15 Hate the evil, and love the good,—and establish judgment in the

gate:

It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious-unto the remnant of Joseph.

CONNECTED HISTORY.-Amos prophesied while Uzziah was king of Judah, and Jeroboam II. king of Israel-i. e., within the twentysix years between 810 and 784 B. C., when these two kings ruled contemporaneously.

NOTES.-A'-mos, see p. 5.-Beth'-el, see Notes on Lesson II., p. 16.-Gil'-gal. Keil refers this to the Gilgal in the mountains 8 miles north-west of Bethel; others to the one in the Jordan valley near Jericho where the Israelites encamped (Josh. iv. 19; ix. 6); Samuel judged (1 Sam. vii. 16); Saul was made king (xi. 15). See Hosea iv. 15; ix. 15; xii. 11; Amos iv. 4; v.5. Be'-er-She'-ba (well of the oath, or of seven), a place marking the extreme southern limit of the Holy Land (2 Sam. iii. 10); the home of Abraham and Isaac (Gen. xxi. 31-34; xxvi. 23-33); 25 miles south-west of Hebron; extensive ruins aro still found there; 3 wells remain, and there are traces of 7 others.-O-ri'-m, a hunter of the old Greek mythology, whose name was given to a group of stars south of Taurus and Gemini. See Job ix, 9; xxxviii. 31.

EXPLANATIONS AND QUESTIONS.

Lesson Topics.-(I.) THE LAMENTATION OVER ISRAEL. (II.) THE CALL TO REPENTANCE. (III.) THE REBUKE OF ISRAEL'S SINS.

I. THE LAMENTATION OVER ISRAEL. (1.) which I take up, "as a heavy weight to cast down upon you (Pusey); lamentation, a dirge, or song of mourning, see 2 Sam. i. 17; Ezek. xix. 1; xxvii. 2; xxxii. 2; house of Israel, the ten tribes. (2.) virgin of Israel, tenderly guarded by God (Jer. ii. 2), and never yet entirely subdued by a foreign prince; (3.) went . . . a thousand, sent out a thousand warriors; leave a hundred, ninetenths should be destroyed. See Deut. xxviii. 62.

I. Questions.-What prophet are we now studying? State his birthplace and time of prophesying. Give the title of the lesson. The meaning of "lamentation"? Mention Scripture examples of the use of the word. For whom did the prophet mourn? Why? What misfortunes would come upon Israel?

II. THE CALL TO REPENTANCE. (5.) Bethel... Gilgal, Beer-Sheba, seek not those seats of idol-worship, see Notes; Bethel, "the house of God;" shall come to naught, "become a house of nothingness." (6.) like fire, see Deut. iv. 24; Isa. x. 17; Lam. if. 3; Heb. xii. 29; house of Joseph, Ephraim, the father of the most powerful tribe, was Joseph's son. (7.) judgment, justice; wormwood, a bitter plant, to denote bitter wrong. See v. 12 aud compare Deut. xxix. 18. (8.) seven stars, the Pleiades; Orion, see Notes; poureth them out, as in the deluge, inundations, and rain; (9.) fortress, Samaria, the capital city, which was very strongly fortified.

II. Questions.-State God's call to the house of Israel. Whom were they to seek? What not to seek? What was promised if they sought the Lord? What threatened if they sought idols? How did they pervert justice? The force of "turning it to wormwood"? Mention four things which show God's sovereign power. v. 8. What was his name? How would he manifest his righteous judgments? v. 9.

...

