Bible in one year 6/12/ 2022 1Kings Chapter 21-22 By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year 6/12/ 2022  1Kings Chapter 21-22  

By Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

1Kings Chapter 21 Ahab’s desire to have Naboth’s vineyard

             Naboth the Jezreelite had vineyard close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab want to buy his vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, but Naboth refused to sell his property to Ahab, because religious reason according to Lev.25:23 -28 “ the land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants…”  and Num.36:7-8. Ahab was so sullen. So his wife Jezebel saw to it that the procedure used to kill Naboth was technically according to the law (Deut.17:5-6). She wrote letters in Ahab’s name placed his seal on them and sent them to the elders and nobles who lives in Naboth’s city, falsely accused Naboth. it said, “ Proclaim  a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” (vv.8-10). So they took him outside of city and stoned him to death. Jezebel said to Ahab that Naboth had been stoned to death. When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he take possession of his vineyard.

            The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite. “ Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. And tell him, “ Have you not murdered a man and seized his property? then say to him, ‘ This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood yes, yours”(vv.17-19). So Elijah said to Ahab what the word of  the Lord had said. “ because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consue your descendants and cut of from Ahab every last male…and also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: “ Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country.”(vv.20-24).  In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, outside ofcity. Naboth was executed outside Jezreel (v.13) and Ahab’s blood was licked up outside Samaria (22:38, the pool being outside the city. Packs of dogs running wild acted as scavengers. On the fulfillment refer to 2Kings 9:35-37.

 Ahab’s repentance was not accompanied by acts ( such as restoring Naboth’s vineyard to his family or tearing down the altars to Baal) that would prove it was genuine. (v.27). The whole penalty was not inflicted on Ahab (v.19); some was reserved for Jehoram (2Kings9:24-25).

 1Kings Chapter 22 Ahab’s final battle; the reign of Jehoshaphat in Judah; the reign of Ahaziah in Israel.

            For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gileaad belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?” and asked Jehoshaphat, “ will you go with me to fight against Ramoth Gilead?” (vv.3-4). Apparently it had not been restored to Israel after the treaty of 20:34 Jehoshaphat agreed to join Ahab in this campaign. The prophets(v.6), not Jezebel’s four hundred prophets of Baal, but prophets of the Lord. Yet because they were on Ahab’s payroll, they said what they knew the king wanted to hear. Micaiah’s tone of voice and gestures showed that he spoke sarcastically (v.16). The truth was that Ahab would be killed and his army scattered(v.17). The Lord permitted a lying spirit to control the prophets and give Ahab the wrong advice. Nonetheless, Ahab made a responsible choice, having been warned of the truth by Micaiah.(vv.21-23). To Zedekiah’s challenge of Micaiah’s authority, the true prophet predicted that when Israel was defeated zedekiah would realize the truth.(vv.24-25). By this cowardly suggestion Ahab showed that he secretly feared Micaiah’s prophecy might be true.(v.30). But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. So the king died and was brought to Samaria and they buried him there. They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed), and the dogs licked up his blood as the word of the Lord had declared. (vv.37-38).

            Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years.(vv.41-42). 

              Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years.(v.51).

           

 Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986