1 Kings 21

upon pain of death, to enrse his fathcror his mother; (Exod. xxi. 17.) for tho prince is the father of his country.; But, to mako all sure, they accused Naboth of both, of treason against God and against the king; that so tho people might be the better satisfied to sco him stoned. But there is this difference to be observed between these two: that if a man had only blasphemed God, he was to be tried by tho great court at Jerusalem (as the Hebrew doctors tell us), and his goods camo to his heirs: but when any man was executed for treason against tho king, his estate went to the exchequer, being forfeited to him against whom the offence was committed. And thercforo it was that they accused Naboth of this crime, on purpose that his estate might be confiscated, and Ahab enjoy his vineyard. And they accused him of blasphemy against God for other reasons: that justice might bo’dono the sooner upon him; or, as the Talmudists speak, to increaso their indignation. (Seo Selden, de Successionibus, cap. 25. fol. 87, 88.) And then carry him out.’] Not merely out of the assembly, but out of the city, (ver. 13.) For in the wilderness, and before the conquest of Canaan, they executed punishments without the camp, (Lev. xxiv. 23. Josh. vii. 24.) and afterward without the gate of the city: whereby they intended to testify, that they would take the evil out of the midst of them, and not suffer wickedness to remain among them. So it is explained, ver. 13. (See Grotius, Matt, xxvii. 32.) And stone him, that he may die.] For this was the punishment of blasphemy: as we see by their attempt to stone our Saviour, and their killing St. Stephen in this manner. Concerning this punishment, see Sanhedrin, cap. 6. eth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Is rael.] See upon xiv. 10.

1 Kings 21:1

jcjLND it came to pass, after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel. After all those wonderful things which God, had done, in giving such victories to Ahab, he coveted the vineyard of a neighbour of his. Which is peculiarly noted, as Abarbinel thinks, to have followed the foregoing history, to set forth the extreme great wickedness of Ahab: who spared Ben-hadad, as Saul did A gag king of the Amalekites, and killed Naboth, that he might get his vineyards. This was a high aggravation of his crime, that he basely murdered a just Israelite, and let an impious enemy escape. Hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.] Not far from it, Jf not adjoining to.it: being planted on the same rising ground, whereon the palace stood; for vines throve best in mountainous places.

1 Kings 21:2

And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs. For a flower-garden, as some understand it. Because it is near my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give the worth of it in money.] This was a fair proposal; but the law was against it.

1 Kings 21:3

And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. CHAP. XXI.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KIN1GLS. As it is natural to all men to value and love the ancient possessions that have been in their family; so the law of Moses prohibited the alienation of lands from one tribe to another, unless a man was reduced to poverty; in which case he might sell it till the jubilee; but then it was to return to him. (See Lev. xxv. 15. 25. 28.) Now, as Naboth was in no need, so he considered that if he should, out of respect to the king, and merely to do him a pleasure, part with his vineyard, he should never get it out of his hands at the jubilee; being made part of the ground belonging to the royal palace. This makes it probable that Naboth was one of the seven thousand, who observed the law strictly.

1 Kings 21:4

And Ahab came to his house heavy and displeased. Just as he had done, after the prophet had pronounced the severe sentence against him, (xx. 43.). Because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him; for heliad said, I will not give thee the inheritance oj’my fathers.] Made him a peremptory denial; which he could not bear. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.] He was so vexed to be denied by a subject, that he fell into such a passion, as made him sick, and took away his stomach, and made company unacceptable to him. In short, he was very melancholy.

1 Kings 21:5

And Jezebel his wife came to him, and said, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?. She soon found his mind was more out of order than his body; and therefore desired to know what had disturbed him. Ver. G. And he said, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.] He doth not acquaint her with his reason, but reports his answer, as if he gave him a surly refusal. Which was far otherwise; Naboth representing it as a religious duty, (ver. 3.) founded upon the law of God, not to part with the inheritance of his fathers, which was allotted to them by Joshua, never to be alienated. For in truth they that possessed them were only usufructuaries (i. e. enjoyed the profits of them),.God himself being the true proprietor, (Lev. xxv. 23.) who charged their land with no other payments but tenths and first-fruits to his ministers: after which he gave them an entire possession of it, to remain in their several families for ever, without any alteration, which none could make but himself.

