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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1904-07-29, Page 7Sunday SebooL INTERNATIONALLE93ON NO. V, JULY 31, 1904. Omri and Ahab. -i Kings 16:23 -33. • Comentary.-I.' The reign,, character and death of Omri (vs:23-28). 23. Began Omri-No acount is taken here of the four years he was contesting the king- dom with Tibni. From verse 16 we see that his reign must really. have begun in the 27th. year of Asa's reign, he began to reign alone. Twelve years -This is supposed to include the whole time of his reign four years .with Tibni and eight years alone. There is,.however, a differ- ence of opinion as to the chronology here: In Tirzah-He reigned six years in Tir- aah and six.in-Samaria., 24. The hill Samaria -The .palace of, Tirzah being 'in ruins, Omri,, in selecting the site of his royal residence, was nat- urally influenced by considerations both of pleasure and advantage. In the cen- tre of a wide amphitheatre of mountaias about six miles from Sechem, rises :.n oblong hill with steep, yet accessible sides, and a loneeflat top'extendingeeact and west ,and. rising five. hundred or six hundred feet above the valley. What Omri probably built as a mere palatial residence, became the capital of the king- dom, instead of Sechem. The choice of Omri was admirable in selecting a posi- tion which combined' strength, beauty and fertility. -Stanley. Shemer-The Heb- rew form is Shomer, Two talents -About $3,320: Terry.. This was a large sum for those days. Samaria continued to be the capital of the northern kingdom until Schalmaneser carried away , Israel into Assyrian captivity. 25. Evil .... worse than till -Tie was worse than the wickeed kings who had reigned before him. "He went farther than they had gone in establish;n ini- quity by law, and forcing his subjects to comply with hint in it; for we ,cad in Micah vi. 16, of the `statutes of Onrri' the keeping of which made f sra•el act •. e- lation." -Henry. 26. Made Israel to sin - Note the power of a wicked life: 1.:t is the more dangerous when associated 'with material prosperity •(v. 24). 2. It trans- forms a king into a tyrant (vs. 25, 26). '3. It is the less inexcusable in a man of valor and capacity (v. 27). 4. It entails suffering and woe on succeeding genera- tions. -Barlow, 27. And his might -It appears that he stood well in the army. for it was in the camp that he was elected to the throne, yet in his relation to Jehovah he stood worse than any of his predecessors and was farthest from God. .A man may be skilful and useful to himself and others in all material and worldly things, while in spiritual and divine things he works only mischief and destruction. What without religion is so-called civilization ?-Lange. 28.- Omri slept -Ile died a natural death. it. The reign and character of Ahab (vs. 29-33). 29. Year of Asa -Asa saw six kings of Israel buried. Began Ahab -More particulars are recorded of Ahab than of any of the other kings of Israel. 30. Did evil.... above all -He even ex- ceeded the iniquity of his wicked father. 31. A light thing -He not only broke the second commandment by introduc- ing false gods, but he broke he first also by bringing in heathen deities. Jezebel -One of the worst characters mentioned in the' scriptures. She used every effort to establish idolatry in Samaria and exterminate the worship of God. Pro- phet and people were compelled to hide from the storm of her wrath. Her in- fluence was also powerfully felt in Judah. Ethbaal-Jezebel's royal father was a priest of Baal and murdered his own brother, King Philetos. He was a fit parent of this woman. -Barlow. Zidon- ians-"This term was used among the Hebrews with much latitude. Josephus calks Ethbaal king of the Tyrians and Zidonians. It is probable that both Tyre and Sidon, with the adjacent towns, were often under one govern= merit" Served Baal -The chief reale god among the Phoenicians, as Ashtoreth was -the female divinity. • An unholy al- liance would never be entered into if the soul were not first demoralized. The results show how mixed marriages are dangerous. 32. Reared • altar, etc. -He built a temple and in it erected an altar where sacrifice aright be offered to Baal. "Splendid shrines were built, especially one of vast size in the capital, and the rites and ceremonies of the new cult were exhibited on a grand scale, with sensuous accompaniments of all kinds - music, statutary, procession. of -robed priests, victims, incense, bands of fan- atics worked up to frenzy by religious excitement, and the like. Astarte's em- blems were erected, 'and license was given, under cover of her worship, to the grossest licentious excesses."