III. THE REBUKE OF ISRAEL'S SINS. (10.) him that rebuketh, the reprover, whoever rebukes injustice, Ps. Ixix. 12; in the gate, where the courts were held; him uprightly, just judges, prophets, etc. (11.) burdens of wheat, exacted before justice would be done; hewn stone, making splendid buildings; the ordinary buildings were of sun-dried bricks. Isa. ix. 10. (12.) a bribe, compare 1 Sam. xii. 3. (13.) shall keep silence, Prov. ix. 7; Matt. vii. 6. (14.) as ye have spoken, boasted that you were God's special favorites, Micah iii. 11; compare John viii. 34. (15.) judgment in the gate, justice in the court, and in the place of business; remnant of Joseph, that a few may remain after the great chastisement. Compare Joel iii. 5; Isa. vi. 13; x. 21-23; Rom. xi. 4. 5.

Whom abhor? Why?

III. Questions.-Whom did they hate? What state of affairs did this indicate? How did they treat the poor? What build for themselves? Why should they not be permitted to enjoy them? State the special sins indicated in v. 12. How would the prudent act? By what means were they exhorted to seek God's favour? What hope was held out to them? Show that God's character warranted such a hope. Joel ii. 13; Ex. xxxiv. 6; Ps. cxxx. 4. Through whom may forgiveness be obtained by us? Acts v. 31; xiii. 38; xxvi. 18 Eph. i. 7; Col. i. 14.

What facts in this lesson teach us

(1.) How sorry we should feel for the wicked?

(2.) How hateful to God is every form of injustice?

3.) How certain and terrible will be the doom of the impenitent?

HYMN, "Show pity, Lord; O Lord, forgive."-Calvary Songs, p. 65.

JUNE 10.]

LESSON XXIII.

THE PROMISE OF REVIVAL.-Hosea xiv. 1-9. [About 725 B. C.

RECITE VS. 1-7.

10 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God;-for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.

Take with you words, and turn to the Lord:

2 Say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously :

So will we render the calves of our lips.

3 Asshur shall not save us ;-we will not ride upon horses:

Neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods:

For in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

4 I will heal their backsliding,—I will love them freely :

For mine anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be as the dew unto Israel:

He shall grow as the lily,—and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.

6 His branches shall spread,

And his beauty shall be as the olive tree,—and his smell as Lebanon.

7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; They shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine:

The scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. 8 Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him:

9

I am like a green fir tree.-From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise-and he shall understand these things?
Prudent-and he shall know them?

For the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them:

But the transgressors shall fall therein.

CONNECTED HISTORY.-II osea entered upon his prophetic office toward the close of the reign of Jeroboam II., and prophesied during the reigns of four kings of Judah, viz.: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahuz, and Hezekiah. His ministry probably extended over a period of about 70 years, 795-725 B. C. He must have been contemporary with Isaiah, Amos, and Micah, and probably with Joel and Jouah.

[The text of this lesson and of Lesson XXII. is "Hebrew parallelIsnis," or poetry. This form has been retained in giving the English version.]

TO THE SCHOLAR.-Notice that the call to repentance and confession, and the promise of God's blessing upon that condition, applies to all of us as truly as it did to Israel.

NOTES.-Ho-se'-a (deliverance, salvation), see Connected History and p. 5 of this HAND-BOOK.-As'-shur, one of the sons of Shem (Gen. x. 22), whose descendants peopled Assyria; hence Asshur signifies the Assyrians. Num. xxiv. 22, 24.—Lil'-y, a fragrant white flower upon a stalk 3 feet high, very common in Palestine, nd Pliny says "often producing 50 bulbs from a single root;" Tristram would identify it with the scarlet anemone, "the most gorgeously painted, the most conspicuous in spring, and the most universally spread of all the floral treasures of the Holy Land."-Leb'-a-non (white), a celebrated mountain range in the North of Palestine, consisting of two parallel ridges running north-west and south-east for 100 miles; the western called Lebanon, the eastern Anti- (opposite) Lebanon; between them is a valley 6 to 8 miles wide. Among the Scripture allusions to the features of Lebanon are its trees (Isa. lx. 13); streams (Jer. xviii. 14); herds (Isa. xl. 16); fragrance (Sol. Song iv. 11; Hos. xiv. 6); wine (Hos. xiv. 7).—Ol'-ive tree, a tree very abundant in the Holy Land; the size of an apple tree; very fruitful; of an evergreen freshness; "an emblem of peace and plenty, food and gladness."-E-phra-im, the tribe sprung from Joseph's second son (Gen. xli. 5052); a large, powerful tribe, containing the capital city, and so the representative of the whole kingdom of Israel.

