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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.] Who were her creatures likely, and therefore so morigerous.
Ver. 9. Proclaim a fast.] On fast days they were wont to execute heinous offenders, and thereby to get reconciliation with God. (Numbers 25:7,8 Psalms 106:30) But what damnable dissimulation was it in this devilish creature to do her feats under pretext of a fast! This was like that Italian new device of a pocket stone bow which, held under a cloak, shooteth needles with such force to pierce a man’s body, yet leaveth a wound scarce discernible: or, rather, that other, more detestable, of a pocket church book with a pistol hid in the binding, which turning to such a page dischargeth, -a plot to entrap him you hate, whilst you are at your devotions together, when there is less suspicion. If Jezebel proclaim a fast, let Naboth look to his life. If Herod, “that fox,” pretend to worship Christ, there is mischief towards. The Jesuits enjoined a fast, and set forth a sevenfold psalmody for the good success of the gunpowder plot: wherein, Rabshakeh-like, they would persuade the world that they came not up against us without the Lord. And set Naboth on high.] Bring him before the judges. Il. Merc. Italico, introduc.
Ver. 10. And set two men, sons of Belial.] Two such as she pointed out, and well knew to be for her purpose: knights of the post, as we call them, devils incarnate. Thou didst blaspheme God and the king.] Heb., Thou didst bless: Euphemismus per antiphrasin. The Hebrews, saith Martyr, did so far abominate blasphemy, that they would not once name it, when the blaspheming of God was to be spoken of. See on Job 2:9. And then carry him out.] As a καθαρμα, or public pest; not fit to breathe out his spirit in the city.
Ver. 11. Did as Jezebel had sent unto them.] So wretched were those times, that whatsoever pleased the prince, pleased all. But, oh, how miserable is that people whose rulers, instead of punishing, plot and encourage wickedness! When a distillation of evil falleth from the head upon the lungs of any state, there must needs follow a deadly consumption.
Ver. 12. They proclaimed a fast.] See on 1 Kings 21:9.
Ver. 13. And stoned him with stones.] Among many others—for treason was ever unicum crimea eorum qui crimine vacabant -we read in the martyrologies of one John Cowper, who, like another Naboth, was hanged in Queen Mary’s days for a traitor, upon false accusation. But if Naboth had been guilty, what reason was there that his sons should also suffer death with him? as it appeareth they did, (2 Kings 9:26) against an express law. (Deuteronomy 24:16) Was it because Jezebel would never suffer a rub to lie in the way, that might hinder the true running of her bowl? Tacit.
Ver. 14. Then they sent to Jezebel.] She is certified of by all these servile souls, whose lavishness was wrought upon by her imperiousness. It is likely that the news was no less welcome to her, than was the news of the bishops burnt at Oxford to Stephen Gardiner, who came out rejoicing to the Duke of Norfolk, and said, Now let us go to dinner; but ere he had dined, the sudden stroke of God’s terrible hand fell upon him, so that he was taken from the table, and soon after died in despair. Act. and Mon., 1611.
Ver. 15. For Naboth is not alive, but dead.] He and all his heirs are dead, and the vineyard doth confiscate to thee.
Ver. 16. Ahab rose up to go down] But better sit still than rise and fall. Josephus saith that he leaped for joy of the good news, and forthwith went to take possession. And yet Ambrose, Sulpitius, and some Greek copies have it that Ahab, hearing it, rent his clothes and put on sackcloth. This is not so likely.
Ver. 17. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah.] The day after Naboth’s death came Elijah to Ahab with this sad message, as Tostatus noteth from 2 Kings 9:26. “The triumphing of the wicked is short.”
Ver. 18. Which is in Samaria.] There was Ahab when the message was given in charge to Elias; but in the vineyard at Jezreel when Elias met him.
