Revised Literal Translation

1 Kings 21

1And it came to pass afterאַחַר֙'a.CharH310these thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697, thatNabothלְנָב֥וֹתle.na.VotH5022the Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖יhai.yiz.re.'e.LiH3158had a vineyardכֶּ֧רֶםKe.remH3754, which wasin Jezreelבְּיִזְרְעֶ֑אלbe.yiz.re.'ElH3157,hard byאֵ֚צֶל'E.tzelH681the palaceהֵיכַ֣לhei.KhalH1964of Ahabאַחְאָ֔ב'ach.'AvH256kingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428of Samariaשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃sho.me.RonH8111.

2And Ahabאַחְאָ֣ב'ach.'AvH256spakeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696unto Nabothנָב֣וֹת׀na.VotH5022,sayingלֵאמֹר֩׀le.MorH559,Giveתְּנָה־te.nah-H5414me thy vineyardכַּרְמְךָ֜kar.me.KhaH3754,that I may have it for a gardenלְגַן־le.gan-H1588of herbsיָרָ֗קya.RakH3419, because it isnearקָרוֹב֙ka.rOvH7138untoאֵ֣צֶל'E.tzelH681my houseבֵּיתִ֔יbei.TiH1004:and I will giveוְאֶתְּנָ֤הve.'e.te.NahH5414thee for it a betterH2896vineyardכֶּ֖רֶםKe.remH3754than it; or,if it seem goodH2896to theeבְּעֵינֶ֔יךָbe.'ei.Nei.khaH5869,I will giveאֶתְּנָה־'e.te.nah-H5414thee the worthמְחִ֥ירme.ChirH4242of it in moneyכֶ֖סֶףKhe.sefH3701.

3And Nabothנָב֖וֹתna.VotH5022saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Ahabאַחְאָ֑ב'ach.'AvH256,Yhwhמֵֽיהוָ֔הme.Yah.wehH3068forbidחָלִ֤ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486it me, that I should giveמִתִּתִּ֛יmi.ti.TiH5414the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֥תna.cha.LatH5159of my fathersאֲבֹתַ֖י'a.vo.TaiH1unto thee.

4And Ahabאַחְאָ֨ב'ach.'AvH256cameוַיָּבֹא֩vai.ya.Vo'H935into his houseבֵּית֜וֹbei.ToH1004heavyסַ֣רsarH5620and displeasedוְזָעֵ֗ףve.za.'EfH2198because of the wordהַדָּבָר֙ha.da.VarH1697which Nabothנָבוֹת֙na.VotH5022the Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔יhai.yiz.re.'e.LiH3158had spokenדִּבֶּ֣רdi.BerH1696to him: for he had saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will not giveאֶתֵּ֥ן'e.TenH5414thee the inheritanceנַחֲלַ֣תna.cha.LatH5159of my fathersאֲבוֹתָ֑י'a.vo.TaiH1.And he laid him downוַיִּשְׁכַּב֙vai.yish.KavH7901upon his bedמִטָּת֔וֹmi.ta.ToH4296,and turned awayוַיַּסֵּ֥בvai.ya.SevH5437his faceפָּנָ֖יוpa.NavH6440,and would eatאָ֥כַל'A.khalH398no breadלָֽחֶם׃La.chemH3899.

5But Jezebelאִיזֶ֣בֶל'i.Ze.velH348his wifeאִשְׁתּ֑וֹ'ish.ToH802cameוַתָּבֹ֥אva.ta.Vo'H935to him, and saidוַתְּדַבֵּ֣רva.te.da.BerH1696unto him, Why is thy spiritרוּחֲךָ֣ru.cha.KhaH7307so sadסָרָ֔הsa.RahH5620,that thou eatestאֹכֵ֥ל'o.KhelH398no breadלָֽחֶם׃La.chemH3899?

