Elijah Part 10 – Why Does Elijah Confront Ahab About Naboth’s Vineyard?

Get up and go to King Ahab of Israel, who is in Samaria. He’s in Naboth’s vineyard…
I Kings 21:18

In Part 9, Elijah anointed Elisha, and Elisha is now following him.

Some time passes, when the Lord comes to Elijah, wanting him to confront Ahab about Naboth’s Vineyard. It’s unclear where Elisha is. Maybe he comes along and observes.

God can’t let Ahab get away with his latest evil scheme, so He sends Elijah to confront Ahab once again.

But first, let’s find out what Ahab did this time to anger the Lord.

Naboth’s Vineyard

Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria…1 Kings 21:1-16

Ahab’s Proposal (v. 1-4)

Next to the king’s winter palace was a vineyard owned by Naboth, a God-fearing Israelite.

The king decided he wanted it for a vegetable garden and asked Naboth to sell it to him. Ahab told him he would give him an even better vineyard in its place or pay him its value in cash.

However, Naboth refused, stating, “The Lord forbids me to give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”

Apparently, Naboth understood the Mosaic Law, which said the land God gave the Israelites was not to be permanently sold because it belonged to Him.

The king did not like Naboth’s answer and went home resentful and angry. He went straight to bed and refused to eat.

Jezebel’s Plot (v. 5-10)

When the king told Jezebel why he was sulking, she was astonished. Why did he, the king, not just take what he wanted?

Jezebel promised to get him the vineyard. Knowing the laws of Israel, she used them to her benefit.

Jezebel sent letters to the leaders in Naboth’s town saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the table. Then seat two wicked men opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

At least two witnesses were required to condemn a person in Israel (Deut 17:6-7). And cursing God was a crime punishable by stoning (Lev 24:16).

Other versions say, “Seat two scoundrels or worthless men…” These men would do what they were told regardless of how they felt about lying or causing someone’s death.

Naboth’s Murder (v. 11-16)

The leaders executed Jezebel’s plan perfectly. They were afraid of the queen and carried out her orders precisely.

The two worthless scoundrels accused Naboth of cursing God and the king in front of all the people. So, they dragged Naboth outside the town and stoned him to death.

According to 2 Kings 9:26, Naboth’s sons were murdered at the same time. Their death would have prevented the property from being handed down to them.

Because Naboth and his sons were all dead, Ahab had the legal right to confiscate the land. But God saw everything that happened and was ready to take action.

God Instructs Elijah to Go to King Ahab

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite…1 Kings 21:17-19

As Ahab was preparing to claim the vineyard, the word of the Lord came to Elijah and gave him a message for the king.

He told him to go down to Naboth’s vineyard and find Ahab. Tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Wasn’t it enough that you killed Naboth? Must you rob him, too? Because you have done this, dogs will lick your blood at the very place where they licked the blood of Naboth.”

Jezebel was directly responsible for Naboth’s death because her plot led to his stoning. However, Ahab was ultimately responsible because the letter Jezebel sent to the leaders had the king’s seal on it.

Elijah Confronts the King

…I have found you because you have devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord‘s sight…1 Kings 21:20-24

When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, “Have you found me, O my enemy?” His greeting suggests he might not have been surprised to see Elijah.

Elijah responds, “I have found you because you have devoted yourself to do what is evil in the Lord‘s sight.” In other words, the Lord sent me because he sees everything you do. Furthermore, I am not your enemy, but you have made yourself an enemy of the Lord.

Elijah continues,

This is what the Lord says, “I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants: I will wipe out all of Ahab’s males, both slave and free, in Israel; I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat [1 Kings 14:11] and like the house of Baasha son of Ahija [1 Kings 16:11] because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.” The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: “The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land at Jezreel: Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and anyone who dies in the field, the birds will eat.” (vv. 21-24)

Ahab was king from 874-853 BC and would have known what happened to both kings: Jeroboam (931-910 BC) and Baasha (909-886 BC). There would have been no doubt that the Lord could do what He said He would do.

