拿伯的葡萄園位於亞哈都城撒瑪利亞以北約三十公里處的耶斯列谷地。亞哈貪戀毗連他王宮的地產，但卻無法得手。他像一個被寵壞的孩子一樣為此慍怒不快。那塊葡萄園一定是從約書亞征服迦南後，就藉著拈鬮歸於拿伯家為永遠的產業。這樣的土地不能永遠出售，所以，根據利未記的律法，亞哈不能合法擁有那塊土地，這也是拿伯拒售的根據（利25：23~28；民36：7）。

        但是王后耶洗別是個外邦異教徒，她瞧不起這條律法。在她的家鄉西頓，如果她的父王想要什麼東西，沒有得不到的，耶洗別視亞哈的行為為懦弱無能，她自願插手接管此事，要向亞哈示範一個君王如何予取予求。她宣稱亞哈在以色列中有無上的權柄，亞哈也這麼相信了。不過，他們很快會發現，上帝才擁有最高的權柄。

        耶洗別設計了一個殘酷的計畫。她是個反對真神敬拜的人，卻利用宗教的理由使拿伯接受虛假不實的審訊。在兩個假證人的控告下，拿伯被指褻瀆上帝和咒詛國王──兩者皆為死刑（利24：15~16；出22：28）。

        亞哈和耶洗別實在太可惡了。他們為了滿足自己的貪慾和驕傲而害死一個無辜的人。亞哈身為一國之王，一定擁有許多財富和土地，但他卻還貪愛不該有的土地。他們違反了好多條誡命：不可殺人、偷盜、作假見證陷害人、貪戀他人的財物（出二十章）。亞哈和耶洗別實在腐化到極點，他們一點也不尊重真理和公義。亞哈後來如願得到葡萄園，雖然他的罪行好像使他得到益處，但罪人至終是輸家（詩37：1~2）。

        上帝派祂的先知以利亞去指責亞哈的罪行，並宣布亞哈和耶洗別將遭受的刑罰。他們的罪將使亞哈和他的王朝一併毀滅，耶洗別也將不得好死（21：23；王下9：33~37）。沒有人可以替拿伯報仇，因為聖經他處記載，亞哈和耶洗別也將他的兒子殺了（王下9：26）。拿伯沒有留下可以繼承他產業的人，因此地業的轉讓看起來是合法的。然而，沒有一件事逃得過上帝的眼目。上帝要親自施報，亞哈落在永生上帝的手中真是可怕的（來10：30~31）。

        以利亞勇敢的在國王面前嚴厲的指責他，一點也不擔心自己的安危，他說：「狗必舔你的血」。以利亞帶著上帝的真理、力量、和權柄說話，不禁使我們聯想起新約的「以利亞」──施洗約翰（太11：9~14；14：3~4；17：11~13）。

        亞哈聽了這個令他憂愁的消息，就再也無法因新得的葡萄園喜樂。他在上帝面前自卑，希望上帝能因此減刑。雖然他只是暫時的悔罪，但上帝還是憐憫的同意不在亞哈有生之年降下前述的可怕刑罰（王下9：24~26）。

        在廿二章，我們看到猶大的好王約沙法來拜訪以色列最邪惡的國王亞哈（我們會在讀到列王紀下十八章時，對這段內容作更進一步的描述）。他們聯手合攻亞蘭，上帝也藉此應驗了真先知米該雅的預言，以色列必遭敗，亞哈也不得生還。米該雅很可能就是責備亞哈不該寬容便哈達，並預言亞哈之死的那位無名先知（22：8；20：42）我們再次看到，罪惡必不能永遠得勢。

        主啊，聖經曾告誡我們莫要讓我們的罪追上我們。求您保守我們在您和所有人面前過合乎道德的生活。也求您光照我們不自知的罪，好使我們能改正。我們在您神聖的面光中敬畏下拜。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        The vineyard of Naboth was in the Jezreel valley, about 30 kilometers north of Ahab's capital city of Samaria. Ahab coveted the adjoining property of his palace which was owned by Naboth, but could not get him to sell it. This caused him to sulk like a spoiled child. That land would have been in Naboth's family since the time of the conquest under Joshua, when the land was allotted as a lasting inheritance. It was not to be sold permanently. Therefore, according to Levitical law, Ahab could not rightfully own that land. This was the grounds of Naboth's refusal (Leviticus 25:23-28; Numbers 36:7).

        As a pagan foreigner, Jezebel probably would have mocked this law. In her homeland of Pheonicia, if her father the king wanted something, he merely took it. Jezebel saw Ahab's behaviour as weakness and took the matter into her own hands to show him that a monarch should get what he desires. She claimed, and Ahab believed, that he was the authority in Israel. They were to soon discover, however, that God was the highest authority.

        Jezebel devised a cruel plan of deceit and conspiracy. She, who was adamantly against the worship of God, used religious grounds for Naboth's mock trial and execution. With two false witnesses (Deuteronomy 17:6), he was accused of blasphemy against God and treason by cursing the king, both were punishable by death (Leviticus 24:15-16; Exodus 22:28).

        Clearly, Ahab and Jezebel were evil. They had an innocent man murdered to satisfy their greed and pride. Ahab, as the king, would have had plenty of wealth and land, but yet he desired or lusted after what he could not have. They broke several commandments: not to murder, steal, bear false witness against a neighbour, or covet (Exodus 20). Ahab and Jezebel were truly corrupt, having neither honour nor desire for truth and justice. Ahab did indeed get the vineyard, and though his sin seemed to have paid off, in the end sin never pays, and the sinner is the loser (Psalm 37:1-2).

        God sent His prophet Elijah to confront Ahab with his sin and declare the divine punishment that he and Jezebel would suffer. This sin would cost Ahab his dynasty (21:21-22; 2 Kings 10:7), and Jezebel would die a dishonourable death (21:23; 2 Kings 9:33-37). Naboth had no one left to take vengeance, for as another account reports, Ahab and Jezebel also had his sons killed (2 Kings 9:26). Naboth was left without anyone to inherit his land, and therefore the take-over appeared to be legal, as did the trial; but nothing is hidden from God. The Lord Himself would take vengeance, and for Ahab this was a fearful thing (cf. Hebrews 10:30-31)

        Elijah was brave to face the king with such harsh words. Without fear for his life, he declared, "dogs shall lick your blood" (21:19; 22:38). He spoke with the voice of truth, power, and divine authority, which reminds us of the "Elijah" of the New Testament, John the Baptist (Matthew 11:9-14; 14:3-4; 17:11-13 ).

        With this grievous news, Ahab could no longer enjoy his new vineyard. He humbled himself before God in hopes that He might lighten his punishment. Though he only temporarily turned from sin, God mercifully consented that the horrible punishment for his sin would not happen during his lifetime (2 Kings 9:24-26).

        In chapter 22, we read of the visit of Jehoshaphat, the godly king of Judah, to Ahab, the most wicked king of Israel (The contents of this chapter will be further discussed in 2 Chronicles 18). When they made an alliance and joined forces against Syria, God fulfilled the prophecy of the true prophet, Micaiah: Israel saw defeat and Ahab did not return alive (22:17, 28). Micaiah may well have been that unnamed prophet who foretold his death as judgment for letting Ben-Hadad live (22:8; 20:42). We again see that evil will never prevail.

        Lord, your Word declares, "Be sure your sin will find you out." Keep us living moral lives before You and before all. Please show us any wrongs of which we may not even be aware, so we can make them right. We bow reverently in Your Holy Presence and worship You.