6And he saidוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696unto her, Because I spakeאֲ֠דַבֵּר'A.da.berH1696unto Nabothנָב֨וֹתna.VotH5022the Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֜יhai.yiz.re.'e.LiH3158,and saidוָאֹ֣מַרva.'O.marH559unto him, Giveתְּנָה־te.nah-H5414me thy vineyardכַּרְמְךָ֙kar.me.KhaH3754for moneyבְּכֶ֔סֶףbe.Khe.sefH3701;or else, if it pleaseחָפֵ֣ץcha.FetzH2655thee, I will giveאֶתְּנָה־'e.te.nah-H5414thee anothervineyardכֶ֖רֶםKhe.remH3754for it: and he answeredוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I will not giveאֶתֵּ֥ן'e.TenH5414thee my vineyardכַּרְמִֽי׃kar.MiH3754.

7And Jezebelאִיזֶ֣בֶל'i.Ze.velH348his wifeאִשְׁתּ֔וֹ'ish.ToH802saidוַתֹּ֤אמֶרva.To.merH559unto him, Dost thou now governתַּעֲשֶׂ֥הta.'a.SehH6213the kingdomמְלוּכָ֖הme.lu.KhahH4410of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478?ariseק֤וּםkumH6965, andeatאֱכָל־'e.khol-H398breadלֶ֙חֶם֙le.chemH3899,and let thine heartלִבֶּ֔ךָli.Be.khaH3820be merryוְיִטַ֣בve.yi.TavH3190:I will giveאֶתֵּ֣ן'e.TenH5414thee the vineyardכֶּ֖רֶםKe.remH3754of Nabothנָב֥וֹתna.VotH5022the Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃hai.yiz.re.'e.LiH3158.

8So she wroteוַתִּכְתֹּ֤בva.tikh.ToH3789lettersסְפָרִים֙se.fa.RimH5612in Ahab’sאַחְאָ֔ב'ach.'AvH256nameבְּשֵׁ֣םbe.ShemH8034,and sealedוַתַּחְתֹּ֖םva.tach.TomH2856themwith his sealבְּחֹתָמ֑וֹbe.cho.ta.MoH2368,and sentוַתִּשְׁלַ֣חva.tish.LachH7971the lettersסְפָרִ֗יםhas.fa.rimH5612unto the eldersהַזְקֵנִ֤יםhaz.ke.NimH2205and to the noblesהַֽחֹרִים֙ha.cho.RimH2715that werein his cityבְּעִיר֔וֹbe.'i.RoH5892,dwellingהַיֹּשְׁבִ֖יםhai.yo.she.VimH3427with Nabothנָבֽוֹת׃na.VotH5022.

9And she wroteוַתִּכְתֹּ֥בva.tikh.ToH3789in the lettersבַּסְּפָרִ֖יםba.se.fa.RimH5612,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Proclaimקִֽרְאוּ־kir.'u-H7121a fastצ֔וֹםTzomH6685,and setוְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּve.ho.Shi.vuH3427Nabothנָב֖וֹתna.VotH5022on highבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218among the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971:

10And setוְ֠הוֹשִׁיבוּVe.ho.shi.vuH3427twoשְׁנַ֨יִםshe.Na.yimH8147menאֲנָשִׁ֥ים'a.na.ShimH582,sonsבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Belialבְלִיַּעַל֮ve.li.ya.'AlH1100,before him, to bear witnessוִיעִדֻ֣הוּvi.'i.Du.huH5749against him, sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Thou didst blasphemeבֵּרַ֥כְתָּbe.Rakh.taH1288Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430and the kingוָמֶ֑לֶךְva.Me.lekhH4428. And thencarry him outוְהוֹצִיאֻ֥הוּve.ho.tzi.'U.huH3318,and stoneוְסִקְלֻ֖הוּve.sik.Lu.huH5619him, that he may dieוְיָמֹֽת׃ve.ya.MotH4191.

11And the menאַנְשֵׁ֨י'an.SheiH582of his cityעִיר֜וֹi.RoH5892, eventhe eldersהַזְּקֵנִ֣יםha.ze.ke.NimH2205and the noblesוְהַחֹרִ֗יםve.ha.cho.RimH2715who were the inhabitantsהַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙hai.yo.she.VimH3427in his cityבְּעִיר֔וֹbe.'i.RoH5892,didוַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩vai.ya.'a.SuH6213as Jezebelאִיזָ֑בֶל'i.Za.velH348had sentשָׁלְחָ֥הsha.le.ChahH7971unto them, and as it waswrittenכָּתוּב֙ka.TuvH3789in the lettersבַּסְּפָרִ֔יםba.se.fa.RimH5612which she had sentשָׁלְחָ֖הsha.le.ChahH7971unto them.

