1 Kings 21 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

1 Kings 21

Naboth’s Vineyard

21:1 Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And after this Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4 And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” 6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10 And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed¹ God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11 And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 13 And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”

15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” 16 And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

The Lord Condemns Ahab

17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. 19 And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ And you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood.”’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 22 And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel the LORD also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ 24 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.”

Ahab’s Repentance

25 (There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the people of Israel.)

27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house.”

Footnotes

[1] 21:10 Hebrew blessed; also verse 13

Commentary

v1: The incident involving the vineyard is recorded, demonstrating the character of both Ahab and Jezebel.

v2-3: Ahab requested that Naboth sell him his vineyard, so that he could extend his own land. Naboth was right to refuse the request, since he would keep his own land, for his children to inherit; the Lord's blessing on his life, and on his family, was not negotiable; more money or a better vineyard, such were the devil's temptations. Compare Luke 4.6-7, "all this will I give you if...". In Prov 1.13-14 the enemy offers all kinds of precious possessions. In contrast, the Prodigal Son (Luke 15) rejected the blessing of a loving home and a family inheritance for selfish pleasure.

v4: Ahab was unhappy again (20.43), his plans having been frustrated.

v5-7: Jezebel rebuked Ahab for his impotence, "Is this how you act as king over Israel!"

In reality this is Jezebel exercising authority over Ahab, manipulating the situation to gain control, even at the cost of Naboth's life. (See notes on Rev 2 Thyatira).

v8-10: Jezebel hatched a scheme to have Naboth killed. Like Jonadab (2 Sam 13.3,5) she was clever and crafty. It is sad also that the elders and nobles were party to her scheme, and that false words in a mouths of evil men would be accepted as true. This indicates the lawlessness that had become dominant in Israel.

v11-14: The plan was put into operation, the accusations were made, and believed, and Naboth was put to death.

v15-16: Since Jezebel's scheme had been successful, Ahab was able to take possession of the vineyard.

v17-19: Nothing could be hidden from God. God revealed events to Elijah. And God held both Ahab and Jezebel responsible for their sin.

v20-24: There was no love lost between Elijah and Ahab; Elijah brought another word of rebuke against Ahab. Ahab had "sold himself to do evil", such was his commitment to evil. The Lord had therefore planned disaster against him and his family. They would suffer the fate of Jeroboam and Baasha, see 14.10-11; 16.3-4, where similar words were brought against them. A particular prophecy was that dogs would devour Jezebel, and she would suffer the indignity of not having a proper burial.

v25-26: A summary of the bad character of Ahab, and the bad influence of Jezebel upon him. Ahab was not a strong man, and he was partly led astray by his much stronger wife.

v27-29: Ahab was remorseful; God had spoken to him (18.3,17; 20.13-14, 42.43); at last he realises that Elijah was right in bringing words from God. God saw his attitude, and honoured his repentance.

The punishment promised was not cancelled, but deferred (see also 2 Chr 34.28). Ahab would be killed, at God's hand, but in less dishonourable circumstances.