21. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet. 22. But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23. 2 And the LORD was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and 3 had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his 4 presence as yet. 3 Ex. 2: 24, 25. 4 Ex. 33: 13. 12 Kings 8: 12. 22 Kings 14:27. of the Dead Sea. - Todd. Invaded the land. They took advantage of the weakened condition of the kingdom, which, being attacked by Syria on the north, could spare little of its small army for defending the south. It was probable a species of marauding, or of border warfare, was continually going on between these nations even in times of professed peace. They might not, however, have been sanctioned by the leading powers of the land, but existed, like the modern brigands, in Greece and Italy. - Tayler Lewis. At the com. ing in of the year. In spring, that is, the Jews beginning their year at the vernal equinox. This was the natural season for incursions, as then in Palestine the crops began to be ripe. Cook. It means the spring after the death of Elisha. 21. And it came to pass, as they. The Israelites of that region. They spied a band. One of these roving, marauding bands of Moabites. They cast (or thrust) the man into the sepulchre of Elisha. They did not dare to carry the body to the place prepared for it; and, as the tomb of Elisha happened to be near at hand, they hastily threw the body into it, and fled. — Todd. The graves of the Jews were not pits dug in the ground, like ours, but caves or cells excavated in the side of a rock, the mouth of the cave being ordinarily shut by a heavy stone. · Cook. And touched the bones of Elisha. According to the Jewish and Eastern customs, his body, as well as that of the man who was miraculously restored, was not laid in a coffin, but only swathed; so that the bodies could be brought into contact.-J., F. and B. He revived. Came to life again. THE DESIGN OF THIS MIRACLE. (1) Its significance is this: Elisha died and was buried as all men are, but even in the grave testimony was borne to his character as a prophet and servant of God, and in a manner which corresponds exactly to the form of activity of this prophet, who was a preserver, saviour, and life-giver. - Lange. (2) To impress the seal of divine attestation upon the prophecy of the dying prophet concerning the victory of Joash over the Syrians. - - Keil. (3) God wished thereby to show his people that the Divine efficiency that was at work in Elisha had not disappeared from Israel with his death. Keil. (4) It was another testimony to the people that their God was the living and true God, the God of life, and help, and salvation, and worthy of their perfect trust and obedience. (5) The Lord showed thereby that he was not a God of the dead, but of the living; that the dead in him live for him (Matt. 22: 32), and do not perish with the body. It was a testimony to the reality of another life. V. The Prophecy Fulfilled. -Vers. 22-25. The prophecy which Elisha uttered before his death is here followed immediately by the account of its fulfilment, and to this end the oppression of the Israelites by Hazael is mentioned once more. 22. Hazael... oppressed. Better, had oppressed (see 2 Kings 13:4-7). All the days of Jehoahaz. The father of Joash. He reigned 17 years (B.C. 856-839). 23. And the Lord was gracious unto them. God had chosen them as his people, and they were heirs to the promises given to the fathers; therefore he bore long with them, and did all that was possible to bring them back to his service and blessing. God wants all to repent and return to him, and is full of gracious tenderness and loving-kindness toward them to induce them to come to him. His covenant with Abraham. That God would be the God of his descendants, and that they should be a great nation, as the stars of heaven for multitude, and that in them all nations should be blessed (see Gen. 17:4-8; 22:15-18). These promises were certain of fulfilment, and the Israelites of the ten tribes could have part in them if they would. If they refused, the promise would be fulfilled through others. But God was long-suffering to them, desiring that they should not lose so great a blessing. Neither cast he them from his presence as yet. He had not rejected them from being his peculiar people and from having a part in the covenant blessings prom 24. So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben-hadad his son reigned in his stead. 25. And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel. ised to Abraham's seed. This was not done to them as a nation till the final captivity of Israel (B.C. 721), more than a hundred years later. Till then God strove with them in vain to bring them to repentance. 