XXI. The narrative of this chapter, clearly drawn once more from the prophetic record of Elijah’s life and mission, returns to the same vividness of style and lofty spiritual teaching perceptible in 1 Kings 18:19. It describes the turning-point of Ahab’s probation, which, like the great crisis of Da... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH WAS IN JEZREEL. — The LXX. omits these words, and makes the vineyard to be “hard by the threshing-floor of Ahab, king of Samaria” — the word being the same as that rendered “void place” in 1 Kings 22:10 — apparently near the palace of Ahab in Samaria, not in Jezreel. The Vulgate renders “who w... [ Continue Reading ]
DOST THOU NOW. — The scorn of Jezebel is, like the impatience of Lady Macbeth, expressed in a striking boldness of emphasis. First comes the bitter irony of the question, “Dost thou govern the kingdom of Israel, and yet suffer a subject to cross thy will?” expressing her scornful wonder at one who “... [ Continue Reading ]
SEALED THEM WITH HIS SEAL — with the name, or token, of the king, engraved on stone, and impressed (see Job 38:14) on a lump of clay attached to the letter. The sealing (as the modern sense of “signature” implies) was the pledge of authenticity and authority. (See Genesis 38:18; Nehemiah 9:38; Nehem... [ Continue Reading ]
PROCLAIM A FAST. — This might be only to cover all that was to be so foully done with a cloak of religious observance, or, perhaps more probably, to imply that some secret sin had been committed, which would draw down vengeance on the whole city, and so to prepare for the false accusation. There is... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO MEN — in accordance with Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6. SONS OF BELIAL. — See Judges 19:22; Judges 20:13; 1 Samuel 1:16; 1 Samuel 2:12; 1 Samuel 10:27; 1 Samuel 25:17; 1 Samuel 25:25; [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE MEN OF HIS CITY... DID. — The pains taken in the invention of this foul plot, and the ready acquiescence of the rulers of the city in carrying it out, are characteristic of the baser forms of organised Eastern despotism — not venturing to take life by simple violence without some cause appar... [ Continue Reading ]
CARRIED HIM FORTH — as usual, in order to avoid polluting the city with blood — possibly to his own ground, the coveted vineyard itself.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE POSSESSION. — Naboth’s sons (see 2 Kings 9:26) were murdered with him, so that there was none to claim the inheritance. Even had this not been so, the property of executed traitors would naturally fall to the king, although no enactment to this effect is found in the Law.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN AHAB HEARD. — It is characteristic of Ahab that he takes care to ask no question about Naboth’s death, desirous “to be innocent of the knowledge,” and yet tacitly to “applaud the deed.” The guilt is Jezebel’s; the fruit, his own. In the LXX. there is here a curious and striking insertion: “he r... [ Continue Reading ]
ELIJAH. — We have heard nothing of him since the call of Elisha, as though he had once more retired to solitude. In the mere political service of the preceding chapter, important in the eyes of the world, he takes no part; but emerges now for the higher moral duty of rebuking crime, and avenging inn... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IS IN SAMARIA. — These words are almost unmeaning, unless they literally signify that Ahab was then in Samaria, not in Jezreel. To interpret them as simply part of Ahab’s title, or as signifying the country, not the town of Samaria, is to explain them away.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU KILLED, AND ALSO TAKEN POSSESSION? — The stern, indignant brevity of the accusation, at once shaming the subterfuge by which Ahab shifts his guilt to Jezebel, and unmasking the real object of the whole crime, leaves the king speechless as to defence, unable to stay the sentence which at on... [ Continue Reading ]
HAST THOU FOUND ME, O MINE ENEMY? — The cry is partly of dismay, partly of excuse. Ahab, having no word of defence to utter, endeavours to attribute Elijah’s rebuke and condemnation to simple enmity, much as in 1 Kings 18:17 he cries out “Art thou he that troubleth Israel?” The crushing answer is th... [ Continue Reading ]
(21-24) BEHOLD, I WILL BRING EVIL. — Distinct from that message of personal judgment is the doom of utter destruction pronounced on the dynasty of Omri — the same in substance, and almost in word, as that already pronounced in 1 Kings 14:10; 1 Kings 16:3. It is, indeed, called forth by the last sin... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DOGS SHALL EAT JEZEBEL. — In all his address to Ahab, Elijah has, as yet, disdained to name the instigator, on whom the coward king, no doubt, threw his guilt. Ahab stands revealed as the true culprit before God, without a shred of subterfuge to veil his ultimate responsibility. Now, briefly and... [ Continue Reading ]
AS DID THE AMORITES. — The reference is probably not only to the idolatry and worship of false gods, but to the nameless abominations always connected with such worship.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WENT SOFTLY. — The translation seems correct; the meaning is variously conjectured. The LXX. (in some MSS.) has “bent down” in sorrow; the Vulgate similarly “with head bent down;” the Eastern versions and Josephus, “barefooted,” which seems far the most probable meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW AHAB HUMBLETH HIMSELF. — As there is something entirely characteristic of Ahab’s impressible nature in this burst of penitence; so in the acceptance of it there is a remarkable illustration of the Divine mercy. The repentance might seem not only to come too late, but to be the mere offspring of... [ Continue Reading ]