Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Kings 21:19

Albert Barnes Commentary

1 Kings 21:19

1798–1870
Presbyterian
Albert Barnes
Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes Commentary

1 Kings 21:19

1798–1870
Presbyterian
SCRIPTURE

"And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, Hast thou killed and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith Jehovah, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine." — 1 Kings 21:19 (ASV)

Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? These words especially rebuke Ahab’s indecent haste. He went to Jezreel the very day after Naboth’s execution (2 Kings 9:26).

The prophecy that followed had a dual fulfillment. The main fulfillment occurred when the dead body of Jehoram was thrown into Naboth’s plot of ground at Jezreel. There, like Naboth’s body, it was left for the dogs to eat (2 Kings 9:25).

This spot, located just outside the city wall and close to a gate, was likely the actual scene of Naboth’s execution (2 Kings 9:31). It was here that dogs licked Ahab’s blood—that is, the blood of his son. The full retaliatory sentence had been formally and explicitly deferred to the days of his son because of Ahab’s repentance (1 Kings 21:29).

In addition to this, there was a secondary fulfillment of the prophecy. This occurred not at Jezreel but at Samaria, where dogs licked the actual blood of Ahab himself, though in a way that implied no disgrace.

These two fulfillments are complementary to each other.