The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-30
THE SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON
July 81, 1851 Kings xxi, 4-16.

The incident of Naboth's vineyard is one of the
most striking in the whole range of literature.
In the inky background of this foul plot, the
characters of Ahab and Jezebel, Naboth and
Eiijah stand in clear-cut outline. 1t is a study
in ethics and psychology. But the incident has a
larger religious and political significance. He
who looks upon it as merely personal affair
misses the mark. There is larger reason for
its introduction these sacred annals First, 1t
illustrates in most vivid manner, and proves
conclusively, the utter and deSplcable moral
worthlessness of the dynasty then in power. Ahab
asked Naboth to do something which he knew
to be contrary to the law. Instead of honoring
him for his conscientious REFUSAL he killed him.
Not. however. openly. but in the ambush of an
hypocritical conspiracy He broke the Decalogue.
diminishes the turpitude of his crime that he
did it by proxy He turned the affair over to his
INSCRIPTIONS wife, perfectly satisfied that her
devish cunning would compass the desired end.
He made immodest haste to avail himself of the
the period to his personal probation and that of
his dynasty For last time. and on the very
Elijah, appears to speak his doom and that of his
house.
type and fruit of the silent and steady reforma-
ton voice of stilnessl now in progress Those
quest upon personal grounds-viz attachment
to his ancestral estate-miss the mark Naboth' s
the law of God as given by Moses, to ALLEVIATE
for any consideration the property originally
which God himself determined 1t did not mat
ter to Naboth that this law was So generally
for his regarding it, His course would be ex-
emplary and corrective. He was perfectly aware
such king Ahab. But his first allegiance
to tb the King Of he % He w g Hbey G9
hasten the reformation, which he desires above
uine instance of martyrdom than that of Naboth.
MOSAIC FROM COMMENTARIES.
And: This incident narrated. because it was
the immediate cause of the fall of the house of
Ahad, and the great revolution which followed.
Todd.
Ahad displeased: He ought rather to have re-
his country and loved his little patrmony.-Gray
Naboth: One of the noble company of martyrs.
Would eat no bread: Unworthy of king I'm
worth, of a man..Macduff;
Jezebe: Nothing but mischief is to be expected
when Jezebel enters into the story;-Ibid.
Dost thou govern If he hath authority to re-
fuse and thou have no power to take. he is the
greater of the two-Clarke.
Proclaim fast To raise prejudice against
Naboth, to give an air of religion to the pro-
enthusiastically Commentary.
Set two men: Every crime punishable with
death must be testified to by at least two wit
Sons of Belal: Literally sons of worthlessness.
BIaspheme: Thou art an atheist ane rebel.
Clarke.
apparently allowed the wicked to triumph are
numerous.-Pentecost.
THE TEACHERS CULVER.
First-There is a modern analogue to this in
cident OF thirty centuries ago. The windmill of
Sans souci is the memorial of it, Frederick the
Great wished to remove the mill, considering il a
blemsh to the scenery; but he lost the case
against the miller in court of law.
Second-It is the shame of our day that Jeze-
bells methods seem to have maintained in the
trial of Dreyfus The worlds pity goes out to the
victim. Zola's largest laurel will be that he ex-
posed this legal conspiracy and willing to
share Dreyfus's exile
Third-It is dictum of justice that the ac-
cused has right to copy of charge and specifca-
tions, has right to counsel, time for preparation
witnesses and open trial by jury of his peers.
Fourth-This is one of the most striking para
graphs in literature 1t deserves a place beside
Shakespeare immortal Macbeth"
F1fth--A street preacher, as IL reading from the
Bible, quantity intoned the adage, How small
the cheese looks to the mouse after it is caught
In the trap How paltry the fruit of sin in
view of the penalty.