The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1908-10-29
n. -ABELS
AGAINST DAVID
Sunday School Lesson for Nov. I, 1905
Specially Arranged for This Paper
Ool Lesson for Nov. I, 1905

GOLDEN TEXT-"Honor thy father
and thy mother, that thy days may be
long upon the land which the Lord thy
God giveth thee. Exodus 2O12.
TtME.-The exact time is uncertain.
The following dates are as exact as can
well be obtained: David begins to reign
at age of 30. b. G. lO63-l0l2 David's sin
and repentance, B. G.. l0i2-99i. Amnons
rlme. one year later, b c. i0ii-99O ABB
salon kills his brother. two years later.
b. c. 1O39-9SS Absalom's exile, three
Years, B. G. 1O36-9S5. Absalom two years
in Jerusalem, b. c. 1O3i-9S3 Abea.om's
plotting three or four years B c. 900
go. Death of David, p. G. l023-97l.
PLACE-O Jerusalem, the capital and
home OF David (2) Hebron, the oldest
Town Of Palestine, 20 miles south Of
jerusalem, where Absalom began his open
rebellion.
DAVID.-About 50 or SO years old. In
The thirty-second year of his reign.
SOLOMON.-Probably eight or nine
years old.
DAVID's COUNsELoRs. 80 % The
prophet Nathan who was also one of
)avid's biographers Il Chron. 29:2g t2)
NhithophCl the grandfather OF Bath
sNoba, and a man OF marvellous sagacity
'vlose advice was like "the oracles Of
iod' q Sam. 1920. 90 fIushai, a wise
friend of David
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
The Young Man INSTRUMENTATION
was the son of Maacah, a princess, the
daughter of Talmai king of Geshur,
e region northeast of the Sea Of Gall.
ee in the foothills of the Lebanon
Mountains He was born soon after
David became king of Israel and
fence was between 25 and 80 years
old at the time of his rebellion.
His Inheritance. Being the descend.
| ant of kings in both lines of descent,
)f distinguished appearance and
rincely manners, Absalom inherited
all the handsoineness, manly bear.
og and beauty of his fathers hand.
ome and manly house. The sacred
writer eXpatiates with evident relish
'D0n Absalom's extraordinary beauty
all Israel there was none to be so
uuch praised as Absalom for his
:, auty. From the sole of his foot
On to the crown of his head there
vls no blemish in him And the hair
~ his head is a proverb to this day "
-AleXander Whyte.
But this was not all he inherited
| from his mother he inherited all that
| corrupt court and heather tenden-
| les and environment had impressed
upon her nature. From his father he
neritcd a great mind, a strong will,
'oree nature, strong passions, but al
so a power of selfcontrol, an enlight-
"' aDn ,ience a religious nature,
and all that the training of his Beth
nem nome could impress upon his
| 'haracter.
7nd'tions Favorable to a Change of
| Government. /. II was a time of gen.
.ace throughout the wide en-
pire. For all restless, warlike spirits
| 'ortunity was given for internal
Iissension, fault-fnding, and opposi-
ton.
There was a growing dissatis-
! action with the king. The business
Of the law courts, over which the king
| himself presided. had become too vast
10 be attended to by one man. Ap-
ais from inferior judges and cases
brought directly before the king could
rot all receive a fair hearing
3. David was very busy preparing
materials and gathering money for a
future temple. Nothing was visibly
gcomplIshed, yet the taxes were high
g. David would naturally at his age
be less active, less in the people s
eye, doing less for the outward glory
of the kingdom.
=. II Is possible that the events de-
scribed in the last chapter of Sam
| el took place before this time. The
enrolment would be unpopular The
plague that followed would intensity
| he discomfort.
s. In this case David was near the
end of life, and Absalom would try
not so much to take his fathers king
dom from him, as TO insure that he
himself should be the successor.
V. /. Prepared him chariots and
horses and so men to run before him
The orientals are very fond of such
display. DR.. Trumbull says when his
little party started from Cairo for the
pyramids a handsome young "Sais'
bedecked with scarlet and blue and
! green and gold ran before them at the
top of his speed, calling out for a clear
oath among the camels and donkeys
and foot ssengers.-Oriental Socia
Life, p, 2l5,
| Y. 2 "Absalom rose up early" to be
on hand when the people came to pre-
sent their cases 20 the king. Business
in the. east is held early, in order tC
escape the heat of the day They re
tired early, for modern lights were no
in their houses for evening work
Kings therefore held courts in the
early morning. Beside the way Of the
gate" There was usually an opeI
market place near the gates for bust
ness and public meetings.
We should inquire Of our owl
hearts whether we are grateful t
God for all his benefits to us, anC
whether We are showing our gratitude
by our lives.
The story OF King Lear is a com
mentary on ingratitude,
V. 7. And il came to pass after A
years" Some think this number Il