Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 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.
8. she wrote letters in Ahab’s name ] She was the real ruler, he only king in name. The letters would be prepared for her by the royal secretaries. Jezebel’s part was to take the signet ring of her husband, and therewith affix the royal seal that the document might go forth with authority. Apparently Ahab asked no question about the means which his wife meant to employ.
the elders and to the nobles ] The law ordered (Deu 16:18) that there should be judges appointed in every city, and we cannot doubt the existence of such a tribunal in a place so important as Jezreel, where the elders and nobles would form the bench of magistrates. The sequel shews that for such an offence as that charged against Naboth they had the power of life and death. But the whole proceeding is very Oriental. The royal letter dictates the sentence, and how it is to be obtained, and the persons to whom it is addressed make no scruple about obeying, although the last words of this verse increase the enormity of their proceeding by telling that they ‘were in his city, dwelling with Naboth’, and so it would seem well acquainted with his character.
The words ‘in his city’ are omitted in the LXX.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Seal – The seal is a very ancient invention. Judahs signet and Pharaohs signet-ring are mentioned in Genesis Gen 38:18; Gen 41:42. Signets of Egyptian kings have been found which are referred to about 2000 B.C. Sennacheribs signet, and an impression of Sargons, are still extant. There can be no doubt that in the East, from a very remote antiquity, kings had seals and appended them to all documents which they set forth under their authority. (Compare also Est 3:12; Est 8:8; Dan 6:17). The Hebrew mode of sealing seems to have been by attaching a lump of clay to the document, and impressing the seal thereupon Job 38:14.
His city – i. e., Jezreel 1Ki 21:1. The mode in which it is spoken of here, and in 1Ki 21:11, seems to imply that it was not the city from which Jezebel wrote. The court was evidently at this time residing at Samaria 1Ki 20:43; and Ahab may either have met Naboth there, or have gone down (compare 1Ki 21:16) to Jezreel to make his request, and then, on being refused, have returned to Samaria. The distance is not more than seven miles.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. She wrote letters in Ahab’s name] She counterfeited his authority by his own consent; and he lent his signet to stamp that authority.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whom she very well knew to be fit for her purpose.
In his city, i.e. in Jezreel. So she seeks to destroy him with a pretence of justice, and with as little reflection upon Ahab as might be.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. So she wrote letters in Ahab’sname, and sealed them with his sealThe seal-ring contained thename of the king and gave validity to the documents to which it wasaffixed (Est 8:8; Dan 6:17).By allowing her the use of his signet-ring, Ahab passively consentedto Jezebel’s proceeding. Being written in the king’s name, it had thecharacter of a royal mandate.
sent the letters unto theelders and to the nobles that were in his cityThey were thecivic authorities of Jezreel, and would, in all likelihood, be thecreatures and fit tools of Jezebel. It is evident that, though Ahabhad recently been in Jezreel, when he made the offer to Naboth, bothhe and Jezebel were now in Samaria (1Ki20:43).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal,…. He giving her leave, no doubt, to take his seal; though she might not communicate her scheme to him, lest he should object to it:
and sent the letters unto the elders, and to the nobles that were in his city dwelling with Naboth: to the chief magistrates of the city of Jezreel, where Naboth dwelt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
B. THE CONSPIRACY AGAINST NABOTH 21:816
TRANSLATION
(8) So she wrote letters in the name of Ahab, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and unto the nobles which were in his city, dwelling with Naboth, (9) and she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people, (10) and two men, sons of Belial, before him that they may testify against him, saying, You cursed God and king; then they shall take him out, and stone him, that he may die. (11) And the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in his city, did according to that which Jezebel had sent unto them, according to that which was written in the letters which she had sent onto them. (12) They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. (13) And two of the men, sons of Belial, came and sat before him, and the men of Belial testified against him, against Naboth, before the people, saying, Naboth cursed God and king! And they brought him without the city, and stoned him with stones, and he died. (14) And they sent unto Jezebel, saying, Naboth has been stoned, and is dead. (15) And it came to pass when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said unto Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to give you for silver; for Naboth is not alive, but dead. (16) And it came to pass when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that he arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to possess it.
