Lesson 7 - 1 Kings 21:1-10, 15-21a - AHAB COVETS NABOTH'S VINEYARD
INTRODUCTION: Last week, in 1 Kings 19:9-21 we saw a study in contrasts: The same Elijah who voiced a bold challenge to king Ahab and 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel in 1 Kings 18:20-39, was now fleeing for his life in fear of a death threat issued against him by Queen Jezebel, Ahab's evil wife. We might even say that at this point, his fear of Jezebel even exceeded his fear of the LORD. Elijah was so afraid that he fled over 250 miles south all the way to Mount Horeb to put as much distance as possible between himself and the murderous Queen. And when he got there, he hid in a cave. Then God showed up and ask him, twice, "What are you doing here, Elijah? In other words, why have you abandoned your ministry and your people? God also informed Elijah that he sometimes accomplishes His will with a gentle voice rather than spectacular displays of power (19:12). When Elijah attempted to defend himself, saying twice, "I have been very zealous for the LORD"(19:10, 14), and claimed that he was the only believer left in Israel still devoted to the LORD, God informed that him there were 7,000 others (a round number) others besides him who were still faithful to YHWH (19:18). Finally the LORD commanded Elijah to return to Israel, where he would appoint and apprentice Elisha of Abel-meholah as his successor in prophetic ministry (19:15-16). The main point of application that we took away from this is that failure doesn't mean a defeat or an end to our ministry. This showed how we can set ourselves for discouragement when our pride and expectations are not firmly rooted in the foundation of God's wisdom in the Bible.
This week, In 1 Kings 21:1-10, 15-21, we'll see Elijah back at work in Israel as he is confronted with one of the most sordid episodes in the OT, which reports the wicked Queen Jezebel's bloodthirsty scheme to acquire Naboth's vineyard as a gift to her husband, King Ahab.
Read 1 Kings 21:1-4 - NABOTH THE JEZREELITE HAD A VINEYARD
1 "Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is close beside my house, and I will give you a better vineyard than it in its place; if you like, I will give you the price of it in money." 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid me that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers." 4 So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food.
v. 1: "Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria." - This verse sets the stage for the conflict. Naboth owned a vineyard that was adjacent to King Ahab's palace in Jezreel. Although Ahab's main palace was in Samaria, he apparently maintained a winter residence in Jezreel. If he wished to expand his gardens there, acquiring Naboth's vineyard would be a natural add-on.
v. 2a: "Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is close beside my house," - Vineyards are important properties in the OT: unlike ordinary vegetable or other types of "gardens, vineyards" were a long-term enterprise that required a lot of preparation and many years of hard work to make it productive.
v. 2b: "and I will give you a better vineyard than it in its place; if you like, I will give you the price of it in money." - To his credit, Ahab does not seek to confiscate Naboth's property without offering any compensation. He offers Naboth an exchange for another vineyard or a fair price in cash money.
v. 3: But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid me that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers." - Landholding in Israel under Torah Law was ancestral and complex: the land had originally been granted and parceled among members of the 12 tribes by YWYH, to be held in trust for the family to which it was originally granted. While Torah Law did not forbid the sale of land, ancestors were forbidden to sell land in perpetuity (i.e., forever). If a family was forced to sell their land, then a kinsman next in line was obligated to redeem the property (Lev. 25:14-27). For Naboth, to sell the land to Ahab free and clear was not only something he didn't want to do personally, but more serious, something that he believed was forbidden by the Law Of Moses-i.e., "The LORD forbid me."
v. 4: "So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food." - This verse gives insight into Ahab's character: He was a weak man, a passive-aggressive coward. When he encountered strong opposition from someone like Naboth, who only asserted his rights under Torah Law, he typically backed-down, as he did when Elijah issued the challenge to the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-39). Here we see a pathetic Ahab lying down on his bed and sulking like a spoiled child, refusing to eat.
Read 1 Kings 21:5-7 - I WILL GIVE YOU THE VINEYARD OF NABOTH
5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating food?" 6 So he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you a vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" 7 Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
v. 5: "But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating food?" - The idea that opposites attract was never more true than in the case of Ahab and Jezebel. Jezebel, was both aggressive and malevolent, completely heartless. Ahab was probably attracted to Jezebel in the first instance because she had the strength to attack problems head-on-to take the bull by the horns-without hesitation.
v. 6: "So he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you a vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" - Notice that Ahab accurately explained the offer he gave Naboth for the vineyard, but omits to mention that Naboth's refusal was legally based on his rights of ancestral inheritance under Torah Law. Instead, he makes it sound as though Naboth was just being stubborn.
v. 7a: "Jezebel his wife said to him, 'Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful;" - To paraphrase, she asks "are you a man or mouse, Ahab? After all, you're the king; you make the rules; you can do whatever you want to do. Her view of the king's powers is the opposite of Torah Law: Israelite kings and leaders are subject to God's laws just like everyone else.
v. 7b: "Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." - Jezebel has decided to do what Ahab has failed to do. She will-by hook or crook-take care of this problem. She will do whatever's necessary to secure the rights to Naboth's property. Ahab is probably relieved that Jezebel has taken the problem off his shoulders.
