dealings of friend
ly intercourse. This i'll will, however, did
not extend beyond familiar intercourse, for
in such matters as buying and selling inter.
course was allowed. They were excluded
1.-The Samaritans." The Samaritans we're
the descendants of the Ethiopian and
Babylonish eQlonists upon whom the Assy-.
rian conqueror of the ten tribes bestowed
the lands of the captive Israehtes (see 2
Kings ~l7:24-33). Although of purely heath
en- origin, they united the worship OF Jeho-
yah with their own idoiatries. They built
q temple on Mount GeriZim.
III. Divine truth impaired Tvs. l0-T).
10. THE gift of God" See John 3;l6.
The Messiah, and the salvetion he is
asked" Spiritually our positions are re-
versed. 1t is thou who art weary and
~footsore and parched, close to the well,
yet unable to drink: it is | who can give
thee the water from the well and quench
gift of the Holy Spirit John 1880; also
called "the water of life" (Rev. 2l:6; 22:l,
10; "clean water (Ezek. 1926, 27). See
also lisa. 55:l; SSH. 1t is received by
faith John 6:35), abides eternally ". Ia,
IS offered freely, REV; FL ~ Note l:
(Rev. 2l:6l. 8. It's freshness. 4. It's sat
i~sfaction lisa, l2:3),
IL. "Sir." This might be read my
Lord" 1t was a title of respect, and
shows that the woman was r~everent and
serious. Nothing to draw with" The
well had, probably, no apparatus for
drawing water. This woman no doubt
carried her own line. "From whence"
etc. The woman was quick in her COM
prehension, and saw there was some truth
which she did not understand, to which
Jesus was referring.
II. cart Thou greater?" The question
proceeds from a feeling that Jesus as
sumed some extraordinary character, that
He claimed a spiritual power: perhaps
claimed to be a prophet like Moses, whS
Gle. "Our father Jacob" The Samaritans
were living in the territory of Ephraim
and Manasseh, sons of Joseph, and grand
sons of Jacob, and although they were not
the descendants of Jacob, yet no doubt
some of the ancient blood ran in their
veins.
Is. :"Shall thirst again" Jesus does
not discuss the question of greatness. but
turns her thought toward spiritual truth,
as He did Nicodemus. ID. "Shall never
thirst" He does not mean that one
draught shall satisfy us, but that we shall
have in the soul a well of living water.
"Shall be in Him" The religion of Jesus
has to do with the inner life. Christ puts
new principles and affections within us.
"A well of water" A fountain of water.
The supply is exhaustless. Here is an I'M
failing fulness of love, joy, peace and spir-
itual strength-a full salvation. Spring
ing up" Whoever has this living water in
the soul already has eternal life. rhe
water of life. /. Is given by Jesus. 2.
It is pure. 8. It satisfies the soul. 9.
There is a never failing supply. 5. It is
free. 6. 1t is for all who thirst. "Into
everlasting life" He that receives the liv-
ing water has a fountain opened in his soul
of spiritual satisfaction, which shall Meth
er be dried up in this life nor the life to
come, but shall flow ON to all eternity.