COMMENTS
In short order Jezebel set in motion a plot which would eliminate Naboth. Letters were written in the name of the king, sealed with the royal seal, and sent to the elders[480] and nobles in Jezreel (1Ki. 21:8). These elders and judges are said to sit with Naboth, probably on the city council. One cannot be absolutely sure, but the fact that the queen used the royal seal suggests that Ahab may have been aware of what his wicked wife was up to.[481]
[480] The institution of the monarchy had not divested the elders of their former authority in the various cities. However, it is obvious that these leaders were completely subservient to the crown. They could be depended upon to execute his orders even when called upon to perform a travesty of justice.
[481] On the other hand, Jezebel may have obtained control of the seal without Ahabs knowledge.
Jezebels plan was brazen and simple. A fast was to be proclaimed in Jezreel as though the city had come under a curse because of some undisclosed sin. Naboth was to be seated on high, i.e., accorded his usual position as one of the elders and judges of the city (1Ki. 21:9). There must be no semblance of premeditation. During the assembly two witnesses were to raise an accusation against Naboth and testify against him. These sons of Belial[482] i.e., worthless men, were to accuse Naboth of having cursed[483] both God and His representative, the king. Such cursing, according to the Law of Moses, was a capital crime.[484] Naboth would then be stoned to death (1Ki. 21:10).
[482] The connotation of this phrase is well known, but the etymology is uncertain. It is not clear whether the false witnesses became sons of Belial by virtue of this testimony, or whether they were worthless men to start with. Probably their past record and reputation were well known.
[483] The Hebrew uses a verb which more commonly means bless. Some scholars regard the word as a euphemism. Others feel the word had dual meaning and could refer to either blessing or cursing.
[484] Exo. 22:28; Deu. 13:11; 2Sa. 16:9; 2Sa. 19:21.
The elders at Jezreel must have been as corrupt and as wicked as their queen to agree to such a treacherous act as Jezebel had proposed. Their ready compliance (1Ki. 21:11) shows not only the moral degradation of the day, but also the terror which the name of Jezebel inspired. The fast was proclaimed; Naboth was set at the head of the people in a prominent position (1Ki. 21:12). The two witnesses presented their tainted testimony in a most convincing manner, and no amount of protest on the part of the pious Naboth could sway the crowd. They were interested in this charge of blasphemy because, if left unpunished, the guilt of such a sin would rest on the entire community. The fast created a mood on the part of the community in which they were prepared to accept the fact that someone through sin had brought the community under Divine wrath. Convinced that Naboth had brought down the curse of God on their city, the crowd pushed and shoved this man of God outside the city walls where they laid their hands on his head (Deu. 24:14) and then stoned him[485] to death (1Ki. 21:13). Then the elders returned word to Jezebel, who seems to have been in Samaria, that the dastardly deed had been done (1Ki. 21:14). It would seem that in ancient Israel the properties of those accused of treason were automatically forfeited to the crown.[486] So when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been executed for this crime, she announced to Ahab that the way was clear for him to claim his coveted vineyard. There is irony in the words of the queen, which he refused to give you for silver. The simple Naboth had refused to sell; now he had lost his life along with his property (1Ki. 21:15). The moody Ahab was jubilant when he heard that Naboth was dead, and he arose immediately to go down to Jezreel to take possession of the vineyard (1Ki. 21:16).
[485] According to 2Ki. 9:26, it would appear that not only Naboth, but that his entire family was killed.
[486] It is also possible that the property reverted to the crown because there was no legal heir, since Naboths entire family was executed.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(8) Sealed them with his sealwith the name, or token, of the king, engraved on stone, and impressed (see Job. 38:14) on a lump of clay attached to the letter. The sealing (as the modern sense of signature implies) was the pledge of authenticity and authority. (See Gen. 38:18; Neh. 9:38; Neh. 10:1; Est. 3:10; Est. 3:12, Dan. 6:17, &c.) The use of the sealordinarily worn or carried on the personimplies Ahabs knowledge that something is being done in his name, into which he takes care not to inquire.
