INTRODUCTION: This chapter shows us what happens when the covetous heart runs free. Ahab pouted over what he wanted and could not get. Jezebel was willing to kill for the same. The righteous Naboth paid the initial price of Ahab’s covetousness. We should beware the evil results of a covetous heart.

1. NABOTH REFUSED TO GIVE UP HIS VINEYARD (1 Kings 21:1-4 [1] And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. [2] And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. [3] And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. [4] And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
   See All...)
1. The Location of Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kings 21:1And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
   See All...)
1. Located in Jezreel
1. In the valley of Jezreel (also called the valley of Megiddo) about 55 miles north of Jerusalem
2. A city where the kingdom of Israel often held court and where a royal palace was located (1 Kings 18:45-46 [45] And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. [46] And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
   See All...; 2 Kings 10:1And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,
   See All..., 11)
2. Located next to the palace of Ahab
2. Ahab’s Offer for Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kings 21:2And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
   See All...)
1. Ahab’s request for the vineyard
1. So he could make it a garden of herbs
2. Because it was near his house
2. Ahab’s offer for the vineyard
1. A better vineyard
2. The worth of the vineyard in money
3. Note: Naboth was being asked to give up his inheritance. Compare this with Esau who sold his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34 [29] And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: [30] And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. [31] And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. [32] And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? [33] And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
   See All...; Hebrews 12:16Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
   See All...).
3. Naboth’s Rejection of Ahab’s Offer (1 Kings 21:3And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.
   See All...)
1. He was forbidden by the Lord.
1. The land was not to be sold (Leviticus 25:10And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.
   See All..., 23; Numbers 36:7So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
   See All...).
2. The ruler was not to take the inheritance of the people (Ezekiel 46:18Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; but he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.
   See All...).
3. They were not to remove the ancient landmarks (Deuteronomy 19:14Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it.
   See All...; Deuteronomy 27:17Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
   See All...; Proverbs 22:28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
   See All...; Proverbs 23:10Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
   See All...).
2. He would not give up the inheritance of his fathers.
4. Ahab’s Displeasure at Naboth’s Rejection (1 Kings 21:4And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
   See All...)
1. He came to his house heavy, displeased with the word of Naboth (compare with 1 Kings 20:43And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.
   See All...).
2. He laid him down on his bed, turned his face to the wall, and would eat no bread.
3. Note: Ahab’s primary sin was that of covetousness (Deuteronomy 5:21Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour's house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour's.
   See All...; Proverbs 21:25-26 [25] The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. [26] He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
   See All...; Jeremiah 8:10Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.
   See All...; Micah 2:2And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
   See All...; Luke 12:15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
   See All...; Colossians 3:5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
   See All...; 2 Peter 2:3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
   See All...); notice that many of these verses apply to different aspects of this story.
2. JEZEBEL ARRANGED THE DEATH OF NABOTH (1 Kings 21:5-16 [5] But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? [6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. [7] And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. [8] So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. [9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: [10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. [11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. [12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. [13] And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. [14] Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead. [15] And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. [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.
   See All...)
1. Jezebel’s Promise to Deliver Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kings 21:5-7 [5] But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? [6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. [7] And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
   See All...)
1. Jezebel determined the cause of Ahab’s displeasure (1 Kings 21:5-6 [5] But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? [6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
   See All...).
2. Jezebel comforted Ahab with her words (1 Kings 21:7And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
   See All...).
1. She reinforced his self-esteem: you are the king.
2. She encouraged him to make merry.
3. She promised that he would get his desired vineyard.
2. Jezebel’s Letters to the Elders of the City (1 Kings 21:8-10 [8] So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. [9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: [10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
   See All...)
1. She wrote letters to the elders and nobles of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
   See All...).
1. Written in Ahab’s name
2. Sealed with Ahab’s seal
2. She gave instructions in the letters (1 Kings 21:9-10 [9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: [10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
   See All...).
1. Proclaim a fast (1 Kings 21:9And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
   See All...); she used a holy front to hide a wicked purpose (Isaiah 58:3-6 [3] Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. [4] Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. [5] Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? [6] Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
   See All...).
2. Set Naboth on high among the people (1 Kings 21:9And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
   See All...); that is, put him on trial before the people.
3. Set two men to witness against him (1 Kings 21:10And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
   See All...).
1. The minimum required (Deuteronomy 17:6At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death.
   See All...)
2. Sons of Belial – wicked men (Deuteronomy 13:13Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known;
   See All...; 1 Samuel 2:12Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
   See All...; 25:17
   See All...; 2 Corinthians 6:15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
   See All...)
