The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-02-14

l mus time UdQ gone On, anu Oue u9
one the high places had increased.
until now all the strange gods had
been honored. There were high places
and beautiful groves TO Ashtoreth. &c
Milcom, to Ghemosh, to the terrible
Moloch, and to all the other gods. so
that Jerusalem and the surrounding
country was dotted with these places.
Ahijah watched all this with in
creaslng concern and h~eart-ache.
What more could he say than he had
said? What more could he do Il
check the idolatrous tendency OF the
people2
Filled with these thoughts he felt
impelled n day to go forth and visit
those high places. The one in par
tienlar toward which he directed his
footsteps was that erected 70 the god
Chemosh, the abomination Of the peo-
pie of Moab. 1t had been built on the
hill opposite to Jerusalem and in plain
view of the temple which years before
Solomon had taken such delight in
building TO his God.
ooh. can 1t be possibie!" he ex-
claimed, that Solomon tas thus
dared to defy and dishonor his God?
Has he no regard for the God wh3
made him what he Is and hath given
him all the great prosperity which
hath marked his reign? No, it cannot
be that Solomon knows of this latest
~iniquity. 1t must be that some one of
the women more presuming than the
others has caused this work to be
wrought without the knowledge of the
king. | will see him at once And
turning around hastily Ahiiah re-
traced his steps to the city, and went
direct to the palace. AS he drew
near to the great gateway it swung
open and the king himself appeared
surrounded by a brilliant company of
people, in the midst of whom he
noted some of the royal women.
They turned as they came out of the
gate and took the road leading towards
the temple.
Were it not for the presence of
the women ! should think that Solo
mon were going TO worship" Ahijah
muttered to himself as he drew into
the shadow of the high wall. 81 will
follow and see whittier the company
is j~ourneying, P~erchance | will find
an opportunity to speak with the
king"
And so Ahijah followed, but as the
procession drew near to the temple II
took the road which turned to the left
and went towards the gate that led
down into the valley and towards the
hill opposite.
Not going to the temple, that is
certain" muttered Ahijah, as he
turned and followed.
Out through the gate of the city pro.
ceeded the procession, and on down
into the valley. When it started TO
ascend the hill on the opposite side
and draw near the place of festivity
where the ceremonies were to be held
In honor of the god of Chemosh, Ali
jah, no longer in doubt now as to
the intended destiny Of the king, has.
tened by a side.path to the center of
the beautiful grove, and ascending the
high place on which the offerings were
made to the heather god he drew
his mantle about him, shrouding his
face in its depths, and waited.
First came the dancing maidens, the
little silver bells with which they were
adorned mingling their music with the
voices which filled the soft afternoon
air. So enrapt were they with their
dance and song, and so fascinated was
the royal company with the gay sight
that non at first noticed the silent,
dark form standing before the great
image.
Then one Of the fair maidens, lifting
her eyes, saw the prophet and gave
a cry of establishment and fear, in
which all the others Joined as their
attention was drawn to the motionless
figure standing there. For one brief
moment they stood and then fled like
frightened birds fleeing before the
hawk.
During the silence which followed,
King Solomon, by some invisible pow
err which he seemed unable to re,
sist, drew near while the rest Of the
company fell back. Then the voice Of
the prophet broke the stiffness, with
measured word, clear and stern:
Thus saith the Lord, 'Forasmuch as
this IL done of thee, oh, King Solomon,
and thou hast not kept thy covenant
and my statutes, which | have com.
mandad thee, | will surely rend the
kingdom from thee. and will give it to
thy servant. notwithstanding in thy
days | will not do 1t, for David thy
fathers sake; but | will rend it out Of
the hand of thy SON."
ImmovabIe as stone Solomon stood,
hearing, seeing. knowing nothing save
that God by his servant, the prophet
Ahijah. had spoken an awful word OF
Judgment upon him and his house. And
while he thus stood the prophet passed
down the hill and disappeared In the
distance.
He is gomez" at last q~uestioningly
spoke the king, looking up to the
place where the prophet had stood.
But his words shall abide" he NUT.
tered with awesome voice as he, too,
turned and retraced his steps to the