Difference between revisions of "Navot's Vineyard and Achav's Punishment/2"
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This focus on foreign worship suggests that though Achav's role in the murder of Navot was worthy of censure, without the accompanying sins of idolatry, he might not have been punished as severely.</point> | This focus on foreign worship suggests that though Achav's role in the murder of Navot was worthy of censure, without the accompanying sins of idolatry, he might not have been punished as severely.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b>"וִיהִי לִי לְגַן יָרָק"</b> – Malbim suggests that the verse shares that Achav wanted to make | + | <point><b>Achav's desire for the vineyard: "וִיהִי לִי לְגַן יָרָק"</b> – Malbim suggests that the verse shares that Achav wanted to make the vineyard into a "גַן יָרָק" to teach that his real desire was to use it as a place to worship idolatry, pointing to <a href="Yeshayahu1-29" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 1:29</a> and <a href="Yeshayahu66-17" data-aht="source">Yeshayahu 66:17</a> as evidence that gardens were often homes to idol worship.</point> |
| − | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Navot's refusal:" חָלִילָה לִּי מֵי"י מִתִּתִּי אֶת נַחֲלַת אֲבֹתַי לָךְ"</b> – Malbim posits that Navot recognized Achav's intentions and thus subtly chastised him</point> |
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Version as of 01:45, 7 May 2018
Exegetical Approaches
A Partner in Crime
Despite being absent from the actual proceedings, Achav completely supported Izevel's plot and was a full (though silent) partner in the crime.
Sources:Abarbanel, Metzudot, modern scholars
Responsible for Izevel
Though Achav played no role in the framing and death of Navot, in his dual role as king and husband, he was responsible for the actions of Izevel.
Punished for Other Crimes
Achav was not being punished solely for his role in the murder of Navot, but for his other sins as well, most notably his idolatry.
"וַיַּתְעֵב מְאֹד לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי הַגִּלֻּלִים" – Though Hashem's chastisement of Achav does indeed refer to the murder of Navot (הֲרָצַחְתָּ וְגַם יָרָשְׁתָּ), when Eliyahu rebukes the king, he focuses instead on Achav's foreign worship, never once mentioning the murder:
- "וַיַּתְעֵב... לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי הַגִּלֻּלִים" – These words contain an explicit reference to idolatry.
- "אֶל הַכַּעַס אֲשֶׁר הִכְעַסְתָּ וַתַּחֲטִא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל" – Throughout Sefer Melakhim, phrases such as this refer to a king causing the nation to sin in idolatry. Thus, here, too, Eliyahu is likely rebuking Achav, not for his leading the nation astray with regards to Navot, but for his swayingthem to sin in Baal worship.
- "יַעַן הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי י"י" – Tanchuma understands this to mean that Achav sold himself to idolatry. See the same words in Melakhim II 17:17 where the idolatrous context is explicit.
Achav's desire for the vineyard: "וִיהִי לִי לְגַן יָרָק" – Malbim suggests that the verse shares that Achav wanted to make the vineyard into a "גַן יָרָק" to teach that his real desire was to use it as a place to worship idolatry, pointing to Yeshayahu 1:29 and Yeshayahu 66:17 as evidence that gardens were often homes to idol worship.
Navot's refusal:" חָלִילָה לִּי מֵי"י מִתִּתִּי אֶת נַחֲלַת אֲבֹתַי לָךְ" – Malbim posits that Navot recognized Achav's intentions and thus subtly chastised him
