Some time later ... ... , Naboth the Jezreelite happened to own a vineyard - in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
So Ahab said to Naboth - , “ Give - your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden , since it is next to ... my palace. I will give a better ... vineyard in its place — or if you prefer ... , I will give its value in silver. ”
But Naboth replied - - , “ The LORD forbid should give - the inheritance of my fathers. ”
So Ahab went to his palace , sullen and angry because ... - Naboth the Jezreelite had told him ... - , “ I will not give - the inheritance of my fathers. ” He lay down on his bed , turned his face away , - and refused to eat ....
Soon his wife Jezebel came in - and asked - , “ Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat ... ? ”
Ahab answered ... , “ Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told ‘ Give - your vineyard for silver , or if you wish , I will give (another) vineyard in its place. ’ And he replied , ‘ I will not give - my vineyard ! ’”
But his wife ... Jezebel said to him , “ Do you not vvv reign over Israel ? Get up , eat some food , and be cheerful ... , for I will get - the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. ”
Then (Jezebel) wrote letters in Ahab’s name , sealed them with his seal , and sent (them) to the elders ... and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.
In the letters ... she wrote : “ Proclaim a fast and give - Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
But seat two ... ... scoundrels opposite him and have them testify ... , ‘ You have cursed (both) God and the king ! ’ Then take him out and stone him to death. ”
- - So the elders and nobles who lived in (Naboth’s) city did as Jezebel had instructed - - - in the letters - she had written to them.
They proclaimed a fast and gave - Naboth a seat of honor among the people.
And the two scoundrels ... ... came in and sat opposite (Naboth) , and (these men) - - testified against (him) before the people , saying , “ Naboth has cursed (both) God and the king ! ” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death -.
Then they sent word to Jezebel ... : “ Naboth has been stoned to death. ”
- When 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 for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive , but dead. ”
And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead , he got up (and) went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite , saying ,
“ Get up and go down to meet Ahab king of Israel , who is in Samaria. See, (he is) in the vineyard of Naboth , of which he has gone ... to take possession.
Tell him that this is what the LORD says : ‘ Have you not murdered (a man) and seized his land ? ’ Then tell him ... ... that this is (also) what the LORD says : ‘ In the place where the dogs - licked up the blood of Naboth , (there also) the dogs - will lick up your blood — yes , yours ! ’ ”
When Elijah (arrived) , Ahab said to him , “ So you have found me out , my enemy. ” He replied , “ I have found (you) out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
(This is what the LORD says) : ‘ I will bring calamity on you and consume your descendants ; I will cut off from Ahab every male - in Israel , both slave and free.
I will make - your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like that of Baasha son of Ahijah , because you have provoked My anger - and caused Israel to sin. - ’
And the LORD ... also speaks concerning Jezebel : ‘ The dogs will devour - Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. ’
Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs , and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the air. ”
( Surely there was never one like Ahab , who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD , vvv incited - by his wife Jezebel.
He committed the most detestable Acts - by going after idols , just like - the Amorites - whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites .... )
- When Ahab - heard these words , he tore his clothes , put on sackcloth - - , and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly.
Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite , saying :
“ Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me ? Because ... he has humbled himself before Me , I will not bring the calamity during his days , but I will bring (it) upon his house in the days of his son. ”