John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And Naboth said to Ahab, the Lord forbid it me that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee .] The inheritances of families were not to be alienated to another family, or tribe, nor even to be sold, unless in extreme poverty, and then to return at the year of jubilee, ( Leviticus 25:23,28). Now Naboth was a man in good circumstances, and under no necessity of selling his vineyard; and, if he sold it, he might reasonably conclude, it becoming a part of the royal demesnes, would never revert to his family; and therefore, both out of regard to the law of God, and the good of his family, would not part with it at any rate: this shows that he was a conscientious man, and therefore is thought to be one of those that would not bow his knee to Baal, and against whom Ahab had a grudge, and sought an opportunity against him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Naboth, perhaps, had been pleased that he had a vineyard situated s near the palace, but the situation proved fatal to him; many a man' possessions have been his snare, and his neighbourhood to greatness, or bad consequence. Discontent is a sin that is its own punishment, an makes men torment themselves. It is a sin that is its own parent; it arises not from the condition, but from the mind: as we find Pau contented in a prison, so Ahab was discontented in a palace. He had all the delights of Canaan, that pleasant land, at command; the wealth of kingdom, the pleasures of a court, and the honours and powers of throne; yet all avails him nothing without Naboth's vineyard. Wron desires expose men to continual vexations, and those that are dispose to fret, however well off, may always find something or other to fre at.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 נבות5022 אל413 אחאב256 חלילה2486 לי מיהוה3068 מתתי5414 את853 נחלת5159 אבתי׃1
