PERSONS, Naaman; the little maid; the king of Syria; the king of Israel; Elisha.-PLACES, etc., Damascus, Samaria, the Jordan, Abana, Pharpar. Lesson HEALED. CURED. EXPLANATIONS AND QUESTIONS. Topics.-(I.) NAAMAN SEEKING TO BE (II.) ELISHA'S DIRECTION. (III.) NAAMAN ... I. NAAMAN SEEKING TO BE HEALED. (1.) captain of the host, commander-in-chief of the army; honourable, honoured, held in favour by the king; Lord deliverance, see Notes; leper, see Notes. (2.) by companies, in marauding bands. (3.) in Samaria, where Elisha had a house, 2 Kings vi. 24, 32. (4.) one-i. e., he, Naaman. (5.) king of Syria, probably Benhadad; talents, pieces, see Notes, and picture, p. 5; raiment, often bestowed as gifts, see Gen. xlv. 22; Esther vi. 8; Dan. v. 7. (6.) king of Israel, probably Jehoram, son of Ahab. (7.) me to recover, leprosy was incurable. Num. xi. 12. I. Questions.-Name the persons and places mentioned in this lesson. What was Naaman's rank? Why was he honoured? With what disease was he afflicted? Tell what you know about leprosy. What captive had the Syrians taken? Whose servant did she become? State her words to her mistress. To whom did she refer? To whom were her words reported? By whom? From whom did Naaman take a letter? To whom? What presents did he take? Their value? State the purport of the letter. Describe the conduct of the king of Israel. Give his words. II. ELISHA'S DIRECTION. (9.) horses, his whole retinue of attendants. (10.) sent a messenger, Naaman needed to be taught humility; wash, bathe; seven times, the Hebrew number for completeness, comp. 1 Kings xviii. 43; Josh. vi. 4. (11.) strike... hand, move it to and fro. (12.) Abana and Pharpar, see Notes. II. Questions.-Who heard of the king's conduct? What message did he send? Describe how Naaman came to Elisha, What was Elisha's message? How did Naaman receive it? What had he expected? What rivers did he prefer? How did he go away? III. NAAMAN CURED. (13.) great thing, difficult thing. (14.) went down, from Samaria to Jordan there is a rapid descent; the distance is about 30 miles; (14.) flesh came again, became sound. III. Questions.-Who expostulated with Naaman? What argument did they use? With what effect? Describe the result. What did Christ say of this healing? Luke iv. 27. Men SCHOLAR'S HAND-BOOK. 55 18 tion the cures of leprosy wrought by Christ. See Notes. Of what is leprosy a type? Who can heal the leprosy of sin? What does this lesson teach us (1.) Of the troubles which may come to great men? (3.) Of the natural pride of the human heart? (4.) Of God's cure for sin? HYMN, "There is a fountain filled with blood." APRIL 22.] 20 LESSON XVI. GEHAZI THE LEPER.—2 Kings v. 20-27. [About 894 B. C. RECITE VS. 25-27. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but, as the LORD 21 liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him. | So 1 Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him running after him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet 22 him, and said, Is all well? | And he said, All is well. My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from Mount Ephrain two young men of the sons of the prophets: give them, I pray thee, a talent of silver, and two changes 23 of garments. | And Naaman said, Be content, take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon two of his 24 servants; and they bare them before him. And when he came to the tower, he took them from their hand, and bestowed them 25 in the house: and he let the men go, and they departed. | But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no 26 whither. | And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and 27 menservants, and maidservants? | The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow. GOLDEN TEXT.-He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house. -Prov. xv. 27. CENTRAL TRUTH.-Deceit brings destruction. DAILY READINGS. P. Num. xii. 1-14. Sat. 2 Chron. xxvi. 16-21. S. 2 Kings v. 20-27. CONNECTED HISTORY.-Naaman returned from the Jordan, where he had been healed; acknowledged that Jehovah was the true God; urged Elisha to take a present, which the prophet refused; Naaman started for Damascus. ORDER OF EVENTS.-(82.) Naaman's return to Elisha. (83.) His departure for home. (84.) Gehazi's sin. TO THE SCHOLAR.-Notice how one sin leads to another until punishment finally comes. Gehazi coveted that which did not belong to him; he lied to Naaman to obtain it; then lied to Elisha to conceal his sin; was found out and terribly punished. Always dare to be true. NOTES.-Mount E-phra-im. Gilgal and Bethel, at each of which was "a school of the prophets," or a theological seminary, were both situated on the great central range of hills extending north and south through the territory of Ephraim and called Mt. Ephraim.