1 Kings 21
21
Naboth’s Vineyard
1Some time later King Ahab wanted a certain vineyard. It belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. The vineyard was in Jezreel. It was close to the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria. 2Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard. It’s close to my palace. I want to use it for a vegetable garden. I’ll trade you a better vineyard for it. Or, if you prefer, I’ll pay you what it’s worth.”
3But Naboth replied, “May the Lord keep me from giving you the land my family handed down to me.”
4So Ahab went home. He was angry. He was in a bad mood because of what Naboth from Jezreel had said. He had told Ahab, “I won’t give you the land my family handed down to me.” So Ahab lay on his bed. He was in a very bad mood. He wouldn’t even eat anything.
5His wife Jezebel came in. She asked him, “Why are you in such a bad mood? Why won’t you eat anything?”
6He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth from Jezreel. I said, ‘Sell me your vineyard. Or, if you prefer, I’ll give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t sell you my vineyard.’ ”
7His wife Jezebel said, “Is this how the king of Israel acts? Get up! Eat something! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel.”
8So she wrote some letters in Ahab’s name. She stamped them with his royal seal. Then she sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in the city where Naboth lived. 9In those letters she wrote,
“Announce a day when people are supposed to go without eating. Have Naboth sit in an important place among the people. 10But put two worthless and evil men in seats across from him. Have them bring charges that he has cursed God and the king. Then take him out of the city. Kill him by throwing stones at him.”
11So the elders and nobles who lived in that city did what Jezebel wanted. They did everything she directed in the letters she had written to them. 12They announced a day of fasting. They had Naboth sit in an important place among the people. 13Then two worthless and evil men came and sat across from him. They brought charges against Naboth in front of the people. The two men said, “Naboth has cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city. They killed him by throwing stones at him. 14Then they sent a message to Jezebel. They said, “Naboth is dead. We killed him by throwing stones at him.”
15Jezebel heard that Naboth had been killed. As soon as she heard it, she said to Ahab, “Get up. Take over the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel. It’s the one he wouldn’t sell to you. He isn’t alive anymore. He’s dead.” 16Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. So Ahab got up and went down to take over Naboth’s vineyard.
17Then a message from the Lord came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The Lord said, 18“Go down to see Ahab, the king of Israel. He rules in Samaria. You will find him in Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab has gone there to take it over. 19Tell him, ‘The Lord says, “Haven’t you murdered a man? Haven’t you taken over his property?” ’ Then tell Ahab, ‘The Lord says, “Dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!” ’ ”
20Ahab said to Elijah, “My enemy! You have found me!”
“I have found you,” he answered. “That’s because you gave yourself over to do evil things. You did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 21So the Lord says, ‘I am going to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy your children after you. I will destroy every male in Israel who is related to you. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free. 22I will make your royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah. You have made me very angry. You have caused Israel to sin.’
23“The Lord also says, ‘Dogs will eat up Jezebel near the wall of Jezreel.’
24“Some of the people who belong to Ahab will die in the city. Dogs will eat them up. Others will die in the country. The birds will eat them.”
25There was never anyone like Ahab. He gave himself over to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord. His wife Jezebel talked him into it. 26He acted in the most evil way. He worshiped statues of gods. He was like the Amorites. The Lord drove them out to make room for Israel.
27When Ahab heard what Elijah had said, he tore his clothes. He put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. He went without eating. He even slept in his clothes. He went around looking sad.
28Then a message from the Lord came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The Lord said, 29“Have you seen how Ahab has made himself humble in my sight? Because he has done that, I will not bring trouble on him while he lives. But I will bring it on his royal house when his son is king.”
Currently Selected:
1 Kings 21: NIrV
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version®, NIrV®
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
1 Kings 21
21
Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard
1Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel # Jdg 6:33; 1Kg 18:45 next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. # 1Kg 20:1 2So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard # 1Sm 8:14 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, “I will never give my fathers’ inheritance # Lv 25:23; Nm 36:7 to you.”
4So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry # 1Kg 20:43 because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my fathers’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, # 2Kg 20:2 and didn’t eat any food. # 1Sm 28:23
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.” # 1Sm 8:14 8So she wrote letters # 2Sm 11:14 in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal. # Est 3:12; 8:8,10 She sent the letters to the elders # 1Kg 20:7 and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9In the letters, she wrote:
Proclaim a fast # 1Sm 7:5-6; 2Ch 20:2-4 and seat Naboth at the head of the people. 10Then seat two wicked men # Dt 13:13 opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king! ” # Ex 20:16; 23:1; Dt 5:20; Ac 6:11 Then take him out and stone him to death. # Lv 24:15-16
11The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had commanded them, as 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.” # Lv 24:16
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, # 1Kg 21:2-3 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: # 1Kg 17:2,8 18“Get up and go to meet Ahab king of Israel, # 1Kg 18:1 who is in Samaria. # 1Kg 16:29; 2Ch 22:9 You’ll find him in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered # Ex 20:13; Dt 5:17 and also taken possession? ’ # Lv 25:23 Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick your blood! ’ ” # 1Kg 22:38
20Ahab said to Elijah, “So, you have caught me, my enemy.” # 1Kg 18:17
He replied, “I have caught you because you devoted # 2Kg 17:17; Rm 7:14 yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21This is what the Lord says: # LXX; MT omits This is what the Lord says ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will sweep away your descendants:
I will eliminate all of Ahab’s males, # Lit eliminate Ahab’s one who urinates against the wall
both slave and free, in Israel; # 2Kg 9:8
22I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam # 1Kg 14:10-11 son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha # 1Kg 16:3-4 son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin. # 1Kg 12:30 23The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land # Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Vg, 2Kg 9:36; other Hb mss, LXX read the rampart at Jezreel: # 2Kg 9:10,30-37
24He who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,
and he who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.’ ” # 1Kg 14:11; 16:4
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. # 1Kg 16:30-33 26He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols # 2Kg 17:12 as the Amorites # Gn 15:16; 2Kg 21:11 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 sackcloth # Gn 37:34; 2Sm 3:31; 2Kg 6:30 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, # 2Kg 20:19; 2Ch 32:26 because he has humbled himself before Me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.” # 2Kg 9:25-37; 10:6-11
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
© 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.