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 5 away his face, and would eat no bread. But Jezebel his wife came to him, and 6 said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 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.

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 8 vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 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 9 that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. And she wrote in the letters, saying, 10 Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: 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.

11

& eh. 16. 31.

I see refs. Deu. 19. 15 see refs. Den 13 13

" Ex. 22 29: Le. 24 15, 16; Ac. & 11, 13 • Le. 24. 14

P Is. 58. 4

And the men of his city,2 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 12 the letters which she had sent unto them. They proclaimed a fast, and set 13 Naboth on high among the people. 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 see refs. Le. 20. 2 14 stones, that he died. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and

15

is dead.

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, 16 but dead. 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.

20

I

see 2 Ki. 9.26

• Ps. 9. 12.

ch. 13 32; 2 Chr. 22.2.

"ch. 22. 38; Judg. 1 7; 2 KL. 9. 25, 26.

ch. 18, 17.

2 Ki. 17. 17; Is. 52. 3: Ro 7. 14.

17,18 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, 'which is in Samaria: 5 behold, he is in the 19 vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 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. 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 21 sight of the LORD. 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 22him that is shut up and left in Israel, 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 23 to sin. And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel 2 Ki. 2. 10, 30-37. 24 by the wall of Jezreel. & 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.

h

25 (But there was none like unto Ahab, which did 'sell himself to work wicked26 ness in sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. 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.)

27

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he " rent his clothes,

regarded the Mosaic law as forbidding him to part with his patrimony. See refs. If, however, that were not so, Ahab had no right to compel the sale or exchange. Ahab exhibits in this affair all the feebleness of his character. But Jezebel resolutely made her way to her object through the fourfold guilt of deceit, perjury, robbery, and murder.

1 Pretending, apparently, to fear some national calamities, and then fixing upon Naboth as the cause of the dreaded judgment. There is no wickedness so great but religion has sometimes been made a cover for it.

2 An instance of the servility produced by high-handed despotism. The elders of this city not long after obeyed Jehu's order to kill Ahab's descendants (2 Kings x. 1-7).

3 That there might be no heir or avenger, his sons also were put to death. See 2 Kings ix. 26.

ch. 14 10; Ex. 20.5;
2 K. 9. 8.
1 Sam. 25. 92.

8 cb. 14. 10

ch. 15 29. 4 ch. 16 3, 11. ch. 14. 16.

8 ch. 14. 11; 16. 4.

ch. 16. 30, ete.

i ver. 20

keh. 16. 31.

Ge. 15. 16; 2 KL. 21.

11.

see refs. Num. 14. &

4 Ahab appears to have gone with some state upon this occasion. See 2 Kings ix. 25.

5 That is, who rules at Samaria.' It was at Jezreel that Elijah met Ahab.

6 A man is not the less guilty because his weakness of character prevents his being more than an accomplice.

7 Some give these words a very unusual rendering: 'In the place of,' meaning 'In return for the dogs licking,' etc.; or, Like as dogs licked the blood of Naboth, so,' etc. But the translation in the text is supported by the ancient versions, and by Josephus, who represents the chariot of Ahab (ch. xxii. 38) as being washed at the fountain of Jezreel. Some suppose that Naboth was taken to Samaria to be put to death; others that this part of the sentence was postponed (see ver. 29; 2 Kings ix. 25, 26).

and "put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went 28 softly. And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seest 29 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.

Ahab forms alliance with Jehoshaphat; rejects Micaiah's warning, and is killed in battle with the Syrians.

22 AND they continued three years without war between Syria and Israel. And 2 it came to pass in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came 3 down to the king of Israel. And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours,2 and we be still, and take it not out of the hand 4 of the king of Syria? And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, 'I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray thee, at the 6 word of the LORD to-day. Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up: for the LORD shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that 8 we might inquire of him? And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah3 the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning nie, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.

Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Hasten hither Micaiah the 10 son of Imlah. And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of 11 the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets 'prophesied before them. And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them. 12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD shall deliver it into the king's hand.

And the messenger that was gone to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak that which is 14 good. And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, 15 that will I speak. So he came to the king.

And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the LORD 16 shall deliver it into the hand of the king. And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true 17 in the name of the LORD? And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the LORD said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would prophesy no good concerning me, but evil?

19

1. 6. 1: Eze. 1. 28

-28; Dan. 7. 9 5 Jub 1. 6; 21; Pr 163 20, 21: 19.6% 3; Dan. 7. 10; Zech. 1. 10; M. 18 10: Heb. 1. 7, 14

Job 1. &

And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right 20 hand and on his left. And the LORD said, Who shall persuade [or, deceive] Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this 21 manner, and another said on that manner. And there came forth a spirit, and 22 stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him. And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a 'lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, "Thou shalt persuade him, and 23 prevail also go forth, and do so. 'Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil Eze. 14. 9. concerning thee.

24

John & 44; 2 Thes

2.9; 16. 14.

* Judg. 9. 23; Job 12 16: Fre. 14. 9: 2 Thes. 2. 11, 12; Rev.

17. 17.

But Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee? 2 Chr. 18. 23 25 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see in that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.

26

And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon 27 the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son; and say, Thus saith the king, "Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and 28 with water of affliction, until I come in peace. And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, P the LORD hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, O people, every one of you.

29

"2 Chr. 16. 10; Jer. 37. 15

• Deu. 16 3

P Num. 16 29; Dea. 18. 20-22; 1. 442 Jer. 28. 89.

