Now it came about after
these
things
that Naboth
the Jezreelite
had
a vineyard
which
was in aJezreel
beside
the palace
of Ahab
king
of Samaria
.
Ahab spoke
to Naboth
, saying
, " aGive
me your vineyard
, that I may have
it for a vegetable
garden
because
it is close
beside
my house
, and I will give
you a better
vineyard
than
it in its place
; if
1you like
, I will give
you the price
of 2it in money
."
But Naboth said
to Ahab
, "The LORD
forbid
me athat I should give
you the inheritance
of my fathers
."
aSo Ahab came
into his house
sullen
and vexed
because
of the word
which
Naboth
the Jezreelite
had spoken
to him; for he said
, "I will not give
you the inheritance
of my fathers
." And he lay
down
on his bed
and turned
away
his face
and ate
no
1food
.
But Jezebel his wife
came
to him and said
to him, "How
is it that your spirit
is so sullen
that you are not eating
1food
?"
So 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 pleases
you, I will give
you a vineyard
in its place
.' But he said
, `I will not give
you my vineyard
.' "
Jezebel his wife
said
to him, " aDo you now
1reign
over
Israel
? Arise
, eat
bread
, and let your heart
be joyful
; I will give
you the vineyard
of Naboth
the Jezreelite
."
aSo she wrote letters
in Ahab's
name
and sealed
them with his seal
, and sent
letters
to bthe elders
and to the nobles
who
were living
with Naboth
in his city
.
Now she wrote in the letters
, saying
, "Proclaim
a fast
and seat
Naboth
at the head
of the people
;
and seat two
aworthless
men
before
him, and let them testify
against him, saying
, ` bYou cursed
God
and the king
.' Then take
him out and cstone
him 1to death
."
So the men of his city
, the elders
and the nobles
who
lived
in his city
, did
as Jezebel
had sent
word to them, just
as it was written
in the letters
which
she had sent
them.
They aproclaimed a fast
and seated
Naboth
at the head
of the people
.
Then the two worthless
men
came
in and sat
before
him; and the worthless
men
testified
against him, even against Naboth
, before
the people
, saying
, "Naboth
cursed
God
and the king
." aSo they took
him outside
the city
and stoned
him 1to death
with stones
.
Then they sent word to Jezebel
, saying
, "Naboth
has been stoned
and is dead
."
When Jezebel heard
that Naboth
had been stoned
and was dead
, Jezebel
said
to Ahab
, "Arise
, take
possession
of the vineyard
of Naboth
, the Jezreelite
, which
he refused
to give
you for money
; for Naboth
is not alive
, but dead
."
When Ahab heard
that Naboth
was dead
, Ahab
arose
to go
down
to the vineyard
of Naboth
the Jezreelite
, to take
possession
of it.
Then the word of the LORD
came
to Elijah
the Tishbite
, saying
,
"Arise, go
down
to meet
Ahab
king
of Israel
, awho
is in Samaria
; behold
, he is in the vineyard
of Naboth
where
he has gone
down
to take
possession
of it.
"You shall speak to him, saying
, `Thus
says
the LORD
, " aHave you murdered
and also
taken
possession
?"' And you shall speak
to him, saying
, `Thus
says
the LORD
, " bIn the place
where
the dogs
licked
up the blood
of Naboth
the dogs
will lick
up your blood
, even
yours
.""'
Ahab said
to Elijah
, " aHave you found
me, O my enemy
?" And he 1answered
, "I have found
you, bbecause
you have sold
yourself to do
evil
in the sight
of the LORD
.
"Behold, I will bring
evil
upon you, and awill utterly
sweep
you away
, and will cut
off
from Ahab
every
male
, both bond
and free
in Israel
;
and aI will make your house
blike the house
of Jeroboam
the son
of Nebat
, and like the house
of Baasha
the son
of Ahijah
, because
of the provocation
with which
you have provoked
Me to anger
, and because you chave made Israel
sin
.
"Of Jezebel also
has the LORD
spoken
, saying
, ` aThe dogs
will eat
Jezebel
in the 1district
of Jezreel
.'
" aThe one belonging to Ahab, who dies
in the city
, the dogs
will eat
, and the one who dies
in the field
the birds
of heaven
will eat
."
aSurely there was no
one like Ahab
who
sold
himself to do
evil
in the sight
of the LORD
, 1because
Jezebel
his wife
incited
him.
aHe acted very
abominably
in following
idols
, baccording to all
that the Amorites
had done
, whom
the LORD
cast
out before
the sons
of Israel
.
It came about when Ahab
heard
these
words
, that ahe tore
his clothes
and put
1on sackcloth
and fasted
, and he lay
in sackcloth
and went
about 2despondently
.
Then the word of the LORD
came
to Elijah
the Tishbite
, saying
,
"Do you see how
Ahab
has humbled
himself before
Me? Because
he has humbled
himself before
Me, I will not bring
the evil
in his days
, but I will bring
the evil
upon his house
ain his son's
days
."