1 Kings 21

This chapter, in the latter part of 1 Kings, deals with the reign of Ahab, king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Following 1 Kings 20, which recounts the wars with Aram, it narrates the incident of Naboth's vineyard, which took place "after these things."

Outline

• Verses 1–4: Ahab wants to turn Naboth's vineyard, which lies beside his palace, into a garden of herbs. Naboth refuses, saying it is the inheritance of his fathers, and Ahab, heavy and displeased, refuses to eat.
• Verses 5–14: Jezebel sends letters in Ahab's name to the elders and nobles. They proclaim a fast and set up two worthless men to testify falsely that Naboth has cursed God and the king, and then they stone Naboth to death.
• Verses 15–16: Ahab goes down to take possession of the vineyard.
• Verses 17–26: The LORD sends Elijah to pronounce judgment on the house of Ahab and on Jezebel.
• Verses 27–29: When Ahab tears his clothes, puts on sackcloth, fasts, and humbles himself, the LORD defers the calamity to the days of his son.

Key Verses

• 1 Kings 21:3: "The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." This verse reflects the Israelite understanding of land as an inheritance given by God.
• 1 Kings 21:19: "Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?" These words directly indict the king's abuse of power.
• 1 Kings 21:29: "Because he humbleth himself before me." This verse is frequently cited because God responded even to the humility of Ahab, who is regarded as the most wicked of kings.

Characters and Places

• Ahab: King of the northern kingdom of Israel. The text states that, stirred up by his wife, he did more evil than anyone else (v. 25).
• Jezebel: Ahab's wife, who plots Naboth's murder.
• Naboth: A man of Jezreel who refuses to give up his vineyard and is put to death on a false accusation.
• Elijah: The Tishbite, the prophet who delivers the message of judgment to Ahab.
• Jezreel: The town where Naboth's vineyard was located.
• Samaria: The capital of the northern kingdom of Israel.
• Jeroboam and Baasha: Mentioned in verse 22 as examples of kings whose houses were cut off.

Points for Reflection

• Relation to the Law: Naboth's refusal is often explained in connection with the laws forbidding the permanent sale of ancestral land (Leviticus 25:23; Numbers 36:7). The setting up of two witnesses is read as an abuse of the law concerning witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).
• Fulfillment of Prophecy: Dogs licked Ahab's blood at the pool of Samaria (1 Kings 22:38). The body of his son Joram was thrown onto Naboth's plot of ground, and Jezebel was eaten by dogs in Jezreel (2 Kings 9:25–37). Various explanations have been offered for the difference between the place named in verse 19 and the place recorded in chapter 22.
• Chapter Order: In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), the order of chapters 20 and 21 is reversed.
• Connections with the New Testament: Revelation 2:20 calls the false prophetess in the church at Thyatira "Jezebel." The method of setting up false witnesses to bring a charge of blasphemy is sometimes compared with the trial of Jesus and with the accusations brought against Stephen (Acts 6:11–13).

In the Korean Church

In preaching, "Naboth's vineyard" serves as a text on the greed and injustice of the powerful. Verses 27–29 serve as a text on repentance and the mercy of God.