Repentance And Perisistance

Achab, rex impiissimus, vineam Nabuthae cruore possedit: et eum Jezabel non tam conjugio sibi, quam crudelitate conjuncta, Eliae increpatione corripitur: 'Haec dicit Dominus: Occidisti et possedisti. Et iterum: In loco in quo linxerunt canes sanguinem Nabuthae, ibi longent sanguinem tuum: et Jezabel canes comedent ante muros Jezrael. Quod cum audisset Achab, scidit vestimenta sua, et posuit saccum super carnem suam, jejunavitque et dormivit in cilicio. Factusque est sermo Domini ad Eliam, dicens: Quoniam reveritus est Achab faciem meam, non inducam malum in diebus ejus. Unum scelus Achab et Jezabel, tamen converso ad poenitentiam Achab, poena differtur in posteros; et Jezabel in scelere perserverans, praesenti judicio condemnatur. Sanctus Hieronymus, ex Epistula CXXII Ad Rusticum Migne PL 22 1043

Ahab, a most impious king, who by blood took possession of the vineyard of Naboth, 1 and Jezebel, who was not so much his yoke-fellow as bound by cruelty, were severely rebuked by Elijah, 'Thus says the Lord, you have killed and you have possessed.' And again: 'In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick up your blood.' 1 And: 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.' 2 Which Ahab hearing, rent his garments, and put sackcloth on his flesh, and fasted, and slept in a hair-shirt. And the word of the Lord came to Elijah saying, 'Because Ahab has turned back to my face, I will not bring on evil in his days.' 3 The sin of Ahab and Jezebel was the same, yet because Ahab turned to penance, his punishment was postponed until his sons, while Jezebel, persevering in her wickedness, received the judgement of condemnation in her days. St Jerome, from Letter 122, To Rusticus 1 3 Kings 21.19 2 3 Kings 21.23 3 3 Kings 21.27-29