_A.M. 3105. B.C. 899._ Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard, 1 Kings 21:1. Jezebel procures Naboth to be stoned. 5-14. Ahab goes to take possession, 1 Kings 21:15; 1 Kings 21:16. Elijah meets him, and denounces the judgment of God, 1 Kings 21:17. Upon his humiliation a reprieve is granted, 1 Kings 21:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which was in Jezreel_ Where one of Ahab's palaces was, as the other was in Samaria. _That I may have it for a garden of herbs_ For a flower-garden, as some understand it. Ahab made a fair proposal for it, but the law was against Naboth's alienating his vineyard from his family and tribe. _The Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ahab came into his house, heavy and displeased_ He was so vexed to be denied by a subject the thing he wanted, that his vexation made him sick, took away his stomach, and made company disagreeable to him; so that his grief and trouble appeared in his countenance. Here we see, 1st, That irregular de... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jezebel said, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?_ Art thou fit to be a king who canst put up with such affronts from thy subjects, and hast not courage to dispose of them and theirs as seemeth good unto thee? _I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth_ Trouble thyself no further about it, bu... [ Continue Reading ]
_She sent the letters unto the elders and nobles_ Whom she very well knew to be fit for her purpose; _that were in his city_ In Jezreel. Thus she seeks to destroy him with a pretence of justice, and with as little reflection on Ahab as might be.... [ Continue Reading ]
_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, lest they should become guilty; and consequently they were to see the crime punished very... [ Continue Reading ]
_And set two men before him to bear witness_ It was the Roman custom also; and was most rational, that the accused should have the accusers face to face, Acts 25:16. _Thou didst blaspheme God and the king_ Hebrew, ברכת, _beracta, thou didst bless. Blessing_ is here put for _cursing_ and _blaspheming... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of his city did as Jezebel had sent to them_ Which is not at all strange, considering that they had for a long time cast off the fear of God; prostituted their consciences and religion to please their king; and sold themselves to all manner of wickedness; so that they could not now make a s... [ Continue Reading ]
_They stoned him_ And, it seems, his sons too, either with him, or after him; for God afterward says, (2 Kings 9:26,) _I have seen the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons._ Let us commit the keeping of our lives and comforts to God, for innocence itself will not always be our security. This a... [ Continue Reading ]
_They sent to Jezebel_ By whom they were not ignorant the affairs of the kingdom were in a great measure managed, and this design contrived: _saying, Naboth is stoned_ Which they knew would be an agreeable piece of news to her who had imbrued her hands in the blood of so many of the Lord's prophets.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Arise, go to meet Ahab, which is in Samaria_ That is, who reigns in Samaria. _Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth_ Or, rather, he will be there by the time thou comest thither. _And speak unto him, Hast thou killed and also taken possession?_ Thou hast murdered an innocent and righteous man; an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ahab said to Elijah_ Upon his delivery of the message last mentioned, which it was needless to repeat. _Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?_ Dost thou pursue me from place to place? Wilt thou never let me rest? Art thou come after me hither with thy unwelcome messages? Thou art always disturbing, thr... [ Continue Reading ]
_The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall_ Or, _by the ditch_, or _fort;_ or, _in the portion, of Jezreel_, as the Hebrew word בחל, _becheel_, often signifies, and as it is explained 2 Kings 9:36, a passage which attests the exact accomplishment of this prediction. _Him that dieth of Ahab in the city_... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was none like unto Ahab_ Among all the kings of Israel who had been before him. _Whom Jezebel his wife stirred up_ This is added to show that temptations to sin are no excuse to the sinner. _He did very abominably in following idols_, &c. There was no abomination which the people of Canaan co... [ Continue Reading ]
_He rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth_, &c. These were expressions of great sorrow and heaviness, and usual in mourning: for, notwithstanding that Ahab was drawn, by the persuasions of his wife, to idolatry and other great crimes; yet he was sensible that many of Elijah's prophecies had been fu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me?_ His humiliation was real, though not lasting, and accordingly pleasing to God. This discovers the great goodness of God, and his readiness to show mercy: it teaches us to take notice of that which is good, even in the worst of men: it gives a reason... [ Continue Reading ]