THOU SHALT NOT COVET ANYTHING OF THY NEIGHBOR

PROCLAMATION

“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.’ ”  1 Kings 21:15 (KJV)

EXPLANATION

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The human author is unknown although some Bible scholars attribute this book to the prophet Jeremiah.  And it came to pass that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard near the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.  Ahab wanted the vineyard but Naboth would not give or sell it to him because it was his family inheritance. (1 Kings 21:1-3)  Ahab was displeased and would not eat because Naboth would not give him the vineyard.  His wife Jezebel saw him in his despair and told him to eat, and that she would get the vineyard for him.  Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name to the elders and the nobles of the city regarding Naboth, sealed them, and sent the letters to them.  The letters falsely accused Naboth of blaspheme to God and the king, and he was stoned to death. (1 Kings 21:4-13)  After they sent word to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she told Ahab and said that he could possess the vineyard.  Then The Lord came to Elijah telling him all of this, and told him to go and speak to Ahab.  Elijah went to Ahab and told him that The Lord said that in the same place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, shall dogs also lick his blood. (1 Kings 21:14-19)  The Lord also said that He would kill all males, slave and free, in Israel.  He would destroy Ahab’s house as He had done to the house of Jeroboam and the house of Baasha for their sins.  The Lord said that dogs would also eat the body of Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.  All that die in the city the dogs and the fowl of the air would eat. (1 Kings 21:20-26)  When Ahab heard these words he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted.  The Lord told Elijah that because he had humbled himself, that He would not bring the evil punishment upon him during his lifetime.  However, He would bring it upon his household during his son’s days. (1 Kings 21:27-29)

APPLICATION

It is a sin to covet that which belongs to your neighbor.  That was forbidden in the ten commandments. (Exodus 20:17)  It is even worse to lie on your neighbor, and to have him killed so that you could possess his property, as Ahab’s wife Jezebel did here.  Our personal greed will usually lead us to more sins.  Like the Apostle Paul, we need to learn to be happy with that which we have, (Philippians 4:11-12) and to thank God for it.  Unfortunately, we tend to ask The Lord God to give us more when we have not thanked Him for the blessings which He has already given to us.  For those of us who love Him and obey His Holy Word, God will bless us to enjoy the fruit of the labor of our hands. (Psalm 128:2)