Naboth, the Jezreelite, had a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of King Ahab. Ahab requested Naboth to give him his vineyard to use as a vegetable garden. He offered him another vineyard, better than that, or he would pay the proper price for it. Naboth refused on the basis that it was his inheritance from his father. It had been in the family (v1-3). One commentator says that the Israelites believed that land was given and allotted to them by God. Leviticus 25, Numbers 36 and Ezekiel 46 indicate that allotted land was not to be given up.
Ahab, still in a huff, went to his palace. He lay on his bed and turned his face to the wall and wouldn’t eat any food like a child when scolded or can’t have his/her own way. Jezebel came to him and asked why he was in that state, and he told her about Naboth’s refusal. In typical fashion, Jezebel replied, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” (v4-7)
In other words, what’s the matter with you, just get on with it, I’ll get the vineyard for you.
Jezebel, showing how evil she was, proceeded to write letters in Ahab’s name, sealing them with his seal, to the elders and nobles of the city, regarding Naboth. Using his seal shows that Ahab was in agreement with this (v8-14). She wrote, ‘Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth in high honour, and two scoundrels before him to falsely accuse him of blasphemy against God and the king. Then take Naboth outside and stone him to death.’ They did as Jezebel had written and stoned Naboth to death and sent messages to Jezebel to say what had taken place, and that it had been done.
This showed that Ahab was a weak character, wanted his own way and was basically evil. Jezebel was a strong character and downright evil and would stoop to any means to get what she wanted. This was a brutal act because in 2 Kings 9:26 we see that not only was Naboth killed but also his sons, thus leaving no one to inherit his property, and leaving it available to Ahab.
When Jezebel heard of Naboth’s death, she told Ahab to go and take possession of Naboth’s vineyard, and like the weak man he was, he did (v15,16). He still had no right to the property, it belonged to Naboth’s sons, but, as 2 Kings 9:26 indicates his sons were killed too.
The LORD spoke to Elijah and told him to go and meet Ahab in the vineyard of Naboth (v17-24). He told him to say, “Thus says the LORD: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’…. “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours.”’”
Elijah showed great courage in confronting this wicked king and queen with murdering Naboth and stealing his vineyard. Ahab clearly was not pleased, even to the point of referring to Elijah as his enemy – Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, O my enemy”. If anyone was an enemy, it was Ahab, but because Elijah didn’t agree with Ahab, Elijah would be classed as his enemy.
We may have to be firm with those we meet, and it may rub against the grain. What we say must be out of love and with the aim to put right, and we should not be afraid to speak the truth in love.
Elijah replied, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger and made Israel sin.’ And concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.”
A strange prophecy seemingly – “…. In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood….” In the next chapter (22:38), Ahab died in Samaria and the dogs licked his blood there, whereas Naboth died in Jezreel. This has become a problem to some, in that they believe the prophecy seemed to be incorrect. We need to go to the end of this chapter to find a solution (v27-29). There we read that Ahab repented and humbled himself. He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth. Before that we are told of the wickedness of Ahab (v25,26). There was no one like him. He had sold himself to sin. He was totally immersed in sin, encouraged by his wicked wife Jezebel. “…. he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.”
Despite his gross wickedness, he repented and humbled himself before God, and God, in His great mercy spared him and rather than bringing judgment outlined in the prophecy, brought it on to his son, thus, on his posterity and cut off every male of Ahab as Elijah prophesied. This was devastating news for a king and his legacy. It is said that it was only outward repentance and not true inward repentance. He should, amongst other things, have restored Naboth’s vineyard to the family just as Zachaeus showed in Luke 19 when he said he would repay and restore what he had taken, as a sign of his repentance. There was no indication of Jezebel repenting. The final fulfilment of this prophecy comes at the end of 2 Kings 9 as we shall see. All this was brought about or culminated in his dealings with Naboth and his vineyard. One must ask, was it really worth it?
His idolatry should have been a lesson just as the LORD’S dealings with the Amorites had been when they had been cast out of Canaan (v26).
God is very merciful to the worst of sinners. We are all included in the title of sinners, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). None of us have sunk too low to receive God’s mercy if we repent of our sin.