Read 1 Kings 21:8-10 - JEZEBEL WROTE LETTERS IN AHAB'S NAME
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. 9 Now she wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10 and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."
v. 8: "So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city." - She probably dictated the letter to one of the king's scribes and put the king's wax seal on it. The "elders and nobles" of Naboth's locality would automatically assume it was a command issued by the king when, in fact, Jezebel had no such authority. Even if the recipients guessed that this order came from Jezebel, and they refused to do her dirty work, they might very well find themselves next in line to be executed.
v. 9: "Now she wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people;" - A "fast" was a religious observance, a solemn assembly accompanied by prayer, called to show penitence toward God. In Jezebel's hands it was a religious travesty called for sinful purposes.
v. 10a: "and seat two worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying," - Rather than involve Ahab directly, Jezebel devises a scheme to insulate Ahab from blame. The officials who will conduct the fast are "two worthless men" whom Jezebel has instructed to bear false witness against Naboth. Torah Law requires two witnesses to secure a death sentence (Deut. 7:16; 19:15). The people at the fast apparently were unaware that these two witnesses were liars and cheats.
v. 10b: 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death." - Cursing "God and the king" establishes two crimes: Blasphemy and treason, the prescribed penalties for which were death by stoning (Ex. 22:28; Lev. 24:16: Deut. 7:5-6). And there is precedent for executing the condemned outside the city limit in order to not to defile the land (Heb. 3:12). Verse 11 confirmed the city officials did this. If they had reservations, they were too afraid to oppose Jezebel.
1 Kings 21:15-16 - ARISE, TAKE POSSESSION OF THE VINEYARD
15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
v. 15-16: Just because Naboth is dead, it does not remove the ancestral rights to the land; however, 2 Kings 9:26 later reports that Jezebel had all of Naboth's killed sons in order to ensure that there would be no line of inheritance. So, Jezebel's evil scheme had gone of without a hitch. Notice in v. 16 that Ahab hesitates not at all and immediately follows Jezebel's orders.
Synopsis of vv. 17-19: These verses report that God spoke to Elijah (at an unknown location) and commanded him to go "down" (probably from Abel-meholah to Jezreel) and confront Ahab with the crimes committed against Naboth and the unlawful taking of his land. God tells Elijah to tell Ahab that: (1) he had "killed and taken possession" (Ahab, by association, had committed three crimes: coveting, murder, and theft); and (2) "in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick your blood, even yours." So, Ahab will die, and God hasn't forgotten Jezebel's complicity.
Read Kings 21:20-21 - I WILL BRING EVIL UPON YOU
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel;
v. 20a: "Ahab said to Elijah, 'Have you found me, O my enemy?'" - Ahab had earlier addressed Elijah as "you troubler of Israel" (18:17), but now labels him as "my enemy."
v. 20b: "And he answered, 'I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.'" - Ahab "sold" Himself by his implicit approval of and participation in all of Jezebel's evil plotting and scheming, and by his association, approved all of the evil deeds perpetrated against Naboth, an innocent man who only stood up for his rights under Torah Law, plus the horrendous genocide he allowed to be committed against Naboth's sons. All because he wanted a parcel of land. It's no surprise that Elijah would be deathly afraid of the woman behind this man (1 Kings 19:1-2).
v. 21: Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel;" - What's unusual about this statement is that Elijah issued this curse of God's forthcoming judgment in the first person, "I will bring...and will cut off." Yet, Elijah is speaking with God's authority; Ahab has made himself an enemy of God, and God is now pronouncing doom on the entire dynasty of Omni, Ahab's father.
POSTSCRIPT: Ahab surprises us by repenting in response to Elijah's pronouncement of judgment in vv. 20-21. He tears his clothes, fasts, and goes about dejectedly, as a result, the LORD grants him a temporary stay of execution (21:27-29). But then in Chapter 22, Ahab ignores Micaiah's prophecy and goes into battles with the Arameans (Syria), during which he is wounded, dies, and buried (22:37). 1 Kings 22:7 reports that: "They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (now the harlots bathed themselves there), according to the word of the LORD which He spoke." And 2 Kings 10:11 later reports: "So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his acquaintances and his priests, until he left him without a survivor." So, God removed every trace of Ahab from the face of the earth.
APPLICATION-Guilt by Association
1. Ahab's story shows that God's people must be very careful of the people whom we choose to marry. Ahab probably married Jezebel to assure peaceful relations with Israel's northern neighbor, Phoenicia. But when she insisted that the altars of the LORD be torn down and that the people be forced to worship the pagan god Baal, Ahab should have packed-up her bags and sent her back to Sidon. Instead, he allowed her influence over him to grow to the extent that she became the real power behind the throne, ultimately causing God to curse Ahab and his entire family line.
2. Ahab's story reminds us that God's people must also be careful about those with whom we associate, both professionally (work) and socially. We might wonder if Ahab would have consented to Jezebel's intervention if he had known that it would make him guilty of murder and theft. In a similar way, if we allow ourselves to become entangled with people who are dishonest in their business dealings or immoral in their personal lives (e.g., party animals and adulterers), we run the risk of guilt by association. And we also run the risk of being tempted to sin. The point is that we need to steer of such relationships before they can damage our Christian walk.
3. Ahab's story shows us that God will accept repentance from the worst kind of sinners. Despite all Ahab's wrongdoing-accessory to murder and theft-God withheld his judgment when Ahab humbled himself and repented. We can only deduce that Elijah's pronouncement of judgment had its intended effect at that time. But when he back-slid and reverted to his old ways, God caused him to be killed in battle and obliterated his entire family line. And God didn't forget Jezebel: 2 Kings 9:30-37 (which isn't in our reading plan) reports that Jezebel was thrown from a multi-story window, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs. There wasn't even enough left of her to bury.
