The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 499

monest idioms of the East, throws some light strictly, yesternight, Stanley snggests that on the expression " sons of the prophets " the trial took place by night. But the word is (see eh, xx. 35, note; cf. Deut. xiii.13; Matt. often used in the wider sense of "yesterda.y " xxvi. 60)], before him [confronting him], (Gesenius)] two men, cblldren of Bella], to bear witness against him, saying, Thou and eat before him : a.nd the men of Bel1al didst blaspheme [Heb. bless ; cf. Job i. 5, witnessed aga.1Ilst him, even aga.inst Naboth, 11 ; ii. 5 ; LXX. EvXoy71ue. The Lexico- In the presence of the people [The whole graphers are not agreed as to how this congregation wBB interested in a charge of word, the primary meaning of which is to bl11sphemy. If unpunished, the guilt rested l:neel, hence to pray, to bless, came to on the congregation. Hence the provision signify curse or biaspheme. According to of Deut. u.iv. 14. By the imposition of some, it is an euphemism, the idea of hands they testified tho,t the guilt of the cursing God being altogether too horrible blasphemer thenceforth rested upon his own for the Jew to express in words; whilst head], saying, Na both did blaspheme God others derive this signification from the and the king. Then they carried h1m fact that a curse is really a prayer addressed forth [Heb. made him to 90 forth] out of to God; and others, again, account for it by the city, and stoned h1m with stones, that the consideration that 11, person who bids he died. [It appears from 2 Kings ix. 25 farewell to another sometimes does so in that the children of No.both, who other- the sense of dismissing and cursing him. wise might have laid clium to their patri- Anyhow, it is noticeable that the word mony, were put to death at the same time, " blessing" is sometimes used with a similar and probably in the same wo,y; cf. Josh. meaning amongst ourselves) God a.nd the vii. 24, 25; Num. xvi. 27. This wa& the king [God and the representative of God rnle of the East (D11,n, vi. 2-1). The prin- in Israel are here coupled together, as in ciple of visiting the sins of the parents Exod. xxii. 28. To curse thE1 king was upon the children seems to have been practically to curse Him whose vicegerent carried to an excess, as we find Joash he was (cf. Matt. xxiii. 18-22). Hence (2 Kings xiv. 5) instituting a more merciful such cursing is called blasphemy and was rnle.J punishable with death (Deut. xiii. 11 ; xvii. Ver. 14.-Then they sent to Jezebel 5; 2 Sam. xvi. 9; :rix. 21 ; and see on [clearly she wo,s not at Jezreel], saying, oh. ii. 43, 44)). And then cany h1m out Naboth 1B stoned, a.nd is dead. [Stauley [i.e., out of the city (cf. Levit. xxiv. 14; observes that it is signific11nt tho,t this Acts vii. 68; Luke iv. 29; Heb. xiii. 12). announcement was made to her 11,nd not "Locus lapidationis erat eztra urbem, onmes to Ahab. It appears from ver. 19 tho,t the enim civitates muris cinctae paritatem habent corpses both of Naboth and his ohildren ad castra Israelis" (Baby!. Sanh.)], a.nd were left to be devoured of dogs. J stone h1m [the legal punishment for blas- Ver. 16.-And it ea.me to pass, when phemy (Levit. x.xiv. 16)], that he may die. Jezebel heard that Ne.both was stoned, and [The terrible power acco1·ded to "two or was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, three witnesses," of denouncing a man to take possession [or inherit, mcceed to ; so,me death, acoounts for the prominence given word Gen. xxi. 10; Deut. ii. 24; J er. xlix. 1. to the sin of beo,ring false witness (Exod. The possessions of a person executed for xx. 16; xxiii. 1; Deut. rix. 16). It found treason were ipso facto forfeitecl to the a mention in the Decalogue.] crown. There was no lo,w prescribing this, Ver. 11.-And the men of his ctty, even but it followed the principles of the Mosa.io the elders a.nd the nobles who were the code. Just as tho goods of the idolater Inhabitants 1n his city, did as Jezebel had were devoted as cherem to the Lord (Deut. sent unto them [Their ready compliance J.iii. 16), so thoso of the traitor reverted to s)1ows not merely the " deep moro,l tlegmdo,. the king. So Keil] of the vineyard ofNaboth t10n of the lsro,olites" at tlrnt period, but the Jezreellte, which he refused to give to 11,lso the terror which the no,me of Jezebel thee for money [there is a proud mo,Jicious inspired], and as 1t was wrttten 1n the triumph in theso words. "He rolused, letters which she had sent unto them. simple fool, to sell it. Now thou canst [Tlmt she di,l not hesitate to put her in- have it for nothin(!. I ho,ve discovered I\ famous commo,nd into writing shows the better plan thnn buying it"] : for Naboth cl111,racte1· of tbe womo,n.] 1B not alive, but dead. Ver. 12.-They proclaJmed a fa.at, a.nd Ver. 16,-And it ea.me to pass, when Ahab aet Na.both on high among the people. heard that Na.both was dead, that Ahab Ver. 13.-And there came 1n [Heb. eame. arose up [According to the LXX., his first The assembly was probably held al fresco. act was to rend his clothes 11,nd put on sackcloth, Afterwards "he rose up," &c.] From the word ~'t~• A. V. yuterday, but . to 10 4owu [The " Great Plain, on Ule  510 THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. [cu. XXL 1-29,