I Kings 21: Vineyard Whines

YINR 929: Tanach Yomi · Nov 3, 2026 · 2m

Chapter 20 ended with the mystery prophet’s prophecy of doom for Achav and his household: “Thus said the LORD: Because you have set free the man whom I doomed, your life shall be forfeit for his life and your people for his people” (כֹּה אָמַר ה׳ יַעַן שִׁלַּחְתָּ אֶת־אִישׁ־חֶרְמִי מִיָּד וְהָיְתָה נַפְשְׁךָ תַּחַת נַפְשׁוֹ וְעַמְּךָ תַּחַת עַמּוֹ) (20:42). Achav’s reaction makes sense for someone who just found out defeat and death were on the horizon: “Dispirited and sullen, the king of Israel left for home and came to Samaria” (וַיֵּלֶךְ מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל־בֵּיתוֹ סַר וְזָעֵף וַיָּבֹא…