1 Kings 21:1-24

1Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in 1Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “2Give 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 3you like, I will give you the price of 4it in money.” 3But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid me 5that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 46So 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 7food.

5But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating 8food?” 6So 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.’” 7Jezebel his wife said to him, “9Do you now 10reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

811So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to 12the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. 9Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10and seat two 13worthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘14You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and 15stone him 16to death.”

11So 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. 12They 17proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13Then 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.” 18So they took him outside the city and stoned him 19to death with stones. 14Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”

15When 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.” 16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18“Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, 20who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “21Have you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “22In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”’”

20Ahab said to Elijah, “23Have you found me, O my enemy?” And he 24answered, “I have found you, 25because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the Lord. 21Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and 26will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel; 22and 27I will make your house 28like 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 29have made Israel sin. 23Of Jezebel also has the Lord spoken, saying, ‘30The dogs will eat Jezebel in the 31district of Jezreel.’ 2432The 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.”