2 Chr. 35, 22; Pro. 21. 30.

72 Chr. 18. 31; Pro. 13. 20.

So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth30 gilead. And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but put thou on thy robes.3 And the king of Israel 31 disguised himself, and went into the battle. But the king of Syria commanded his thirty and two captains that had rule over his chariots, saying, Fight neither 32 with small nor great, save only with the king of Israel. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, Surely it is the king of Israel. And they turned aside to fight against him: and Jehoshaphat 33 cried out. And it came to pass, when the captains of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, that they turned back from pursuing him. 34 And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn 35 thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the 36 chariot. And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own 37 country. So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the 38 king in Samaria. And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the ch. 21. 19. word of the LORD which he spake.

39

8

Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book 40 of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? So Ahab slept with his fathers; and Ahaziah his son reigned in his stead.

41

Am. 3 15

20. 31-34.

Jehoshaphat's reign over Judah, and Ahaziah's over Israel. AND Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth parallel, 2 Chr. 42 year of Ahab king of Israel. Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his 43 mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right

1 This was a parable, describing in figurative language, borrowed perhaps from some well-known transactions, the events shortly about to take place, under the permission of God. In such parables the narrative is often nothing more than a vehicle to convey the truth.

2 God righteously leaves men who hate the truth, and are willing to be deceived, under the influence of the great deceiver (see 2 Thess. ii. 10-12); making even Satan an instrument of accomplishing His own purposes of good by the destruction of the evil.

3 Although Ahab had overcome the scruples of his ally, he was evidently himself alarmed; and, in the hope of escaping the predicted danger (ver. 17), cunningly proposes to resign the post of honour to his too easy friend; who narrowly escaped paying the penalty of his foolish

confidence, but in the moment of extremity was saved through faith and prayer. See 2 Chron. xviii. 31.

4 Such was Ben-hadad's return for Ahab's misplaced kindness. See ch. xx. 34.

5 While wicked men are calculating on the success of their devices (see ver. 32), the hand of God often reaches them, and inflicts their predetermined doom.

6 The Israelites appear to have made a successful retreat after their king was slain. Thus Micaiah's prophecy (ver. 17) was exactly fulfilled.

7 The meaning is, 'They washed his chariot in the pool of Samaria; and, while they were cleaning his armour, the dogs licked his blood.' 'See note on ch. xxi. 19. 8 That is, coated or inlaid with ivory; a style of decoration not uncommon in the East.

in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for 44 the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. And "Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings 46 of Judah? And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of 6 ch. 14. 24; 15. 12. 47 his father Asa, he took out of the land.

48 There was then no king in Edom: a deputy was king.2 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tharshish to go to Ophir for gold: but they went not; for the ships were 49 broken at Ezion-geber. Then said Ahaziah the son of Ahab unto Jehoshaphat, Let my servants go with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat would not.4 ch. 9. 28. And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Jehoram his son reigned in his stead.

* Ahaziah 5 the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria the seventeenth 52 year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and reigned two years over Israel. And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, and 'walked in the way of his father, and "in the way of his mother, "and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made 53 Israel to sin: for he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS,

OTHERWISE CALLED

THE FOURTH BOOK OF THE KINGS.

Ministry of Elijah continued; his message to Ahaziah.

THEN Moab rebelled against Israel1after the death of Ahab. And Ahaziah 2 fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that was in Samaria, and was sick and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, inquire of Baal-zebub3 3 the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease. But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel,

4 that ye go to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

5

And when the messengers turned back unto him, he said unto them, Why are 6 ye now turned back? And they said unto him, There came a man2 up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not 7 come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And he said unto them, What manner of man was he which came up to meet you, and

34

8 told you these words? And they answered him, He was an hairy3 man, and see Zech. 13. 4; ML girt with a girdle of leather about his loins.. And he said, It is Elijah the Tishbite.

9

Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, 10 Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down. And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, 11 and consumed him and his fifty. Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus 12 hath the king said, Come down quickly. And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him 13 and his fifty. And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and 14 the life of these fifty thy servants, 'be precious in thy sight. Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with 15 their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight. And the angel of the LORD said unto Elijah, Go down with him: be not afraid of him. And he 16 arose, and went down with him unto the king. And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to inquire of Baal-zebub the god of Ekron, is it not because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

17

So he died according to the word of the LORD which Elijah had spoken. And Jehoram reigned in his stead in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat 18 king of Judah; because he had no son. Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Translation of Elijah to heaven.

2 AND it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a 2 whirlwind, that Elijah went with 'Elisha from Gilgal. And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Beth-el. And Elisha said unto him, As the LORD liveth, and "as thy soul liveth, I will not 3 leave thee. So they went down to Beth-el. And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to-day? And he said, Yea, I 4 know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the LORD hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho. And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to6 day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And 7 they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to 8 view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. And Elijah took his mantle, and

5

1 To inquire of a false god was a practical rejection of Jehovah, and violation of his express commands (Exod. xx. 3). 2 Though they did not know Elijah, his authoritative message and manner caused them to return without further inquiry.

3 This possibly refers to his dress-a garment of coarse camel's hair, like that worn by John the Baptist. See Matt. iii. 4; Mark i. 6.

4 Or, as in the Septuagint, 'fire shall come down.' 5 This was a severe but well-merited rebuke of the king and people for their impious rejection of Jehovah; and a solemn admonition of His absolute control over life.

6 This repeated request would test Elisha's determination to fulfil all the duties of his present subordinate station, and consequently those of the higher office to which he was about to be promoted.