21:25-29
A note is added that Ahab was the worst king Israel ever had, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. However, there is a surprising turn in that Ahab repents, and 17:28,29 shows that this was genuine, so God delays the sentence. If only other kings had responded like Ahab.
21:15,16
Ahab was not the most go-ahead of men, so Jezebel urged him to seize the opportunity and take the vineyard, which he did.
21:17-24
God told Elijah what had happened and gave him a word to give to Ahab. Ahab would meet a terrible fate. Ahab was not pleased to see Elijah. Elijah takes no nonsense, and speaks to Ahab plainly, pronouncing judgement upon him. Ahab’s house would be decimated. Jezebel would be devoured by dogs, as would Ahab’s family, and birds "will feed on those who die in the country”.
21:4-6
Ahab went into a sulk. His wife, Jezebel, asked him what was wrong. Ahab told her about Naboth’s refusal to sell his vineyard.
21:7-14
Jezebel was appalled that Ahab was allowing Naboth to get away with this; she thought that Ahab should use his power to get what he wanted.. So she determined to take matters into her own hands . She proclaimed a day of fasting and gave Naboth a prominent seat. So she gave her plan a veneer of religious respectability. She seated two scoundrels next to Naboth, they would falsely accuseNabothof blasphemy, this would lead to Naboth being stoned to death. Many of our church leaders today are utterly stupid when they court favour from the world. The plan was executed, and so was Naboth and Ahab was informed.
21:1,2
We now come to the infamous incident of Naboth’s vineyard. In understanding the incident it is important to realise how important property, and keeping it in the family was in Israel and in the Law. Ahab saw the vineyard and wanted it for himself. He thought that with his one wealth he could easily get it from Ahab, either by buying it, or by giving Naboth another vineyard in exchange. So he makes his offer to Naboth.
21:3
However, Naboth refused because it belonged to his family, it was “the inheritance of [his] ancestors”, and so not his to give away, but his to look after.
20:32-34
So they put sackcloth and ashes on, humbling themselves and seeking mercy from Israel. The king reacts favorably, speaking well of Ben-Hadad, wanting to see him. Ben-Hadad offers to return previously taken cities. Ahab makes a treaty with him, but this proves to be a big mistake.
20:35
The Lord sent a prophet again. Ahab should not have let Ben-Hadad go, \god’s people are not meant to have any relationship with evil. So Ahab would suffer for what he had done. He probably felt pleased with himself, but was then rebuked so he sulked.
20:32-34
So they put sackcloth and ashes on, humbling themselves and seeking mercy from Israel. The king reacts favorably, speaking well of Ben-Hadad, wanting to see him. Ben-Hadad offers to return previously taken cities. Ahab makes a treaty with him, but this proves to be a big mistake.
20:35-39
The Lord sent a prophet again. Ahab should not have let Ben-Hadad go, \god’s people are not meant to have any relationship with evil. So Ahab would suffer for what he had done. He probably felt pleased with himself, but was then rebuked so he sulked.
20:23-27
Ben-Hadad's advisers were not very wise, thinking that Israel;’s gods were gods of the hills; this followed the prevailing idea of the time that “gods” were limited to certain domains. The world does not know God nor understand him, so will make certain mistakes. So their advice is to fight them on the plain. There was a need to replenish the army. Ben-Hadad did this the next spring.
20:28-31
The prophet came to Israel and reassured them, God could fight anywhere. He would show both the Arameans and Israel that He was Lord of all. The battle was eventually joined and Israel inflicted massive casualties on the Aramean foot soldiers. The rest flew to Aphek, but there a wall collapsed on them . Ben-Hadad fled and hid in an inner room. Now his officials advise him to seek mercy from Israel.