1 Kings 21:7

And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?. Is this like a king, to torment thyself in this manner? as Ralbag glosses. Or, Doth it become a king to beg and pray, and not rather command? Thou knowest not thine own power, but actest like a minor, who hath no authority. Or, as Abarbinel understands it, Canst thou expect things should go well in thy kingdom, if thou hast neither will nor power to do any thing in such a small matter as this? Arise, and eat bread, and let thy heart be merry: and I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.] She would not have him trouble himself, but leave her to accomplish his desires.

1 Kings 21:8

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal. These seals were wont to be worn upon one of the fingers of their hand, (Jer. xxii. 24.) and never to be taken off night no* day, but when they used them. Which shews she was an audacious woman, that durst steal this from Ahab’s finger (for it doth not appear he knew of these letters), and write what she pleased in his name; that is, use his kingly authority to what purposes she thought good. And sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city dwelling with Naboth."] The Israelites, it seems, after their separation from Judah, kept up the civil polity which was ordained by Moses (though they forsook, his religion), having elders and judges in their several cities, as they had here at Jezreel: where they had not only elders, but also nobles; that is, captains of thousands, and hundreds, as Bon. Bertram observes, cap. 12. de Repub. Judaica.

1 Kings 21:9

And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast. As if there had been some grievous crime committed, or some great calamity had befallen them; which all the people were to bewail, and purge themselves from that sin, lest they also should become guilty. And, consequently, they were to see the crime punished very severely: for such days of fasting were spent in punishing offences, and doing justice, and praying to God for pardon. • Some ask, where it was kept? And Vitringa thinks it might possibly be in the very streets of the city: where Ezra kept his fast, (Nehem. viii. 1 — 3.).. And set Naboth up on high among the people.’] In this religious assembly of the people. For he being aperson of an illustrious house (as Josephus reports), was ordered to be set in an honourable place: that so it might not be thought they condemned him out of hatred, but with grief and respect to his person, being constrained merely by the, evidence’ given against him. Yet, others will have it, that the reason he was set in an eminent place, was only because all people accused and arraigned were wont so to appear before the judges; that all the people might see them, and hear what was alleged against them, and the proofs of it, and their defence.

1 Kings 21:10

And set two men of Belial. Men of no conscience, that would swear any thing for money. Before him, to bear tvitness against him, saying.] Such was the Roman custom also (which was most rational), that the accused should have the accusers face to face: as Festus saith, Acts xxv. 16. But some think that she need not have put herself to this trouble of proceeding in such a formal manner against Naboth in a court of justice; for by the jus reginm mentioned 1 Sam. viii. 14. -she might have taken his vineyard from him by Ahab’s absolute power. But that is a great mistake; for Samuel only meant that their kings would take the fruits of their vineyards upon occasion for their use, but not the possession of the vineyards themselves; for so all the land might have become the king’s: and that jus. regium Josephus calls a mere tyranny. Tliou didst blaspheme God and the king.] The Hebrews so much abhorred this crime of blasphemy, that they would not express it by its proper name, but said bless, instead of curse; as here and in the book of Job. Now it was death by tho law of Moses to blaspheme God, (Lev. xxiv. 16.) and by custom it was death to blaspheme the king, which is forbidden in those words, Exod. xx. 28. And perhaps they might stretch that law hither, which forbade any man,

1 Kings 21:11

And the men of the city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inliabit ants of his city. The principal inhabitants. Did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as she had written in the letters which site liad sent unto them.] Perhaps she sent private messengers to tell them by word of mouth what she expected from them, and how she would reward them; as well as public letters to authorise what they did. And princps never want instruments to execute their pleasure. But it is much there should be none among the judges, and great men, that abhorred such villariy: which argues the great corruption of their manners by idolatry.

1 Kings 21:12

They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. Ver. 13 And tltere came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him. As the witnesses used to do in courts of judgment; testifying to his face the truth of the accusation brought against him. And the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in ihe presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king.] This signifies no more but that they had the impudence publicly to testify a falsity. Though Bertram, in the book beforementioned, (cap. 12.) from these words, in the presence of the people, argues; " Potestatem populi;" the power of the people in this kingdom: because these suborned witnesses gave their testimony before them. So that it was a mixed government, like ours, consisting of the power of the king, of the nobles, and of the people. If this be true, it argues all the people of that place to be very wicked; in" that none of them excepted against the testimony of such persons, which ought not (as Maimonides observes) to have becu admitted. TJien they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.] And his sons with him, as many gather from 2 Kings ix. 26. they being condemned as accessories to his crime.

1 Kings 21:14

Tlicn they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. They knew that the order came from her; and therefore let her know they had obeyed it.

