1 Kings 21:1-14 ▼

1 AND it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to you, I will give you its worth in money.

3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.

4 And Ahab went to his house sad and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you refuse to eat food?

6 And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it, better than it; but he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.

7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, Are you really king over Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

8 So she wrote a letter in Ahab's name and sealed it with his ring, and sent the letter to the elders and to the nobles who dwelt in the city with Naboth.

9 And she wrote in the letter, saying, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high among the people;

10 Then bring two wicked men and set them opposite him, and let them testify against him, saying, Naboth has reviled God and the king. And then take him out, and stone him, that he may die.

11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who dwelt in the city with Naboth, did as Jezebel had sent to them and as it was written in the letter which she had sent to them.

12 They proclaimed a fast and set Naboth on high among the people.

13 And they brought two wicked men, and seated them opposite him; and the wicked men witnessed against Naboth, saying, Naboth reviled God and the king. Then they took him outside the city and stoned him, so that he died.

14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth has been stoned, and he is dead.