1 Kings 21
DOYLY— set Naboth on high] The meaning of this expression is, either that Naboth should have one of the most honourable places in this assembly, being a person of an illustrious house, that so it might be thought they condemned him impartially, and without any disrespect to his person and character; or else, that he should be set in a remarkable place, to prevent his escape, if he should get intelligence of the design; or, lastly, that he should stand in the place peculiar to criminal or accused persons, where all might see him, and hear the evidence given against him. Pyle.
— whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.] The example of Ahab may be a caution to us whom we admit to be our companions, especially whom we take to be the partner of our counsels, the friend of our inmost heart. It is recorded as a signal instance of depravity in his nefarious career, that he united himself by the closest and tenderest bond to an idolatrous and unprincipled woman, chap. xvi. 31. The consequence was deplorable, but natural. His own inclination to evil received a fresh impulse from hers: corrupt himself, he became more and more hardened by the accession of her corrupt passions: instigated by her, in the particular example that has now been passing before our eyes, as well as in the general tenour of his life, he proved himself an apostate from God, and, by natural consequence, (for religion is the only sure foundation of morality,) the enemy of man; and he has left behind him a fatal memorial of the powerful influence of vice on social intercourse, in the testimony of the sacred historian, that “there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.” Mant.
with the idolatrous Ahab was the capital errour of Jehoshaphat’s reign, proving mischievous to himself and ruinous to his family. It took place about the thirteenth of his reign. Dr. Hales.
1 Kings 21:6
- And he said unto her, Because I spake &c.] How tenacious is the heart of a purpose which it has once formed for its gratification! How totally will it suffer the disappointment of its wishes, even in a case comparatively insignificant, to poison all the enjoyment it might derive from other sources, however ample and numerous they may be! What was the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to Ahab king of Samaria? What was it in comparison of the ten tribes of Israel, over which he bore sway? What was it in comparison of the hosts of Syria, over whom he had recently triumphed? Established in his dominion at home, triumphing over his enemies abroad, encircled with every enjoyment which empire and victory can bestow, Ahab languishes for “a garden of herbs!” Mant.
1 Kings 21:7
- — Dost thou now govern — Israel?] Is it for thee, that art the king of Israel, to take a denial of so mean a suit, and to be so affected with the rejection? Bp. Hall.
1 Kings 21:9
- — Proclaim a fast.] She commands them to proclaim a fast, as if some great crime had been committed,
and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
1 Kings 21:10
- — Thou didst blaspheme God and the king.] By the law of Moses it was death to blaspheme God, Levit. xxiv. 16; and by custom it was death to revile the king, Exod. xxii. 28. Thus, in order to make the matter sure, the witnesses were instructed to accuse Naboth of both these crimes, that the people might be the better satisfied to see him stoned. There was this difference, also, between the two crimes—that, when a man was convicted of blasphemy, his goods came to his heirs; but, when a man was executed for treason, his estate was forfeited. Thus the latter accusation greatly facilitated the plan of enabling Ahab to get possession of the vineyard. Bp. Patrick.
— then carry him out.] Not merely out of the assembly, but out of the gate of the city; by so doing, they meant to testify that they took away the evil from the midst of them. Bp. Patrick.
1 Kings 21:11
- And the men of his city—did as Jezebel had sent unto them.] It seems not a little strange that Jezebel could have the assurance to propose to a whole body of magistrates so flagrant an iniquity, so barbarous a design. But it appears much more surprising, that a grave senate, even all the elders and nobles of a city, should so implicitly comply with her bloody commands, and execute a commission so notoriously cruel and unjust. But Jezebel knew her men, and whom she wrote to. Evil
Naboth is condemned of blasphemy. Ahab taketh possession of the vineyard. Before CHRIST 399.
1 Kings 21:19
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— In the place where dogs licked &c.] The words should rather be translated, “As the dogs licked,” or, “In like manner as the dogs licked.” He declares the cause of the judgment upon Ahab, but does not assign the place; for it was in Samaria that the dogs licked the blood of Ahab, chap. xxii. 38. Bp. Patrick. Or, if the sense in our translation be retained, by Ahab’s blood must be understood the blood of his wife, children, and kindred, for Jezebel and her son Jehoram, 2 Kings ix. 25, were both slain in Jezreel. Pyle.