1 Kings 21:15

And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.] But by what title did be take possession? The Hebrews, I observed before, think it was by the right of confiscation; which was practised in all such crimes against the king, (See upon 2 Sam. ix. 7. and Grotius, upon Josh. i. 18. and upon this place.) Though others think he took possession for want of heirs; his children being condemned with him.

1 Kings 21:16

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard tliat Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose vp to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. He could not but know how Naboth died; and therefore, bythis, consented to that wickedness, which was committed also by his authority, (ver. 8.) •Ver. 17. And the ivord of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying.] Some lesser prophets were employed in the late messages sent unto him, (xx. 13. 28. 35.) But upon this great occasion God sends Elijah, whom he dreaded, not merely to reprove him, but to condemn him to a punishment suitable to the crime he had committed; *"

1 Kings 21:18

Arise, go doiun to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria. That is, \rtio reigns in Samaria, (ver. 1.) Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.] That he might be sure not to lose his labour, he tells him where he might find him.,

1 Kings 21:19

And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?. He expresses in brief the barbarity of this fact: as if he had said, Was it not enough that thou hast taken away his life, but thou must seize on his estate, and go thyself in person to take possession of it? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Titus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.] He declares the cause of this judgment upon him, but doth not assign the place; for the dogs licked Ahab’s blood in Samaria, (xxii. 38.) Therefore these words should be translated, as the dogs licked, or, in like manner as they licked Naboth’s blood, so shall they lick thine: mark what I say, even thine. -

1 Kings 21:20

And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O my enemy?. As much as to say, Wilt thou never suffer me* to be quiet? How darest thou to appear in my presence again, with such terrible threatenings? And he answered, I have found thee. Because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the Lord.] They that sell themselves are wholly under the power of their masters: so was Ahab under the power of sin; a perfect slave to his sinful lusts and passions, which hurried him into the foulest crimes.

1 Kings 21:21

Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that piss-

1 Kings 21:22

And I tvill make thy house like the house ofJero-, boam the son ofNebat, and like the house ofBaasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.’] These two families were utterly extirpated, (see xv. 29. xvi. 11, 12, &c.) as he prophesied Ahab’s should be.

1 Kings 21:23

Arid of Jezebel also spake the Lord, saying, Hie dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall ofJezreet. In the territory where Naboth was judged, and unjustly condemned.

1 Kings 21:24

Him that dieth ofAhab in the city the dogs shall eat: and him that dieth in tlte field shall the fowls of the air eat. See xiv. 11.

1 Kings 21:25

But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord,. Made hitiaself a perfect bond-slaveto all manner of wickedness. Whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.] Which did not excuse him, yet something mitigated his punishment: for she died more miserably than he.

1 Kings 21:26

And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites. There was no abomination which the people of Canaan committed (who are here called the Amorites, according to the ancient language, Gen.xv, 16.) which he did not imitate. • Whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.] As he intended to cast out the whole family ofAhab: who; by God’s judgments upon the Amorites, might have taken warning not to tread in their steps.

1 Kings 21:27

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard these words, that he rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth upon las flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. AH these were expressions of very great sorrow and.heaviness; which were usual in mourning. And the last words the Chaldee paraphrast translates, he went barefoot. But it is rejected.by the greatest part of interpreters, who take it as we do, for such a slow pace as signified he was reduced to great weakness and feebleness of body, by fasting and grief; or that he -had no heart to go about any business. The Jews tell us in Pirke Eliezcr, cap, 43. that he sent to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, who came and gave him a certain number of stripes every day; and that three times in a day. But without this fabulous addition/ here is enough to signify that he was extremely cast down, and very much troubled; I cannot say for his sin, but for the heavy punishment God had laid upon him. It is likely, indeed, for the present he might have some sense of his sins; but it did not last to bring him to true repentance; that is, to make him forsake them. For we read not so much as of any restitution of the vineyard; much less of his forsaking idols.

1 Kings 21:28

And the word of the Lord came to Elijah tlte Tishbite, saying,

1 Kings 21:29

Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he humbleth himself before me. Which neither Jeroboam nor Baasha had done, but obstinately went on, without the least token of sorrow, when the samo doom was passed on them. I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son f s days will I bring the evil upon his house.] Such a power there is in hearty repentance and reformation of life to obtain a pardon, that God remitted part of Ahab’s punishment, at least deferred it, upon this imperfect repentance. Which argued some degree of belief of what the prophet said: and accordingly it was his son’s blood, not his, which was licked up by the dogs in that portion of ground where Naboth’s was, (2 Kings ix. 25, 26.).