EXPLANATIONS AND QUESTIONS.

Lesson Topics.-(I.) A CALL TO REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION. (II.) A PROMISE OF GOD'S BLESSING.

I. A CALL TO REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION. (1.) unto the Lord, literally, “even up to Jehovah," comp. Rom. xi. 2; fallen by thine iniquity, Hosea v. 3; xifi. 9. (2.) words, of repentance and confession, not outward sacrifices, see Ps. li. 16, 17; 1xix. 30, 31; receive....... graciously, receive the good, or what is acceptable; calves of our lips, literally, "we will render as bullocks our lips"-i. e., present the prayers of our lips, instead of bullocks, as offerings. (3.) Asshur, alliance with Assyria; ride upon horses, rely upon horsemen, either their own (Hos. i. 7; Isa. ii. 7) or those of Egypt, with which alliance was forbidden. Deut. xvii. 16; Isa. xxxi. 1; ye . . . our gods, Isa. xlii. 17; xliv. 17. I. Questions. From what prophetic book is this lesson taken? State what you know about Hosea. When did he live? In the reign of what kings prophesy? What does the prophet call upon Israel to do? v. 1. Why? What sacrifices to bring? What confession to make? State the meaning of the pledge in the last part of v. 2. What three sins do they disown in v. 8? The meaning of "Asshur"? Of "ride upon horses"?

How did they disclaim idolatry? Why did they hope to find mercy in God?

II. A PROMISE OF GOD'S BLESSING. (4.) heal their backsliding, cure their departure from God and the worship of Baal (see picture); freely, comp. Rom. v. 8; 1 John iv. 10. (5.) the dew, in Palestine is very heavy, and supplies the want of rain; lily, see Notes; roots as Lebanon, either the forests, or the deeply-rooted mountains themselves, comp. Micah vi. 2. (6.) olive tree, which constantly retains its verdure, Ps. lii. 8; Jer. xi. 16, see Notes; smell as Lebanon, fragrant with odoriferous trees and flowers, Sol. Song Iv. 11. (7.) wine of Lebanon, celebrated in the East for its aroma and flavour. (8.) I, Jehovah; have heard him, Ephraim (idols do not see nor hear, Ps. cxv. 4-9); green fir tree, green all the year round; from me, Jehovah; is thy fruit found, both spiritual and temporal, Ps. i. 3; John xv. 4. (9.) wise, having spiritual insight, Ps. cvii. 43; ways of the Lord, his laws and the course of his providence, Ps. xviii. 30; cxlv. 17; shall fall therein, stumble at them to their final ruin, comp. 1 Pet. ii. 7, 8; 1 Cor. i. 18.

II. Questions.-Who promises a blessing to the penitent? What will he heal? How love them? State the three things promised in v. 5. Show the force of the figure of the "dew" and the "lily." The three things in v. 6. Describe the olive tree. Describe Lebanon. Show the meaning of the "roots,' "smell," and "wine" of Lebanon. How would the idols be treated? From whom would Ephraim's fruit be derived? How may we bear fruit? What are some of the fruits of the

Christian life? Who should understand God's ways? Who walk in them? Who fall? Why? How many of this class will meet the fate of transgressors?

What does this lesson teach us-

(1.) As to the kind of repentance and confession which will please God?

(2.) As to the blessing which God will I give to those who do repent and confess?

HYMN, "I hear thy welcome voice, That calls me, Lord,

FIRE-TEMPLE AT BAKOO, PROBABLY SIMILAR TO to thee."-Caly Songs,