12They proclaimedקָרְא֖וּka.re.'UH7121a fastצ֑וֹםTzomH6685,and setוְהֹשִׁ֥יבוּve.ho.Shi.vuH3427Nabothנָב֖וֹתna.VotH5022on highבְּרֹ֥אשׁbe.RoshH7218among the peopleהָעָֽם׃ha.'AmH5971.

13And there cameוַ֠יָּבֹאוּVai.ya.vo.'uH935in twoשְׁנֵ֨יshe.NeiH8147menהָאֲנָשִׁ֥יםha.'a.na.ShimH582,childrenבְּנֵֽי־be.nei-H1121of Belialבְלִיַּעַל֮ve.li.ya.'AlH1100,and satוַיֵּשְׁב֣וּvai.ye.she.VuH3427before him: and the menאַנְשֵׁ֨י'an.SheiH582of Belialהַבְּלִיַּ֜עַלha.be.li.Ya.'alH1100witnessedוַיְעִדֻהוּ֩vay.'i.du.HuH5749against him, evenagainst Nabothנָב֗וֹתna.VotH5022,in the presence of the peopleהָעָם֙ha.'AmH5971,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Nabothנָב֛וֹתna.VotH5022did blasphemeבֵּרַ֥ךְbe.RakhH1288Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430and the kingוָמֶ֑לֶךְva.Me.lekhH4428.Then they carried him forthוַיֹּצִאֻ֙הוּ֙vai.yo.tzi.'U.huH3318outמִח֣וּץmi.ChutzH2351of the cityלָעִ֔ירla.'IrH5892,and stonedוַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּvai.yis.ke.Lu.huH5619him with stonesבָאֲבָנִ֖יםva.'a.va.NimH68,that he diedוַיָּמֹֽת׃vai.ya.MotH4191.

14Then they sentוַֽיִּשְׁלְח֖וּvai.yish.le.ChuH7971to Jezebelאִיזֶ֣בֶל'i.Ze.velH348,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,Nabothנָב֖וֹתna.VotH5022is stonedסֻקַּ֥לsu.KalH5619,and is deadוַיָּמֹֽת׃vai.ya.MotH4191.

15And it came to pass, when Jezebelאִיזֶ֔בֶל'i.Ze.velH348heardכִּשְׁמֹ֣עַkish.Mo.a'H8085that Nabothנָב֖וֹתna.VotH5022was stonedסֻקַּ֥לsu.KalH5619,and was deadוַיָּמֹ֑תvai.ya.MotH4191,that Jezebelאִיזֶ֜בֶל'i.Ze.velH348saidוַתֹּ֨אמֶרva.To.merH559to Ahabאַחְאָ֗ב'ach.'AvH256,Ariseק֣וּםkumH6965,take possessionרֵ֞שׁreshH3423of the vineyardכֶּ֣רֶם׀Ke.remH3754of Nabothנָב֣וֹתna.VotH5022the Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֗יhai.yiz.re.'e.LiH3158,which he refusedמֵאֵן֙me.'EnH3985to giveלָתֶת־la.tet-H5414thee for moneyבְכֶ֔סֶףve.Khe.sefH3701:for Nabothנָב֛וֹתna.VotH5022is not aliveחַ֖יchaiH2416,but deadמֵֽת׃MetH4191.

16And it came to pass, when Ahabאַחְאָ֖ב'ach.'AvH256heardכִּשְׁמֹ֥עַkish.Mo.a'H8085that Nabothנָב֑וֹתna.VotH5022was deadמֵ֣תmetH4191,that Ahabאַחְאָ֗ב'ach.'AvH256rose upוַיָּ֣קָםvai.Ya.komH6965to go downלָרֶ֛דֶתla.Re.detH3381to the vineyardכֶּ֛רֶםKe.remH3754of Nabothנָב֥וֹתna.VotH5022the Jezreeliteהַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖יhai.yiz.re.'e.LiH3158,to take possessionלְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ סle.rish.ToH3423of it.

