1 Kings 21:19
And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
The verse belongs to the time when Elijah was still prophet in Israel, concerning the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite lying hard by the king's palace in Samaria. Ahab had set his heart on possessing it for a garden of herbs because it was near his house, proposing to buy it for money or to give a better vineyard in exchange. He had gone down to the vineyard to take possession of it when he was confronted there.
The killing and taking possession was the fruit of Ahab's naturally covetous disposition grown into full control by the spirit of selfishness through following the dictates of his evil heart. Covetous selfishness became his dominant trait, so that he could brook no refusal of his wishes and felt that whatever he desired should by right be his. That trait disastrously influenced the fortunes of the kingdom under his successors.
The crime took place during the later years of Ahab's life as the fruit of Jezebel's evil influence, in deeds of shame and violence seldom equaled. Ahab sold himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord and to do evil, while Jezebel his wife stirred him up. She strengthened and sustained him in wrongdoing.
Ahab was not allowed to enjoy unrebuked what he had gained by fraud and bloodshed, but was held to divine accountability. The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, commanding him to arise and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel in Samaria in the vineyard of Naboth and to confront him with the charge, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession. This stern rebuke of wicked Ahab for seizing the vineyard was given during the years Elijah and Elisha labored together, when Elijah was called from time to time to meet flagrant evils.
Through Elijah God condemned Ahab for murdering Naboth and taking his vineyard and property. A terrible judgment was pronounced upon him, that his bloodshed would be answered by his own blood. In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs would lick his blood, even his, prophesying his doom and the doom of all his house.
The verse shows that God sends reproof and warning by His messenger when He sees secret wrongdoing. If people hear and repent He turns away the threatened judgment. If they refuse correction He leaves them to reveal their motives through their actions.