1 Kings 21

Achab converteth to buy Naboth vineyard verse 1&c. whereunto Naboth refuseth to yield 3 Izebel promiseth to deliver the same to Achab 7 she causeth Naboth tube stoned 8 Achab taketh possession of the vineyard 15 here upon is foretold by Elia the ruine both of him and of those that belong unto him 17 which is in regard Achab maketh some outward shew of sorrow and repentance 27 is delayed, 29.

1. Now it came to pass after these things for as much as Naboth a Jizreelite [see of this cit above chapter 18 on verse 45] hard by the palace of Achab king of Samaria.

2. That Achab spake unto Naboth saying give me thine vineyard that it may unto me fore garden of herbs [or garden of green things a garden of verdure or the green things the Hebrew word signifiet all kind of green herbs especially that which is sewen and used for food compare Deuteronomy 11:10] because it is neer unto mine house and I will give thee a vineyard for that is better than it or if it be good in thine eyes [see of this phrase Genesis 9 on verse 8 instead whereof ye have below verse 6 if it pleased thee] I will give thee the worth it in money.

3. But Naboth said unto Achab the Lord let that be far from me that I should give thee the inheritance of my fathers [Heb. be that far unto me because of or for the Lord &c. the reason of this refusal was because God in his law was forbidden to altar or alienate the property of inheritance belonging to tribe and families Leviticus 25:23 Numbers 36:7&c.]

4. Then Achab came into his house displeasing [so below verse 5 see above chapter 20 on verse 43] and angry at the words which Naboth the Jizreelite had spoken to him spoken to him and said I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers about [to wit towards the wall from men not desiring to speaking to any man or to have any thing to do with any man] and did eat no bread [that is no meat see Genesis 3 on verse 19and so in the sequel.]

5. But Izebel his wife came to him and spake unto him what is this that thy spirit is thus forward and that thou eatest no bread?

6. And he said unto her because I spake unto Naboth the Jizreelite and said unto him give me thine vineyard for money or if so it please thee I will give thee a vineyard in stead thereof but he said I will not give thee the vineyard.

7. Then said Izebel his wife unto him shouldst thou now govern [Heb. do that is govern administer manage] the kingdom over Israel ?[the meaning is that he was not worthy to be king over Israel ? [the meaning is that he was not worthy to be king over Israel if he had not so much understand ding nor courage as to compel one Naboth and to get his vineyard away from him]arise eat bread and let thine heart be cheerful [Heb. good that is cheerful see good for cheerful Judges 16:25 & 18.20 1Samuel 25. 8 and 36]I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jizrelite.

8. Then she wrote letters in achabs name and she sealed them with signet and sent the letter to the eldest [that is magistrate or counsel and governors of the city so Deuteronomy 21:2 Judges 8:14 Ruth 4:2]and to the noble [the Hebrew word properly signifieth white and whereby must be understood by the noble chiefest and most honourable man because they are commonly went clothed in white see Genesis 41 the annotate on verse 42 item Esther 8:15 and below verse 11] that were in the city [so below verse 11 understand Jizreel which is called Naboths city as he himself is also called a Jizreelite above verse 17 because he dwelt therein or perhaps was also born therein see the like phrase Genesis 23:10 and 24.10 an the annotate thereon]dwelling with Jabot [that is which were his fellow citizens.]

9. And she wrote in those letters saying proclaim fast[she gives this in charge that they might take notice of the life and conversation of Jabot for fast were kept as for other reasons so also for this namely to make enquiry concerning some gross sins that were public and notorious and to punish them according to the desert to the end that so the wrath of God might be turned away from all the congregation]and set naboth in the highest place of the people [Heb. in the head of the people so below verse 12understand hereby an exalted place of the congregation into which the parties accused were put that there might be better be seen and heard of the people or understand hereby an high and stately seat in which the chiefest of the city among whom its conceived that Jabot was one were wont to fit and that Jabot was to sit there in the usual place to take away all suspition of evil that was intended and plotted against him.]

10. And set over against him two men sons of Belial [understand by these wicked vicious men that having cast off the yoke of Gods fear and of humane honesty are only bent to do mischief without remorse of conscience at all see Deuteronomy 13 on verse 13] to bear witness against him saying thou hast blessed [to bless here signifieth to curse this was held to be a thing of abominable that is durst scarcely he named so that he stirded thereof the contrary was affirmed in a coverted way so below verse 13 and Job 1verse 5,11 and 2.9] God and the king and carry him out [to wit out of the city for heretofore it was a custom for malefactors to be punished without the cities and places of abode or dwelling as being unworthy to give up the God among the usual society of men see Leviticus 24:14,23 and Joshua 7:24 Mark15.20]and stone him that he may die [as the law concerning blasphemy and cursing given by Moseh required Leviticus 24:15,16 &c.]

