The National tribune., 1891-01-29


Nahoth.
elijah Lett Mount Horeb and went 70 Absl-
mcGOiah. u h., -: 10. 49, This l. not tar
from ths Jordan, the west side, about 80
miles south OF BetEshaa. Ito iouGd Elisha
owing. E.liah east Ais mantle GA tic farmer.
PROBABLY explanations were made. More WIS
understood ~ the act OF Elijah than zoe might
inier The mantle pointed 10 the prophetic
oiice. Elisha at once knew he was called 20
the work Of being religious teacher. Bidding
gyUd-hy 10 his family aud nCiguJgTs, tie fol-
lowed Elijah The goth chapter gives an ac-
count OF tie two battles between Ahab aud
Eon-haiad, King Of Syria.
The present lesson deals with cOvetOu,uCss,
murder, rotrbuiiDa. The tenth Command
meut having been broken, it was easier to vio-
late the sixth 10y murder, and bring 1t about
~ breaking the ninth by introducing Ease
witnesses. The sin OF eOyetOu,ue-, deyeiopes
into criminal sin and leads to the fertilization Of
SIN. a bold, yontuTesOIue wicked woman leads
Ahao away from repentance, vision, mono
taeI,M.
I. AHAEs EFFORT TO Buy NAEoTu's yIsE-
YAED
l. Data.
Xxi, 2I:I-3.
o Tine.
We date 3. c. SO, or A. ". 3IC5. This was
seven years after the flight Of Elijah frolI
JczTeei 10 uoreJ.
3. Place.
NEbOth's home was al Jezrcel. The Douay
Bible has JezFahei. The place is also called
Term. Though samaria was the Capital, Ahab
had az JeZreel a magnificent ivory palace. Il
was built on the western slope OF Mt. GiIb0a,
and commanded a nOTthward view Of the de-
lightful valley OF EsdraelOn Jezreel was p
miles north OF Samaria. Ahab was anxious 10
extend the royal grounds. Eaboth's vineyard
was " hard by the palace" The King was de-
sirOus Of having park. Large buildings look
more imposing if located in the midst OF extern
Sive grounds Ro0miucss is also hcaIIhful.
The Jezrccl Palace was specially for the sum
mer, when aiTiuCss from free range Of Zeghyr5
would be specially delightful. IL was usual in
all Kingdoms for palaces % DC surrounded by
many acres Of land, with trees, streams, foun-
taIus, small summer-hOuses, drives etc. Israel
itish people were very anxious to be like the
other Nations IN having King, and then the
Kings were eager TO be like other Kings.
When Gods people were determined 10 have a
King, Samuel was instructed 10 warn them
what to expect. (Sce ! Sam, 8, 1O-15; spe-
cially notice IN connection with this lesson
verse H.
4. NrJoih.
Naboth is not familiar character. We have
not met him before in the Bible. We know lie
was a martyr 10 Ahab's cOyet0usness. We find
mum Mn ~ To- tiAL LAtlC ftJDJ i-tlt4-
ties who had never recognized BaaI. Naboth
WAS probably one Of those. lie had a vineyard.
which. having been located 50 near the royal
buildings must have been quite valuable. We
see from XII, l. 2i, that he had sons. lie
was a conscientious man. lie could not be
moved from any settled conviction. lie was
not plant, even when forces so strong danger
Gus, cruel as those Of Abab and Jezcbcl were
brought 10 bear against him.
= TCtgfb'Q prfgg.tJ IN CsJ
Let Us see the real point. We shall find
NabOth was not stubborn, nor disloyal TO his
Government, nor disrespcctful 70 his ruler
The hing wanted 10 enlarge the grounds OF
bis palace, and was anxious TO secure NabOth's
vineyard. tlsa o. S. Ahab offered either to
gIye NabOth another vineyard or TO pay fair
price for the one NabOth owned. Both prUpo-
sitions we're declined. Ahabs otter was proper.
providing he would DO true 20 the priuci pies
which, according TO Jewish law, governed in
the buying and selling OF real estate. Property
was valued IN proportion 10 the years to inter
yene between purchase and the Jubilee year
which was every jGth year. (Lev., p: S-13J
No titles could 20 beyond said year. All prop
eTty must then revert TO the original owners
or their heirs, and the date of their reinyest-
ment was indeed a jubilee to them. Read
Lev, %: l4-I7. 23-2s; M, 27:7. &c. and
Eze., 10; Isl habOth thought Ahab would not
respect the Mosaic law, and 50 believed he would
offend God by parting with his vineyard 10 a
man practically heather. So NabOth answer
ed Ahab thus: THE Lord forbid it me, that
should give part with SELL the inheritance Of
my fathers unto thee" The Lord did forbid
such a transaction by the Mosaic law. Naboth
meant, May the Lord prevent [sayel me from
violating his law as TO selling real estate, and
50 keep me from offending God"
The Douay Bible puts 10 thus: "The Lord DO
merciful to me, and not let me give thee the
inheritance of my fathers" Naboth wanted
preventing grace. Some nations have sought
by law to force subjects TO keep their estates
intact. The Locrian pOlity forbade the selling
Of real estate save in eases Of notorious msfOr-
tune, and the LeucadiaHs would not allow an
Gent patrimonies TO change owners save by
pTimOgeniture.
G. Critical Notes
1. "These things" (V IL The reference is
special TO Ahab's battles with Ben-hadad.
2. Vineyard" (Y. H. 1t was ground de-
voted 10 the growth of grapes, and that without
any reference to the uses to which they were to
be put. Ia Palestine wine was much in use
and almost every vineyard had press The
King did not want the land for the production
OF grapes, but rather probably for recreatiye
purposes.
B. lizard by" (VI.) Close by.
4. Give" W. The verse shows Ahab
did not want the land gratuitously. "Giye
means exchange or sell.
8. Garden of herbs" ". ~ Many com
mentators hold that Ahab wanted the land for
raising garden truck Some understand herbs
in the sense Of grass. This would be more likely
than vegetables. Lawns are desirable and beau
tiful. Bishop Patrick intimates "a flower
garden"
4. Money" va 1t would be of gold
or silver, aud paid by weight. There was then
no coin.
Z. Inheritance of my fathers va
Property was held peculiarly by the Jews 1t
could never be absolutely permanently sold.
If those who inherited it were reduced to
necessity of parting with it, they could do so
subject to two cOuditions first, they could
redeem it any time; secondly, it must revert