1 Kings 21:18

1Ki 21:18 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.

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.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 21:18-19. Arise, go to meet Ahab, which is in Samaria — That is, who reigns in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth — Or, rather, he will be there by the time thou comest thither. And speak unto him, Hast thou killed and also taken possession? — Thou hast murdered an innocent and righteous man; and, instead of repenting of thy crime, hast added another piece of injustice and violence to it, and art going, confidently and cheerfully, to reap the fruit of thy wickedness. He ascribes Jezebel’s act to Ahab, because Jezebel did it by his connivance, consent, and authority, and for the gratification of his inordinate desire. In the place where dogs licked, &c. — Instead of the place, some would render the original word here used, the manner, and so the sense of the passage will be, As the dogs licked, or, in like manner as they licked Naboth’s blood, even so shall they lick thy blood: mark what I say, even thine. According to this reading, the prophet foretold that this judgment should come upon him, but did not assign the place; accordingly, the dogs licked Ahab’s blood, not in Jezreel, but in Samaria, 1Ki 22:38. If, however, our translation be preferred, it may be observed, 1st, Ahab’s blood was licked by the dogs, if not in the same individual, yet in the same general place, Jezreel being in the territory of Samaria. 2d, This was particularly accomplished in his son Joram, as is affirmed 2Ki 9:25-26, whose blood is not improperly called Ahab’s, children being said to be born of their parents’ blood. The expression, indeed, thy blood, even thine, seems to show that the threatening was at first denounced against Ahab’s person, and designed to be fulfilled in him: but afterward, upon his humiliation, the punishment was in part transferred from him to his son, as is expressed 1Ki 21:29; yet upon Ahab’s returning to sin, as is related in the next chapter, he brought back the curse upon himself, and so it is no wonder that it was in some sort fulfilled in him also.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 18. Go down to meet Ahab] This was the next day after the murder, as we learn from the above quotation, 2Kg 9:26.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(18) Which is in Samaria.—These words are almost unmeaning, unless they literally signify that Ahab was then in Samaria, not in Jezreel. To interpret them as simply part of Ahab’s title, or as signifying the country, not the town of Samaria, is to explain them away.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

17–29. Elijah meets Ahab and tells him God’s sentence. Ahab repents and the punishment is deferred (Not in Chronicles)

18. which is [R.V. dwelleth] in Samaria] This change is necessary for consistency in the narrative. There is no verb in the original, as will be seen from the italics of A. V. The verbs describing the action first of Ahab and then of Elijah, shew that both had gone down, the one from Samaria, and the other, perhaps, from Carmel, to the city of Jezreel, which lay on lower ground than either.

to possess it] R.V. to take possession of it. Thus it is shewn that the expression is the same as in 1Ki_21:15-16; 1Ki_21:19.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah,.... Two of his predecessors, whose families were utterly destroyed, Kg1 15:29,

for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin: not only by his worship of the calves, but of the idols of the Zidonians, particularly Baal, and also of the Amorites, Kg1 21:26.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Which is in Samaria; either who now is there, and about to depart thence to Jezreel; or who commonly dwells there.

He is in the vineyard, or rather, he will be; by that time that thou comest thither thou shalt find him there.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

ELIJAH’S PROPHECY AGAINST AHAB, 1Ki_21:17-29.

18. Which is in Samaria — Or, who reigns in Samaria. The words merely designate the seat of Ahab’s government, and his usual place of residence; not that the prophet is to meet Ahab in Samaria, or that Naboth’s vineyard was in Samaria.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Arise, go down Bahr hence concludes that Elijah was at this time in a mountain district. But wherever he might be, this word would probably be used of journey to the plain of Esdraelon to meet "The word. 1Sa_17:48 of David going out to meet Goliath (Stanley) But the same word is used (1Sa_18:6) of the women going out to meet Saul, and indeed it is the usual word for all meetings. We cannot hence infer, consequently, that Elijah went forth as if to encounter a foe Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria i.e., whose seat is in Samaria; who rules there. There is no need to understand the word of the territory of Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. The words imply that Elijah found Ahab strode into his presence in the vineyard; not that he was there already when the royal chariot entered it (Stanley).

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.