- Rawlin- son. 33, Made a grove -"The Asherah." R. V. This•was an image to represent the female divinity, of -which Baal was the male. Did move -Ahab actually wor- shipped these heathen deities, and crush- ed out the true religion. We can -be guilty of no greater sin than to reject God and •the salvation he has provided through His Son. See John iii, 19,. 36. PRACTICAL SURVEY. In our review of the rapid decline of Israel to •the culmination in its utter de- struetion we pause at the chapter head- ed "Omri and Ahab" for a glimpse of the rebellious nation. What pictures do these names bring before your eyes -pic- tures of moral degradation, pictures of cruelty, pictures of extreme stupidity! Like' denger' signals Goa •has set the story of 'Wiese two kings, in •.the records to warn others of destruction at the end of the way of Omri end Arian. • From the orthodox Jewish families who had revolted ender Jeroboam has now sprung a generation of idolaters. It may have been "broad-minded" for Ormi to recognize .the : geed in all reli- gions, but it was short --.sighted enough for him to overlook ala the evils of idol. &try and to rear in .his home Su&h a profligate on as ,Ahab. Idolatry marks ,its devotees with cruelty, The house of Jeroboam has been eompletely blotted out; the house of Bavasha was put to death'; Elwh 'was assassiusated; Zberi committed suicide. Both Omri and Ahab' Ahab were cruel to those who stood in the way of their ambitions. Idolatry further degrades the morals of its vic- tims. Selfishness' and the •sensuous in- fluences of Ashtoreth have brought down to moral degradation both these men wha ere chief among God's people.. With what persistent •stupidity dad these two kings pursue their wicked practiees! With utter disregard for the frequent instances of :the execution of G•od's wrath and in the face of His oft- repeated warnings did they cause Is, reel to sin. With' what stupidity did they 'turn from the oracles of God to ask help at ,the shrines of the images_ of calves! How blind is he who sees reward and' punislmient, approbation and. ,revenge in the hands of, a dumb image or in' high-sorinding lalvs of nature, but who has no eyes to see the hand of the Almighty, which Metes out justice and mercy: • Retribution is sure to follow the wick= ed. By promises of a less rigid govern- ment, by the advantages of his position and by his real merit as a general. Jero- boam mighe win the hearts of the peo- ple and be popular for a time, but de- struction cane to every member of his family. God. turned him over for de- struction to those more wicked. ,than himself. Baasha, Elah, Zimri, Omri and Ahab might be sucessfully seated on.the throne, but what list of names could better show the foolishness of attempts to fight against God rind yet escape his punishments ? It: may' be that Omri's•, wisdom could postponefor a time'G. judgments never grow weary in t pursuit' of the -wicked. Omri was wicked but Ahab was m wicked; Omri served idols but. Al served Baal with zeal. "Ahab did ni to provoke -,the Lord of Israel that w before him." Not only lines of lir but famillee go from immortality wickedness 'and from wickedness greater wickedness until divine just is meted. out and the family name is bl ted out. What a lesson should father who is wreckless learn from 0 and his more wicked son ! When t records are made shall they not sure read, "The father was wicked but f son was worse than the father?" Ti story of from bad to worse would be en less, and every father would be a`Iir in the endless chain of despair but f the gospel of Christ, which may brei the chain and start even the most wie ed family on, the upgrade. Let th gospel speedily reach the fathers'ef o land. for our nation is in danger. The worst crime with which the wie ed Ahab is charged is that he marri Jezebel. As a light thing the ldseg God's people has deliberately chosen his wife this idolatrous woman. So: mon's strange wives brought sin wi them, but Jezebel did more to :conn Israel than all -Solomon's court. T charms of Jezebel are still the snare the. young men who have the bright( hopes. -.A saintly mother in Israel on said : "Our young preachers make t worst