17And the wordדְּבַר־de.var-H1697of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068came to Elijahאֵלִיָּ֥הוּ'e.li.Ya.huH452the Tishbiteהַתִּשְׁבִּ֖יha.tish.BiH8664,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

18Ariseק֣וּםkumH6965,go downרֵ֗דRedH3381to meetH7125Ahabאַחְאָ֥ב'ach.'AvH256kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478, which isin Samariaבְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹןbe.sho.me.RonH8111: behold, he isin the vineyardבְּכֶ֣רֶםbe.Khe.remH3754of Nabothנָב֔וֹתna.VotH5022,whither he is gone downיָ֥רַדYa.radH3381to possessלְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃le.rish.ToH3423it.

19And thou shalt speakוְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ve.di.bar.TaH1696unto him, sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,Hast thou killedהֲרָצַ֖חְתָּha.ra.Tzach.taH7523,and also taken possessionיָרָ֑שְׁתָּya.Ra.she.taH3423?And thou shalt speakוְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ve.di.bar.TaH1696unto him, sayingלֵאמֹ֗רle.MorH559,Thus saithאָמַ֣ר'a.MarH559Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068,In the placeבִּמְק֗וֹםbim.KomH4725where dogsהַכְּלָבִים֙ha.ke.la.VimH3611lickedלָקְק֤וּla.ke.KuH3952the bloodדַּ֣םdamH1818of Nabothנָב֔וֹתna.VotH5022shall dogsהַכְּלָבִ֛יםha.ke.la.VimH3611lickיָלֹ֧קּוּya.Lo.kuH3952thy bloodדָּמְךָ֖da.me.KhaH1818, even thine.

20And Ahabאַחְאָב֙'ach.'AvH256saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Elijahאֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ'e.li.Ya.huH452,Hast thou foundהַֽמְצָאתַ֖נִיham.tza.Ta.niH4672me, O mine enemyאֹיְבִ֑י'o.ye.ViH341?And he answeredוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I have foundמָצָ֔אתִיma.Tza.tiH4672thee:because thou hast soldהִתְמַכֶּרְךָ֔hit.ma.ker.KhaH4376thyself to workלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213evilהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֥יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehH3068.

21Behold, I will bringמֵבִ֤יאme.vi'H935evilרָעָ֔הra.'AhH7451upon thee, and will take awayוּבִעַרְתִּ֖יu.vi.'ar.TiH1197thy posterityאַחֲרֶ֑יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310,and will cut offוְהִכְרַתִּ֤יve.hikh.ra.TiH3772from Ahabלְאַחְאָב֙le.'ach.'AvH256him that pissethמַשְׁתִּ֣יןmash.TinH8366against the wallבְּקִ֔ירbe.KirH7023,and him that is shut upוְעָצ֥וּרve.'a.TzurH6113and leftוְעָז֖וּבve.'a.ZuvH5800in Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃be.Yis.ra.'ElH3478,

22And will makeוְנָתַתִּ֣יve.na.ta.TiH5414thine houseבֵּיתְךָ֗bei.te.KhaH1004like the houseכְּבֵית֙ke.VeitH1004of Jeroboamיָרָבְעָ֣םya.ra.ve.'AmH3379the sonבֶּן־ben-H1121of Nebatנְבָ֔טne.VatH5028,and like the houseוּכְבֵ֖יתu.khe.VeitH1004of Baashaבַּעְשָׁ֣אba'.Sha'H1201the sonבֶן־ven-H1121of Ahijahאֲחִיָּ֑ה'a.chi.YahH281,for the provocationהַכַּ֙עַס֙ha.Ka.'asH3708wherewith thou hast provoked meto angerהִכְעַ֔סְתָּhikh.'As.taH3707,and made Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElH3478to sinוַֽתַּחֲטִ֖אva.ta.cha.Ti'H2398.

