1 Kings 21:1-16
Chapter 21
Naboth’s Vineyard
Now Naboth, a man from Jezreel, owned a vineyard just beside the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.Ahab asked Naboth: “Give me your vineyard, which is near my house, that I may use it for a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange. Or, if you prefer, I will pay you, its price.”
But Naboth told Ahab: “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
So Ahab went home angry and sad because of what Naboth had told him, that he would not give him his father’s inheritance. So he lay down on his bed with his face turned toward the wall and refused to eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him and said: “Why are you so angry that you refuse to eat?”
He answered: “I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and asked him to sell me his vineyard or to exchange it for another one, but he answered: I will not give you, my vineyard.”
His wife Jezebel said: “Are you not the king of Israel? Get up and eat and be joyful, for I will give you the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel.”
So Jezebel wrote letters using Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and important persons living near Naboth.
This is what she wrote in the letters: “Declare a fast and put Naboth on trial.
Get two scoundrels to accuse him in this way: ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
The people, the elders, and the important persons who lived in his city did as Jezebel had instructed them in the letters she sent to them.
They declared a fast and put Naboth on trial.
The two worthless fellows came in and sat facing him, accusing Naboth before the people: “Naboth cursed God and the king!” So, the people took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
They then sent word to Jezebel that Naboth had been stoned and was dead.
As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she told Ahab: “Now take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the man of Jezreel who refused to sell it to you, for Naboth is now dead.”
As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he went down to Naboth’s vineyard and took possession of it.
Commentaries
Naboth’s Vineyard.
Jezreel (1-7) is located in the eastern corner of the Esdraelon Plain, near the Jordan River, in a highly fertile area. Naboth was likely one of the notable figures in the town, where King Ahab also owned properties. The king wants to buy Naboth’s vineyard, but Naboth refuses. In response, Jezebel schemes to eliminate Naboth and take his vineyard. The plan succeeds with the support of the city’s elders and notables. In this context, Elijah appears. Elijah’s confrontation with Ahab closely resembles that of Nathan with David (cf. 2 Sm 12). In both cases, the prophets’ courage and boldness are highlighted, as they do not back down even in the presence of kings. Like David, Ahab also shows signs of repentance. Following the strict principle of retribution that guides much of the Old Testament, Ahab’s repentance is rewarded by delaying the end of his dynasty—that it will not happen during Ahab’s lifetime but during the reign of his son.