1 Reis 21
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Reis 21
NJB (MT versing) Ahab Covets Naboth's Vineyard Naboth Is Murdered for His Vineyard Naboth's Vineyard Naboth's Vineyard Naboth Refuses to Hand Over His Vineyard 21:1-4 21:1-4 21:1-4 21:1-2 21:1-3 21:3 Ahab and Jezebel 21:4-5 21:4-7 21:5-7 21:5-10 21:5-7 21:6 21:7 Naboth Is Murdered 21:8-10 21:8-14 21:8-10 21:8-10 Jezebel's Plot 21:11-14 21:11-14 21:11-14 21:11-16 21:15-16 21:15-16 21:15-16 21:15-16 The Lord Condemns Ahab Elijah Pronounces God's Sentence 21:17-19 21:17-26 21:17-19 21:17-19 21:17-24 21:20-24 21:20-24 21:20a 21:20b-24 21:25-26 21:25-26 21:25-26 21:25-26 Ahab Repents 21:27-29 21:27-29 21:27-29 21:27 21:27-29 21:28-29 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS Note how this chapter shows the true heart of its characters. faithful Naboth corrupt local leaders weak, selfish Ahab strong, ruthless Jezebel faithful prophet repentant Ahab merciful YHWH It is difficult for modern western people who are so committed to individual rights and the value of the individual to read a chapter like this. Faithful Naboth is stoned illegally by his wicked neighbors, who were commanded by a weak, selfish king and his powerful, ruthless queen. However, this same idolatrous king (cf. vv. 25-26), who repents at the close of his life (like Manasseh), is mercifully accepted by God. God's desire and willingness to forgive and restore is absolutely amazing! God loves all people but He will sacrifice an individual for the greater good. The Bible is a corporate, eastern book. This is why it is so misunderstood by western, literalistic individuals. SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN A helpful book for me related to prophecy is D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks. In relation to verse 19, see chapter 6, "How Have Prophecies Been Fulfilled?"
1 Reis 21:1-4
21:1 "beside the palace of Ahab" This was a second residence of Ahab (i.e., 1 Kgs. 18:45). His main palace was in the capital of Israel, Samaria, which was established by his father Omri. 21:2 Ahab offers to trade Naboth's land for better land or pay money for it 21:3 Naboth will not sell because the vineyard was his family's inheritance from the Lord. This can be understood as all the earth belongs to YHWH ‒ Exod.19:5; Lev. 25:23; Num. 36:7 YHWH gave the land of Canaan to His covenant people by lot ‒ Gen. 15:12-26; Joshua 12-19 the land could not be sold permanently (i.e., Year of Jubilee, cf. Lev. 25:23-28; Num. 36:7; Ezek. 46:18) 21:4 The weakness of Ahab's personality is clearly revealed in this verse. he was sullen (BDB 711) and vexed (BDB 277), just as he was in 1 Kgs. 20:43 he went to bed he turned his face to the wall (i.e., away from all contact with people) he refused to eat
1 Reis 21:5-7
21:5-10 As v. 4 reveals Ahab's personality, these verses reveal Jezebel's strong personality. She was a get-it-done-at-whatever-cost person! 21:5 "your spirit" The term translated "spirit" is ruah (BDB 924), which denotes one's life force. SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE
1 Reis 21:8-10
21:8 "seal" This was a signet ring or staff with a carved image or letters which denoted one's authority. Here, the MT uses the VERB "sealed" (BDB 367, KB 364, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) and the NOUN together, "sealed with a seal." SPECIAL TOPIC: SEAL ▣ "the elders" This was the local elders. The larger group is mentioned in 1 Kgs. 20:7. SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDERS ▣ "nobles" This designation (BDB 359 II) is of important and influential land owners and business men. They were a distinct group from the tribal leaders military personnel royal servants (i.e., government officials) 21:10 "two" Jezebel knew that Mosaic Law required "two" witnesses (i.e., Num. 35:30; Deut. 17:6; 19:15). ▣ "worthless men" NKJV, NRSV, TEV, NJB, JPSOA "scoundrels" "unprincipled rogues" "sons of transgressors" "wicked men" Literally this means "sons of Belial" (BDB 116). The Hebrew word meant "worthless one" or "good for nothing" (cf. Jdgs. 19:22; 20:13; 1 Sam. 10:27; 30:22; 1 Kgs. 21:10,13; Prov. 6:12). By the NT time, Belial had become synonymous with Satan (cf. 2 Cor. 6:15). ▣ "You cursed God and the king" The VERB (BDB 138, KB 159, Piel PERFECT) means "bless," but in some contexts it has the exact opposite meaning (BDB 139, #5, cf. here; Job 1:5,11; 2:5,9; Ps. 10:3). See Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, p. 237 and F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, p. 21. For someone in Israel to speak poorly of the king was to speak poorly of God (Elohim). The king was God's official representative on earth (i.e., Exod. 22:28). ▣ "stone him" See SPECIAL TOPIC: STONE TO DEATH.
