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Commentary on "Elijah's and Elisha's Mantle"
Day 4: Tuesday, May 3, 2011 - The Wearing of Sackcloth
Overview
In this account we begin with Ahab’s expressed desire of owning Naboth’s vineyard. When Naboth refuses to be separated from his inheritance Ahab retreats to his palace and sulks. Jezebel learns of this and arranges for the murder of Naboth. Elijah is sent by God and confronts Ahab at Naboth’s vineyard where he pronounces God’s curse on him. Dogs would devour his blood. Ahab repents of what he has done and puts on sackcloth. God see this as true repentance and delays the fulfillment of the curse.
Observations
There is peace for several years in Israel but there is no indication that Ahab turned himself or the nation back to God or that they ever repented of their many idolatrous ways.
He still turns to false prophets, 1 Kings 22:1-28, and refuses to abide by Micaiah’s words, God’s true prophet.
In the battle with Syria he uses his craftiness to disguise himself leaving Jehoshaphat exposed to Syria’s main attack. This is not the actions of a righteous person.
Dogs did lick up his blood where his chariot was washed and prostitutes bathed in water that contained his blood.
Summary
- Ahab repented of the murder of Naboth but we see no indication that he responded to the even bigger issue of his nation’s rampant idolatry.
- In 2 Kings 9:30-37, Jezebel dies exactly as pronounced by God’s curse. Right up to the moment of her death she defied the one true God, the rightful God of Israel.
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