mistakes in the choice of wiv of any class of men on earth." G deliver our young hien from the sear of 'the modern Jezebel ! Clark W. Shay. A few years ago only three lives stood between Lady Alexandra Duff and the British throne, one of them that of the present King, then Prince of Wales. The young lady has but just celebrated her thirteenth birthday, and is now eighth in the succession list. A prominent Southern lady, Mrs. Blanchard, of Nashville, Tenn., tells how she was cured of backache, dizziness, painful and irregular periods by the use of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. '' Dsen Mn s. Pzxsaaas : - Gratitude 'compels me to acknowledge the great merit of your Vegetable Compound. I have suffered for four years with ir- regular and painful menstruation, also dizziness, pains in the back and lower limbs, and fitful sleep. I dreaded the time to come which would only mean suffering to me. " Better health is all I wanted, and cure if possible. Lydia E. Pink - ham's Vegetable Compound brought me health and happiness in a few short months. ' I feel,like another person now. My aches and pains have left me. Life seems new and sweet to me, and.everything-. seems pleasant'" and easy. " Six bottles brought me health, and was worth more than months under the doctor's care, which really did not benefit me at all. I am satisfied there is no'medicine so good for sick women as your Vegetable Compound, and. I advocate it to my lady friends in neer. of medical help. Mite. B. A. BnA1w cwAnn, 422 Broad St., Nashville, Tenn, -$b000 forfeit If or/glnal of above letter proving oenelnsness spun- ba produps,L INCE LES TAKE' UP Retired U.S';: Colonel Shoots a Lady's Maid and Then Commits Suicide in Paris The'Tariff Commission on the Iron and Steel Trades Gives Reasons for Decline of Trade. While • Efforts are Being Made ; to . Settle Chicago Strike Price of Meat' Goes' Up: London, July 25. --rhe Daily Express announces, that the Prince of Wales, who hitherto has.not.followed in the footsteps of. King Edward, in taking a leading in- terest. in the turf, has definitely deeided to take up racing, but that he will breed all his own horses. The paper says that, a start has already been made with three bred mares. A a aq at ld. elf e - ed ad. es 'as he th he e, e - he 11- sh he r- of h t- in o- r- e x - ie be a ix (B) A protective tariff, lower than the general tariff, for the colonies, giving adequate preference to Britlsh manufacturers and framed to secure freer trade within the British Empire. (C) A maximum tariff, consisting of comparatively higher duties but sub- ject •to reduction by negotiation to the level of the general tariff. The report, which 'is signed'by fifty eight commissioners is very bulky and gives the evidence of British manufac- tures, the evidence given before the Un- ited States Industrial Commission on iron and steel industries, the organiza- tion and working of German Kartells and a vast amount of statistics, etc. Trying to Settle Butchers' Strike. Chicago,Ju1y 25. -It was for packers to say tp-day whether they would hold an- other conference with representatives of organized labor relative to the strike of the butehere' workmen. The request for such a meeting was submitted last night to the owners of the packing plants by the union leaders of uhioago. The em- ployers were told this morning that a reply would be made. • Each party to the struggle was re- quested to participate in a joint .meet- ing of employers and all trades inter- ested.. The butchers promptly answered that they were ready to go into the con- ference. Pending the outcome of this attempt the Wren in the mechanical departments and the teamsters and .stationary fire- men at the packing .rouses trill remain at work.. Assurances that teey would go out in sympathetic strikes as a last resort were renewed to President Don- nelly, of the butchers. Donnelly con - tinned to advise against the extension of the struggle until it seemed necessary. Prices of Meat Up .phieagd, July 25. ',i..e prices of meat on down` town restaurant bills of fare have been raised' 10 percent. or more, as a result of the stock yards strike. The action was . taken at the instance of the Hotelkcepers' Association. • While several restaurants had a supply of meat sufficient for one month, with- out exception, they raised prices. The largest increase'has been made in the price of the expensive cuts, porter- house steak, with