(There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.
This verse steps out of the story to give God's own verdict on Ahab. It comes just after Elijah announced the sentence for Naboth's murder. Two things stand out: Ahab sold himself, and his wife pushed him into it.
What "sold himself" means
Here the seller and the goods are the same man. One writer traces the word through the Greek Old Testament and into Paul's cry in Romans 7.
G. C. WillisIn Romans 7:14 the "wretched man" exclaims, "I am of the flesh, sold under sin." The Greek word used here for "sold" is piprasko. Used of a person, it means "to sell into slavery." The Greek Old Testament uses it as a picture of selling oneself to sin: of Ahab in 1 Kings 21:20, 25, and in 2 Kings 17:17. So Paul may have had these in mind when he cried in desperation, "I am sold under sin." But this is not the experience of the apostle Paul only. It is the condition of us all, though we may discover it only when the light of the gospel shines upon our fallen state.
A verdict on the man
The story pauses here to sum up the man himself. One writer weighs that summary and explains the Hebrew behind "incited".
C. KnappHis moral character, as given in the parenthetical passage of 1 Kings 21:25-26, is a terribly dark one… "whom Jezebel his wife stirred up" (urged on, in Hebrew). In his extreme wickedness he was a true brother — or friend — of his father Omri.
What he sold himself for
Ahab's idolatry did not stop at Baal. He also craved a piece of land next door, and one writer gives that craving its real name.
H. L. RossierFresh circumstances show us the king's moral condition. Covetousness overruns his heart, an eager greed for something God had not given him. Now this is idolatry just as much as the worship of Baal is (Colossians 3:5). Ahab, dominated by the enemy, has simply passed from one form of idolatry to another.
Jezebel's part
Naming his wife does not shift the guilt off Ahab — the verse says he sold himself. Yet God records her part too. One writer weighs her influence against Ahab's own guilt.
W. W. FeredayAhab was a weak character; Jezebel was strong and energetic. A most unfortunate combination! 1 Kings 21:27 suggests that his whole life might have run differently if his wife had been an Abigail instead of Jezebel… No man's weak character excuses his wickedness. Still, God in His pity does take account of the influences that surround us all… But he should never have married the woman!
The friend he had chosen
Ahab met Elijah in the vineyard he had just taken, and called him an enemy. One writer shows whose friend Ahab had really become.
H. L. RossierAhab says to Elijah: "Have you found me, O my enemy?" Yes, his enemy! He had taken Satan as his friend; he finds God to be his enemy. In the very place where he expected satisfaction, he finds nothing he had hoped for. Instead God stands before him, represented by His prophet, and says: "Have you killed and also taken possession?" Others had done the killing; God holds Ahab accountable.
Mercy even here
The verdict is crushing, yet the chapter does not end there. One writer traces what happened in Ahab after Elijah spoke.
Edward DennettThe words of the prophet rang in his soul like a funeral bell. They reached at least his natural conscience, and produced a passing repentance (v. 27). Who can fathom the depths of the patience and mercy of the Lord!… And because of this, though it was only a passing humiliation, God put off the judgment on Ahab's house until his son's days. So there was a day of grace even for Ahab.
Summary
- Sold. The word pictures a man selling himself into slavery. It is the same word behind "sold under sin" — a state one writer applies to every one of us.
- Seller. Ahab set his own price: a neighbour's vineyard. Greed for what God had not given him was idolatry just as much as Baal worship.
- Stirrer. Jezebel urged him on, and God records it. But influence is never an excuse — the verse says he sold himself.
- Snared. He called the prophet his enemy after making Satan his friend. God met him in the very place he had schemed to enjoy.
- Spared. Even this king repented for a moment, and God took note. He put off the judgment on Ahab's house. There was a day of grace even for Ahab.