24. So Hazael died. About the same time as Jehoahaz (B.C. 839). This wa the beginning of deliverance, for his son was probably not so great nor so cruel a soldier as Hazael. Ben-hadad. The third of that name. 25. The cities, which he (Hazael) had taken. We cannot say what cities exactly these were. Probably they were cities west of the Jordan, since the tract east of that river was conquered mainly, if not wholly, in the reign of Jehu (2 Kings 10:33). — Cook. Three times did Joash beat him. Or "smite him." The prophecy was fulfilled. Instead of following up his victories to the utter annihilation of the Syrian power, he was content with these three triumphs, and so justified the rebuke of the dying Elisha. Israel soon fell back into most bitter afflictions and extremity (chap. 14: 26). Whedon. And Joash himself not only followed the sins of Jeroboam, but he attacked Jerusalem, and carried the temple treasures to Samaria, the capital of his own kingdom (2 Kings 14: 12-14). LESSONS FROM THE LAST DAYS OF ELISHA. I. God has ordained sickness before death, that we may set our house in order, and may seek refuge in the mercy of God. — Lange. Sickness is also a blessed physical preparation for death. 2. Elisha's death-bed was that of a true man of God. Even in death he thought more of others than of himself, and his last act was one of help and hope for his country. 3. From the patient, cheerful submission of a suffering believer, from the sustaining, elevating power of religious principles in times of severest trial, from the glad and bold testimony given to the divine faithfulness by dying lips, and from the earnest longings to depart, and the happy anticipations of glory to be revealed, are useful influences sent forth from a sick-bed, such as an active life cannot render; and feeble, dying hands often shoot the arrow of the Lord's deliverance. - Lowrie. 4. God has great and countless natural blessings in store for man, waiting for his earnest seeking and fitness to receive. All the inventions and discoveries of this age are but a few grains from the great harvest, a few dawning rays of the day ready to break upon us. 5. So God has offered in his promises vast and countless spiritual blessings for man, riches of his Word, success of the Gospel, power of the Spirit, holy lives, communion with God, truth, character, joy, peace, to which all we have yet received are but as a few sprays from the great ocean. 6. God is testing us continually as to our willingness and fitness to receive. In little things, in daily life, in the use of what has already been given, by open doors of usefulness, God is testing and fitting us to receive greater blessings. 7. God is most honored and pleased with the largest requests. He is never indignant when our prayers are importunate and our petitions great. He is angry only when we ask little things while he desires to give us great things, when we ask carelessly and weakly what all heaven feels to be worthy of the most intense seeking. His ear is wearied not by large and unceasing prayers, but by straining to hear our feeble, inconstant voices. His hand is wearied not by holding out the largest blessings, but by offering them to those who will put forth scarcely their little fingers to take them. 8. We put our own limit to the blessings we receive. According to our faith is it done unto us. All that we will wisely use, all that we are capable of receiving and valuing, God gives to us. 9. The influence of our lives does not die with us. We not only live in heaven beyond the grave, but we also live upon earth, and are doing good or evil among men long after our bodies have returned to the dust. SUGGESTIONS TO TEACHERS. The gem of this lesson lies in the first few verses; therefore dwell on the setting enough to have the central thought clearly and vividly presented. FIRST SCENE. Forty-five years of the prophet's life without a single mention in history; and yet these compose usually the most active and useful period of life. Ver. 14 throws a flood of light upon this darkness, and shows that they have been years of usefulness, and good deeds, and power. No idle, useless man, though a prophet, could be "the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof." Illustration. A sinking ship, the water filling the hold, and all in danger of being lost. A man stands at the pump, and is continually working to save the ship, and yet it gradually settles in the water. But the man has done great good by his pumping, and made the ship sink slower, and given larger hope of final relief. SECOND SCENE. A country devestated by foreign enemies, ground to the very dust, till the army inherited by the new king has but 10 chariots and 50 horsemen. All this on account of the sins of the king and people. THIRD SCENE. A young man just crowned as king, after a brief two years' experience of ruling in connection with his father. All life and hope are before him. His country's weal or woe depend on his character and choices. FOURTH SCENE. A sick-room; the aged prophet dying. The young king makes a visit to the sick-bed of his most illustrious subject, and utters words of appreciation. As a parting blessing, no doubt after patient waiting and earnest prayer, the prophet receives permission to offer a great promise to his king and his beloved country. Many a blessing comes from a sick-bed. SUBJECT, GOD'S PROMISES AND OUR RECEIVING. I. THE PROMISE (vers. 15-17). meaning of the trial soon to come. up for us and promised us. This was accompanied by a full explanation of the Illustration. The fulness of nature. How much greater her treasures