Ahab’s and Jezebel’s Endings

Focus: “In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!” (1 Kings 21:19).

The Bible is an amazing book. Clear and detailed predictive prophecy is repeatedly fulfilled, sometimes with gaps of hundreds or thousands of years between the prediction and the fulfillment. 

So it was with Jezebel and Ahab. Despite disguising himself to go into battle, a stray arrow found its way in a chink in Ahab’s armor, and he died. Elijah had prophesied that dogs would lick up Ahab’s blood, which came true, although the judgment that his body would be left in Naboth’s vineyard was deferred to his son, Joram—again, exactly as God had decreed (1 Kings 21:29; 2 Kings 9:25). 

Then the similar judgment in Jezebel came about, perhaps ten years after her husband’s death. Despite seeing what happened to him, Jezebel made no attempt to repent. She continued to exercise influence during the reigns of her two sons, Ahaziah and Jehoram, and in the southern kingdom, Judah, where her daughter, Athaliah, became queen (2 Kings 8:18).

But she could not escape judgment. At last, at the command of Jehu, she was thrown from a window. And the dogs came by. The word of the Lord was once again fulfilled.

Even through this rather horrifying story, we see that the Bible is not just a storybook, but the reliable account of a God who intervenes powerfully in history. His Word stands forever.

Pray: Your Word is true, and You span the years, mighty God. I worship You. Amen.