1 Kings 21:1-22:54

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1-29

Naboth’s vineyard (21:1-29)The events so far recorded of Ahab show that his religious, military and trade policies were all contrary to God’s will. The story of his seizure of Naboth’s vineyard shows that he was equally ungodly in the matter of common justice. Ahab at first made an honest offer to buy Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth refused, as land inherited from ancestors was an Israelite’s most valued possession (21:1-4). Jezebel therefore arranged to have Naboth falsely accused and executed.... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:1

AHAB'S ROBBERY AND JUDICIAL MURDER OF NABOTH;AHAB'S OFFER TO BUY; AND NABOTH'S REFUSAL TO SELL"Now it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the place of Ahab king of Samaria. And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, 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... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 Kings 21:1

1-3. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel—Ahab was desirous, from its contiguity to the palace, to possess it for a vegetable garden. He proposed to Naboth to give him a better in exchange, or to obtain it by purchase; but the owner declined to part with it. In persisting in his refusal, Naboth was not actuated by any feelings of disloyalty or disrespect to the king, but solely from a conscientious regard to the divine law, which, for important reasons, had prohibited the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Kings 21:1-16

Ahab’s disregard for Yahweh’s authority 21:1-16Even though Jezebel was behind the murder of Naboth, God held her husband Ahab responsible (1 Kings 21:19). Jezebel’s evil influence over her husband stands out in this story. [Note: Alexander Rofe, "The Vineyard of Naboth: The Origin and Message of the Story," Vetus Testamentum 38:1 (January 1988):102.] Ahab was willing to murder a godly Israelite to obtain a mere vegetable garden."A vineyard, like an olive-orchard, is not just land that may have... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:1-29

Naboth’s Vineyard1. After these things] The LXX places this chapter after 1 Kings 19, and so prevents the separation of 1 Kings 20, 22, which are closely connected.Jezreel] in the plain of Esdraelon.3. The inheritance of my fathers] cp. Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7, Numbers 36:8.8. Unto the elders.. nobles] The administration of justice rested with the chief men of each locality: cp. Deuteronomy 19:12; Deuteronomy 21:2. 9. Proclaim a fast] perhaps intended as a public act of humiliation for... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Kings 21:1

(1) Which was in Jezreel.—The LXX. omits these words, and makes the vineyard to be “hard by the threshing-floor of Ahab, king of Samaria”—the word being the same as that rendered “void place” in 1 Kings 22:10—apparently near the palace of Ahab in Samaria, not in Jezreel. The Vulgate renders “who was” instead of “which was” in Jezreel. The question of the position of the vineyard, apparently the scene of Naboth’s murder, is difficult. The “plot of ground” of Naboth, referred to in 2 Kings... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1-29

NABOTH’S VINEYARD1 Kings 21:1-29"The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the godless is but for a moment."- Job 20:5"If weakness may excuse, What murderer, what traitor, parricide, Incestuous, sacrilegious, but may plead it? All wickedness is weakness."- Samson Agonistes. The chief glory of the institution of prophecy was that it rightly estimated the supremacy of the moral law. The prophets saw that the enforcement of one precept of righteousness involved more true religion than... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Kings 21:1-29

CHAPTER 21Naboth’s Vineyard 1. Naboth’s refusal (1 Kings 21:1-4 ) 2. Jezebel’s wicked deed (1 Kings 21:5-16 ) 3. Elijah pronounces divine judgment (1 Kings 21:17-24 ) 4. Ahab’s wickedness and confession (1 Kings 21:25-27 ) 5. The LORD’s mercy (1 Kings 21:28-29 ) No comment is needed on the story of Naboth’s vineyard. Jezebel, the wicked, and Ahab’s submission to her was his ruination. On her Satanic suggestion one of the most wicked deeds recorded in Bible history is done. Naboth is... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:1-29

THE COLD-BLOODED MURDER OF NABOTH (vs.1-16) When one adopts a sullen, sulking character, it is likely to develop more seriously. Ahab illustrated this in his dealings with Naboth the Jezreelite. He coveted what belonged to Naboth and offered him either money or another vineyard for Naboth's vineyard, since it was near Ahab's property (v.2). But Naboth had received the vineyard as an inheritance from his father, and told Ahab that his conscience toward the Lord would not allow him to give up... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1-29

CLOSE OF AHAB ’S REIGN HIS DEALING WITH BEN-HADAD (1 Kings 20:0 ) Among the remarkable chapters of this book the present stands out distinctively, but we shall be unable to give it the consideration it should have if we forget God’s purpose in dealing with Israel. It has been reiterated that He is using that people as an instrument in the redemption of mankind, and especially as a witness to Himself before the nations. This explains everything in their history, and to ignore it is to make... read more

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