The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Kings — Section 371

bution to his heart. God is our Judge, as well as our King. For the impenitent there will be no escape. In vain will they " call on mountains and rocks to fa.11 on them, and hide them from the wrath of God." Now in this day of mercy, God calls on all to repent, and :find pardon and hope in Him, who ho.s come " to seek and to save that which was lost."-A. R. Vere. 29-88.-Ahab'a wickeclmeaa. The evil genius of the son of Omri appeared- I. IN BIS WALKING IN THE BINS OF JEROBOAM. 1. In this, probably, he en- cowraged his father. (1) He appears to have been associated with Omri in the lcingdom. Omri reigned twelve years-viz., six in Tirzah, and six in Samaria; but his reign commenced "in the thirty-first year of Asa " (ver. 23). This would bring the close of his reign to the second year of Jehoshaphat, whereas in the text we read that " in the thirty and eighth year of Asa, king of Judah, began Ahab, the son of Omri, to reign over Israel." Hence it is evident Ahab must have been four or five years associated with his father in the throne. (2) The extreme wickedness with which Omri is charged was probably owing to Ahab's evil influence ; for the "statutes of Omri" seem to have been inspirecl by the "counsels of Ahab " (see Micah vi. 16), So the note that "he sinned above all that were before him" is alike applied to the father and son (see verses 25, 30). And the leading influence of Ahab may explain why we commonly read of the " house of Ahab" rather than of the house of Omri. Parents are often demoralized by wicked children. 2. He did not alter his course after his fathers death. (1) The sin of Jeroboam was perpetuated in Israel down to the time of their captivity. The cap- tivity seemfld necessary to break itR power over them. Juclgment is the last re- source of mercy. (2) The same reasons of state continued to influence the successive rulers of the nation. Reasons of state are too often more potent than reasons of piety and righteousness. Else we had been spared the discredit of wicked wars, wicked laws, wicked trading. II. IN ms MATRIMONIAL ALLIANCE WITH JEZEBEL. 1. She was a, pronounced idolater. (1) She was a Zidonian, and for any Israelite to marry one of that nation were a violation of the law of God (Exod. x.xriv. 11-16; Dent. vii. 3; Josh. xx.ili. 11-13). For a king of Israel to do this was the more reprehensible. Office brings responsibilities. (2) These people were worshippers of strange gods, and in particular of Baa.I. Hence the name of this queen ('JflN), which may be derived from m1N, where ! and ',J, a contraction of ',yJ, Baal, thus: Where is Baal 1 q.d., a seeker of Baal. Hence also her father's name (',,t,1Jn~). Ethbaal, which Gesenius construes to denote, "Living with Baal, i.e., enjoying the favour and help of Baal.'' 2. Such alliances have ever proved demoralizing. (1) The g!ants (01',El~), monsters, viz., in wickedness, perhaps, rather than in stature, whose violence provoked the judgment of the deluge, were the issue of marriages between the "sons of God," or holy race of Seth, and the "daughters of men," or profane descendants of Cain (Gen. vi. 1-4). (2) Solomon's heathen wives and concubines made a fool of the wisest of men, and brought his house and nation into infinite trouble (eh. xi. 1-13). (8) The Listory of this alliance also was most disastrous. 8. For typical reaaons also they were forbidden. (1) The marriage union should represent the union between Christ and His Church (Eph. v. 32). Therefore a h,:isband, that he may justly represent Christ, is bound to be holy; and so is his wife, _that she m11y suitably represent the Churoh. (2) Should the reverse happen, then is the woman an emblem of an apostate Church, of which the husband repre- ~ents_ th~ An~ichris~ia.n head (see 1 Cor. vi. 15, 16). Jezebel, o.ccordingly, is vieweJ m this light m the unngery of the Apocalypse (see Rev. ii. 20). III. IN BIS ENCOURAGEMENT GIVEN TO BA.AL AND ASBERE, 1. To Baal. (1) To this god_ he ~uilt a_temple in Samaria: T?is was the more aucl11cious sinoo, being placed m his cnp1tnl, it seemed to vie with the temple of the Lord in the c11pital of Judah. (2) 'l'o Bo.111 also he reo,red an altar thore, This, of oourso, meant a service of priests and sacrifices. (S) Furthermore he himself worshipped BnnJ.. Thus he gave the influenoe of his rositiciu to the encouragement of this idolatry, 878 THE Ft:MT BOOK OF KiNGS. (au. XVI. 29-84.