Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/316

 The king  was  so  troubled because  he  could  not  have  the vineyard, that  he  could  neither  eat  nor  sleep. Jezabel, his  queen, perceiving this,  inquired  the  cause  of  his  sadness  and  fretting. The king  having  explained  the  cause,  Jezabel  mockingly  said: “Thou art  of  great  authority  indeed  and  governest  well  the  kingdom of  Israel! Arise and  eat  bread  and  be  of  good  cheer:  I will  give  thee  the  vineyard  of  Naboth  the  Jezrahelite.”

She then  wrote  letters  in  the  king’s  name  to  the  chief  men of the  city,  whom  she  knew  to  be  wicked  like  herself,  requesting them to  find  some  men  who  would  wrongfully  accuse  Naboth. These men  were  easily  found,  and  they  bore  false  witness  against Naboth, saying  that  he  had  blasphemed God  and  the  king. And on their  testimony  Naboth  was  condemned,  taken  out  of  the  city and stoned  to  death.

Jezabel being  informed  of  Naboth’s  death,  went  and  told  her husband that  he  might  now  take  the  vineyard,  as  Naboth  was dead. And Achab  took  the  vineyard. Then the  Lord  commanded Elias  to  go  to  Achab,  to  reproach  him  with  his  crime and to  tell  him  that  the  dogs  would  lick  up  his  own  blood  on  the very spot  on  which  Naboth  was  slain,  and  that  the  queen  would be devoured  by  dogs  in  the  same  field. This prediction  was literally fulfilled.

Three years  after,  Achab  was  mortally  wounded  in  a battle with the  Syrians;  and  when  the  chariot  in  which  he  received  the fatal wound  was  being  washed  after  his  death,  the  dogs  came and licked  up his  blood.

Some time  after,  when  Jehu  was  king,  he  went  to  Jezrahel. And when  Jezabel  heard  of  his  coming,  she  dressed  herself  in  her richest apparel. She painted  her  face  and  adorned  her  head  and