Ver. 1. And it came to pass after these things.] After the two victories over the Syrians; not before, as Josephus will have it. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard.] But better he had not, as it proved; for it took away the life of the owner thereof. Many a man’s wealth is his undoing; as it befell the Templars, after whose possessions Philip king of France sorely longed, and wrought their extirpation. Hard by the palace of Ahab.] And so in his eye: hence his covetousness—called by St John the lust of the eye (1 John 2:16) -concerning which Ambrose hath written an excellent Treatise, well worth the reading of all rich men. Into this palace it is probable that wounded Joram was carried to be cured, (2 Kings 8:29) and that through a window thereof Jezebel was cast down. (2 Kings 9:30)
Ver. 2. That I may have it for a garden of herbs.] He longed for a salad out of Naboth’s vineyard, saith one: he had taken an excess, saith another, of Naboth’s grapes, which marreth his appetite, and threateneth his life. Because it is near unto my house.] Hence some make Naboth to have been Ahab’s uncle; but that is uncertain: the contiguity stirred up his concupiscence, which had no sooner “conceived, but it brought forth sin; and the sin when finished brought forth death.” (James 1:15) Principiis obsta. This coveting of other men’s possessions hath been noted as a great fault in our nation. Because holdeth, but falsely, that the English were called Angli, because they were good anglers, and had skill to lay various baits when they fished for other men’s livings. And I will give thee for it a better vineyard.] Covetousness is always cloaked, as here with the pretext of a lawful contract, (1 Thessalonians 2:5) and is seldom without feigned words. (2 Peter 2:3) I will give thee the worth of it in money.] Hence we may give an answer to that question, An omnia sint regum? and, An in facultates subditorum involare liceat Principibus? Whether the king hath right to all? and, May he pillage his subjects at his pleasure? As for that place, 1 Samuel 8:14. [See Trapp on “1Sa 8:14”]
Ver. 3. The Lord forbid it me.] The Lord had indeed forbidden it him. (Leviticus 25:23 Numbers 36:7 Ezekiel 46:18) And hence his loathness; for he feared God in that corrupt time, and this made him a martyr; and for this his blood cried the louder against Ahab and Jezebel.
Ver. 4. And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased.] Abalienatus et indignabundus; off the hooks, as we say, and in a great discontent; his heart did more afflict and vex itself with greedy longing for that bit of earth, than the vast and spacious compass of a kingdom could counter comfort. So Haman could say, All this availeth me nothing, &c. And Alexander, the monarch of the world, was grievously troubled, because ivy would not grow in his gardens at Babylon. The devil of discontent, whomsoever it possesseth, it maketh his heart a little hell, saith one. And he laid him down upon his bed.] Sick of the sullens. And turned away his face.] As not caring to see any, or to be seen of any one: he was totus in fermento. And would eat no bread.] As if he would starve himself. ταραττειν, exinde ταρταρος.
Ver. 5. But Jezebel his wife came to him.] This was well enough. Woman was first given to man for a comforter; but if sometimes for a counsellor, yet not at all for a controller, as this wicked woman took upon her to be.
Ver. 6. And he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.] It is more than probable that Naboth, so good a man, as he refused to satisfy the desire of his sovereign herein, so also he humbly presented him with the reasons why he durst not do it; and that Ahab doth not faithfully relate Naboth’s answer.
Ver. 7. Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel?] q.d., What a king of clouts art thou! It is not for a king to beg or buy, but to command and call for what he pleaseth, without control. And such afterwards was the speech of wicked Julia to her son-in-law Antonius Caracalla, soliciting him to incestuous marriage; when he answered, Vellem si liceret, I would if I might; she replied impudently, Si libet licet; thou mayest do whatsoever thou wilt: knowest thou not that thou art an emperor, and that it is thy part to give laws to others, and not to receive laws from any one living? So Caligula said to his grandmother Antonia, Memento omnia mihi licere, et in omnes. You must know that I may do whatsoever I wish. Jezebel would persuade Ahab here, that he is lawless, and that since he knew not how to improve his kingly power, she would do it for him. Let thine heart be merry.] Sing care away for this matter. I will give thee the vineyard.] Thus the hen crowed, the wife ruled; being impio marito impientior, avaro avarior, crudile crudelior, rapace rapacior, cupido cupidior, as one saith, the worse of the twain, if worse might be. Ambrose maketh her a type of covetousness, which promiseth her clients wealth without right. Another saith truly that she was fax malorum omnium, et quasi furia quaedam inferni, a firebrand of all mischief, a very hell-hag. A Lapide. Cap. 9.