Ver. 19. Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?] So Chrysostom thundered against Eudoxia the Empress for seeking after the vineyard of Callitrope, a widow; for the which she banished him, and punished him with hunger and thirst, and various other vexations, to the loss of his life: so that he may well be reckoned among the martyrs. And thou shalt speak unto him.] Not secretly, and in his ear, but openly, and in the hearing of his servants and courtiers; which also he did. (2 Kings 9:25,26) In the place where dogs licked, &c.] So Aristobulus, king of Jewry, vomited abundance of blood—and therewith soon after breathed his last—in the very place where he had slain his brother Antigonus, and acknowledged it to be the just hand of God upon himself. So Selymus, the great Turk, struck with a most loathsome and incurable disease, ended his days at Chiurlus with an untimely and tormenting death, where he had joined battle with his own father Bajazet, A.D. 1511; God, as is to be thought, saith the historian, in the same place with revenging hand taking just punishment for his former disloyalty toward his aged father. So the Lady Rochford—who, as it is said, had forged a letter against her own husband and Queen Anne Boleyn, his sister, accusing them of incest, for the which they were both beheaded—was afterwards herself also beheaded in the same place with Queen Katharine Howard, for her deserts, So Babington’s confederates were executed in Lincoln’s-Inn-fields, even in the fields where they had often conferred for the execution of their treasons against Queen Elizabeth. So Henry III, king of France, was stabbed to death by a Jacobin friar in that very chamber where he and his bloody brother, Charles IX, had, some few years before, plotted the Parisian massacre. Thus the Jews who had sold Christ for thirty pence—“a goodly price!” (Zechariah 11:13) -were, at the sack of Jerusalem, sold for thirty a penny, ad illudendum, saith Hegesippus; and in the place where they had cried out, “Crucify him, crucify him,” they were miserably cut in pieces by the Roman soldiers. And thus, as one observeth, the Lord Hastings was beheaded at London that very selfsame day twelve months later, yea, the same hour, yea, the same minute, wherein he had conspired the death of the queen’s children, at Pomefret Castle. Shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine,] sc., As it runneth in the veins of thy son Joram. (2 Kings 9:25) “ Proiece tela manu sanguis meus…hoc est, O fill mi Iule. ’’— Virg. Aeneid, lib. vi. Or else we must hold that the pool of Samaria reached as far as Jezreel; so that Ahab’s blood, running out of his chariot, was carried down to Jezreel, and there licked by dogs. Joseph., Antiq., lib. xiii. cap. 19. Turk. Hist. Act. and Mon., fol. 1104. Speed, 1181. De Excid. Hieros., p. 680. Sclat., on Judges v. 31. Piscat. in loco.
Ver. 20. Hast thou found me, O mine enemy?] And why an enemy, but because he told him the truth? See Micah 2:7. [See Trapp in “Mic 2:7”] Truth breedeth hatred, as the fair nymphs are feigned to have done the foul fauni and satyrs. “ An expectas ut Quintilianus ametur? ’’— Juvenal. Because thou hast sold thyself to work evil.] Though thou art sure to rue the bargain; as at length all those shall that abandon themselves to wicked practices, [see 2 Kings 17:17] ut fiant pabulum morris et fomentum Gehennae. Such dustheaps are to be found in every corner—men that work “all uncleanness with greediness.” (Ephesians 4:19) In the sight of the Lord.] And, as it were, in despite of him.
Ver. 21. Behold, I will bring evil.] Here the prophet resumeth and prosecuteth his interrupted speech to Ahab, telling him what to trust to. And the like boldness was used by Athanasius, Hilary, and Lucifer Calaritanus to Constantine, the Arian emperor, whom they spare not to call Herod, Nero, Antichrist, &c. John of Salisbury dealt as plainly also with the Pope, A.D. 1159. Thou hast made a match with mischief, and now thou shalt have thy bellyful of it. “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways,” saith Solomon. And will take away thy posterity.] Which yet Ahab thought to prevent by his begetting seventy sons. (2 Kings 10:1)
Ver. 22. Like the house of Jeroboam, and of Baasha.] By whose utter ruin thou wouldst not be warned. He who will not take example shall be made an example.
Ver. 23. The dogs shall eat Jezebel.] So the Donatists that threw the sacramental bread to dogs were themselves afterwards devoured of dogs.
Ver. 24. Him that dieth.] See 1 Kings 14:11.
Ver. 25. But there was none like unto Ahab.] A very non-such, as is before noted, bipedum nequissimus, non scelestus sed ipsum scelus. Which did sell himself, &c., whom Jezebel, &c.] She held him in such slavery, that, for a quiet life with her, and to enjoy her love, he was wholly at her service, not daring to deny anything that she would have done. This γυναικοκρατεια is a great mischief.
Ver. 26. And he did very abominably.] All idolatries are abominable, (1 Peter 4:3) both pagan and papagan.
Ver. 27. When Ahab heard these words,] viz., Concerning the utter excision of his wife and posterity, this troubled him more than the loss of his own life forethreatened. And fasted and lay in sackcloth.] So do the Turks still in their greatest fears and distresses. This wicked men do, not out of hatred of sin, as it is offensivum Dei, et aversivum a Deo, but for fear of punishment. Αυτος ακι παιδες, και παιδων ουκετι παιδες.
Ver. 28. And the word of the Lord.] Who had soon seen this—though but feigned and forced—humiliation, and sent words of comfort. O felix poenitentia, quae ad se Dei traxit oculos, saith Jerome. Surely if the leaves of repentance be so medicinal, much more the fruit; -if the shadow of it be so sovereign, what the substance!
Ver. 29. I will not bring the evil.] I will recompense his temporary repentance with a temporary deliverance. Thus noble captains have honoured their enemies that have fought valiantly, to put some spirits into their own soldiers. And thus parents reward their servants’ dutifulness, to provoke their own children.