INTRODUCTION: This chapter shows us what happens when the covetous heart runs free. Ahab pouted over what he wanted and could not get. Jezebel was willing to kill for the same. The righteous Naboth paid the initial price of Ahab’s covetousness. We should beware the evil results of a covetous heart.
I. JEZEBEL ARRANGED THE DEATH OF NABOTH (21:5-16)
A. The Location of Naboth’s Vineyard (21:1)
1. Located in Jezreel
a. In the Valley of Jezreel (also called the Valley of Megiddo) about 55 miles north of Jerusalem
b. A city where the kingdom of Israel often held court and where a royal palace was located (1Kings 18:45-46; 2Kings 10:1, 11)
2. Located next to the palace of Ahab
B. Ahab’s Offer for Naboth’s Vineyard (21:2)
1. Ahab’s request for the vineyard
a. So he could make it a garden of herbs
b. Because it was near his house
2. Ahab’s offer for the vineyard
a. A better vineyard
b. The worth of the vineyard in money
3. Note: Naboth was being asked to give up his inheritance. Compare this with Esau who sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34; Hebrews 12:16)
C. Naboth’s Rejection of Ahab’s Offer (21:3)
1. He was forbidden by the Lord
a. The land was not to be sold forever (Leviticus 25:10, 23; Numbers 36:7)
b. The ruler was not to take the inheritance of the people (Ezekiel 46:18)
c. They were not to remove the ancient landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14; 27:17; Proverbs 22:28; 23:10)
2. He would not give up the inheritance of his fathers; Application: What have you inherited from your spiritual fathers and what are you willing to receive in exchange for that inheritance?
D. Ahab’s Displeasure at Naboth’s Rejection (21:4)
1. He came to his house heavy
2. He was displeased with the word of Naboth (compare with 20:43)
3. He laid down on his bed
4. He turned his face to the wall
5. He would eat no bread
6. Note: Examples of others who were displeased with righteousness
a. Cain (Genesis 4:5-7)
b. Jonah (Jonah 4:1, 9)
7. Note: Ahab’s primary sin was that of covetousness (Deuteronomy 5:21; Proverbs 21:25-26; Jeremiah 8:10; Micah 2:2; Luke 12:15; Colossians 3:5; 2Peter 2:3); notice that many of these verses apply to different aspects of this story.
II. NABOTH REFUSED TO GIVE UP HIS VINEYARD (21:1-4)
A. Jezebel’s Promise to Deliver Naboth’s Vineyard (21:5-7)
1. Jezebel determined the cause of Ahab’s displeasure (v.5-6)
2. Jezebel comforted Ahab with her words (v.7)
a. She reinforced his self-esteem: you are the king
b. She encouraged him to make merry
c. She promised that he would get his desired vineyard
3. Notes
a. There is always someone who will tell you what you want to hear instead of what you need to hear
b. God saw the cause of Ahab’s displeasure as his own wicked covetousness; Jezebel saw the cause of his displeasure as the lack of what he felt he needed. One based reality on the word of God; the other on the feelings of man.
B. Jezebel’s Letters to the Elders of the City (21:8-10)
1. She wrote letters to the elders and nobles of Jezreel (v.8)
a. Written in Ahab’s name
b. Sealed with Ahab’s seal
2. She gave instructions in the letters (v.9-10)
a. Proclaim a fast (v.9); she used a holy front to hide a wicked purpose (Isaiah 58:3-6)
b. Set Naboth on high among the people (v.9); that is, put him on trial before the people
c. Set two men to witness against him (v.10)
(1) The minimum required (Deuteronomy 17:6); she gave the travesty an appearance of righteousness
(2) Sons of Belial – wicked men (Deuteronomy 13:13; 1Samuel 2:12; 25:17; 2Corinthians 6:15)
(3) To accuse Naboth of blaspheming God and the king
a) Christ (Matthew 26:59-66)
b) Stephen (Acts 6:11-14)
d. Carry him out and stone him to death (v.10)
C. Naboth’s Death at the Hands of the Elders (21:11-14)
1. They obeyed Jezebel’s instructions to the letter (v.11-13)
2. They sent their report to Jezebel (v.14)
D. Ahab’s Possession of Naboth’s Vineyard (21:15-16)
1. Jezebel told Ahab to take possession of the vineyard (v.15)
2. Ahab took possession of the vineyard (v.16)
III. ELIJAH PROCLAIMED JUDGMENT ON AHAB (21:17-24)
A. The Death of Ahab Prophesied (21:17-19)
1. The word of the Lord came to Elijah (v.17)
2. Elijah met Ahab in the vineyard of Naboth (v.18); Note: Although Ahab had taken possession of it, God still considered it Naboth’s vineyard
3. Elijah prophesied the death of Ahab (v.19)
a. Where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth
b. There the dogs will lick the blood of Ahab
B. The End of Ahab’s House Prophesied (21:20-22)
1. Because Ahab sold himself to work evil (v.20)
2. God will cut off his posterity (v.21)
3. His house will be like that of Jeroboam and Baasha (v.22)
a. Because he provoked God to anger
b. Because he made Israel to sin
C. The Death of Jezebel Prophesied (21:23-24)
1. The dogs shall eat her by the wall of Jezreel (v.23)
2. The dead of Ahab’s house shall be eaten by dogs and fowl (v.24)
IV. AHAB RECEIVED MERCY AT THE HAND OF THE LORD (21:25-29)
A. The Wickedness of Ahab (21:25-26)
1. He sold himself to work wickedness (v.25)
2. He was stirred up by his wife Jezebel (v.25)
3. He did abominably in following idols (v.26)
B. The Humility of Ahab in the Face of Judgment (21:27)
1. He heard these words
2. He rent his clothes
3. He put sackcloth on his flesh
4. He fasted
5. He lay in sackcloth
6. He went softly (compare 1Samuel 15:32)
7. Notes
a. There is no record of him truly repenting or changing his ways of wickedness
b. His acts were similar to those of Manasseh but Manasseh really seemed to change his ways (2Chronicles 33:9-18)
C. The Mercy of the Lord on Ahab (21:28-29)
1. The word of the Lord came to Elijah (v.28)
2. The Lord noticed the humility of Ahab (v.29)
3. The Lord restrained evil during the days of Ahab (v.29)
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