Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard

1Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreela next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.b 2So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyarda so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

3But Naboth said to Ahab, “As the Lord is my witness, I will never give my ancestors’ inheritancea to you.”

4So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angrya because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my ancestors’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,b and didn’t eat any food.c

5Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat? ”

6“Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard! ’ ”

7Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”a 8So she wrote lettersa in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.b She sent the letters to the eldersc and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9In the letters, she wrote:

Proclaim a fasta and seat Naboth at the head of the people. 10Then seat two wicked mena opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king! ”b Then take him out and stone him to death.c

11The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them. 12They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king! ” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”a

15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver,a since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.” 16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.

The Lord’s Judgment on Ahab

17Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:a 18“Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel,a who is in Samaria.b He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdereda and also taken possession? ’b Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood! ’ ”c

20Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you? ”a

He replied, “I have found you because you devotedb yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21This is what the Lord says:A ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants:

I will wipe out all of Ahab’s males,B

both slave and free,C in Israel;a

22I will make your house like the house of Jeroboama son of Nebat and like the house of Baashab son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.’c 23The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of landA at Jezreel:a

24Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,

and anyone who dies in the field, the birdsA will eat.’ ”a

25Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him.a 26He committed the most detestable acts by following idolsa as the Amoritesb had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.

27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackclotha and walked around subdued. 28Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,a because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”b