In the end of the episode whe Locke is lying in the mass dharma grave after being shot by Ben, Locke asks him "why did you do this?" and Ben replies "because you heard him" Does this mean Ben was lying about being the only one able to talk to Jacob? Or does it mean Ben usually hears Jacob but this time, when Jacob says "help me", only Locke hears him.

I think Ben is afraid of Locke becoming more powerful and decided he needed to get rid of him. If Jacob never talks to anyone but Ben, and then did speak to Locke, and Locke went and told all the others, then Ben would surely lose favor with them. Ben is jealous of Locke's ability to heal himself (apparently).

what I don't get is why ben said "You don't see anyone there?" Like he was expecting John to see Jacob sitting in the chair, but he made a big deal about Locke being able to hear Jacob. Wouldn't seeing Jacob be much more of a suprise than hearing him?

what do you guys think the black "ash" or "dust" was that surrounded Jacob's house?

That made me do a double take also, the only explanation I can think of is Ben doesn't really see Jacob.

I loved the look on Ben's face when Locke told him Jacob said "help me" it was like someone poured ice cubes down his pants

I think Ben IS Jacob. Maybe Ben is really in charge of EVERYTHING, and he just uses Jacob to make it look like he takes orders from someone, so that people will continue to submit to him.

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My LJ
Proverbs 31

hmmm - where does ash come from? Fire or SMOKE! Is it smokey's trail? Does the ash show that Smokey is somehow tethered to the ground (ergo he can't go over the sonic fence)?

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`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

-- Alice, from “Alice’s Adventure’s in Wonderland”

I think smokey is Jacob's pet, therefore explaining the ash.
I think that Ben shot Locke because till that moment he thought he was the only one capable of hearing him, but if Locke went back to camp and told Richard and the rest of them, they wouldn't hold Ben in such a place of veneration.

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" I push this button every 108 minutes, I don't get out much."

"Theres a time for living low down, theres a time for getting high. A time for peace, a time for fire. A time to live, a time to die."

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

Why would smokey tethered? He has vents to move all over the island except for the sonic fence area.

I really like that idea! Here, smokey smokey! come get dinner!

Yeah, one creepy invisible being needs a friend, and although Bens got creepy down, he has yet to make himself invisible. (: I also think that Smokey is Jacob's way of maintaining the population of the isalnd.

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" I push this button every 108 minutes, I don't get out much."

"Theres a time for living low down, theres a time for getting high. A time for peace, a time for fire. A time to live, a time to die."

The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing at the right time, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

Here is a thought..... Jacob is real, and Ben can SEE him, but he only pretends that he can hear him. So, he goes around telling everyone that Jacob only speaks to him....when he doesn't at all. He thought perhaps Locke could also see him since he is special too. However, Locke couldn't see Jacob, but he could HEAR him. That would be a whole ying and yang kind of thing wouldn't it? That infuriated Ben who is behaving like Cain did when his brother Abel had a connection with God that he didn't have...... Murderous Jealousy.