Rashi on Tanakh1 Kings 21
Rashi
Read 1 Kings 21 in the Bible1 Kings 21:2
The worth of this one. This vineyard.1Achov did not attempt to take this vineyard by force because he was afraid of a popular rebellion if he were to act unjustly.—Radak
1 Kings 21:8
To the elders. Wicked elders, elders of shame.
1 Kings 21:9
Proclaim a day of fasting. On a fast day it was their custom to examine their sins.
1 Kings 21:13
Navos cursed. A euphemism for curse. And Targum [Yonoson rendered], Navos blasphemed against God and cursed the king.2Thus making him liable to death for either offense. The reason for mentioning both offenses is to arouse the people’s anger against Navos and thereby he would be executed quickly. See Maseches Sanhedrin 48b.—Metzudas Dovid
1 Kings 21:15
Get up and take possession. Some of our Sages say that the property of those executed by the king [belong] to the king. And some of them say3Some are of the opinion that even those executed by the king do not lose their right of having their property inherited by their closest of kin. Therefore they suggest that Achov was the son of, etc. that he was the son of his father’s brother. He killed him and his children and was therefore the legal heir to inherit his property.4See Maseches Sanhedrin 48b.
1 Kings 21:20
You have sold yourself. You sold yourself to anger your Creator,5You made yourself like a stranger. Achov went so far as to erase God’s Name from the Torah and he replaced it with Baal’s name throughout.—Radak התמכרת [=you have sold yourself], as in, “and there you will attempt to sell yourselves [והתמכרתם] to your enemies.”6Devarim 28:68.
1 Kings 21:23
In the valley of Yizreil. In the valley of Yizreil. “בחיל” is the Aramaic translation of “valley.”
1 Kings 21:25
But there was none likes of Achov. Scripture testifies about him that there was none among the kings like him,7Achov surpassed all his predecessors in doing evil. for Yerovom and all those after him worshiped the calves out of fear, that if the people would go up to Yerusholayim, the kingdom would revert to the House of Dovid, but this one added the Baal and the Asheirah to anger [God].
Sold himself. He was sold to idolatry. I saw in [Talmud] Yerushalmi that Chieil from the house of Eili was his advisor, and every day he would estimate his value and give it to the pagan deities.8Talmud Yerushalmi Maseches Sanhedrin 10:2.
1 Kings 21:27
And walked barefoot. [He walked] barefoot.9Alternatively, Achov walked slowly [לאט], like a mourner or like one who is under a ban.—Ralbag
1 Kings 21:29
I will not bring the evil. The disaster of this house I will not bring in his days, but the decree that the dogs will lick his blood is not possible to come in the days of his son, but upon him.
Rashi on Tanakh — Rashi. Metsudah Publications / Judaica Press · CC BY
1 Kings 21:1