If the punishment seems severe, remember that Ahab had done more to anger the Lord than all the kings before him (1 Kings 16:33). God is just in punishing sin.

Ahab:

• Sold himself to do evil in the Lord‘s sight by pursuing idols at the urging of his wife, Jezebel.
• Committed the most detestable acts by following the sinful ways of the Amorites whom God had driven out of Palestine when the Israelites entered the land in Joshua’s day (Josh 10:12-13).
• Sacrificed his principles to get what he wanted, including a vineyard that wasn’t his to have.
• Led God’s people to sin.

Ahab Humbles Himself

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes…1 Kings 21:27-28

In a surprising turn of events, Ahab humbly responded to Elijah’s words. He was broken by what God was saying. Could it be he was recalling what had happened to Jeroboam and Baasha, and it sank in now that the same thing would happen to him, too?

He tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted, all signs of grief and remorse. He walked around “subdued” (CSB). Other versions say he went about “dejectedly” (ESV), “despondently” (NASB), “meekly” (NIV), “mourning” (NKJV), and “in deep mourning” (NLT).

There is some debate over whether his remorse was true repentance. Some say it was, evidenced by how he responded, while others say true repentance would have resulted in further action, such as restoring Naboth’s vineyard.

Furthermore, true repentance would have caused God to remove his punishment rather than simply delay it. I’m not sure I agree with this idea because I think of David, who no one would argue genuinely repented, but he still faced the death of his son and family chaos for the rest of his life (2 Sam 12:7-14).

Instead, the Lord‘s acknowledgment of Ahab’s actions caused Him to say He wouldn’t bring disaster during his lifetime but wait until his son’s lifetime.

God chose to show Ahab some mercy. Therefore, His promised destruction came during his son, Joram’s reign (2 Kings 9:23-26).

However, Jezebel didn’t repent. Therefore, God showed her no mercy, and everything He said would happen to her happened (2 Kings 9:30-37).

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What We Can Learn

Although there is more we could learn from this story, I want to focus on how, as believers, God calls us to live by faith.

Living by faith means choosing God’s righteousness over the pleasures of sin, even when it means suffering (Heb 11:25).

Naboth is our example in this story. He refused the king’s proposal because he knew it would be disobeying God, which eventually led to his death.

At some point, Naboth may have been tempted to change his mind to save his life. But by changing his mind, he would have been sinning (Jms 4:17).

Every day, we face many decisions, and what we decide either pleases God or ourselves. Since we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we have the ability to choose righteousness every time.

Galatians 5:16-17 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.

This verse sounds so simple on paper. And maybe it is simple, but it’s not easy. Truthfully, we will not master living by faith in our earthly lives. However, we will become more and more successful as we learn to let the Holy Spirit guide our lives.

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Final Thoughts

God told Elijah to go back to Ahab because He was angry with what Ahab did, especially after his wife got involved. God held Ahab responsible.

Naboth rightly refused to sell his land to the king, and when Ahab threw a fit, Jezebel came up with a scheme to get him the vineyard. Her plot ended with Naboth’s murder.

Elijah confronts Ahab with the Lord‘s words of the destruction of Ahab, his wife, and his family. Ahab humbles himself, and the Lord delays the punishment.

However, it didn’t change what happened to Naboth. We might be tempted to think God should have protected this righteous man who was simply being obedient.

God doesn’t promise He will protect every righteous person from harm. Instead, He says we will have trouble in this world, and calls us to walk by faith.

Do you agree that God calls believers to walk by faith? If so, what does it mean to you to do so?

 

Resources:

Walvoord, John F. & Zuck, Roy B. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Victor Books, Wheaton, IL, 1986.

Rydelnik, Michael & Vanlaningham, Michael. The Moody Bible Commentary, Moody Publishers, Chicago, 2014.

Pastor Ritch Boerckel: Bethany’s sermon, The Reckoning from 1 Kings 21:1-29 on July 30, 2023