The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1898-07-17

The section i,cludes the rest OF =
Kings, chaps. 90-22. A brief glance 1T
the silent progress of the reforms Elijah
sought, end at tie steps OF Ahab toward
his doom and toward the destruction OF
the idolatry he upheld. The Whole Sec
tion.-In this lesion we should first read
ing over the whole section, note the
signs of the fulnlment OF Elljah's mis-
sion-the freedom from persecution; the
help of the prophets, victories over enc
mics from the Lord, when Baars proph-
cts had been a vain defense: the steps
toward the downfall Of Ahab and his
family. who sustained idolatry and vice.
and refused TO obey God. Practical
Then we can derive some very practical
lessons from re story OF Naboth's vine
yard. The map should be freely used.
Secular history throws considerable light
on tnts lesson by giving us parallels TO
several portions. Time.-Probably hve
or six years after the reformation on
Carmel. B. C. 800. com. chron-: or S5S.
rev. chron. Place.-Samaria, the capital
and metropolis of Israel: and Jezreel.
twenty-five miles TO the north: a favorite
royal residence. "the Windsor Of Israel"
Rulers.-Ahab, king of Israel. Jehosha-
phat. king Of Judah. Benhadad H., king
of Syria, now a prosperous kingdom;
Shalmanezer. king OF Assyria- Monu-
ments.-From the Moabite Stone (see p.
1889 we learn that Moab was tributary to
Israel at this time. Elijah. accompanied
by the young Elisha as his assistant is
living in retirement. part of the time,
perhaps. out OF the kingdom; but prob
ably more of the time doing his work
among the schools OF the prophets,
which seem to have revived q Kings ::
3-5: 1 Kings 20: 35). Ahab was too busy
with enemies and war to pay much at
tention to him. Other Prophets.-Ai-
Folr If~H1o haf nd
the sons of the prophets.
T. And Ahab came" from Jezreel,
into his house." In Samaria. as We
gather from vs.. IA. Is, Is. and chap. 20: q.
And he laid down upon his bed" The
bed-chamber was in the most retired and
secret part OF the palace (Ex. 8: 3;
Kings 6: 12). And turned away his face.
and would eat no bread" Such an open
manifestation OF Ill temper is thoroughly
characteristic of an Oriental king.
s. But Jezebel, his wife" like ely
temnestra OF Aeschylus and Lady Mac
beth of Shakespeare. comes forward to
help her husband to sin, not to do right.
He Is like wax in her hands. Satan's
most dangerous agents are not revolving
creatures. have no doubt that Jezebel
was very handsome. very tasteful In her
dress, and very fascinating I'm her man
ners. But she was wicked. and she en-
couraged Ahab to do wickedly.
sneer expresses in bitter irony her scorn-
full wonder at one who Tets dare not
wait upon / would" Arise and eat
bread" In this invitation there seems a
half-contemptuous recognition OF self
indulgent weakness of nature. II will
give thee the vineyard" "P' IL the en-
phatic word here. Compare the words Of
Shakespeare's parallel character: In
firm OF purpose! give me the dagger"
''If we should fail" objects Macbeth.
8. so she wrote letters IN Ahab's
name" 1t Is customary in the East now.
as then. for the government TO proclaim
one thing publicly, and at the sams time
to give private instructions to the Of
ficials. OF q very different nature. with
the design of binding the eyes Of Euro
pean governments. And sealed them
with his seal" Documents Of every kind,
from a royal decree to = private letter.
are never signed with pen and ink IN the
signet, which contains his name; q little
ink is rubbed upon It. and 1t Is pressed
upon the moistened paper.
Q. Proclaim a fast" Az II some great
calamity were overhanging The city for
their sins. like a black cloud portending
q storm. (see Joel 1: II: 2: II; Sam. Z:
g. Something must be done immediate-
ly to avert the doom. set Naboth on
high" On the platform OF the court. TO
be tried.
10. SET two men. sons of BeliaI." Be-
lial Is not q proper noun. but simply
means "worthlessness.'' ''recklessness,"
hence the sons Of Belial were those who
inherited the very spirit Of recklessness
and derravity. Only such would bear
such false witness as was required
"Blaspheme God" The true Oriental,
however careless his life. Is fanaticalIy
jealous for the honor of Gods name. To
blaspheme Allah iE any place where Mo-
result in the death Of the blasphemer on
the spot. pot."-s3unday-School times. And
the king" 1t would be easy to find some
faint foundation for this charge in
pious man whose soul was opposed to the
course OF the king in introducing idoIa-
try. Such a man could not help protest
ing against the evil done by Ahab. When
one is determined to commit q crime
against another II is easy to find an ex-
cuse. as in the fable OF the Wolf and the
Lamb. "A Spanish proverb suggests to
him that has a mind to quarrel with his
wife. to bid her bring water to him in
the sunshine A very fair quarrel may
be picked up about the NOTES in the
clearest water."-Jacox.
And when to sin our biased nature
leans.
The careful devils stin at hand with
means."-Dryden.
And carry him out. A stoning always
took place outside the city. (See Acts q:
58)-Cook And stone him. The legal
punishment of blasphemy was indeed
death by stoning Qev. -: 80. and Naboth
would have perished justly had he been
guilty Of the crime.-Van Lennep. That
he may die. 1t appears from Kings g.:
2s that Naboth's sons were put to death
at the same time. Thus. there being no
heirs the property would revert 10 the
crown.
l6 Ahab rose up 10 so down TO the
vineyard OF Naboth. The Septuagint adds
that he rent his clothes and put on sack
cloth, as though shocked at his crime.
and anxious to prove hts innocence to
his own conscience and to the people.
God bade him 60 down and meet Ahab
In the vineyard. When Ahab came to the
vineyard to take possossion of II. there
stood the prophet In his hairy garb. so
had Moses stood before Pharaoh, and
Samuel before Saul. and Nathan before