In his city.This would be most naturally interpreted as Jezreel; but if Naboth dwelt or sojourned at Samaria, it may be Samaria. Jezebel naturally desires that neither Ahab nor she herself, though close at hand, should appear in the matter; but gives the necessary authority in writing, because without it the deed could not be done.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. Sealed them with his seal “In giving validity to documents, names were not in those days, nor are they now in the East, signed by the hand in writing, but impressed by a seal on which the name is engraved. Hence the importance which is attached to the signet throughout the sacred books.” Kitto.
Jezebel Arranges For The Death Of Naboth By A False Accusation ( 1Ki 21:8-15 ).
The second step in the downward spiral was when Ahab abnegated his authority by allowing Jezebel to use his name and seal for a nefarious purpose. This would result in the king’s name being dishonoured and the rulers of Jezreel sinning against their neighbour, by setting up false witnesses, falsely accusing him, and then murdering him in order to steal his land. This was not loving their neighbours as themselves (Lev 19:18). YHWH’s commandments were going down like ninepins.
Analysis.
a b And she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people, and set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them bear witness against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ And then carry him out, and stone him to death” (1Ki 21:9-10).
c And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, in accordance with what was written in the letters which she had sent to them (1Ki 21:11).
b They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people, and the two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him, and the base fellows bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth is stoned, and is dead” (1Ki 21:12-14).’
a And it came about, 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 you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” And it came about, 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 (1Ki 21:15-17).
Note that in ‘a’ the letters written in the king’s name and under his seal were sent to the nobles and elders of Jezreel who were Naboth’s neighbours, and in the parallel the consequence was that Ahab was able to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. In ‘b’ Jezebel calls on them to proclaim a fast and falsely accuse Naboth, and in the parallel that is what they do. Centrally in ‘c ’the blame is laid squarely at Jezebel’s door.
1Ki 21:8
‘ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, and who dwelt with Naboth.’
Jezebel wrote in Ahab’s name and sealed her letters with his seal. So he either knew what she had said, or he demonstrated gross negligence by allowing her to use his authority without checking on what she had written. Either way he was equally guilty. He was quite well aware of the calibre of his wife.
The letters were despatched to the nobles and eldership of Jezreel, men who by their positions were committed to fulfilling the will of YHWH. They also were therefore being involved in her dastardly plot, and in flagrantly disobeying YHWH. This was what Ahab had done to Israel.
Note the emphasis on the fact that they dwelt with Naboth. What they did, they did to ‘a neighbour’, one of their own, to whom they therefore owed a special duty under the Law.
1Ki 21:9-10
‘ And she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people, and set two men, base fellows, before him, and let them bear witness against him, saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ And then carry him out, and stone him to death.” ’
In her letters Jezebel instructed the nobles and elders of Jezreel to proclaim a fast on the supposed grounds that Israel had sinned. Then they were to give Naboth a place of honour among the people, after which they were to put him on trial on the grounds that it was he who had sinned in such a way as to bring guilt on the whole people, by ‘cursing God and the king’, and were to bribe two ‘base fellows’ (‘sons of worthlessness’) to testify against him. No one could be sentenced to death in Israel without the testimony of at least two witnesses (Deu 17:6; Deu 19:15). Afterwards they were then to carry him outside the city and stone him to death. Death by stoning was necessary because it would be seen as sacrilege for the two witnesses (who would be responsible for the stoning, at least theoretically), or anyone apart from the arresting party, to actually touch the body of a blasphemer against whom they had borne witness. It was to be done outside the city because the guilty party would be seen as ‘unholy’, so that his death must not defile the city (Num 15:35-36).
We note from these letters that Jezebel was clearly familiar with the customs of Israel and was deliberately misusing them and manipulating them, and calling on the nobles and elders to assist her in the task. It was flagrant, open and cynical disobedience against YHWH and His demands for righteous judgment, by one who only acknowledged Baal and his standards. Thus by obeying her the Israelite leaders would be uniting with her in her loyalty to Baal, and rejecting the covenant.
1Ki 21:11
‘ And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, in accordance with what was written in the letters which she had sent to them.’
It is then made clear that the nobles and elders of Jezreel kow-towed to Jezebel and did precisely what she asked. They rejected what they knew to be the requirements of YHWH, and even distorted them in order to let Jezebel have her way. It may well be that the Omride family had come from that area and thus had great influence in it, and besides, they knew very well what would happen to them if they did not.