3. To accuse Naboth of blaspheming God and the king
4. Carry him out and stone him to death (1 Kings 21:10And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die.
   See All...).
3. Naboth’s Death at the Hands of the Elders (1 Kings 21:11-14 [11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. [12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. [13] And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. [14] Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
   See All...)
1. They obeyed Jezebel’s instructions to the letter (1 Kings 21:11-13 [11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. [12] They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. [13] And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.
   See All...).
2. They sent their report to Jezebel (1 Kings 21:14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.
   See All...).
4. Ahab’s Possession of Naboth’s Vineyard (1 Kings 21:15-16 [15] And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. [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.
   See All...)
1. Jezebel told Ahab to take possession of the vineyard (1 Kings 21:15And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead.
   See All...).
2. Ahab took possession of the vineyard (1 Kings 21:16And 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.
   See All...).
3. ELIJAH PROCLAIMED JUDGMENT ON AHAB (1 Kings 21:17-24 [17] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [18] Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. [19] And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. [20] And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. [21] Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, [22] And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. [23] And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. [24] Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
   See All...)
1. The Death of Ahab Prophesied (1 Kings 21:17-19 [17] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [18] Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. [19] And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
   See All...)
1. The word of the Lord came to Elijah (1 Kings 21:17And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
   See All...).
2. Elijah met Ahab in the vineyard of Naboth (1 Kings 21:18Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
   See All...).
3. Elijah prophesied the death of Ahab (1 Kings 21:19And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
   See All...).
2. The End of Ahab’s House Prophesied (1 Kings 21:20-22 [20] And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. [21] Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, [22] And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.
   See All...)
1. Because Ahab sold himself to work evil (1 Kings 21:20And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
   See All...)
2. God will cut off his posterity (1 Kings 21:21Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
   See All...).
3. His house will be like that of Jeroboam and Baasha (1 Kings 21:22And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.
   See All...).
3. The Death of Jezebel Prophesied (1 Kings 21:23-24 [23] And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. [24] Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
   See All...)
1. The dogs shall eat her by the wall of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:23And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.
   See All...).
2. The dead of Ahab’s house shall be eaten by dogs and fowl (1 Kings 21:24Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.
   See All...).
4. AHAB RECEIVED MERCY AT THE HAND OF THE LORD (1 Kings 21:25-29 [25] But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. [26] And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. [27] And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. [28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
   See All...)
1. The Wickedness of Ahab (1 Kings 21:25-26 [25] But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. [26] And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
   See All...)
1. He sold himself to work wickedness (1 Kings 21:25But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
   See All...).
2. He was stirred up by his wife Jezebel (1 Kings 21:25But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
   See All...).
3. He did abominably in following idols (1 Kings 21:26And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.
   See All...).
2. The Humility of Ahab in the Face of Judgment (1 Kings 21:27And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.
   See All...)
1. He heard these words.
2. He rent his clothes, put sackcloth on his flesh, fasted, and lay in sackcloth.
3. He went softly (compare 1 Samuel 15:32Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.
   See All...).
4. Note: There is no record of him truly repenting or changing his ways of wickedness. His acts were similar to those of Manasseh, but Manasseh really seemed to change his ways (2 Chronicles 33:9-18 [9] So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. [10] And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. [11] Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. [12] And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, [13] And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. [14] Now after this he built a wall without the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, even to the entering in at the fish gate, and compassed about Ophel, and raised it up a very great height, and put captains of war in all the fenced cities of Judah. [15] And he took away the strange gods, and the idol out of the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built in the mount of the house of the LORD, and in Jerusalem, and cast them out of the city. [16] And he repaired the altar of the LORD, and sacrificed thereon peace offerings and thank offerings, and commanded Judah to serve the LORD God of Israel. [17] Nevertheless the people did sacrifice still in the high places, yet unto the LORD their God only. [18] Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.
   See All...).
3. The Mercy of the Lord on Ahab (1 Kings 21:28-29 [28] And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, [29] Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
   See All...)
1. The word of the Lord came to Elijah (1 Kings 21:28And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
   See All...).
2. The Lord noticed the humility of Ahab (1 Kings 21:29Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
   See All...).
3. The Lord restrained evil during the days of Ahab (1 Kings 21:29Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
   See All...).
4. Note: God will respond favorably even to the wicked when they humble themselves before Him.

CONCLUSION: Ahab’s wickedness will finally catch up with him. His failure to repent gave the Lord no choice but to call for Ahab’s death.