than men dreamed! And yet every power and treasure was there from the beginning. II. THE TRIAL OF FAITH (vers. 18, 19). Given in full in the notes. Dwell also on the way we are tried in daily life, in little things. He that is faithful in little, will be faithful also in much. By doing well our daily duties, by true faith in every-day trials and temptations, we are prepared to receive larger blessings. III. WE PUT OUR OWN LIMIT TO OUR BLESSINGS. God is rich in treasures for us; it is we who are not ready and willing to receive. Illustrations from Scripture. (1) From Elisha's life (2 woman's faith was measured by the number of vessels she borrowed. and the oil stayed. (2) From the life of Christ (Matt. 9: 27-31). men's faith it was done unto them. Kings 4:1-7). The IV. THE PROPHET'S TOMB (vers. 20, 21). Our influence lives beyond the grave: (1) in our own existence; (2) in the effects living in others, and working through them; (3) in the new effects from the recorded history of what we have done. V. THE PROMISE FULFILLED (vers. 22-25). LESSON VI. - Noy. 8. THE STORY OF JONAH.-JONAH I: 1-17. GOLDEN TEXT. - Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it. JONAH 1:2. TIME. The events of this lesson probably about B.C. 8oo. Jonah's career as a prophet was from B.C. 825 (2 Kings 14: 25) to perhaps 775. The chronology of this period will in the end be somewhat modified by the inscriptions on the Assyrian monuments. PLACE. Jonah belonged in Gath-hepher (2 Kings 14: 25), a town three miles from Nazareth on the road to Tiberias, on the Sea of Galilee. It belonged to the tribe of Zebulon, and lay in the country called Galilee in the time of Christ. RULERS. Jeroboam II., king of Israel; Amaziah (or first part of reign of Uzziah), king of Judah; Bochoris, king of Egypt; Numitor and Aventinus in Italy; Rimmon-Nirari, king of Assyria. Geo. Smith. Jonah was a child when Homer was an old blind bard; a contemporary of the Spartan lawgiver, Lycurgus; by a century the senior of Romulus, and four centuries more ancient than Herodotus. Smith's Bib. Dic. PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORY. -2 Kings 14, 15; 2 Chron. 25, 26. CONTEMPORARY PROPHETS. —Amos and Hosea. THE BOOK OF JONAH.(1) Author unknown, but probably Jonah himself. (2) Time, probably toward the end of his career. (3) Nature of the Book. There are three views: first, that it is pure allegory, divinely designed; second, that it is legend, truth mixed with fiction; third, that it is veritable history. Without doubt the last is the true view. In regard to the view of its being a veritable history, it has been held by the most learned and pious commentators, from the fathers and the reformers unto the present day. It seems confirmed by the words of our Saviour (Matt. 12: 39–41). — Tayler Lewis. It was always set forth by our Lord to be revered and obeyed as God's word, without any caution about exceptions or mistakes. And furthermore, this special story of Jonah in the fish is selected by the Saviour for emphatic endorsement as an enacted type of his own three days' hiding in death. Still further, our Lord twice declares the truth of Jonah's story (Matt. 12:40; 16: 4), as if he had in view the temptation which many would be subjected to regarding belief in the narrative. Now this testimony is ample. There could not be more for any historic fact. Howard Crosby, LL.D. PRONUNCIATIONS. — Amit'tăi (or Amit'tă); Găth-he'pher; Jō'năh; Nin'ěvěh; Shălmăne'ser; Tär'shish. I. Now the 2 word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2. Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and 3 cry against it; for their 4 wickedness is come up before me. 6 3. But Jonah rose up to flee unto 5 Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to 7 Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. 1 Ruth 1:1. 1 Sam. 1:1. 22 Pet. 1:21. Ezra 9:6. Rev. 18: 5. 5 Gen. 10:4. 17:1. Luke 1: 19. 3 Isa. 40:6; 58: 1. 1 Kings 18:27. 4 Gen. 4: 10; 6:13; 18:21. 7 Acts 10:5. EXPLANATORY. I. Disobedience Tends Downward. Vers. 1-6. 1. Now. Literally, "and." The standing formula by which historical events were linked together. - Keil. Came. Perhaps in vision (Isa. 1: 1; Acts 10: 11), perhaps by inspiration, perhaps with an audible voice (1 Sam. 3; 1 Kings 19: 13, etc). Jonah. Hebrew, "a dove." In Gen. 8: 8, 9, the wandering dove vainly seeks rest. Amittai. Hebrew, "true." Jonah the son of Amittai. Without doubt mentioned in 2 Kings 14:25; a native of Gath-hepher (now El-Meshed, three miles north of Nazareth), and a prophet of Israel in the reign of Jeroboam II. 2. Arise. Rouse up; a word of incitement. He had prophesied of mercy to Israel, and his word had come true. His message would be received as authoritative. Go to Nineveh, that great city. Capital of the Assyrian empire, and the largest city in the world (see Lesson VII.). Their wickedness is come up before me. It is so depraved as to require divine interposition. A DOWNWARD TENDENCY (1) IN CHARACTER. 