23And of Jezebelלְאִיזֶ֔בֶלle.'i.Ze.velH348also spakeדִּבֶּ֥רdi.BerH1696Yhwhיְהוָ֖הYah.wehH3068,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559,The dogsהַכְּלָבִ֛יםha.ke.la.VimH3611shall eatיֹאכְל֥וּyo.khe.LuH398Jezebelאִיזֶ֖בֶל'i.Ze.velH348by the wallבְּחֵ֥לbe.ChelH2426of Jezreelיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃yiz.re.'ElH3157.

24Him that diethהַמֵּ֤תha.MetH4191of Ahabלְאַחְאָב֙le.'ach.'AvH256in the cityבָּעִ֔ירba.'IrH5892the dogsהַכְּלָבִ֑יםha.ke.la.VimH3611shall eatיֹאכְל֖וּyo.khe.LuH398;and him that diethוְהַמֵּת֙ve.ha.MetH4191in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֔הba.sa.DehH7704shall the fowlsע֥וֹףofH5775of the airהַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ha.sha.Ma.yimH8064eatיֹאכְל֖וּyo.khe.LuH398.

25But there was none like unto Ahabכְאַחְאָ֔בkhe.'ach.'AvH256,which did sellהִתְמַכֵּ֔רhit.ma.KerH4376himself to workלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213wickednessהָרַ֖עha.Ra'H7451in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbe.'ei.NeiH5869of Yhwhיְהוָ֑הYah.wehH3068,whom Jezebelאִיזֶ֥בֶל'i.Ze.velH348his wifeאִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃'ish.ToH802stirred upהֵסַ֥תָּהhe.Sa.tahH5496.

26And he did veryמְאֹ֔דme.'OdH3966abominablyוַיַּתְעֵ֣בvai.yat.'EvH8581in followingאַחֲרֵ֣י'a.cha.ReiH310 H3212idolsהַגִּלֻּלִ֑יםha.gi.lu.LimH1544, according to all thingsas didעָשׂ֣וּ'a.SuH6213the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֔יha.'e.mo.RiH567,whom Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068cast outהוֹרִ֣ישׁho.RishH3423beforeמִפְּנֵ֖יmi.pe.NeiH6440the childrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ סYis.ra.'ElH3478.

27And it came to pass, when Ahabאַחְאָ֜ב'ach.'AvH256heardכִשְׁמֹ֨עַkhish.Mo.a'H8085those wordsהַדְּבָרִ֤יםha.de.va.RimH1697,that he rentוַיִּקְרַ֣עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesבְּגָדָ֔יוbe.ga.DavH899,and putוַיָּֽשֶׂם־vai.ya.sem-H7760sackclothשַׂ֥קsakH8242upon his fleshבְּשָׂר֖וֹbe.sa.RoH1320,and fastedוַיָּצ֑וֹםvai.ya.TzomH6684,and layוַיִּשְׁכַּ֣בvai.yish.KavH7901in sackclothבַּשָּׂ֔קba.SakH8242,and wentוַיְהַלֵּ֖ךְvay.ha.LekhH1980softlyאַֽט׃ ס'AtH328.

28And the wordדְּבַר־de.var-H1697of Yhwhיְהוָ֔הYah.wehH3068came to Elijahאֵלִיָּ֥הוּ'e.li.Ya.huH452the Tishbiteהַתִּשְׁבִּ֖יha.tish.BiH8664,sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

29Seestהֲֽרָאִ֔יתָhara.'I.taH7200thou how Ahabאַחְאָ֖ב'ach.'AvH256humblethנִכְנַ֥עnikh.Na'H3665himself beforeמִלְּפָנָ֑יmi.le.fa.NaiH6440me? becauseיַ֜עַןYa.'anH3282he humblethנִכְנַ֣עnikh.Na'H3665himself beforeמִפָּנַ֗יmi.pa.NaiH6440me, I will not bringאָבִ֤יא'a.vi'H935the evilהָֽרָעָה֙ha.ra.'AhH7451in his daysבְּיָמָ֔יוbe.ya.MavH3117: butin his son’sבְנ֔וֹve.NoH1121daysבִּימֵ֣יbi.MeiH3117will I bringאָבִ֥יא'a.Vi'H935the evilהָרָעָ֖הha.ra.'AhH7451upon his houseבֵּיתֽוֹ׃bei.ToH1004.

Commentaries on 1 Kings 21