Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1911-02-23
PLEASANT FIELDS OFHOLY WRIT
The international S. S. Lesson.
First Quarter, Lesson TX; Feb
&c, 1911: kings XXI:
Elijah Ncets Ahab In Naboth' s
Vineyard

VltC 0AO
The incident of Naboths vineyard
is one of the most striking in the
whole range of literature, On the
inky background of this foul plot,
the characters of Ahab and Jezebel,
Naboth and Elijah, stand in clear-cut
outline. 1t is study in ethics and
psychology But the incident has
a larger religious and political sig
nifcance. He who looks upon it as
a merely personal affair misses the
mark. There is a greater reason Tor
its introduction in these sacred an
nails. First, it illustrates in most
vivid manner, and proves conclusl-
vely, the utter and despicable 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, how
ever, openly, but in the ambush of
an hypocritical conspiracy. He
broke the Decalogue. He coveted
and killed. 1t increases rather than
diminishes the turpitude of his
crime, that he did it by proxy. He
turned the affair over to his I'M
scrupulous wife, perfectly satisfied
that her devilish cunning would
compass the desired end, He made
immodest haste to avail himself Of
the fruits of the crime. By this foul
deed Ahab put the period to his
personal probation and that Of his
dynasty. For a last time, and on
the very scene of his supposed tri-
umph, Ahab's Nemesis, Elijah, ap-
pears to speak his doom and that of
his house. In this circumstance
Naboth stands forth as a type and
fruit of the silent and steady refor-
nation (voice of stilIness) now in
progress. These who imagine that
Naboth refused the kings request
upon personal grounds-viz., attach
ment to his ancestral estate-miss
the mark. NabOth's reason was a
religious one. 1t was contrary to
the law of God as given by Moses,
to ALLEVIATE for any consideration the
property originally designated to the
family by the lot, the casting Of
which God Himself determined. 1t
did not matter to Naboth that this
law was so neglected. In fact, that
was additional reason for his regard
ing it. His course would be eXen-
plary corrective. He was perfectly
aware Of his personal peril in refus
ing the request of such king as
Ahab. But his first allegiance was
to the King of heaven. He will obey
God rather than man. If he must
]
die, his death will hasten the refor-
nation, which he desires above life
itself History does not afford a
more Genuine instance of martydom
than that of Naboth.
The Teachers Lantern.
There is a modern analogue to
| this incident of thirty centuries ago.
The windmill of Sans Souci is the
memorial of it. Frederick the Great
wished to remove the mill, consider
ing it a blemish to the scenery; but
he lost the case against the miller
| in a court of law 1t is shame
that Jezebel's methods seems to
have maintained so late as the trial
of Dreyfus. The worlds pity went
out to the victim, and Zola's largest
laurel will be that he exposed this
legal conspiracy, and was willing to
share Dreyfuss exile-when exile
was impending. 1t is dictum of
justice that the accused has right
to copy of charge and specifications,
has right to counsel, time for prepa
ration, witnesses, and open trial by
a jury of his peers. This is one of
the most striking paragraphs in
literature. 1t deserves a place be-
side Shakespeares immortal Mac
beth. A street preacher, as if
reading from the Bible, quantity in
toned the adage, How small the
cheese looks to the mouse after it
is caught in the trap!" How paltry
the frnit of sin in view of the