The National tribune., 1891-02-05

The Douay, in V. I3. says: "They made them
sit against him" How like the case Of 81.
Stephen is that Of Naboth Acts, 6 IL
The orders Of Jezebel were obeyed- Nsboth
was arrested and - set on high" / G.. was put
into the prisoners box, which in court is
quite conspicuous. The witnesses appeared.
There was no cross examination. COnvic-
ton was fOrcgOne Guilty" was the finding
At once he was led out from the city LEV,
%: %; JOS. 1924; Mt, %: -, 80; Acts, Z s.;
Heb. Is l2) and stoned TO death. OIev.
81 10; Acts, 1857 Word was sent to the
Queen that her orders were executed. She
tells Ahab, and ne goes to Jezreel 10 take pos
session lt is clear from the 10th verse that the
King and Queen. during the fast and trial were
at SamRriA. From XII, o. 20 we find not
only Naboth but all his heirs were slain, (as in
Aehau's case; JOS. :: "a, and hence Ahab was
sure Of no trouble in the jubilee year All
heirs deceased. the property would revert Cor
eseheat to the Government. In tho ease Of
crime which affects the blood, and which,
hence may be inherited by offspring Govern
ments at times have demanded the e0nfiscstiOH
of the property of the Euilty party. even
though the children suffered in no way save
by losing rights Of inheritance to the paternal
estate. Lands in such instances eoniscated TO
the crown. (Cf. the case of MephibOseth 2
Sa, 9:7.l In our land, having no jubilee
year, and with no settled principle Of sue
cessive Inheritance a. To nOmesteads it is an
easy matter to secure private property for pub
lie purposes. IL trouble arise as TO conditions
OF transier-e. e., rs to priee-appraisers are
appointed and the owner obliged 70 give
title. IL is a principle Of common law that
the public good must take precedence of pri-
waite convenience. 1t does not appear that
Ahab needed Naboth's estate for the public
good. lie was governed by a selfish, mean
whim, and we cannot suppose Ahab ignorant
Of the strategy Of Jezebel. See the contrast:
Ahab spares Benhadad 20: 81, AZ and Stays
NabOth-lets q conquered Syrian (heathen)
enemy 90 unharmed and kills true IsTaelite-
and Ohends God in both acts. II Ahab were
aware of the plot, il IS curious Jezcbel should
write letters IN his name and use his seal but
we remember the state Of mind in which we
find the King. and also the executive fury Of
Jezebel. IL is quite probable Ahab knew all
the particulars. If so, JeZebel used the name
aud seal Of the King without being guilty Of
forgery. Practically. she did the work as the
Secretary Of Ahab. We cannot. however, imag-
inc Jezebel would pause at the commission Of
forgery. Further. Ahab had learned TO consent
20 any proposition Of Jezebel. Doubtless there
was no general understanding Of JezrbeI's
plans. She probably had one or more trusted
ministers, TO whom alone she made known the
plot. The masses supposed NabOth guilty
though IL must have taken Jezreel by surprise
to learn Naboth was so wicked as 10 curse God
and the King.
3. Lessons
/. Look out for the beginnings Of sin. Evil
developes Notice the steps in the case Of Jeze-
bel-covetousness. forgery, lying. murder. theft
Specially look out and not infringe on the 10th
commandment. Though the last, its violation
may lead 10 the breaking Of every other
Thou shalt not covet"
2. Never be guilty Of blaspherny Keep the
third nd auF TaEiuor -,
vain must be n grievOus sin in His sight, or
lie would not attach 10 it so great penalty as
the being stoned to death. Had Naboth been
guilty, his execution would have been legal
and, judged by the Mosaic law, just
:. DO not practice hypocrisy. The ease OF
JcZebel shows how one can invest himself in
the cloak Of religion for evil purposes. She
was conversant with the Mosaic law. She
would have the people in sympathy with Va
both's death. lie must have a fair trial. 1t
must be shown lac was guilty according 20 that
law. Everything was proceeded with regu-
larly. Witnesses swOre-the law was quoted
the penalty was described in the words of
Moses. lie must be put to death outside the
city. and il must be done by stonIng Is there
anything more diabOlical? Remember. Jezebel
was Baalite, and hated everything Mosaic
and Jewish. She knew Naboth was a true
Jew. and she planned so that be should be put
10 death by his own law
4. Do not speak irTeverently Of rulers. Saws
the Mosaic law, Thou shalt not revile the
gods meaning the judges, magistrates, etc
nor curse the ruler of thy people, TX. %:
2S.) One charge made against st. Stephen was
that he spoke words deTOgatOry OF Moses
tAetS, 6: H. st. Peter. writing Of certain IN
righteous persons states az proof L" PresumD-
tuous are they, selfwilled they are not afraid
To speak evil of diguites." e Pet. .: 10. CT
Jude, 81 Had 1t been shown, truthfuIly, Ma
both was guilty of disrespeet to his King. pun
i5hment would have been deserved. The re-
fusa TO sell his vineyard to Ahab, contrary
10 Gods law. was a right and duty of Naboth.
True, it msddened the King aud made him
sad but no subject Of a ruler is obliged to
yield to the whms Of the King-to his un-
reasonable demands. and certainly no subject
can disobey God to please any diguitary Bat
we should in society cultivate exalted ideas Of
our rulers and then match our ideas by our
ballots, thus securing rulers worthy Of respect.
Being electors. We are responsible as to whom
we shall have for governors. and this fact
should modify our criticisms aud ceusures
Ii does not become men to find fault with
their own work.
.. Never condemn persons without evidence.
The Mosaic law was very guarded in this re-
spect. Acts, 25:l shows the Roman law de-
manded clear proof of guilt before punish
ment.
&. The court should DO fair, never winking
81 false evidence. What a corrupt court that
must have been before whom Naboth was
tried IL was at the command OF an audacious
cruel woman. IL is we'll, too, that Judges hold
their tenure of Office independent Of the ex-
ecutive power, so that not even the highest
official Of the nation can escape its decisions
and so that the court itself need not be intimi-
dated by any threatened harm.
Z. IL you be witnesses. tell the truth the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
". AHAB IN POSSESSION or NABoTH's VINE
YARD.
]. Data
i XII, 81: 14-I6.
Q. The Facts
JeZebel's plans succeeded. NabOth was slain.
We learn from 2 XII, Q 26. that the whole
family was extinguished. The object was to
eScheat the estate. Ahab is not agitated by
the means adopted TO secure for him the adj
ditinn to his palace grounds. The way being
clear he takes possession with rs much non
ehalance as though he had a title by purchase.
3. The Sequel
One should read the verses succeeding, verse
II 10 20 The following lines are a summary /:
Who steals into thy vineyard Of delight
o king, with stealthy tread? Thy grapes are rare
4 " aT. f NN q