1 KINGS LESSON 27


     We will begin this lesson in I Kings 21:1 "And it came to pass
after these things, [that] Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which
[was] in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria." I Kings
21:2 "And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I
may have it for a garden of herbs, because it [is] near unto my house:
and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; [or], if it
seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money."

     "Naboth" means fruits. It appears, Naboth was an honest man
working his vineyard. The problem was that the vineyard was near
Ahab's house. Ahab had everything being a king could get him, but he
was greedy and wanted Naboth's vineyard. He did offer to buy Naboth
another vineyard, or pay him for this vineyard, but Naboth should not
have to let go of his vineyard, if he did not want to.

     I Kings 21:3 "And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me,
that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee."

     Naboth believed in the LORD. He, probably, was one of the 7,000
who had not bowed his knee to Baal. The inheritance that the LORD had
given them was not to go out of their family. We see, in this, that
Naboth believed in God and wanted to keep His commandments, even in
this land of idol worship. It was a very dangerous thing to deny a
king his wishes. Naboth had stood up for the LORD to the point of
death.

     I Kings 21:4 "And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased
because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for
he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And
he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat
no bread."

     Ahab is acting like a spoiled child. He had been pampered to the
point that he thought whatever he wanted should be his, regardless of
what it did to someone else. Naboth could do nothing else than what he
said, unless he angered God. Ahab should have understood. He did not
consider Naboth in this, only himself.

     I Kings 21:5 "But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto
him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?"

     Jezebel had missed him, when it came time to eat, and went to
inquire what was wrong with him.

     I Kings 21:6 "And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth
the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or
else, if it please thee, I will give thee [another] vineyard for it:
and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard."

     We must realize that as evil as Ahab was, he was not as evil as
Jezebel. Ahab tells her the problem, without telling Jezebel the
reason for Naboth not complying with his wishes. Probably, Ahab had
somewhat of a fear of the LORD, even though he did not live by the
commandments. We must remember, that Ahab had seen the fire come from
heaven on Mount Carmel. He had, also, seen his handful of men drive
off 100's of 1000's of the Syrians, because God helped them. He had a
healthy fear of the LORD, even though he could not be classified as
living for the LORD.

     I Kings 21:7 "And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now
govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, [and] eat bread, and let thine
heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the
Jezreelite."

     Jezebel is telling Ahab that he is the king, and can take
whatever he wants. In this case, she says she will do it for him.

     I Kings 21:8 "So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed
[them] with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the
nobles that [were] in his city, dwelling with Naboth."

     Jezebel had no authority to do this, unless the king had given
her authority. She did not let that stop her. She wrote, using the
king's name and his seal. The people, receiving these letters, assumed
they were from the king.

     I Kings 21:9 "And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a
fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:"

     This fast was supposedly to cleanse the land of some sin. Naboth
was in the place of prominence at the fast. He might have been of
noble birth, or else she was just setting him up to destroy him.

     I Kings 21:10 "And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to
bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the
king. And [then] carry him out, and stone him, that he may die."

     "Sons of Belial" means they were worthless men. Notice, even here
there had to be at least two witnesses to establish guilt. Naboth is a
type and shadow of Jesus in this. He was innocent, yet accused for
something he did not do. In both cases, they were accused of
blaspheming God. He will die an innocent man upholding God to the end.
He is killed because of his faith.

     I Kings 21:11 "And the men of his city, [even] the elders and the
nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent
unto them, [and] as it [was] written in the letters which she had sent
unto them."

     The men of the city were Israelites, the same as Jesus' accusers.
These people were not aware this message was from Jezebel, because she
had used Ahab's name and seal to send the letters. They would not dare
to disobey the king.

     I Kings 21:12 "They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high
among the people."  I Kings 21:13 "And there came in two men, children
of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against
him, [even] against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying,
Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out
of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died."

     It appears, this trial was by night, just as Jesus' trial was at
night. It appears, that Naboth's children were killed at the same
time, so there would be no one left to inherit the land.

     I Kings 21:14 "Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is
stoned, and is dead."

     At least those who carried the message knew that it was sent by
Jezebel, because they came back to her with the report of what
happened.

     I Kings 21:15  "And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that
Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise,
take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he
refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead."

     When a person was found guilty of unfaithfulness to the king, his
possessions went to the king, at his death. Jezebel's evil plan had
gotten the vineyard for nothing.

     I Kings 21:16 "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth
was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the
Jezreelite, to take possession of it."

     It is hard to understand why Ahab does not require the details of
Naboth's death. He is so glad to get the vineyard, that he, probably,
does not care how Jezebel got it.

     I Kings 21:17  "And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the
Tishbite, saying," I Kings 21:18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of
Israel, which [is] in Samaria: behold, [he is] in the vineyard of
Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it."

