Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in ^aJezreel beside the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “^aGive me your vineyard so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is close beside my house, and I will give you a better vineyard in place of it; if ¹you prefer, I will give you what ²it is worth in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid me ^athat I would give you the inheritance of my fathers!” 4 ^aSo Ahab entered his house sullen and furious because of the ¹answer that Naboth the Jezreelite had given to him, since he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned his face away, and ate no ²food.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating ¹food?” 6 So he said to her, “It is because I was speaking to Naboth the Jezreelite and saying to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you a vineyard in place of it.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 Jezebel his wife said to him, “^aDo you now ¹reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 ^aSo she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to ^bthe elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. 9 Now she had written in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10 and seat two ^aworthless men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘^bYou ¹cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and ^cstone him ²to death.”

11 So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did just as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent them. 12 They ^aproclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Then the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him; and the worthless men testified against him, against Naboth, before the people, saying, “Naboth ¹cursed God and the king.” ^aSo they took him outside the city and stoned him ²to death with stones. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”

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

17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, ^awho is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. 19 And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘This is what the LORD says: “^aHave you murdered and also taken possession?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says this: “^bIn the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick up your blood, yours as well.”’”

20 Then Ahab said to Elijah, “^aHave you found me, enemy of mine?” And he ¹answered, “I have found you, ^bbecause you have given yourself over to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I am bringing disaster upon you, and I ^awill utterly sweep you away, and will eliminate from Ahab every male, both ¹bond and free in Israel; 22 and ^aI will make your house ^blike 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 ^chave misled Israel into sin. 23 The LORD has also spoken of Jezebel, saying, ‘^aThe dogs will eat Jezebel in the ¹territory of Jezreel.’ 24 ^aThe one belonging to Ahab, who dies in the city, the dogs will eat; and the one who dies in the field, the birds of the sky will eat.”

25 ^aThere certainly was no one like Ahab who gave himself over to do evil in the sight of the LORD, ¹because Jezebel his wife incited him. 26 ^aHe also acted very despicably in following idols, ^bconforming to everything that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD drove out from the sons of Israel.

27 Yet it came about, when Ahab heard these words, that ^ahe tore his clothes and put ¹on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; I will bring the disaster upon his house ^ain his son’s days.”

Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in ^aJezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “^aGive 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 ¹you like, I will give you the price of ²it in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid me ^athat I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4 ^aSo 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 ¹food.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “How is it that your spirit is so sullen that you are not eating ¹food?” 6 So 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.’” 7 Jezebel his wife said to him, “^aDo you now ¹reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 ^aSo she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent letters to ^bthe elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. 9 Now she wrote in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10 and seat two ^aworthless men before him, and let them testify against him, saying, ‘^bYou cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and ^cstone him ¹to death.”

11 So 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. 12 They ^aproclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Then 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.” ^aSo they took him outside the city and stoned him ¹to death with stones. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”

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

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

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “^aHave you found me, O my enemy?” And he ¹answered, “I have found you, ^bbecause you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and ^awill utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel; 22 and ^aI will make your house ^blike 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 ^chave made Israel sin. 23 Of Jezebel also has the LORD spoken, saying, ‘^aThe dogs will eat Jezebel in the ¹district of Jezreel.’ 24 ^aThe 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.”

25 ^aSurely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, ¹because Jezebel his wife incited him. 26 ^aHe acted very abominably in following idols, ^baccording to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.

27 It came about when Ahab heard these words, that ^ahe tore his clothes and put ¹on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about ²despondently. 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house ^ain his son’s days.”

Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in ^aJezreel, close beside the winter palace of Ahab king of Samaria; 2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “^aGive me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a garden of vegetables and herbs, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it, or, if you prefer, I will give you what it is worth in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid me ^athat I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.” 4 ^aSo Ahab already upset by the Lord’s message came into his house feeling more resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat any food.

5 Then Jezebel his wife came to him and asked him, “Why is your spirit so troubled that you have not eaten?” 6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ But he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 Jezebel his wife said to him, “^aDo you now reign over Israel? Get up, eat food, and let your heart rejoice; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 ^aSo she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent them to ^bthe elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 Now in the letters she wrote, “Proclaim a ¹fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10 and seat two ^aworthless and unprincipled men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘^bYou ¹cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and ^cstone him to death.”

11 So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived there, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 12 They ^aproclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Two worthless and unprincipled men came in and sat down opposite him; and they testified against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed and renounced God and the king.” ^aThen they brought him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to sell you, because Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is ^ain Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “^aHave you murdered and also taken possession of the victim’s property?”’ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord: “^bIn the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick up your blood as well.”’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “^aHave you found me, O my enemy?” And he answered, “I have found you, ^bbecause you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold says the LORD, I am bringing evil (catastrophe) on you, and will ^autterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel; 22 and I ^awill make your house (descendants) ^blike that of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for provoking Me to anger and ^cmaking Israel sin. 23 The LORD also spoke in regard to Jezebel, saying, ