1Stalo se pak po těch věcech, měl Nábot Jezreelský vinici, kteráž byla v Jezreel podlé paláce Achaba krále Samařského. 2I mluvil Achab k Nábotovi, řka: Dej mi vinici svou, ať ji mám místo zahrady k zelinám, poněvadž jest blízko podlé domu mého, a dámť za ni vinici lepší, než ta jest, aneb jestližeť se vidí, dámť stříbra cenu její. 3Odpověděl Nábot Achabovi: Nedejž mi toho Hospodin, abych měl dáti dědictví otců mých tobě. 4Tedy přišel Achab do domu svého, smutný jsa a hněvaje se pro řeč, kterouž mluvil jemu Nábot Jezreelský, řka: Nedám tobě dědictví otců svých. I lehl na lůžko své, a odvrátiv tvář svou, ani chleba nejedl. 5V tom přišedši k němu Jezábel žena jeho, řekla jemu: Proč tak smutný jest duch tvůj, že ani nejíš chleba? 6Kterýž odpověděl jí: Proto že jsem mluvil s Nábotem Jezreelským, a řekl jsem jemu: Dej mi vinici svou za peníze, aneb jestliže raději chceš, dámť jinou vinici za ni. On pak odpověděl: Nedám tobě své vinice. 7I řekla mu Jezábel žena jeho: Takliž bys ty nyní spravoval království Izraelské? Vstaň, pojez chleba a buď dobré mysli, já tobě dám vinici Nábota Jezreelského. 8Zatím napsala list jménem Achabovým, kterýž zapečetila jeho pečetí, a poslala ten list k starším a předním města jeho, spoluobyvatelům Nábotovým. 9Napsala pak v tom listu takto: Vyhlaste půst, a posaďte Nábota mezi předními z lidu, 10A postavte dva muže nešlechetné proti němu, kteříž by svědčili na něj, řkouce: Zlořečil jsi Bohu a králi. Potom vyveďte ho a ukamenujte jej, ať umře. 11Učinili tedy muži města toho, starší a přední, kteříž bydlili v městě jeho, jakž rozkázala jim Jezábel, tak jakž psáno bylo v listu, kterýž jim byla poslala. 12Vyhlásili půst, a posadili Nábota mezi předními z lidu. 13Potom přišli ti dva muži nešlechetní, a posadivše se naproti němu, svědčili proti němu muži ti nešlechetní, proti Nábotovi před lidem, řkouce: Zlořečil Nábot Bohu a králi. I vyvedli ho za město a kamenovali jej, až umřel. 14A poslali k Jezábel, řkouce: Ukamenovánť jest Nábot a umřel. 15I stalo se, jakž uslyšela Jezábel, že by ukamenován byl Nábot, a že by umřel, řekla Achabovi: Vstaň, vládni vinicí Nábota Jezreelského, kteréžť nechtěl dáti za peníze; neboť není živ Nábot, ale umřel. 16A tak uslyšev Achab, že by umřel Nábot, vstal, aby šel do vinice Nábota Jezreelského, a aby ji ujal. 17Tedy stala se řeč Hospodinova k Eliášovi Tesbitskému, řkoucí: 18Vstana, vyjdi vstříc Achabovi králi Izraelskému, kterýž bydlí v Samaří, a hle, jest na vinici Nábotově, do níž všel, aby ji ujal. 19A mluviti budeš k němu těmito slovy: Takto praví Hospodin: Zdaliž jsi nezabil, ano sobě i nepřivlastnil? Mluv tedy k němu, řka: Takto praví Hospodin: Proto že lízali psi krev Nábotovu, i tvou krev také lízati budou. 20I řekl Achab Eliášovi: Což jsi mne našel, nepříteli můj? Kterýž odpověděl: Našel, nebo jsi prodal se, abys činil to, což zlého jest před oblíčejem Hospodinovým. 21Aj, já uvedu na tebe zlé, a odejmu potomky tvé, a vypléním z domu Achabova močícího na stěnu, i zajatého i zanechaného v Izraeli. 22A učiním s domem tvým jako s domem Jeroboáma syna Nebatova, a jako s domem Bázy syna Achiášova, pro zdráždění, kterýmž jsi mne popudil, a že jsi k hřešení přivodil Izraele. 23Ano i proti Jezábel mluvil Hospodin, řka: Psi žráti budou Jezábel mezi zdmi Jezreelskými. 24Toho, kdož umře z domu Achabova v městě, psi žráti budou, a kdož umře na poli, ptáci nebeští jísti budou. 25Nebo nebylo podobného Achabovi, kterýž by se prodal, aby činil to, což zlého jest před oblíčejem Hospodinovým, proto že ho ponoukala Jezábel žena jeho. 26Dopouštěl se zajisté věcí velmi ohavných, následuje modl vedlé všeho toho, čehož se dopouštěli Amorejští, kteréž vyplénil Hospodin od tváři synů Izraelských. 27I stalo se, když uslyšel Achab slova tato, že roztrhl roucho své, a vzav žíni na tělo své, postil se a léhal na pytli, a chodil krotce. 28Tedy stala se řeč Hospodinova k Eliášovi Tesbitskému, řkoucí: 29Viděl-lis, jak se ponížil Achab před tváří mou? Poněvadž se tak ponížil před tváří mou, neuvedu toho zlého za dnů jeho, ale za dnů syna jeho uvedu to zlé na dům jeho.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 NABOTH REFUSES AHAB HIS VINEYARD. (
1Kgs 21:1-4)
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 sale of a paternal inheritance [
Lev 25:23;
Num 36:7]; or if, through extreme poverty or debt, an assignation of it to another was unavoidable, the conveyance was made on the condition of its being redeemable at any time [
Lev 25:25-
Lev 25:27]; at all events, of its reverting at the jubilee to the owner [
Lev 25:28]. In short, it could not be alienated from the family, and it was on this ground that Naboth (
1Kgs 21:3) refused to comply with the king's demand. It was not, therefore, any rudeness or disrespect that made Ahab heavy and displeased, but his sulky and pettish demeanor betrays a spirit of selfishness that could not brook to be disappointed of a favorite object, and that would have pushed him into lawless tyranny had he possessed any natural force of character.
4 turned away his face--either to conceal from his attendants the vexation of spirit he felt, or, by the affectation of great sorrow, rouse them to devise some means of gratifying his wishes.
7 JEZEBEL CAUSES NABOTH TO BE STONED. (
1Kgs 21:5-16)
Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?--This is not so much a question as an exclamation--a sarcastic taunt; "A pretty king thou art! Canst not thou use thy power and take what thy heart is set upon?"
arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard--After upbraiding Ahab for his pusillanimity and bidding him act as a king, Jezebel tells him to trouble himself no more about such a trifle; she would guarantee the possession of the vineyard.
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal--The seal-ring contained the name of the king and gave validity to the documents to which it was affixed (
Esth 8:8;
Dan 6:17). By allowing her the use of his signet-ring, Ahab passively consented to Jezebel's proceeding. Being written in the king's name, it had the character of a royal mandate.
sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city--They were the civic authorities of Jezreel, and would, in all likelihood, be the creatures and fit tools of Jezebel. It is evident that, though Ahab had recently been in Jezreel, when he made the offer to Naboth, both he and Jezebel were now in Samaria (
1Kgs 20:43).
9 Proclaim a fast, &c.--Those obsequious and unprincipled magistrates did according to orders. Pretending that a heavy guilt lay on one, or some unknown party, who was charged with blaspheming God and the king and that Ahab was threatening vengeance on the whole city unless the culprit were discovered and punished, they assembled the people to observe a solemn fast. Fasts were commanded on extraordinary occasions affecting the public interests of the state (
2Chr 20:3;
Ezra 8:21;
Joel 1:14;
Joel 2:15;
Jonah 3:5). The wicked authorities of Jezreel, by proclaiming the fast, wished to give an external appearance of justice to their proceedings and convey an impression among the people that Naboth's crime amounted to treason against the king's life.
set Naboth on high--During a trial the panel, or accused person, was placed on a high seat, in the presence of all the court; but as the guilty person was supposed to be unknown, the setting of Naboth on high among the people must have been owing to his being among the distinguished men of the place.
13 there came in two men--worthless fellows who had been bribed to swear a falsehood. The law required two witnesses in capital offenses (
Deut 17:6;
Deut 19:15;
Num 35:30;
Matt 26:60). Cursing God and cursing the king are mentioned in the law (
Exod 22:28) as offenses closely connected, the king of Israel being the earthly representative of God in His kingdom.
they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him--The law, which forbade cursing the rulers of the people, does not specify the penalty for this offense but either usage had sanctioned or the authorities of Jezreel had originated stoning as the proper punishment. It was always inflicted out of the city (
Acts 7:58).
14 Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession--Naboth's execution having been announced, and his family being involved in the same fatal sentence (
2Kgs 9:26), his property became forfeited to the crown, not by law, but traditionary usage (see
2Sam 16:4).
16 Ahab rose up to go down--from Samaria to Jezreel.
17 ELIJAH DENOUNCES JUDGMENTS AGAINST AHAB AND JEZEBEL. (
1Kgs 21:17-29)
Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?--While Ahab was in the act of surveying his ill-gotten possession, Elijah, by divine commission, stood before him. The appearance of the prophet, at such a time, was ominous of evil, but his language was much more so (compare
Ezek 45:8;
Ezek 46:16-
Ezek 46:18). Instead of shrinking with horror from the atrocious crime, Ahab eagerly hastened to his newly acquired property.
19 In the place where dogs licked, &c.--a righteous retribution of Providence. The prediction was accomplished, not in Jezreel, but in Samaria; and not on Ahab personally, in consequence of his repentance (
1Kgs 21:29), but on his son (
2Kgs 9:25). The words "in the place where" might be rendered "in like manner as."
20 thou hast sold thyself to work evil--that is, allowed sin to acquire the unchecked and habitual mastery over thee (
2Kgs 17:17;
Rom 7:11).
21 will make thine house, &c.--(see on
1Kgs 15:29 and
1Kgs 16:3-12). Jezebel, though included among the members of Ahab's house, has her ignominious fate expressly foretold (see
2Kgs 9:30).
27 Ahab . . . rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly--He was not obdurate, like Jezebel. This terrible announcement made a deep impression on the king's heart, and led, for a while, to sincere repentance. Going softly, that is, barefoot, and with a pensive manner, within doors. He manifested all the external signs, conventional and natural, of the deepest sorrow. He was wretched, and so great is the mercy of God, that, in consequence of his humiliation, the threatened punishment was deferred.