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CONNECTED HISTORY.-Jezebel, enraged by the defeat and death of the Baal priests, threatened to slay Elijah; he escaped to Beersheba and into the wilderness; longed for death; an angel fed him twice; he then went on to Horeb.

ORDER OF EVENTS.—(62.) Elijah escapes to Horeb.

TO THE SCHOLAR.-Notice that Elijah is twice fed by the angel; strengthened; questioned of the Lord; strengthened by exhibitions of God's power; sent ou a new work.

NOTES.-Ho'-reb, probably the same as Mt. Sinai. The cave which tradition says is that of Elijah is now shown just below the higher summit of Jebel Musa (Mt. Sinai), but it cannot be the true cave.-Wilderness of Damascus, probably the region between Bashan and Damascus, and just north of the prophet's home; possibly the "Argob."-Haz'-a-el, servant of Benhadad II. king of Syria. He killed Benhadad, reigned in his stead, and brought great trouble to Israel.-Syria, a country reaching from the Mediterranean to the river Euphrates, having Damascns for its capital. -E-li'-sha. See Lesson XI.-A'-bel-me-ho'-lah-field of the dance, a town in the Jordan valley south of the Sea of Galilee. Some place it 10 miles south of Bethshean, but later researches locate it between Bethshean and the Jordan.

EXPLANATIONS AND QUESTIONS.

Lesson Topics.-I.) THE FLIGHT TO HOREB. (II.) GOD'S APPEARANCE TO ELIJAH. (III.) HIS COMMAND TO ELIJAH.

I. THE FLIGHT TO HOREB. (8.) forty days, Ex. Xxxiv. 28; Matt. iv. 2; Horeb, see Notes. (9.) unto a cave, or "the cave"-that is, some cave well known to those for whom this book was first written, but not known now, see Notes; lodged there, or passed a night there;" what... here, a reproof (1) for cowardly flight, (2) for seeking a cave (Henry). (10.) jealous, "inflamed" (Hebrew)-that is, "very zealous;" thrown down thine altars, one Elijah rebuilt, chap. xviii. 30; slain thy prophets, chap. xviii. 4; I only am left, Elijah in despair draws a sad picture, which is corrected in v. 18.

I. Questions.-Why did Elijah flee from Jezreel? How was he fed in the wilderness? How many times? Whither did he go in the strength of that food? For how many days? Who had been forty days without food on that mount? Ex. xxxiv. 28. Where did he lodge? Whose word came to him there? With what question? Why was this an implied reproof? How did Elijah answer it? What is meant by jealous? Why did Elijah think the people were all wicked? How near was he right? See v. 18.

II. GOD'S APPEARANCE TO ELIJAH. (11.) passed by, or "was passing by;" he did not pass before the earth

quake. (12.) still small voice, "a sound of soft stillness" (Hebrew). "Storm, earthquake, and fire are symbols of divine punishments on the ungodly." (Keil.) (13.) mantle, upper short cloak or cape, possibly made of untanned sheepskin; entering in-that is, he stood in the mouth of the cave, hence a larger cave than that now shown as Elijah's; what... here, see vs. 9, 10. [In Hebrew, vs. 10 and 14 are alike.]

II. Questions.-Where was Elijah to stand? v. 11. Who passed? How many signs of his coming were given? What were they? What came last? Does it say that God was in the stillness? Where did Elijah then place himself? What did he hear? Does it differ from the question in v. 9? How does his answer differ in our version from that in v. 10?

III. HIS COMMAND TO ELIJAH. (15.) wilderness, see Notes: comest, anoint, "and thou shalt go and anoint" (Hebrew); this did not compel him to do it as soon as he came; Hazael Syria, see Notes. (16.) Jehu, son, really grandson, of Nimshi, being son of Nimshi's son Jehoshaphat (Speaker's Com.); in thy room, thy successor. (17.) sword of Hazael, see 2 Kings vili, 28, 29; x. 32, 33; xiii. 3; sword of Jehu, see 2 Kings ix, 24, 27, 33; x. 1-7, 18-25; Elisha slay, see 2 Kings ii. 24; Jer. i. 10; xviii. 7. (18.) I have left, or "yet will I leave" (Hebrew) that is, 7000 shall survive the persecutions of Ahab and Jezebel; not kissed him, idolaters sometimes kissed the idol worshipped. Hosea xiii. 2.

III. Questions.-Whither was Elijah sent of the Lord? Where was that wilderness? Whom was he to anoint? What to be? Who was to be his successor? Where did Elisha live? What is said of the character of Hazael? Of Jehu? What of Elisha? How was the prophecy in regard to each fulfilled? How many would continue faithful in Israel?

What facts in this lesson teach us

(1.) That God expects his servants to face danger?
(2.) That he is patient with the fearful?

(3.) That his presence gives courage?

ELIJAH AT HOREB.