-Tow'-er, more properly "the hill," the then well-known hill before Elisha's house, which probably cut off the view in the direction taken by Gehazi.-Olive yards, olive orchards where the wild olives were set out in rows and grafted. An acre of olive trees sometimes yields a crop worth a hundred dollars. EXPLANATIONS AND QUESTIONS. Lesson Topics.-(I.) GEHAZI'S COVETOUSNESS. (II.) HIS DECEIT. (III.) His PUNISHMENT. I. GEHAZI'S COVETOUSNESS. (20.) said, to himself; this Syrian, this foreigner and enemy of Israel; as the Lord liveth, here a profane oath. Compare v. 16. (21.) lighted down, an Eastern method of showing respect. See Gen. xxiv. 64. I. Questions.-How far had Naaman gone on his journey? What did Gehazi say to himself? What did he make up his mind to do? What oath did he use? What two commandments did he break by his covetousness and by his profanity? Repeat them. What does the Bible say of the love of money? 1 Tim. vi. 9, 10. What good rule does it give us? Heb. xiii. 5. II. HIS DECEIT. (22.) Mount Ephraim, see Notes; sons of the prophets, see Lesson IX.; a talent, from $1500 to $2000. (23.) Be content, be pleased to take; two talents, one for each of the young men; urged him, pressed them upon him; upon... his servants, two talents of silver would weigh about 200 pounds.__(24.) tower, see Notes. (25.) stood before his master, Eastern servants stay with their masters except when sent on errands. (26.) Went not mine heart, was I not there in spirit? compare 1 Cor. v. 3; Is it a time to receive, when Jehovah will be dishonoured by it. Olive yards, etc., probably Gehazi was planning to buy these. II. Questions.-Describe Naaman's conduct when he saw Ge hazi. His question? Gehazi's reply? Who did he say had come to Elisha? What did he represent Elisha as asking for them? State the value of a talent. Would this have been a large gift for Naaman to bestow? For the young men to In what way receive? How much did Naaman offer him? 'did he send it? Where did Gehazi dismiss them? How did he dispose of the money and garments? State Elisha's first question. Gehazi's answer. How had the prophet known of his servant's conduct? What was it not a time to receive? Why? Repeat the commandment which forbids lying. III. HIS PUNISHMENT. (27.) leprosy of Naaman, you have got his money, you shall have with it his disease; thy seed, all thy descendants; white as snow, the skin of the leper is of a chalk or snow-white colour. Ex. iv. 6; Num. xii, 10. III. Questions.-What disease should come upon Gehazi? Upon whom else? For how long? Was the punishment inflicted upon Gehazi immediately? In what form? State some of the other sins of Gehazi. How many commandments did he violate? Which? How are children tempted to covetousness? To profanity? To lying? Mention another awful example of punishment for lying. Acts v. 10. When will secret sins surely be exposed? Eccl. xii. 14. What will be the fate of liars? Rev. xxi. 8. What facts in this lesson teach us (1.) That being associated with the good does not ensure goodness? (2.) That covetousness leads to other sins and brings reproach upon religion? (3.) That secret sins will be found out? (4.) That the punishment of sin is certain and terrible? HYMN, "Show pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive."—Calvary Songs, p. 65. WEIGHING "PIECES" OF GOLD. [From Wilkinson's Ancient Egypt.] APRIL 29.] 8 LESSON XVII. ELISHA AT DOTHAN.—2 Kings vi. 8-18. [About 893 B. C. RECITE VS. 15-17. Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took connsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be 9 my camp. And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the 10 Syrians are come down. And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will 12 ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel? | And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words 13 that thou speakest in thy bedchamber. And he said, Go aud spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. | 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city, both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! 16 how shall we do? | And he answered, Fear not : for they that be with us are more than they that 17 be with them. | And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man ; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was fulí of horses and chariots of fire round about Eli18 sha. And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the LORD, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. CONNECTED HISTORY.-Elisha went with the sons of the prophets to the Jordan; caused the lost axe-head to swim, so that it was recovered. ORDER OF EVENTS.—(85.) Elisha causes the iron to swim. (86.) Elisha at Dothan. |