1Ki 21:12-13
‘ They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people, and the two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him, and the base fellows bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones.’
The carrying out of what Jezebel had demanded is repeated in detail so as to bring out the awfulness of what the men were doing. First the pretended repentance for a ‘community’ sin. Then the pretence exalting of Naboth. Then the presentation of two men known to be false witnesses. Then the acceptance of false witness in order to obtain a verdict. Then the carrying out of an act of judicial murder on an innocent man. Ignoring YHWH and His laws they were abnegating all authority and were being totally subservient to Jezebel, and as a result accusing and executing a totally innocent man, a man who was in trouble because he had actually had the nerve to walk in YHWH’s ways and be faithful to him.
“Cursed God and the king.” That is, disowned them and rebelled against them, and possibly seeing him as even having blasphemed against the Name of YHWH. In the Hebrew the word used is ‘blessed’ but that is because it was used as a euphemism for cursed, so that no one would be tainted by speaking, even in the third person, of YHWH as having been cursed. For this as a crime see Exo 22:28 where we read, ‘you shall not revile God nor a ruler of your people’.
1Ki 21:14
‘ Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth is stoned, and is dead.” ’
Having done that they contacted Jezebel and confirmed that Naboth was stoned and dead, shamed and executed. Note that they had not been at all deceived into thinking that the instructions came from Ahab. They had known all along that the orders had come from Jezebel.
1Ki 21:15
‘ And it came about, 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 you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.’
And as soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth was dead she sailed into Ahab’s presence and informed him that he could now have what he had wanted, and could indeed have it without cost, because Naboth was dead. 2Ki 9:26 makes clear that his heirs were in some way disposed of as well, leaving no one to inherit. The confiscation of property after a man had been executed for treason is testified to elsewhere in an Aramaean tablet.
1Ki 21:16
‘ And it came about, 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.’
The news was music to Ahab’s ears, and he immediately rose up to go to Naboth’s vineyard to take possession of it. His conscience was clear. After all, he had had nothing to do with it.
(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. (9) And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: (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. (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. (12) They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. (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. (14) Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
Nothing can exceed the deliberate purposes of sin in this most atrocious deed. Religion is first called in to the aid of it. A fast is to be proclaimed, as if under the judgments of the Lord, the nations were to be assembled to humble themselves before him. Justice and judgment also to men, shall be apparently regarded for the poor unconscious Naboth, for the accomplishment of whose death, this mockery, both of religion and justice, was to be observed, shall be confronted by witnesses, as if jealous of God’s honor and glory. Reader! let me beg of you, never to peruse such instances of cruelty and oppression, without pausing to consider, to what a state of sin our nature is sunk; and what mercy it must have been in our Jesus, to recover our nature from it.
1Ki 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.
Ver. 8. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal.] She was king, and he queen, as was afore noted; she wrought upon his impotencies, and did what she listed. The he-viper putteth his head into the she-viper’s mouth, and she biteth it off: so the uxorious person parteth with his authority.
Unto the elders. sealed. with his seal. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6, Sealing was done by rubbing ink on the seal, moistening the paper, and pressing the seal thereon.
she wrote: 2Sa 11:14, 2Sa 11:15, 2Ch 32:17, Ezr 4:7, Ezr 4:8, Ezr 4:11, Neh 6:5, Est 3:12-15, Est 8:8-13
the elders: Num 11:16, Deu 16:18, Deu 16:19, Deu 21:1-9
the nobles: 1Ki 21:1, 2Ki 10:1-7, 2Ki 10:11
Reciprocal: Exo 24:11 – nobles Deu 1:17 – ye shall not Rth 4:2 – the elders 1Ki 21:12 – General 2Ki 9:22 – the whoredoms 2Ki 10:6 – General Est 8:10 – in the king Jer 29:25 – Because Mat 26:59 – sought Act 26:12 – with
1Ki 21:8. She sent the letters unto the elders and nobles Whom she very well knew to be fit for her purpose; that were in his city In Jezreel. Thus she seeks to destroy him with a pretence of justice, and with as little reflection on Ahab as might be.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments