The dogs shall eat Jezebel - This was most literally fulfilled; see 2 Kings 9:36 . The carcasses of poor Hindoos, and of persons who have received public punishment, are thrown into the rivers, and floating to the side, are devoured by dogs, vultures, and crows. read more
The Martyrdom of Naboth. History tells of few crimes of its kind more flagitious, more cruel and cold-blooded than this. Here we see that spectacle which one of the ancients said was dear to the gods—a just man suffering shameful wrongs with dignity and patience: we see a man because of his fidelity to God and His law judicially done to death by the representative of God, by the authority appointed to execute the Law. And just as the crime has few parallels, so has the history few equals... read more
The Progress of Sin. This chapter describes one of the blackest crimes which ever blotted the page of history. The description is so graphic that we seem eyewitnesses of the tragedy, and so suggestive that we can understand the motives and feelings of the principal actors. Naboth has been blamed sometimes for refusing what appeared a reasonable request that he would sell a piece of land to his rightful king at a fair price. It is evident, however, that he was not only acting within his... read more
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad [same word as in 1 Kings 21:4 ], that thou eatest no bread? [It would seem that the queen missed him from the banqueting hall—he can hardly, therefore, have lain down on one of the divans or couches therein—and went to his bedroom to inquire the reason.] read more
A Sinful Nation. Time was when the Hebrew nation was great and respected, "a praise in the earth" for kings wise and honourable, for magistrates upright and noble, and for a people faithful and true. But how completely is all this changed! A more pitiable picture of national depravity could scarcely be drawn than that presented in the text. Here we have— I. AN INIQUITOUS PALACE . 1 . The king is utterly unprincipled . 2 . His queen is a " cursed woman ." II. AN... read more
Sin's friendships, and what they lead to. I. THE SINFUL FIND MANY HELPERS . Ahab seems to have done all that he was able or cared to do. He had tempted Naboth and failed, and the matter seemed to have come to an end. But where Ahab stops, Satan's servants meet him and carry on the work. Jezebel prevails on him to tell the story, and the elders of Jezreel and its sons of Belial are ready to do their part also, to give him his desire and steep his soul in crime. The man who is... read more
And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him; Give me thy vineyard for money [Heb. silver ]; or else, if it please [Heb. delight ] thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered [Heb. said ] , I will not give thee my vineyard. [Ahab does not mention the reason which Naboth assigned for his refusal. But Naboth's reasons were nothing to him, and he had hardly given them a second thought.] read more
And Jezebel his wife said unto him. Dost thou now govern [Heb. make ; LXX: ποιεῖς [ βασιλέα ] the kingdom of Israel? [There is no question expressed in the Hebrew which stands, "Thou now makest the kingdom over Israel." The commentators generally, however, understand the words—as the LXX . and the A.V.—as an ironical question, "Art thou ruler in aught but name?" though some take it as an imperative: "Do thou now exert authority over the kingdom of Israel," And on the... read more
So she wrote letters [Heb. writings ] in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal [The use of the seal, for the purpose of authentication, is of great antiquity. Some of the Egyptian signets are more than 4,000 years old. Their use in the age of the patriarchs is attested by Genesis 38:15 and Genesis 41:42 ; their importance is proved by the text, by Esther 3:10 ; Esther 8:2 , Esther 8:8 , Esther 8:10 (cf. "Herod," 3:128); Daniel 6:17 ; Jeremiah 32:10 , 54; ... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:20
Thou hast sold thyself to work evil - See a similar form of speech, Romans 7:14 ; (note). Thou hast totally abandoned thyself to the service of sin. Satan is become thy absolute master, and thou his undivided slave. read more