1 Kings 21:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1-4

Here is, 1. Ahab coveting his neighbour's vineyard, which unhappily lay near his palace and conveniently for a kitchen-garden. Perhaps Naboth had been pleased that he had a vineyard which lay so advantageously for a prospect of the royal gardens, or the vending of its productions to the royal family; but the situation of it proved fatal to him. If he had had no vineyard, or it had lain obscure in some remote place, he would have preserved his life. But many a man's possessions have been his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1

And it came to pass, after these things ,.... After the two battles with the king of Syria, in which Ahab was victorious, and after he had let Benhadad, a blasphemer, and injurious to him, go free: that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel ; of which place See Gill on Hosea 1:5 or "who was in Jezreel"; that is Naboth, for the vineyard was in Samaria, 1 Kings 21:18 . hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria ; that being the metropolis of the kingdom of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:2

And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs ,.... For a kitchen garden to produce eatables of the vegetable kind for his household, or for a flower garden; and perhaps for both, as Kimchi observes, it being customary to have such in court yards, or behind the house; perhaps he might take his notion of an herb garden from his neighbours the Syrians, who were very diligent and laborious in cultivating their gardens, as Pliny F26 Nat... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:3

And Naboth said to Ahab, the Lord forbid it me that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. The inheritances of families were not to be alienated to another family, or tribe, nor even to be sold, unless in extreme poverty, and then to return at the year of jubilee, Leviticus 25:23 . Now Naboth was a man in good circumstances, and under no necessity of selling his vineyard; and, if he sold it, he might reasonably conclude, it becoming a part of the royal demesnes, would never... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Kings 21:4

And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased ,.... Just in the same humour he was after the prophet had delivered his message to him, 1 Kings 20:43 , where the same words are used as here: because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers , neither by way of exchange nor of purchase: and such a denial he could not bear, since it looked like treating him with contempt, and taxing him with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:1

After these things - This and the twentieth chapter are transposed in the Septuagint; this preceding the account of the Syrian war with Ben-hadad. Josephus gives the history in the same order. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:2

Give me thy vineyard - The request of Ahab seems at first view fair and honorable. Naboth's vineyard was nigh to the palace of Ahab, and he wished to add it to his own for a kitchen garden, or perhaps a grass-plat, ירק גן gan yarak ; and he offers to give him either a better vineyard for it, or to give him its worth in money. Naboth rejects the proposal with horror: The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to thee. No man could finally alienate any... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Kings 21:4

He laid him down upon his bed - Poor soul! he was lord over ten-twelfths of the land, and became miserable because he could not get a poor man's vineyard added to all that he possessed! It is a true saying, "That soul in which God dwells not, has no happiness: and he who has God has a satisfying portion." Every privation and cross makes an unholy soul unhappy; and privations and crosses it must ever meet with, therefore: - "Where'er it goes is hell; itself is hell!" read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1

EXPOSITION THE STORY OF NABOTH . THE DOOM OF AHAB 'S HOUSE . HIS PENITENCE .— And it came to pass after these things [These words are omitted in the Vat. LXX ; which, as before remarked, transposes 1 Kings 20:1-43 . and 21. See introductory note, 1 Kings 20:1-43 .], that Naboth ["Fruit," "produce" (Gesen). Wordsworth sees in him a type of Christ, cast out of the vineyard ( Matthew 21:39 ) and slain] the Jezreelite [The Alex. LXX . here, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Kings 21:1-4

Covetousness. Amongst the arguments used by Samuel to discourage the people of Israel from desiring a king, he said, "He will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them." We have in the verses before us a notable example of the truth of this forecast, understanding covetousness in a bad sense. I. DESIRE , IN THE ABSTRACT , IS NOT COVETOUSNESS . 1 . It is the principle of exchanges . 2 . But commerce is fruitful in... read more

Group of Brands