1Kings 21

1 Meanwhile, there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel who owned a vineyard that was located contiguous to King Ahab’s palace in Samaria.ISV — 1Kings 21:1

2 Ahab addressed Naboth and asked him, “I would like to plant a vegetable garden near my house. Please exchange your vineyard with a better one from me, or if you’d rather have cash, I’ll buy it for its full value.”ISV — 1Kings 21:2

3 But Naboth replied to Ahab, “No way! The LORD prohibits the sale to you of the inheritance of my ancestors!”ISV — 1Kings 21:3

4 Ahab went back to his palace, sullen and in a foul mood, because Naboth the Jezreelite had turned down Ahab’s offer by saying “I will not transfer my ancestors’ inheritance to you!” He laid down on his bed, curled up with his face to the wall, and refused to eat.ISV — 1Kings 21:4

5 But his wife Jezebel went to him and asked him, “How is it that you’re so sullen and refusing to eat?”ISV — 1Kings 21:5

6 “I asked Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard for cash, or if you want, I’ll give you a better one in its place.’ But he refused. He told me, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!’”ISV — 1Kings 21:6

7 “Aren’t you the reigning king of Israel,” his wife Jezebel replied. “Get up, have a meal, and get ready to be happy. I’ll go get you the vineyard that Naboth the Jezreelite owns.”ISV — 1Kings 21:7

8 So she wrote some memos in Ahab’s name, set his personal seal to them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.ISV — 1Kings 21:8

9 In the memos, she wrote the following directives: “Proclaim a public fast and seat Naboth in the front row.ISV — 1Kings 21:9

10 Seat two wicked men in front of him, and make them testify against him. Tell them to claim ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”ISV — 1Kings 21:10

11 So the leading men of the city, along with the elders and nobles who lived there, did precisely what Jezebel had directed them to do. They followed the instructions that she had set forth in the memos:ISV — 1Kings 21:11

12 They proclaimed a public fast and seated Naboth in the front row.ISV — 1Kings 21:12

13 Two wicked men came in, sat down in front of them, and testified against Naboth in public, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. ^{a21:13 Lit. death with stones}ISV — 1Kings 21:13

14 Afterwards, they sent a message ^{b21:14 The Heb. lacks a message} to Jezebel that said, “Naboth has been stoned. He’s dead.”ISV — 1Kings 21:14

15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told Ahab, “Get up and confiscate Naboth’s vineyard that he refused to sell you for cash. Naboth the Jezreelite isn’t alive anymore. He’s dead!”ISV — 1Kings 21:15

16 So once he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab got up, went down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and confiscated it.ISV — 1Kings 21:16

17 That’s when this message from the LORD came to Elijah the foreigner: ^{c21:17 Lit. Tishbite; or sojourner}ISV — 1Kings 21:17

18 “Get up and go down to meet King Ahab of Israel. He’s in Samaria. Look! He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he’s gone to confiscate it.ISV — 1Kings 21:18

19 Ask the king, ‘Did you commit murder? And now you’re going to steal as well?’ Also tell him, ‘This is what the LORD says: “Where the dogs were licking up Naboth’s blood, dogs will also lick up your blood—that’s right—yours!”’”ISV — 1Kings 21:19

20 Later on, Ahab asked Elijah, “Have you found me, my enemy?” But Elijah answered, “I’ve found you because you sold yourself to do what the LORD considers to be evil!ISV — 1Kings 21:20

21 Now pay attention! I’m going to send evil in your direction! I will completely sweep you away and eliminate from Ahab every male, whether indentured servant or free, throughout Israel.ISV — 1Kings 21:21

22 I will make your household resemble that of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, or like the household of Ahijah’s son Baasha, because of how you’ve provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin.ISV — 1Kings 21:22

23 The LORD also has this to say about Jezebel: ‘Dogs will eat Jezebel within the outer ramparts of Jezreel.ISV — 1Kings 21:23

24 Dogs will eat whoever belongs to Ahab and who dies in the city. The birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the fields.’”ISV — 1Kings 21:24

25 It can be truly said that no one else sold himself to practice what the LORD considered to be evil quite like the way Ahab did, because his wife Jezebel incited him.ISV — 1Kings 21:25

26 His behavior in pursuing idolatry was detestable, just like the Amorites had done whom the LORD had expelled in front of the army of Israel.ISV — 1Kings 21:26

27 Nevertheless, as soon as Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and wandered around meekly.ISV — 1Kings 21:27

28 Later, this message from the LORD came to Elijah the foreigner: ^{d21:28 Lit. Tishbite; or sojourner}ISV — 1Kings 21:28

29 “Have you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest ^{e21:29 The Heb. lacks to harvest} during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his son’s lifetime.”ISV — 1Kings 21:29