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— Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? While Ahab is rejoicing in the success of his plot, Elijah comes, sent from God, with an errand of vengeance. Methinks I see how the king’s countenance changed, with what aghast eyes and pale cheeks he looked upon that unwelcome Prophet. Little pleasure took he in his prospect, while it was clogged with such a guest; yet his tongue begins first, “Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?” Great is the power of conscience. Ahab’s continuing idolatry, now seconded by blood, bids him look for nothing but frowne from Heaven. A guilty heart can never be at peace. If Ahab had not known how ill he had deserved of God, he would never have saluted God’s Prophet by the name of an enemy. He would never have been troubled at being found by Elijah, if his own breast had not found him out for an enemy to God. Bp. Hall.
1 Kings 21:25
- But there was none like unto Ahab.] The particle here rendered “but,” should be rendered perhaps “indeed,” or “because;” and instead of “there was,” it may be best translated, “there is none like unto Ahab;”
Before CHRIST 399. a Chap. 14. 19.
1 Kings 21:27
- — and went softly.] All the expressions in this verse are expressions of great sorrow and heaviness. These last words are commonly understood to mean, that he went about with a slow pace, which shewed that he was reduced to great weakness and feebleness of body by fasting and grief; and that his heart sunk within him. Bp. Patrick.
1 Kings 21:29
- — because he humbleth himself &c.] Though this repentance of Ahab was far from being sincere, yet God was pleased so far to regard it, as to respite the worst degrees of threatening pronounced, and not to execute it fully, till the reign of his son Joram, as will appear, 2 Kings ix. and x. Pyle. Or perhaps Ahab’s repentance at this time was true though imperfect, and his sorrow sincere, though of no long continuance; and that, had he persisted in the good resolutions he had then taken up, God would have remitted to him, not only the temporal, but the eternal punishment likewise, that was due to his sin. In the mean time, this instance of the Divine lenity is left upon record to encourage the first essays of our repentance, and to give us the assurance, that our good and gracious God, who keepeth mercy for thousands, and forgiveth iniquity, transgression, and sin, will not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax, but bring forth judgment unto truth. Stackhouse. In the person of Ahab we see a most enormous criminal: yet a pardon is obtained on a shew of repentance. In God’s dealings with him, we have therefore an instance of the wise measures wherewith His mercy and His justice are dispensed. Notwithstanding the heinousness of Ahab’s faults, he finds mercy, upon his humiliation and repentance. Now as the sole motive of his penitence and humiliation was the dread of those judgments he had been threatened with, rather than any sorrow for, or hatred of, his sins; his pardon for that reason is only temporal, and merely a reprieve for the term of his own life, “I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.” Had his repentance been perfect and sincere, it would have prevailed to reverse the whole sentence, as well as to respite his doom. The very reprieve is, indeed, an encouragement to the greatest sinners to repent. But, at the same time, such a mercy ought to appear terrible to those who stop short in their course of penitence, and suffer it not to have a perfect work. Wogan. God, seeing the humiliation of Ahab, told him, he would not bring the evil upon his house in his days. This is a very remarkable circumstance, an example of the infinite goodness of God towards the greatest sinners, when they humble themselves before Him. Here let us take notice, that, if the repentance of Ahab appeased the Lord for a time, because there was something of sincerity in it, though it was not of long continuance; much more, may we imagine, will those who repent with all their heart, and persevere in their repentance, infallibly obtain from the Divine mercy the pardon of their sins. Ostervald. Although Ahab, by the wicked counsels of Jezebel his wife, had committed shameful murder, and against all right disinherited and dispossessed for ever Naboth’s family of their vineyard; yet, upon his humble submission in heart unto God, which he declared outwardly by putting on of sackcloth and by fasting, God changed His sentence, so that the punishment which He had determined fell not on Ahab’s house in his time, but was deferred unto the days of Joram his son. Here we may see of what force our outward fast is, when it is accompanied with the inward fast of the mind, that is, a sorrowfulness of heart, detesting and bewailing our sinful doings. Church Homilies. Chap. XXII. ver. 2. — came down to the king of Israel.] There was an affinity between Jehoshaphat and Ahab, 2 Chron. xviii. 1, Jehoshaphat’s son having married Ahab’s daughter, 2 Kings viii. 18. This affinity Ahab is seduced by false prophets. Micaiah is sent for.
b 2 Kings 3.