with God's previous declaration of judgment, that the living God Who h ad seen and avenged the crime done in secret

should also acknowledge the repentance shown in public. Accordingly the word of Jehovah came once more to Elijah

to declare that the personal repentance of the personal sin had brought remission of the personal punishment, though

not of that denounced on the dynasty. The visible judgment, by which all were to perceive the retribution of God's

justice, was delayed to the time of his son, and would have been delayed still further had he shown like repentance. But

only delayed - for retribution must follow such open sin. And so the remembrance of it was kept up; and even this, in

merciful warning to Ahab's son. But when the dogs licked up the blood of Ahab, as they washed the chariot stained

with his gore, they recalled the yet unfulfilled judgment that hung like a dark cloud over the house of Ahab (1 Kings

22:38). But this was in Samaria, not in Jezreel, nor in the portion of Naboth, for, as the prophet had foretold, God

brought not "the evil" itself, only its warnin g remembrance, in the days of Ahab. But on Jezebel would it descend with

the terrible reality of a literal fulfillment.67