1 Kings 21

1Ki 21:1-4.

NABOTH

REFUSES

AHAB

HIS

VINEYARD.

1-3. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel--Ahab

was desirous, from its contiguity to the palace, to possess it for a

vegetable garden. He proposed to Naboth to give him a better in

exchange, or to obtain it by purchase; but the owner declined to part

with it. In persisting in his refusal, Naboth was not actuated by any

feelings of disloyalty or disrespect to the king, but solely from a

conscientious regard to the divine law, which, for important reasons,

had prohibited the sale of a paternal inheritance

[Le 25:23;

Nu 36:7];

or if, through extreme poverty or debt, an assignation of it to another

was unavoidable, the conveyance was made on the condition of its being

redeemable at any time

[Le 25:25-27];

at all events, of its reverting at the jubilee to the owner

[Le 25:28].

In short, it could not be alienated from the family, and it was on this

ground that Naboth

(1Ki 21:3)

refused to comply with the king's demand. It was not, therefore, any

rudeness or disrespect that made Ahab heavy and displeased, but his

sulky and pettish demeanor betrays a spirit of selfishness that could

not brook to be disappointed of a favorite object, and that would have

pushed him into lawless tyranny had he possessed any natural force of

character.

4. turned away his face--either to conceal from his attendants the

vexation of spirit he felt, or, by the affectation of great sorrow,

rouse them to devise some means of gratifying his wishes.

1Ki 21:5-16.

JEZEBEL

CAUSES

NABOTH TO

BE

STONED.

7. Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?--This is not so

much a question as an exclamation--a sarcastic taunt; "A pretty king

thou art! Canst not thou use thy power and take what thy heart is set

upon?"

arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee

the vineyard--After upbraiding Ahab for his pusillanimity and bidding

him act as a king, Jezebel tells him to trouble himself no more about

such a trifle; she would guarantee the possession of the vineyard.

8. So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his

seal--The seal-ring contained the name of the king and gave validity

to the documents to which it was affixed

(Es 8:8;

Da 6:17).

Jezebel's proceeding. Being written in the king's name, it had the

character of a royal mandate.

sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his

city--They were the civic authorities of Jezreel, and would, in all

likelihood, be the creatures and fit tools of Jezebel. It is evident

that, though Ahab had recently been in Jezreel, when he made the offer

to Naboth, both he and Jezebel were now in Samaria

(1Ki 20:43).

9. Proclaim a fast, &c.--Those obsequious and unprincipled

magistrates did according to orders. Pretending that a heavy guilt lay

on one, or some unknown party, who was charged with blaspheming God and

the king and that Ahab was threatening vengeance on the whole city

unless the culprit were discovered and punished, they assembled the

people to observe a solemn fast. Fasts were commanded on extraordinary

occasions affecting the public interests of the state

(2Ch 20:3;

Ezr 8:21;

Joe 1:14; 2:15;

Jon 3:5).

The wicked authorities of Jezreel, by proclaiming the fast, wished to

give an external appearance of justice to their proceedings and convey

an impression among the people that Naboth's crime amounted to treason

against the king's life.

set Naboth on high--During a trial the panel, or accused person, was

placed on a high seat, in the presence of all the court; but as the

guilty person was supposed to be unknown, the setting of Naboth on high

among the people must have been owing to his being among the

distinguished men of the place.

13. there came in two men--worthless fellows who had been bribed to

swear a falsehood. The law required two witnesses in capital offenses

(De 17:6; 19:15;

Nu 35:30;

Mt 26:60).

Cursing God and cursing the king are mentioned in the law

(Ex 22:28)

as offenses closely connected, the king of Israel being the earthly

representative of God in His kingdom.

they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him--The law, which

forbade cursing the rulers of the people, does not specify the penalty

for this offense but either usage had sanctioned or the authorities of

Jezreel had originated stoning as the proper punishment. It was always

inflicted out of the city

(Ac 7:58).

14-16. Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession--Naboth's

execution having been announced, and his family being involved in the

same fatal sentence

(2Ki 9:26),

his property became forfeited to the crown, not by law, but

traditionary usage (see

2Sa 16:4).

16. Ahab rose up to go down--from Samaria to Jezreel.

1Ki 21:17-29.

ELIJAH

DENOUNCES

JUDGMENTS AGAINST

AHAB AND

JEZEBEL.

17-19. Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?--While Ahab was in

the act of surveying his ill-gotten possession, Elijah, by divine

commission, stood before him. The appearance of the prophet, at such a

time, was ominous of evil, but his language was much more so (compare

Eze 45:8; 46:16-18).

Instead of shrinking with horror from the atrocious crime, Ahab eagerly

hastened to his newly acquired property.

19. In the place where dogs licked, &c.--a righteous retribution of

Providence. The prediction was accomplished, not in Jezreel, but in

Samaria; and not on Ahab personally, in consequence of his repentance

(1Ki 21:29),

but on his son

(2Ki 9:25).

The words "in the place where" might be rendered "in like manner

as."

20. thou hast sold thyself to work evil--that is, allowed sin to

acquire the unchecked and habitual mastery over thee

(2Ki 17:17;

Ro 7:11).

21, 22. will make thine house,

&c.--(see on

1Ki 15:29

and

1Ki 16:3-12).

Jezebel, though included among the members of Ahab's house, has her

ignominious fate expressly foretold (see

2Ki 9:30).

27-29. Ahab . . . rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh,

and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly--He was not obdurate,

like Jezebel. This terrible announcement made a deep impression on the

king's heart, and led, for a while, to sincere repentance. Going

softly, that is, barefoot, and with a pensive manner, within doors. He

manifested all the external signs, conventional and natural, of the

deepest sorrow. He was wretched, and so great is the mercy of God,

that, in consequence of his humiliation, the threatened punishment was

deferred.