1Ki 21:19, 21, 29 | Clarke | e4.org | Verse 19. In the place where dogs licked, &c. ] It is in vain to look for a literal fulfillment of this prediction. Thus it would have been fulfilled, but the humiliation of Ahab induced the merciful God to say, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in the days of his son , . Now dogs did lick the blood of Ahab; but it was at the pool of Samaria, where his chariot and his armour were washed, after he had received his death wound at Ramoth-gilead; but some think this was the place where Naboth was stoned: see . And how literally the prediction concerning his son was fulfilled, see , where we find that the body of Jehoram his son, just then slain by an arrow that had passed through his heart, was thrown into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite ; and there, doubtless, the dogs licked his blood, if they did not even devour his body. There is a similar idea of the propriety of punishment overtaking the culprit in the place where he had committed the crime, expressed by Orestes to AEgisthus , SOPH. Elect . 1495. ______ χωρειδενθαπερκατεκτανες πατερατοναμονωςενταυτωθανης ______ Go where thou slew'st my father, That in the self-same place thou too may'st die.

‏ 1 Kings 21:19

Verse 19. In the place where dogs licked, &c.] It is in vain to look for a literal fulfillment of this prediction. Thus it would have been fulfilled, but the humiliation of Ahab induced the merciful God to say, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in the days of his son, 1Ki 21:29. Now dogs did lick the blood of Ahab; but it was at the pool of Samaria, where his chariot and his armour were washed, after he had received his death wound at Ramoth-gilead; but some think this was the place where Naboth was stoned: see 1Ki 22:38. And how literally the prediction concerning his son was fulfilled, see 2Ki 9:25, where we find that the body of Jehoram his son, just then slain by an arrow that had passed through his heart, was thrown into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; and there, doubtless, the dogs licked his blood, if they did not even devour his body. There is a similar idea of the propriety of punishment overtaking the culprit in the place where he had committed the crime, expressed by Orestes to AEgisthus, SOPH. Elect. 1495.

______ χωρειδενθαπερκατεκτανες

πατερατοναμονωςενταυτωθανης

______ Go where thou slew'st my father,

That in the self-same place thou too may'st die.

‏ 1 Kings 21:21

‏ 1 Kings 21:29

Verse 29. Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself] He did abase himself; he did truly repent him of his sins, and it was such a repentance as was genuine in the sight of God: He humbleth himself BEFORE ME.

The penitent heart ever meets the merciful eye of God; repentance is highly esteemed by the Father of compassion, even where it is comparatively shallow and short-lived. Any measure of godly sorrow has a proportionate measure of God's regard; where it is deep and lasting, the heart of God is set upon it. He that mourns shall be comforted; thus hath God spoken, and though repentance for our past sins can purchase no favour, yet without it God will not grant us his salvation.