1 Kings 21:1-16. Naboth the Jezreelite is stoned to death and Ahab takes possession of his vineyard (Not in Chronicles) 1. This chapter is placed by the LXX. before the preceding, and numbered 20. Josephus also adopts that order of the events. In consequence, the LXX. omits the words -after these t... [ Continue Reading ]
_that I may have it for a garden of herds_ These events must have taken place during a time of peace, when Ahab had leisure to think about the convenient arrangement of his grounds. And it is most probable they occurred after Ben-hadad's utter defeat, otherwise the victory then granted to Ahab would... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord forbid it me_ This verse is very interesting, because (1) it makes clear that Naboth was a worshipper of Jehovah and, in spite of the persecution of the prophets, did not shrink from making it known to the king by his language. Here was an example of one who had not bowed the knee nor give... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Ahab came into his house_ The last four words are omitted by the LXX., as also the clause -because of the word … the inheritance of my fathers." It is clear from the continuation of the story that it was to Samaria that Ahab came back after his interview with Naboth. _heavy and displeased_ See... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will not give thee my vineyard_ For the last two words the LXX. has -the inheritance of my fathers." Of course it is to be understood that Ahab would lay before Jezebel the motive, from which Naboth had refused his king's request. But the narrative is much more in character with the rest of Ahab'... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?_ There is not expressed here any sign of a question in the original, but there can be no doubt that this is the force of the words. The Hebrew order is -Thou now governest, &c." the pronoun being emphatically expressed. So that the sense is - _Thou_art ki... [ Continue Reading ]
_she wrote letters in Ahab's name_ She was the real ruler, he only king in name. The letters would be prepared for her by the royal secretaries. Jezebel's part was to take the signet ring of her husband, and therewith affix the royal seal that the document might go forth with authority. Apparently A... [ Continue Reading ]
_Proclaim a fast_ Let a day of humiliation be appointed, for it must be represented that a great wrong has been committed both against God and the king. Cf. 1 Samuel 7:6 where the people gathered at Mizpeh fasted, saying, -We have sinned against the Lord". The command of God (Joel 2:12) by His proph... [ Continue Reading ]
_sons of Belial_ In Deuteronomy 13:13, the R.V. has translated this expression -base fellows", putting in the margin -sons of worthlessness". This is the sense everywhere in the O.T. and should have been in the text. In N.T. times -Belial" was personified (see 2 Corinthians 6:15), but there is no tr... [ Continue Reading ]
_who_were _the inhabitants_ R.V. WHO DWELT. The word is the same as in 1 Kings 21:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there came in two men, children of Belial_ R.V. AND THE TWO MEN, SONS OF BELIAL, CAME IN. The Hebrew noun is definite and the sense requires that it should be indicated. _witnessed_ R.V. BARE WITNESS. As in 1 Kings 21:10. even _against Naboth, in the presence of the people_ These words are om... [ Continue Reading ]
_that Naboth was stoned, and was dead_ These words are omitted by the LXX. The repetition is alien to Greek style, but exactly after the fashion of Hebrew. _take possession of the vineyard_ Some have thought that the king could do this, because it is supposed that the property of one so executed wo... [ Continue Reading ]
_when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead_ Here the LXX. adds -he rent his garments and covered himself with sackcloth". This clause must be entirely out of place. Josephus gives us a detail far more in harmony with Ahab's character. He says (_Ant._viii. 13, 8) -And Ahab was pleased with what had been d... [ Continue Reading ]
Elijah meets Ahab and tells him God's sentence. Ahab repents and the punishment is deferred (Not in Chronicles) 18. _which_is [R.V. DWELLETH] _in Samaria_ This change is necessary for consistency in the narrative. There is no verb in the original, as will be seen from the italics of A. V. The verbs... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?_ The guilt of all that had been done is at once laid at Ahab's door. He had neither known nor cared to know (as it seems) what Jezebel's plans were and only thought of the end which they accomplished. He was willing by taking possession to reap the advan... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hast thou found me, O mine enemy_ Ahab had not thought of a penalty to overtake him, but the sight of Elijah makes him feel not penitent, but indignant that the avenger of wrong is so soon at hand. Therefore he calls Elijah his _enemy_. _because thou hast sold thyself_ Here the LXX. adds μάτην =in... [ Continue Reading ]
_and will take away thy posterity_ R.V. AND WILL UTTERLY SWEEP THEE AWAY. See above on 1 Kings 14:10, where this verse occurs in substance. _and left in Israel_ R.V. AND HIM THAT IS LEFT AT LARGE. The expression is a proverbial one, meant to indicate all men of every kind. Perhaps its origin is in... [ Continue Reading ]
_and made_[R.V. HAST MADE] _Israel to sin_ Cf. 1 Kings 16:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the dogs shall eat Jezebel_ For the fulfilment, see 2 Kings 9:35-37. _by the wall_[R.V. RAMPART] of _Jezreel_ The Hebrew word which stands here in the text is found again 2 Samuel 20:15, where it is translated -trench", with a margin in A.V. -outmost wall". The R.V. gives there also -rampart". In 2... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him that dieth_&c. See above, 1 Kings 14:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_to work wickedness_ R.V. TO DO THAT WHICH WAS EVIL. See above, 1 Kings 21:20. Ahab exceeded the wickedness of all the other kings in that he introduced Baal-worship, and allowed his wife to proceed to all lengths in her attempts to destroy any recognition of Jehovah, even such as remained in the c... [ Continue Reading ]
_he did very abominably_ Ahab himself cast aside the worship which his predecessors had inaugurated and followed, and followed Jezebel in her idolatry. _according to all things as did the Amorites_ Better, with R.V., ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE AMORITES DID. The Amorites are mentioned probably becaus... [ Continue Reading ]
The LXX. gives for this verse -And when Ahab was pricked (in his heart) on account of this word (coming) from the presence of the Lord, he went and wept, and rent his robe, and girded sackcloth upon his body, and fasted. And he put on sackcloth in the day on which he slew Naboth the Jezreelite, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_because he humbleth himself before me_ These words are left out by the LXX., as are also -upon his house" at the close of the verse. _I will not bring the evil in his days_ That is, the whole penalty shall not be inflicted on him. A portion of it was, as we are told in 1 Kings 22:37-38. The Jews ex... [ Continue Reading ]