1 Kings 21:9

And she wrote in the letters, saying Proclaim a fast [The object of this ordinance was to give the impression that the city was labouring under, or threatened with, a curse, because of some undiscovered sin ( 2 Samuel 21:1 ; Joshua 9:11 ; Deuteronomy 21:9 ), which must be removed or averted by public humiliation. Cf. Joel 1:14 ; Joel 2:12 ; 1 Samuel 7:6 ; 2 Chronicles 20:3 )], and set Naboth on high among the people. [Heb. at the head of the people . Keil, al . interpret, bring him into the court of justice, as defendant before all the people." And certainly הוֹשִׁיבוּ here, and in the next verse—where it is used of the witnesses (cf. verse 13)—means, make to sit ; which looks as if judicial procedure were intended. But "at the head of the people "rather suggests that in the public assembly, which marked the fast ( Joel 2:15 ), Naboth was assigned the most distinguished place. The reason for this is obvious, viz; to give a colour of impartiality to the proceedings. As Grotius, Ne odio damnasse crederentur, quem ipsi honoraverunt . It would also accord with the popular idea of retributive justice that Naboth should be denounced in the very hour of his triumph and exaltation. Josephus, however, says that it was because of his high birth that this position was assigned him.]