CHAPTER 21
Some time later,
Naboth
the Jezreelite
happened
to own
a vineyard
in Jezreel
next to
the palace
of Ahab
king
of Samaria.
So Ahab
said
to
Naboth,
“Give
me
your vineyard
to use
as a vegetable
garden,
since
it
is 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."
So Ahab
went
to
his palace,
sullen
and angry
because
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 refused
to eat.
Ahab answered,
“Because
I spoke
to
Naboth
the Jezreelite
and told
him,
‘Give
me
your vineyard
for silver,
or
if
you
wish,
I will give
you
another vineyard
in its place.’
And he said,
‘I will not
give
you
my vineyard!’"
But his wife
Jezebel
said
to him,
“Do you not
reign
over
Israel?
Get up,
eat
some food,
and be cheerful,
for I
will get
you
the vineyard
of Naboth
the Jezreelite.”
Then Jezebel wrote
letters
in Ahab’s
name,
sealed them
with his seal,
and sent
them
to
the elders
and nobles
who
lived
with
Naboth
in his city.
But seat
two
scoundrels
opposite him
and have them testify,
‘You have cursed
both God
and the king!’
Then take him out
and stone
him to death.”
So the elders
and nobles
who
lived
in Naboth's city
did
as
Jezebel
had instructed
in the letters
she had written
to them.
And the two
scoundrels
came in
and sat
opposite Naboth,
and these men
testified
against him
before
the people,
saying,
“Naboth
has cursed
God
and the king!”
So they took him
outside
the city
and stoned him
to death.
When 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.
For
Naboth
is no longer
alive,
but
dead."
And
when Ahab
heard
that
Naboth
was dead,
he
got up
and went down
to take possession
of
the vineyard
of Naboth
the Jezreelite.
“Get up
and go down
to meet
Ahab
king
of Israel,
who
is in Samaria.
See, he is
in the vineyard
of Naboth,
of which
he has gone
to take possession.
Tell
him
that this is what
the LORD
says:
‘Have you not murdered a man
and
seized his land?’
Then tell him
that this is also what
the LORD
says:
‘In the place
where
the dogs
licked up
the blood
of Naboth,
there also the dogs
will lick up
your blood—
yes,
yours!’"
When Elijah arrived,
Ahab
said
to him,
“So you have found me out,
my enemy.”
He replied,
“I have found you out
because
you have sold yourself
to do
evil
in the sight
of the LORD.
This is what the LORD says:
‘I will bring
calamity
on you
and consume
your descendants;
I will cut off
from Ahab
every male
in Israel,
both slave
and free.
I will make
your house
like that
of Jeroboam
son
of Nebat
and like that
of Baasha
son
of Ahijah,
because
you have provoked
My anger
and caused Israel
to sin.’
And the LORD
also
speaks
concerning Jezebel:
‘The dogs
will devour
Jezebel
by the wall
of Jezreel.’
He who belongs to Ahab
and dies
in the city
will be eaten
by dogs,
and he who dies
in the field
will be eaten
by the birds
of the air.’”
(Surely
there was
never
one like Ahab,
who
sold himself
to do
evil
in the sight
of the LORD,
incited
by his wife
Jezebel.
He committed the most
detestable acts
by going
after
idols,
like
the Amorites
the LORD
had driven out
before
the Israelites.)
When Ahab
heard
these
words,
he tore
his clothes,
put
on sackcloth,
and fasted.
He lay down
in sackcloth
and walked around
meekly.
“Have you seen
how
Ahab
has humbled himself
before Me?
Because
he has humbled himself
before Me,
I will not
bring
the calamity
during his days,
but I will bring
it
upon
his house
in the days
of his son.”