So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal ,.... He giving her leave, no doubt, to take his seal; though she might not communicate her scheme to him, lest he should object to it: and sent the letters unto the elders, and to the nobles that were in his city dwelling with Naboth : to the chief magistrates of the city of Jezreel, where Naboth dwelt. read more
And she wrote in the letters, saying, proclaim a fast ,.... Pretending fears of some dreadful calamity coming upon the nation, and therefore fasting and humiliation were necessary to avert it, and it would be right to inquire what crimes were committed by men among them, and punish them for them; and intimated to them that Naboth should be chosen as the great offender, and be accused, condemned, and put to death, R. Joseph Kimchi F1 Apud David. Kimchium in loc. thinks the phrase... read more
She wrote letters in Ahab ' s name - She counterfeited his authority by his own consent; and he lent his signet to stamp that authority. read more
Proclaim a fast - Intimate that there is some great calamity coming upon the nation, because of some evil tolerated in it. Set Naboth on high - Bring him to a public trial. 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
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
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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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 21:5-16
Nothing but mischief is to be expected when Jezebel enters into the story?that cursed woman, 2 Kgs. 9:34. I. Under pretence of comforting her afflicted husband, she feeds his pride and passion, and blows the coals of his corruptions. It became her to take notice of his grief and to enquire into the cause of it, 1 Kgs. 21:5. Those have forgotten both the duty and affection of the conjugal relation that interest not themselves in each other's troubles. He told her what troubled him (1 Kgs.... read more