1 Kings 21 · a question people ask
Was the word about the dogs kept at Ahab's death, or later?
The LORD's word to Ahab was, "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours" (21:19). Naboth's vineyard was "in Jezreel" (21:1), and he was taken "out of the city" (21:13). When Ahab humbled himself, the LORD said, "I will not bring the evil in his days; but I will bring the evil on his house in his son’s day" (21:29). In the next chapter Ahab dies in battle and is buried in Samaria (22:37), and "They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood where the prostitutes washed themselves, according to the LORD’s word which he spoke" (22:38). Later, Jehu has the body of Ahab's son Joram thrown "in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite" (2 Kings 9:25), "according to the LORD’s word" (2 Kings 9:26). Christians read how these fit in two main ways, each resting on its verses. Both agree that 22:38 and 2 Kings 9:26 each say the LORD's word was done.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
Kept at Ahab's death
Those who read it this way start from 22:38, where the narrator says the dogs licked up Ahab's blood "according to the LORD’s word which he spoke" (22:38). The only word in 1 Kings about dogs licking Ahab's blood is 21:19. On this reading 21:29's delay is about "the evil on his house" (21:29), the word of 21:21-22, which came in his son's day (2 Kings 9:25-26, 10:10-11), while 21:19's word about Ahab's own blood was kept at his death, as 22:38 says.
1 Kings 22:38 · 1 Kings 21:19 · 1 Kings 21:21-22 · 1 Kings 21:29 · 2 Kings 9:25-26 · 2 Kings 10:10-11
Kept in his son's day
Those who read it this way start from 21:29. Ahab humbled himself, and the LORD said, "I will not bring the evil in his days; but I will bring the evil on his house in his son’s day" (21:29). On this reading the word about "the place" (21:19) came to pass in the son's day, at Naboth's own ground: Jehu had Joram thrown "in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite" (2 Kings 9:25), and said the LORD had spoken of "the blood of Naboth" and said, "I will repay you in this plot of ground" (2 Kings 9:26). They read 22:38 as the dogs licking Ahab's blood as the LORD had said (21:19), at Samaria, with the place kept for the son's day.
1 Kings 21:29 · 1 Kings 21:19 · 2 Kings 9:25-26 · 1 Kings 22:38
The verses
“You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’””
“After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.”
“The two men, the wicked fellows, came in and sat before him. The wicked fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death with stones.”
““See how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but I will bring the evil on his house in his son’s day.””