21:2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, a Give me thy
vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because
it [is] near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a
better vineyard than it; [or], if it seem good to thee, I
will give thee the worth of it in money.
(a) Though Ahab's tyranny is condemned by the Holy Spirit,
yet he was not so rigorous that he would take from
another man his right without full recompense.
21:4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because
of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him:
for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my
fathers. And he laid him down b upon his bed, and turned
away his face, and would eat no bread.
(b) Thus the wicked do not consider what is just and
lawful, but fret inwardly when they cannot have their
inordinate lusts satisfied.
21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, c Dost thou now
govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, [and] eat bread, and
let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of
Naboth the Jezreelite.
(c) As though she said, "You do not know what it means to
reign. Command and do not beg".
21:9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a d fast,
and set Naboth on high among the people:
(d) For then they used to enquire of men's faults: for no
one could truly fast if he was a notorious sinner.
21:11 And the e men of his city, [even] the elders and the
nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as
Jezebel had sent unto them, [and] as it [was] written in
the letters which she had sent unto them.
(e) Thus the worldlings contrary to God's commandment, who
does not consent to the shedding of innocent blood,
would rather obey the wicked commandments of princes
than the just laws.
21:15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was
stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, f
Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the
Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for
Naboth is not alive, but dead.
(f) This example of monstrous cruelty the Holy Spirit
leaves to us, to the intent that we should abhor all
tyranny, and especially in those whom nature and kind
should move to be pitiful and inclined to mercy.
21:19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the
LORD, g Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And
thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD,
h In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth
shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
(g) Do you think to have an advantage by murdering an
innocent?
(h) This was fulfilled in Joram his son (2Ki 9:25,26).
21:25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did i sell
himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom
Jezebel his wife stirred up.
(i) By the wicked counsel of his wife he became a vile
idolater, and cruel murderer, as one that gave himself
wholly to serve sin.
21:27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he
rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and
fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went k softly.
(k) In token of mourning, or as some read, barefooted.
21:29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he
humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in
his days: [but] in his l son's days will I bring the
evil upon his house.
