1 Kings 21:26-29

21:26 He was so wicked he worshiped the disgusting idols, ¹  just like the Amorites ²  whom the Lord had driven out from before the Israelites.)

21:27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and walked around dejected. 21:28 The Lord said to Elijah the Tishbite, ³  21:29 “Have you noticed how Ahab shows remorse ⁴  before me? Because he shows remorse before me, I will not bring disaster on his dynasty during his lifetime, but during the reign of his son.” ⁵ 

[21:26]  ¹ tn The Hebrew word used here, גִלּוּלִים (gillulim) is always used as a disdainful reference to idols. It is generally thought to have originally referred to “dung pellets” (cf. KBL 183 s.v. גִלּוּלִים). It is only one of several terms used in this way, such as אֱלִילִים (’elilim, “worthless things”) and הֲבָלִים (havalim, “vanities” or “empty winds”).

[21:26]  ² tn Heb “He acted very abominably by walking after the disgusting idols, according to all which the Amorites had done.”

[21:28]  ³ tn Heb “the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite.”

[21:29]  ⁴ tn Or “humbles himself.” The expression occurs a second time later in this verse.

[21:29]  ⁵ tn Heb “I will not bring the disaster during his days, [but] in the days of his son I will bring the disaster on his house.”