1 Kings 21
1 Some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make it into a vegetable garden, since it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or, if you prefer, I will pay you its value in silver.”
3 Naboth replied to Ahab, “May the LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers!”
4 Ahab went home resentful and angry over what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him: “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and would not eat.
5 Jezebel his wife came to him and asked, “Why are you so downcast, and why won’t you eat?”
6 He answered, “I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”
7 Jezebel his wife said to him, “Are you the one who rules Israel now? Get up, eat, and cheer up. I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 Then she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of his city who lived with Naboth.
9 In the letters she wrote, “Proclaim a fast, and have Naboth sit at the head of the people.
10 Set two worthless men opposite him to testify against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 The men of his city—the elders and nobles who lived there—did as Jezebel had instructed them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them.
12 They proclaimed a fast and had Naboth sit at the head of the people.
13 Two worthless men came and sat opposite him. In the presence of the people, they testified against Naboth, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king.” They took him outside the city, stoned him, and he died.
14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned, and he is dead.”
15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for silver. Naboth is no longer alive; he is dead.”
16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.
17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
18 “Get up and go down to meet Ahab, king of Israel, who is in Samaria. He is in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.
19 Tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: “In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will lick up your blood too.”’”
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” He answered, “I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the eyes of the LORD.
21 I am about to bring disaster on you and wipe out your descendants. I will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, slave and free alike.
22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and caused Israel to sin.”
23 The LORD also spoke about Jezebel: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, the dogs will eat; and anyone who dies in the open country, the birds of the sky will eat.”
25 There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
26 He acted in the most detestable way, following idols, just as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD drove out before the Israelites.
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his body, and fasted. He slept in sackcloth and went about dejected.
28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Since he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring disaster during his lifetime. I will bring disaster on his house in the days of his son.”
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