The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-05-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR MAY 20.

Subject: Death or John Inc bapte, "afA
vi, 14-29-Golden Text, Eph. ", IS
Memory Verse. 20 - A Temperance
Lesson.
1. King Herod's terrified conscience
Tvs. 1916. ii. "Herod." This was
Herod Antipas, one Of the sons of
Herod the Great, and the ruler of Gal
lice and Perea. Heard of Him" Of
Jesus Matt. AID. Antipas had heard
Of His capitals at Liberals, on the Sea
of Galilee. Risen from the dead
Herod's conscience accused him.
mighty works" In consequence OF
having risen from the dead He is
thought to be possessed of miracle
working powers. This is a striking IN
cidental confirmation Of John 1O:41,
that John wrought no miracle While
living. Is. "Others said" To quiet
the kings fears probably some of his
courtiers made these suggestions.
ELIAS" Greek form for Elijah. "A
prophet" Some new, woodworking
prophet.
16. "But-Herod-said." His guilty
conscience. impelled him to hold to his
first opinion. Whom l ~beheaded."
What O bold confession of guilt was
this! No need for the Baptist now;
conscience performs the Office or ten
thousand other accusers.
II. The faithfulness of John the
Baptist Tvs. 1920. II. I'm prison."
The place of Johns Imprisonment and
death was Macherus, in Perea, on the
eastern side of the Dead Sea, near the
southern frontier Of the tetrarchy.
Here Antipas had a palace and a
prison under one roof, as was common
in the East. For Herodias' sake"
This woman was q granddaughter OF
Herod the Great. She first married
Herod Philip, her uncle, who was the
father of Salome. Herod had put away
his legal wife, the daughter OF Aretus.
king of Arabia Petrea, and had taken
Herodias, though Philip, Herodias'
husband, was still living. Is. John"
John was the son Of a priest and was
born at Juttah, in the summer of B.
C. 8. He was a Nazarite, pledged to
drink NO wine or strong drink, and to
let his hair and heard grow uncut, as
a sign of conservation to God Nun.
g.. "Had said" The Greek verb is in
the imperfect tense and implies that he
repeatedly reproved him. John was
bold and fearless. He faced the king
personally. 1t is well when ministers
dare rebuke the sins of politicians and
those in authority. Not lawful"
Herod had put away his wife; had in
duced Herodias to forsake her hus-
band; and had married Herodias, his
niece and sister-in-law, contrary to the
law LEV. 1911, 16). ITO have" To
marry her. The force of the origine
bears out this Interpretation.
10. "Ha. q quarrel" In the margin
this is rendered. had an inward
gru6ge" against him. The Revised
Version renders it, "set herself against
him." She hated John as an enemy
because he had rebuked her sins.
Would have killed" She desired to
kill him. "Could not" Herod would
not yield to. her murderous desires.
but merely threw John into prison. 20.
"Herod feared John" He had respect
for him and feared his words. Know
ing. that" etc. This makes Herod's
sin all the more glazing and heinous.
Conserved him." Kept him safe" r.
V. Herod did not allow Herodias to
accomplish her purposes. when he
heard him." Herod went repeatedly to
Johns preaching. did many things"
Some sins which Herod denounced
Herod forsook.
III. Herod's birthday festivities Tvs.
21-25). Fl. Convenient day" For
Herodias, who was watching for an
opportunity to kill John. made a sup
per-" This was done, probably at the
Macherus palace with great display.
%. "Daughter-danced." Female
dancers in the East are a customary
part Of great entertainments. On this
occasion the dancer was of high birth.
being no other than the Princess Sa-
lone, daughter of Herodias and Philip.
PLEASED Herod." They were probably
half-intoxicated, reclining at the tables,
as their custom was. The Infamous
saloon system of to-day is only a rem
nant of the ancient revels that We're so
vile and corrupting in their effects.
%. "Half of my kingdom" A king
dom for a dance! This was the prom
Use of a drunken man, reveling in sem
suous delight. The Moloch of intem-
perance does not confine his work to
the degraded. .
"a. Mother" What a mother!
| Leading her own daughter into the
| vilest crimes. "What-ask." The vile
Herodias was not long in telling her.
25. "With haste" She hastens to
have the deed perpetrated while the
revel is on, probably in the night.
Herod drunk will do what Herod sober
has refused to do. "Give me by and
by." Forthwith" R. V. Give me
Immediately. She took Herod by sur
prise and made her demand ION the
instant, lest Herod should change his
mind" TIN a charger" On a large
platter. "The head" She is thirsting
for his blood.
". John the Baptist beheaded Tvs.
1929. %. Exceeding sorry" His
conscience was not entirely dead, and
! he was worried and troubled. "Would
not reject her" Note the steps that
had led Herod to this: !. Rejecting
the truth. .. Continuing to indulge in
his sins. s. A drunken feast; liquor is
responsible foc untold crime and mis-
FRY. 4. An immoral dance; dancing
can but result in sin. 5. A wicked
oath. which never should have been
taken, but. onc taken, should have
been broken Immediately. 6. His fear
Of the people.
%. "Beheaded him." But his pris-
oner was ready. IS. Brought his
head" What a CHASTITY present! How
inhuman these wretched women must
have been. %. His disciples" Johns
| disciples. Took up his corpse Sor-