mushrooms, quoted at $2.75 on Saturday, now bringing $3.25. The price of desirable cut in loins and ribs has jumped from 15 to 20 cents. A corresponding raise in the price of medi- um grade falls heavily on the boarding- house keepers, and the families. The price of ham and bacon has also advanced. POETRY U1V'AP HECIA'iED. Daniel Collins' Begging IVlkthods' Land Him in Jail. Toronto, July 25. -Daniel Collins was arrested. by P. 0. Hawthorne for vag - rancy. He is a one -legged man, and was endeavoring 'to get money , by beg- ging. In ordder to elicit sympathy he would hand each passer-by a card, on which the following verses appeared : "Look, kind stranger, as I pass by, As you are now so once was I; • As I am now you may sometime be,,. But I hope and pray it shall ,never be. "Never think your gifts are wasted, Bread an waters cast are they, And perhaps you will find them Coming back to "you some day - "Coming .bac.: when sorely needed Ina tune of deep distress; So let your gifts be given freely Gift and giver God will bless." On the other side of the card was printed : "Kindly give what you can. I am trying to raise enough money to buy an artificial limb" In the Police Court yesterday Magis- trate Denison sent Collins down for 60 days. TWO FAMILIES DISRUPTED. Fred. Creed and Mrs. Alexander, of To- ronto Missing a Month. Toronto, July 25. -It is not often that the quietude of Toronto is broken by such an affair as an elopment, but at the present time the east end is discuss- ing the elopement of Fred. 3. Creed and Mrs. Robert G. Alexander. Mr. Creed re- sided at 367 Parliament street, where he conducted a bicycle repair shop, with his wife and 7-year-oicl daughter. Mrs. Alexander lived at 356 Gerrard street east, with her husband and son of 8 years. Both families appeared to be .very happy until about a year ago, when the neighbors noticed that Creed ancl Mrs. Alexander seemed to be very fond of each other. Just one month ago yesterday the cou- ple left their homes and have not been seen since. No one knows where they went, but is well known that they left together. The detectives have been ask- ed to locate the elopers. Mrs. Creed, since her husband has gone, has locked herself in the house, closed the store, and refuse to be com- forted. Mr. Alexander, who is a painter by trade, also feels his condition, and refuses to talk regarding his wife's movements. OLDEST CITY IN THE WORLD. Chicago Expedition Discovers the Ancient Adab. Ohieago, July 25.-Udnunki, the an cleat Adab, perhaps .the oldest city in the :,World, has been discovered • by the University of Chicago's ' excavation ex- pedition in Babylonia. This city has for many years been the object of search by Orientalists. It is mentioned in the code of..Hammtu- rabi, an early King of Babylonia, which document was translated recently by Professor Robert F. Harper, director of the expedition. He has just received news here in a cablegram from Professor F. J. Banks, field director of the expe- dition. The uncovering of ancient Adab is one of the most important arehaeo- logieal !achievements of recent years, Dr. Banks informed Prof. Harper that he had found bricks• bearing the sylla- bles Ud-Nun-Ki at the lowest level of. the ruins. He is certain that these bricks identify the city of Adab. With a force of 120 men he excavated the ruins a•t Bismya and found the remains of four temples, built one above the other, which be named according to the kings who built theta. The dates became ear. Her, until finally the bricks identifying Udnunki were found. Among other ar- ticles are marble statues and 'many bronze objects. Toronto Farniors" 1vl.aarket. Thee' grain market continues vex'y dull, !;here being receipts here of only £00;.bue)iels. Wheat firm, 100 ,. bu,sheis of goose selling at 78e. Oats ,ie higher, with ,sales of 100 bushels at Tay Is firmer, with• sales of 10 loads at $11 to $1/,0.:50 a ton for old, s:nd at .$7. to $i9 iter newj. One load 0'f straw sold) at $10(0. . :om1, • Dressed Logs are unoh:a.nged.141glit quote-. at $7.50 to $7 60 ,Wheat, white, bush., 92e ; wheat, red, Sarah., 92o ; esteat, spring., bush, S7c ; • kvtheat, goose, bush., 78c ; oats, push„ 39 to 39 1-4e; barley, bush., 41 to 42yc; tray, old, pert ton, $11 to 1'12.50; hay, new, per ton, $T to $9 ; htr :,w, $10; dressed hogs, light, ,°.x'7.50 Az $7.60 ; eggs, per dozen{, 20 to 21n; butter, dairy, 161 to 18c ; but- ter, creamery, 18 to 21c ; chickens, spring, : Per , lb., • 19 to. 20c I turkeys; per ib.., 13 to 15c ; potatoes, per bag, 75, !:o 85c; cabbage, per dozen, 503 to . $1; tbeell, h in!dtqu(a iters, $9 to $10.25; ?beef, forequarters, $5 to $6; beef, choice, carcase, $7.50 to $8.25 ; beef, e.zedirim, carcase, $6.75 to $7.50; mutton, Oar G•w!t $7 to $8.25; veal, r!er etwt.,$7.50 to $8.50; lamb, ,springs :11 to 12c. 1 Leading Wheat Markets. July. Sept. Nev York 1011-2 91.1-4 St. L• owls - 8i,.' 