1 Kings 21:17-26

17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.
19 Say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ ”
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.
21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free.[a]
22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’
23 “And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of[b] Jezreel.’
24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)

1 Kings 21:17-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 21

In this chapter we have an account of Ahab's design to have Naboth's vineyard, for which he offered him another, or the value of that, but Naboth refusing to part with it, Ahab fell sick, 1Ki 21:1-4, the reason of which being found out by Jezebel, she devised means to get Naboth put to death under the colour of justice for blasphemy, 1Ki 21:5-14, and then bid Ahab go and take possession of the vineyard, where he was met by Elijah, who denounced the judgments of God upon him, and Jezebel, and all his family, for his injustice, 1Ki 21:15-26, but he humbling himself, the evil threatened was deferred to the days of his son, 1Ki 21:27-29.

Cross References 14

  • 1. Job 24:6; Job 31:39
  • 2. 2 Kings 9:26; Psalms 9:12; Isaiah 14:20
  • 3. 1 Kings 22:38; Psalms 68:23; Jeremiah 15:3
  • 4. S 1 Kings 18:17
  • 5. ver 25; 2 Kings 17:17; Romans 7:14
  • 6. Judges 9:5; 2 Kings 10:7; 1 Kings 14:10; 2 Kings 9:8
  • 7. S Deuteronomy 32:36
  • 8. 1 Kings 15:29; 1 Kings 16:3
  • 9. S 1 Kings 12:30
  • 10. 2Ki 9:10,34-36
  • 11. 1 Kings 14:11; 1 Kings 16:4
  • 12. S Genesis 40:19; S Deuteronomy 28:26
  • 13. ver 20; S 1 Kings 14:9; S 1 Kings 16:33
  • 14. S Genesis 15:16; Leviticus 18:25-30; 2 Kings 21:11

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or "Israel—every ruler or leader"
  • [b]. Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 9:26) "the plot of ground at"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.