On Horeb's rock the prophet stood:
The Lord before him passed;

A hurricane in angry mood

Swept by him strong and fast;
The forests fell before its force,
The rocks were shivered in its course

God was not in the blast:

"Twas but the whirlwind of his breath,

Announcing danger, wreck, and death.

HYMN, "Jesus is mighty to save."-Calvary Songs, p. 39.

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THE STORY OF NABOTH.-1 Kings xxi, 4-14. [About 899 B. C.

ers.

RECITE VS. 7-10.

4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathAnd he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his 5 face, and would eat no bread. | But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eat6 est no bread? | And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.

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And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, 9 dwelling with Naboth. | And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth 10 on high among the people: | And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.

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And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent 12 unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high 13 among the people. And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, 14 that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

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CONNECTED HISTORY.-Elijah called Elisha as his successor; the Syrians twice defeated by Ahab, who was reproved for sparing their king; Ahab desires Naboth's vineyard; through the wickedness of Jezebel, Naboth is slain.

ORDER OF EVENTS.-(63.) Elisha chosen. (64.) Syrians defeated twice. (65.) Ahab gets Naboth's vineyard.

TO THE SCHOLAR.-Do not fail to read verses 15 to 29, foretelling the terrible punishment of Ahab and Jezebel for this and other great sins.

NOTES.-Na'-both, owner of ground, and a vineyard near Jezreel, beside Ahab's palace; was a pious man, regarding the law forbidding the sale of an inheritance. Lev. xxv. 23-28.-Jez'-e-bel, wife of Ahab. See p. 19.-Seal. Letters were sealed as now in the East, not signed as with us. Arabs carry a seal fastened within their girdle with great care, or secreted in their personal clothing. Jezebel having the king's seal makes it probable that he knew of her wicked use of it.-Be'-li-al occurs 16 times in the Old Testament; twice translated "wicked," once "ungodly," and 13 times as a proper name; here means "worthless" or wicked persons.

EXPLANATIONS AND QUESTIONS.

Lesson Topics.-(I.) AHAB'S PASSION. (II.) JEZEBEL'S PLOT. (III.) NABOth Murdered.

1. AHAB'S PASSION. (4.) heavy and displeased, "sullen and angry" (Hebrew), 1 Kings xx. 43; Naboth, see Notes; give thee-that is, sell thee, see v. 6; inheritance, the law forbade its sale, Lev. xxv. 23; Num. xxxvi. 7; bed, couch; turned away his face, to avoid conversation. (5.) Jezebel, see Notes. (6.) for money, or silver in bars, not coined.

I. Questions.-Why was Ahab "displeased"? Where was the vineyard? How did Ahab want to use it? v. 2. Why would not Naboth sell it? What was the law as to selling inheritances? Lev. xxv. 23, etc. How did Ahab act in his anger? Who came to inquire the cause of his sadness? How did the king explain it ?

II. JEZEBEL'S PLOT. (7.) Dost thou govern, perhaps spoken in derision, or, "Art thou king, to be thwarted by a subject?" (Speaker's Com.) I will give, the emphasis is on "I." If you as king are weak, I the queen will do this. "Infirm of purpose! give me the daggers." (Shakespeare.) (8.) wrote letters, as if written by Ahab; sealed... his seal, Arab letters are not usually signed as with us, but stamped with a seal, see picture; (9.) a fast, a shocking pretence; set Naboth on high, Heb. "on the top of the people "-that is, as a prisoner in court is usually set up above the people; (10.) sons of Belial, see Notes; blaspheme, the Hebrew word com

monly means "bless," but here used in the opposite sense of "cursing," as now persons may say, "I'll give you a blessing," meaning the opposite; carry him out, outside the city, Acts vii. 58; stone him, Lev. xxiv. 16.

II. Questions.-What was Jezebel's question to the king? v. 7. What did she offer to do? What letters did she write? How sign them? To whom were they sent? With what orders? How was Naboth to be accused? By what kind of witnesses! With what result?

III. NABOTH MURDERED. (11.) as Jezebel had sent, this shows the low moral sense of the people. (13.) stoned him, and from 2 Kings ix. 26 his sons were stoned to death also; (14.) sent to Jezebel, probably a messenger.

III. Questions.-Who carried out Jezebel's wicked orders? Why? Describe the manner of doing it. What shows that it was done publicly? State the accnsation. The sentence. How executed? Where? Upon whom besides Naboth? What re

port was made of it. To whom?

What facts in this lesson teach us-
The danger of covetousness?

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PART OF A TURKISH FIRMAN OR LETTER, WITH
A PHOENICIAN SEAL ATTACHED.-THE SEAL IS
COPIED FROM AN ANCIENT SPECIMEN.-See
Ayre's Bible Treasury.

HYMN, "Cling close to the rock."-Calvary
Songs, p. 90.

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