11. And the men of his city[see above on verse 8] those eldest and those noble [see above on verse 8] that dwelt in his city did according as Izebel had sent [that is had signifieth by letters]unto them according as was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

12. They proclaimed a fast and they set Jabot in the highest place of the people [see above on verse 9.]

13. Then came two men sons of Belial[see above on verse 10] and set themselves over against him the men of Belial witnessed against him against Jabot of the people both before the people saying Jabot hath blessed [see above on verse 10] God and the king they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones that he died.

14. Then they sent to Izebel saying Jabot is stoned and is dead.

15. Now it came to pass when Izebel heard that Jabot was stoned to death that Izebel said unto Achab arise and possess the vineyard of Jabot the Jizreelite hereditarily it seemeth by this that Jabot estate was forefeited to the king his son being also put to death 2Kings 9.26. and that under a false pretence of religion as if they herein intended to follow example of Gods judgement so exalted in this time past upon Datham and Abiram Numbers 16:32 and then Achan Joshua on verse 24,25 so that also their children were not spared and so did these judges perversely follow these examples of Gods extraordinary vengeance which is in a manner hidden from us but not righteous and not the ordinary appointed to live by the which forbiddeth to punish the children of the parents offence Deuteronomy 24:16]which he refused to give thee for money for Jabot is not alive but is dead.

16. And it came to pass when Achab heard that Jabot is dead that Achab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Jabot the Jizreelite to possess the same hereditarily.

17. But the word of the Lord came unto Elia the Tisbite [see above chapter 17 on verse 1] saying:

18. Get thee up go down to meet Achab the king of Israel who is in Samaria [understand where Achab dwelt and where he was in person at that time when God uttered these words unto Elia but was upon going down to Naboths vineyard where Elia should meet him in which respect is said in the following words that Achab was in the vineyard because he would be there because Elias should come to Jizreel]behold he is in the vineyard of Jabot wither he is gone down to possess that hereditarily.

19. And thou shalt speak to him saying thus saith the Lord hast thou killed and also taken an hereditary possession ?[Elia is charged to put this question not tomake enquiry into Achab sin as into a fact that was unknown but to reprove Achab for it and toehold before him the righteous vengeance of God because he had not only killed Jabot but also taken the inheritance of Naboths heir to himself against the law of God]moreover thou shalt speak unto him saying thus saying thus saith the Lord instead that the dogs have licked the blood of Jabot the dogs shall lick thine blood yea thine [that is that the dogs or according as the dogs have licked the blood of Jabot shall the dogs also lick so is the Hebrew word taken Zacharia 2.10 others understand this of the same place not in particular of the field without Jizreel but in general of the land of Israel for Jizreel without which city Jabot blood was shed lay in the tribe of Issachar and Samaria where the dogs licked the blood of Achab below chapter 22.38 lay in the tribe of Ephraim or if it be taken for the same field then see the accomplishment of Achabs son 2Kings chapter 9.26.]

20. And Achab said unto Elia; half thou found me, o mine enemy? [this is as much if he had said, Art thou so bold that thou darest come into my sight? oughtest thou not to keep away from me seeing thou mayest well perceive that I hate thee because thou never leavest threatening me and dealing with me like an enemy] and he said I have found thee because thou hast sold thyself to do that which is evil in the eyes of the Lord [that is haste given thyself over the slavery of sin for as he that selleth himself to another is contended to follow his will and command in all things so is he said to sell himself to do evil that giveth himself over unto sin to obey it in all things this phrase is also used 2Kings 17.17Isaiah 51.1.]

21. Behold I will bring evil upon thee and take away the posterity and I will cut off from Achab him that that seth against the wall[see above chapter 14.10] together with him that is shut up left in Israel [see Deuteronomy 32 on verse 36.]

22. And I will make thine house like the house of Jerobeam the son of Nebat and like that house of Baesa the son of Abia for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me and that thou hast made Israel to sin.

23. Furthermore also concerning Izebel the Lord spake saying the dogs shall eat Izebel by the out wall of Jizreel [see the accomplishment 2kings 9.33,34,&c.]

24. Him that died of Achab into the city the dogs shall eat and him that dieth into the field the fowls of heaven shall eat [see above chapter 14 on verse 11.]

25. But there had been none like Achab that had sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord [see above on verse 20 & chapter 11on verse 6] because Izebel his wife stirred him up.

26. And he did every abominable walking after the dung dogs [see Leviticus 26 on verse 30]according to all that the Amorites [understand one kind of Canaanites likewise al the rest see Genesis 15 on verse 16 & 48 on verse 22] had done which God had driven out of possession before the children of Israel.

27. Now it came to pass when Achab heard these words that he rent his clothes [see Genesis 37 on verse 29] and put a sack about his flesh [see Genesis 37 on verse 34] and fasted he lay also down [to wit to sleep] in the sack and went slowly [or softly creeping lamely an example of only outward and temporal repentance which proceeded not from a heart which is purified and truly converted before it appeared on chapter 24.8.]

28. And the word of the Lord came unto Elia the Tisbite saying :

29. Hast thou seen that achab bambleth himself before my face I will not bring that evil in his days [an example of Gods goodness in deferring the deserved punishments because of some feigned humiliation] in his sons days I will bring that evil upon his house.