3. Jonah rose up. Girded and resolved. Thus far, he was obedient, to rise when he was bidden; but he might as well have sat still for any good he did. After the first step he trod not one step aright. -Abbott. He did not remonstrate, but being a man of dogged and refractory temper, he determined not to execute the command. - Kitto. The truth is, Jonah, though a man of God, did not like God's ways. He would have mended them.-Crosby. To flee. That is, to make haste. The only instance of a prophet concealing his message. Explanations vary: (1) the long and dangerous journey (600 miles); (2) dread of the cruel Gentile city; (3) unwillingness to carry a message of love outside his own nation. Geikie; (4) Nineveh beneath his notice (Acts 10: 14); (5) his own reputa 4. But the LORD sent out a great 2 wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be 3 broken. 5. Then the mariners were 4 afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and 5 cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep. 1 Ps. 29: 3. tion. Matt. 8: 23, 27. 5 Acts 27: 19, 38 3 Ps. 48: 7. 4 Ps. 107: 23, 30. 2 Ps. 148:8. Acts 27: 16. - Abbott; (6) holy zeal for God's honor, fear lest by sparing Nineveh after unmitigated threatening, God be regarded as changeable. — Martin; (7) as the Assyrian inscriptions state, Nineveh had already made war upon Israel, and as Jonah may have known, was destined to conquer it (Hosea 9: 3; 11: 5). Commanded to call to repentance the country by which his own people- nay, the people of God-were to be carried captive, he rebelled. Pusey. Unto Tarshish. Probably Tartessus, a Phoenician port in southern Spain. Sent to the extreme north-east, he hastened to the furthermost west. From the presence of the Lord. That is, from standing before him as his minister. - Pusey. He did not expect to hide from God (Ps. 139), who, as he told the sailors, made the sea and the dry land. Going out of the king's presence, said of one retiring from office, does not mean going from under his law. - Raleigh. Supposing, in common with his countrymen, that the spirit of prophecy was confined to the land of Israel, he hoped to escape from its inspiring influences by flying into a foreign country. - Payson. A departing from duty and from the execution of his office. - Abbott. Went down to Joppa. Some 50 miles away; a literal descent from his native hill-country, and a spiritual descent, no less. "Wherever thou turnest, if thou depart from the will of God, thou goest down. Whatever glory, riches, power, honor, thou gainest, thou risest not a whit; the more thou advancest, while turned from God, the deeper and deeper thou goest down." Joppa. The modern Jaffa, then the only seaport of importance in Palestine. He found a ship, etc. He tells us how many steps there were in his down-going. He found. Never measure obedience by apparent success. - Exell. God many times suffers those things to be ready by the which we may fall. Abbott. Going to Tarshish. That is, a Phoenician ship. A DOWNWARD TENDENCY (2) IN PURSE. He paid the fare thereof. One of those little touches of a true narrative. -Pusey. So that he may do amiss, he will not spare his money. - Abbott. He little guessed how much the journey would cost before the end. A DOWNWARD TENDENCY (3) IN COMPANIONSHIP. To go with them. The sailors. Fleeing from God, he fell into heathen companionship. The prodigal was not choice in his company, if he could only get far from home. From the presence of the Lord. He had no further step to take; winds and waves would do the rest. He had but to be still.— Pusey. Avowedly from God's presence. He was, however, destined to know more of God than he had known before. - Kitto. 4. Like all who endeavor to frustrate God's designs, evade his commands, or flee from his presence, Jonah found his hopes miserably disappointed. He who made the winds his messengers, sent a storm to arrest the fugitive prophet, and bring him back to the path of duty. - Payson (see Amos 9: 2, 3). But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea. 'Hurled a greate wynde into the see."- Coverdale's Bible. Josephus speaks of the "black north wind" off that coast. Euroclydon. "Stormy wind fulfilling his word." If it hail in Egypt, where it rains very few times, God sends that hail on Pharaoh. If an east wind bring in grasshoppers, and a west wind drive them out, both come from the Lord. The wind and the tempest depend not on chance, but on the sovereign power of the almighty Creator. Abbott. A mighty tempest. "A Levanter." The ship was like to be broken. Literally, "thought to be dashed to pieces." ners. Mari 5. The mariners were afraid. Then must the danger have been extreme. "The salts." Cried every man unto his god. Heathen; probably Phoenicians, but from different places, and therefore worshippers of different gods. - Keil. He that would learn to pray, let him go to sea. - Matthew Henry. "All lost! to prayers! to prayers! All lost!"-Shakespeare. Cast forth the wares. They thought the ship weighed down by its wonted lading, and knew not that the whole weight was that of the fugitive prophet. Jerome. To lighten it of them. To procure relief to themselves (Job 2:4); but except the Lord ease the ship, they labor but in vain. But. While others were praying, the guilty one was sleeping. Is it ever so in the church? A DOWNWARD TENDENCY (4) IN GOOD JUDGMENT. Was gone down. "Those |