1 Reis 21:11-14
21:12 "proclaim a fast" To proclaim a fast meant there was a problem (i.e., judgment of God for a covenant violation). This was a set up to condemn Naboth and take his inheritance.
1 Reis 21:15-16
21:15 There has been much discussion among commentators as to how/why Ahab had the legal right to Naboth's vineyard and not Naboth's family (his sons were also killed, cf. 2 Kgs. 9:26). The question remains open!
1 Reis 21:17-19
21:19 "murdered" This is the very VERB of Exod. 20:13 (BDB 953, KB 1283). It denotes premeditated murder. SPECIAL TOPIC: MURDER ▣ "the dogs licked the blood" This would denote an improper burial, which was so odious to the Hebrews. This is fulfilled for Ahab in 1 Kgs. 22:38 Jezebel in 2 Kgs. 9:33-36 ▣ "blood" See SPECIAL TOPIC: BLOOD. ▣ "the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours" This was YHWH's judgment of Ahab for Neboth's murder specifically and for leading Israel into deeper idolatry (vv. 25-26). However, this never occurred! Was this a false prophecy? Even though it is not always stated (i.e., "if. . .then"), the vast majority of promises and prophecies are "conditional." The judgment is meant to cause repentance. Repentance can change a prophecy (vv. 27-29). See Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 70-75. SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)
1 Reis 21:20-24
21:20 "O my enemy" This title (BDB33, KB 38, Qal ACTIVE PARTICIPLE) is used to denote an enemy of the king or nation. Ahab viewed Elijah as a traitor to his leadership more than a messenger from YHWH. But that will change (cf. vv. 17-24,27-29). 21:21 "will utterly sweep you away" This VERB (BDB 128I, KB 145, Piel PERFECT with waw) basically means "to burn," but in the Piel stem (BDB 229, #3) it means "consume, utterly remove" (cf. Deut. 13:5; 17:7,12; 19:13,19; 21:21; 22:21,22,24; Jdgs. 20:13; 1 Kgs. 14:10; 16:3; 21:21; 2 Kgs. 23:24; 2 Chr. 19:3). ▣ "cut off" This VERB (BDB 503, KB 500, Hiphil PERFECT with waw) basically means "to destroy" (cf.1 Kgs. 14:10; Kgs. 9:8). Here, in the sense of no posterity. This will be done by Jehu to Ahab's descendants. 21:22 "like the house of Jeroboam" See 1 Kgs. 14:10-11. ▣ "like the house of Baasha" See 1 Kgs. 16:3-4. ▣ "you have provoked Me to anger" This is anthropomorphic language which describes YHWH's reaction to idolatry. SPECIAL TOPIC: ANTHROPOMORPHIC LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE GOD ▣ "because you have made Israel sin" This refers to the rival temples set up by Jeroboam in Bethel and Dan. Originally they were meant to worship YHWH but they degenerated into fertility worship sites. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE 21:23 For this fulfillment see 2 Kgs. 9:10,30-37. ▣ "in the district of Jezreel" "by the wall of Jezreel" "within the bounds of Jezreel" "in the city of Jezreel" NJB, JPSOA "in the Field of Jezreel" TEB, Targums "near the rampart of Jezreel" "by the fortification of Jezreel" "in the inheritance which is Jezreel" The MT has the MASCULINE NOUN (BDB 295) which denotes a fortress or rampart. The parallel in 2 Kgs. 9:36 has "in the property/portion of Jezreel." The term "field" occurs in nine Hebrew MSS (JPSOA). field/plot ‒ חלק (BDB 323) rampart/wall ‒ חל (unusual spelling) 21:24 Ahab's descendants will all be destroyed and have no proper burial (cf. 1 Kgs. 14:11; 16:4; this refers to v. 22).
1 Reis 21:25-26
21:25-26 Ahab was easily influenced by Jezebel to become actively involved in idolatry even though YHWH revealed Himself to him several times (cf. 1 Kings 20). 21:26 "Amorites" This tribal group, along with "Canaanite," is used as a collective term for all the ethnic groups of Palestine. If there is a distinction Amorite refers to those groups in the hill country Canaanite refers to those groups on the coastal plain SPECIAL TOPIC: PRE-ISRAELITE INHABITANTS OF PALESTINE ▣ "whom the Lord cast out before the sons of Israel" This could refer to Gen. 15:12-21 the conquest of Joshua
1 Reis 21:27-29
21:27-29 Apparently Ahab repented late in his life (like Manasseh) and YHWH responded in mercy. Ahab's repentance is evidenced by mourning rites general demeanor YHWH's willingness to accept Ahab's repentance, after all he had done and been a party to, speaks volumes of the character of Israel's God. SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT) SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT) 21:27 "despondently" "mourning" "dejectedly" "depressed" "with slow steps" "subdued" "moaning" "bare footed" The MT has the ADJECTIVE (BDB 31) that basically means "gentleness" (i.e., 2 Sam. 18:5; Isa. 8:6), but here it denotes "walking softly" in a repentant attitude. Ahab was genuinely sorry for his life and actions; even after all his evil, YHWH responded to his spiritual turn about!