Blame: Ahab or Jezebel?

Originally written for Dr. Madden's Old Testatment class; March 25, 2021

Who is to blame for Naboth's death: Ahab or Jezebel?

Reading 1 Kings 21:1-16, the answer is clearly Jezebel, who has contrived Naboth’s death, yet Ahab is not blameless in the matter. To properly answer the question, we must know more of Ahab and his character.

In 1 Kings 16, we are twice told that Ahab’s behavior displeased the Lord. Ahab is introduced to us in 1 Kings 16:29, and immediately, in 1 Kings 16:30, we are told “A’hab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all that were before him.” In the next two verses, he marries Jez’ebel and begins to worship Ba’al. In 1 Kings 33, we are told “Ahab did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel who were before him.” That we are told this twice in the span of four verses should make us wary of underestimating Ahab.

In 1 Kings 21, Ahab approaches Naboth, saying he wants to trade, or buy, Naboth’s vineyard to make a vegetable garden. Naboth refuses to give his inherited family land to Ahab. Ahab knew, or should have known, that ownership of the land was not just a temporal right but also an eternal one, because the Israelites held that God had given them each their own plot. Naboth views the land not simply as an earthly possession, but as a sacred trust. Ahab is “vexed and sullen” by this refusal (1 Kings 21:4) Jez’ebel comes and asks him why he is sullen.

Now, in Jez’ebel’s defense, I would mention that she may well be accustomed to dealing with Ahab’s sullenness. The last verse of 1 Kings 20:43 states “And the king of Israel went to his house resentful and sullen....” Still, wanting to cajole her husband out of his bad moods does not excuse her next actions. From 1 Kings 7-15, she clearly conspires to get Ahab what he wants, even to being the direct cause of Naboth’s being unjustly stoned to death.

From the text, it does not appear that Ahab knew of her machinations, although he should have been suspicious, at the very least. His quick acquiescence in taking possession of the land (1 Kings 21:16), rather than questioning the circumstances of Naboth’s convenient (for Ahab!) death makes him, at least, an accomplice after the fact.

In 1 Kings 21:17-27, we see that the Lord promises punishment to both Ahab and Jez’ebel. 1 Kings 21:25, however, tips the scale of blame , judging Ahab harshly, but noting that Jezebel incited him: “There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like A;hab, whom Jez’ebel his wife incited.”  This, as well as Ahab’s repentance, lead me to determine that, ultimately, it is Jez’ebel who bears the greater blame for Naboth’s death and the seizure of his property.