     The LORD sends Elijah to the vineyard to denounce the act of
violence against Naboth. Jezebel had a death warrant out for Elijah.
This would have been a dangerous thing for Elijah to do, had not God
sent him. The LORD knew that Ahab would be in the vineyard, and sent
Elijah ahead to wait for him. When Ahab is walking through the
vineyard, Elijah confronts him.

     I Kings 21:19 "And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith
the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt
speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs
licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine."

     The judgement of the LORD is spoken against Ahab. Indirectly he
had murdered Naboth. He had allowed Jezebel to do this terrible thing.
It had been within his power to stop her, and he did not. The
judgement is that he will die in the same spot where Naboth was
killed.

     I Kings 21:20 "And Ahab said to Elijah, hast thou found me, O
mine enemy? And he answered, I have found [thee]; because thou hast
sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD."

     Suddenly, Ahab realizes the magnitude of the sin against Naboth.
When he sees Elijah, he knows the LORD is about to speak condemnation
upon him. It is as if he is asking Elijah, how did you know I would be
here? He really knows the LORD had sent him. Elijah immediately tells
him of his sin. Even though Jezebel did this, Ahab allowed it. He is
guilty, too.

     I Kings 21:21 "Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take
away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth
against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,"

     This is not just speaking judgement on Ahab, but on all of his
male descendents. There will be no one to carry on his family.

     I Kings 21:22 "And will make thine house like the house of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of
Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked [me] to
anger, and made Israel to sin."

     Jeroboam and Baasha had all of their people killed. There was no
son to carry on their names either. Ahab, not only sinned himself, but
he led Israel to sin, as well.

     I Kings 21:23 "And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The
dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel."

     Jezebel is so evil, that she will not even be buried. The dogs
will eat her body. It will happen at Jezreel in full view, so that all
will see that the LORD condemned her for her evil.

     I Kings 21:24 "Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall
eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat."

     This is saying, there will be no mourning and burials for the
family of Ahab. They are among the cursed. They will be eaten of the
dogs in the city, and the fowls will eat them in the country.

     I Kings 21:25  "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell
himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his
wife stirred up."

     Jezebel was one of the most wicked women that ever lived. She had
no power to do these things, however, without the permission of Ahab.
She had great influence on her husband, but it was his power they used
to do the evil.

     I Kings 21:26 "And he did very abominably in following idols,
according to all [things] as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out
before the children of Israel."

     It is not just the wickedness he had committed in having Naboth
killed that Ahab is judged for. He was an idol worshipper. He and
Jezebel brought the worship of Baal to the forefront in the land, that
should have belonged to God. The people of Israel that they ruled were
the chosen of God. Ahab and Jezebel had turned God's people to the
worship of false gods.

     I Kings 21:27 "And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words,
that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and
fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly."

     Ahab humbled himself before God, and truly repented of the evil
he had done. All of the things mentioned above show great remorse for
the sins he committed. He became nothing before the LORD, that the
LORD might forgive him.

     I Kings 21:28 "And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the
Tishbite, saying,"  I Kings 21:29 "Seest thou how Ahab humbleth
himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not
bring the evil in his days: [but] in his son's days will I bring the
evil upon his house."

     God postponed punishment to the time of Ahab's son, because Ahab
truly repented. The son was very evil, as well. He was, probably,
greatly influenced by his wicked mother.


























                        1 Kings 27 Questions


1.  Who had a vineyard that Ahab wanted?
2.  What did Ahab offer to do for Naboth in exchange for the vineyard?
3.  What does "Naboth" mean?
4.  How did Naboth answer Ahab?
5.  Who does the author suppose that Naboth was one of?
6.  Quote 1 Kings chapter 21 verse 4.
7.  Ahab is acting like a __________ ________.
8.  What did Jezebel ask Ahab?
9.  What did Ahab tell her?
10. Why did Jezebel tell him to eat and be merry?
11. What did she do in Ahab's name?
12. What was this fast supposedly for?
13. What does "sons of Belial" mean?
14. How does Naboth shadow Jesus in this?
15. Why were the elders deceived?
16. What time did they judge Naboth?
17. What was Naboth accused of?
18. What message did they bring back to Jezebel?
19. What did Jezebel tell Ahab to do, now that Naboth is dead?
20. What prophet did the Word of the LORD come to for Ahab?
21. Where was this prophet to go to tell Ahab the message from God?
22. What was the message?
23. What does Ahab suddenly realize?
24. In verse 21, what judgement is given on Ahab?
25. What other two kings had like judgement spoken on them?
26. What will happen to his relatives, who die in town?
27. What else was Ahab guilty of, besides killing Naboth?
28. What would happen to Jezebel?
29. What did Ahab do in the way of repentance?
30. Because Ahab humbled himself before the LORD, what did God do?