1-8 Duluth ... 190:17111 8 T 3-8 Toledo ,. U1 Detroit i g 1-2 92 1-2 Toronto hive Sto, JC. Receipts of live stock at the City 'M!nrket were light, 15 carloads, con - stating of 74 cattle, 600 hogs, 161 sheep and lambs and 22 calves. In the fresh arrivals of to -day; there were a few good cattle, es- ioci.ally 1 load of butchers' and 2 .loads of exporters•, brought in by Idessr•s. Lowe and Nicoll, of Tara. Trade was dull, and although the offerings were light, there were sev- eral lots of inferior stockers, as welt as two loads of good exporters left unsold, All offerings of good butch- ers' cattle were bought up readily. Prices were about the same in all classes of live stock as on T.hursday.! Exporters -Choice, well finished, heavy exporters ars worth $5! to $5.- 25 5: 25 per cwt. Export bulls -Choice export bulls sold at $4 to $4.25; medium at $3.75 to $3.85. Export cows -Prices ranged from $8..50 to $4 per ewe. Dutclears'-1 1oiee picked lots of butchers', equal in quality to best ex- porters, 1,100 to 1,200 lbs. each, sold sold at $4.85 to $5 ; loads; of good at $4.50 to $4.75 ; medium at $4.25 to $4.50: common at $3.50 to $4, rough• and inferior at $2.75 to $3.25 per cwt. • Izeeder,s-Feeders weighing from 950 to 1,050 lbs., of good quality, sold at $4 to $4.25 per. cwt. Stoclner,s--;Chnice yearlings calves sold at $3:.251 to $3.50; poorer grades and off colors scud at $2.7p to $3.- 25, according to quality. 1 Much cows -Milch cows and spring- ers sold at from $23 to' $30'. Sheep --Export eines sold at $3.65 to $3.75; export bucks at $3 to $8. 25 per cwt. Spring 1 ambs-Prices ranged front $3.501 to $4.50 each. Bogs •--Prices for straight loads, fed and watered, were $5.25 per cwt., and $5.50 for lights and fats. Veale -calves -Prices ranged from $2 to $10 each, and $3!•501 to $5.50 per cwt. Bradstreere oaTrade. In Montreal business is showing the ef- feet of the midsummer dullness peculiar to the holiday season. The sorting de- mand has dropped off, and the attention is now mainly directed toward fall trade in which the orders have kept up very well. Values of staple goods are gener- ally well maintained. No changes are re- ported in cottons, and woollexis are firm- er. Remittances are very slow. In Toronto, wholesale trade is moder- ately active for this season, when the de- mand is always more or less quiet and largely confined to the future require- ments of trade. Prices of staple manu- factures are mostly steady. Wool is firm. Three cars of Canada combing and fleece were this week shipped to the United States. At nuebee, general trade during the week has been quiet. The rain during. the early part, which was badly needed, has been of considerable benefit to pas- turage. Few tourists have arrived, and as a result city trade is not as active as in past seasons. At Victoria -Vancouver there is some noticeable improvement in wholesale trade. The demand for fall goods, as reported by Bradstreet's, is better in some departments. The northern trade is quiet. In Winnipeg, wholesale trade has dis- played further expansion the past week. There is a cheerful feeling in wholesale trade circles over the excellent prospects fen;the £all business. he orders for staple -goods for the fall and whiter are coming forward in fair volume at Hamilton, and a cheerful feeI- ing prevails in wholesale trade circles over the future outlook for trade. The sorting trade, in common with other centres, is much smaller, and more atten- tion is being paid to the future by re- tailers. In London, as reported to Bradstreet's, there is a moderately good demand for this time of the year. Travellers' orders for fall goods are .fair, There' has been a little too much rain for the crops, but otherwise conditions are good. Ottawa wholesale merchants report a good inquiry from the trade for the fall, and the belief is that once the crops in the west are assured from danger, there will be renewed activity in buying. Val* ties of staple goods continue steady.