Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Kings 21:16

"And it came to pass, 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." — 1 Kings 21:16 (ASV)

When Ahab heard. —It is characteristic of Ahab that he takes care to ask no question about Naboth’s death, desirous “to be innocent of the knowledge,” and yet tacitly to “applaud the deed.” The guilt is Jezebel’s; the fruit, his own.

In the Septuagint there is here a curious and striking insertion: he rent his clothes and put on sackcloth, representing Ahab as struck with momentary horror, and then, after thus salving his conscience, still resolving to carry out his desire for the coveted vineyard. The picture is equally true to nature, especially to such a nature as his. But the insertion has little authority and is probably a mistaken interpolation from 1 Kings 21:27.