1 Reis 21:1-7

III. A GRANDE CRISE SOCIAL 21:1-16

The third crisis[476] discussed in Chapter s 19-21 is of a different nature than those previously treated. Here the threat is not of external military domination, but of internal breakdown of law and order. Chapter 21 shows clearly the social breakdown of Ahab's kingdom. Years of flirtation with pagan practices were taking their toll. The rights of individuals guaranteed in the Sinai covenant were being ignored.

The king was no longer under the Law, but was superior to it. The story unfolds in four stages: (1) the covetousness of the king (1 Reis 21:1-7); (2) the conspiracy against Naboth (1 Reis 21:8-16); (3) the condemnation by Elijah (1 Reis 21:17-24); and (4) the contrition of Ahab (1 Reis 21:25-29).

[476] Chapter 21, as far as content is concerned, is a continuation of the Elijah narrative of Chapter s 17-19. The Septuagint version places this chapter immediately after chapter 19. The author of Kings must have been attempting to give a chronological assessment of Ahab's reign in the way he arranged these Chapter s.

A. THE COVETOUSNESS OF THE KING 21:1-7

TRANSLATION

(1) And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. (2) And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that it may become my garden of herbs, for it is near beside my house, and I will give you in place of it a better vineyard; or if it is good in your eyes, I will give you in silver the price of it.

(3) And Naboth said unto Ahab, Far be it to me from the LORD that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you. (4) And Ahab came unto his house sullen and angry over the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him when he said, I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would not eat food. (5) And Jezebel his wife came unto him, and spoke unto him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you do not eat food? (6) And he spoke unto her, Because I spoke unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you desire I will give to you a vineyard instead of it; and he said, I will not give you my vineyard. (7) And Jezebel his wife said unto him, You now are the one who governs the land of Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be merry! I will give to you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

COMMENTS

From the royal palace in Samaria Ahab and his court would often commute to Jezreel[477] twenty-five miles to the north where the king also had a palace. Near his Jezreel palace was a plot of ground, a vineyard, possessed by a man named Naboth which Ahab dearly coveted (1 Reis 21:1). The king negotiated with Naboth for this property, offering to exchange vineyards with him, or pay him in silver whichever he desired.

This vineyard was not required for the public welfare, but to satisfy a purely selfish personal whim (1 Reis 21:2). Naboth, however, was a devout worshiper of the Lord, and he would not violate the Law of Moses[478] by selling his family inheritance to one outside the family[479] (1 Reis 21:3).

Para os israelitas piedosos, era um dever religioso, bem como uma obrigação para com a família e a tribo, preservar a herança. Rejeitado por este homem devoto, Ahab voltou ao palácio para dar vazão à dor infantil. Mal-humorado e zangado, ele fez beicinho em sua câmara privada, recusando-se a comer ( 1 Reis 21:4 ).

[477] Jezreel pode ter sido o lar ancestral dos Amríidas. O local teria servido idealmente como base de operações contra Ramote-Gileade. Jezreel parece ter servido como um resort de inverno para o rei ( 1 Reis 18:45 ).

[478] Cfr. Levítico 25:23 e segs.; Números 36:7 e segs.

[479] Além disso, o status de Nabote como homem livre estava vinculado à posse de sua terra ancestral. Ter aceitado a oferta de Acabe faria dele e de sua família dependentes reais. Ver Gray, OTL, p. 439.

Jezebel, notando a ausência do rei da sala de banquetes, foi ao quarto de Acabe para saber o motivo de sua perda de apetite ( 1 Reis 21:5 ). Ele contou a sua esposa como Nabote havia se recusado a vender sua vinha, mas não mencionou o motivo que Nabote atribuiu à sua recusa ( 1 Reis 21:6 ).

Provavelmente ele percebeu que Jezabel não entenderia as leis israelitas de herança familiar. A rainha não perguntou os motivos da recusa de Nabote em se desfazer de sua propriedade. Ela não conseguia entender por que seu marido estava tão chateado com o incidente. Afinal, ele era o rei, não era? Então Jezabel instou com o marido a deixar o assunto nas mãos dela ( 1 Reis 21:7 ).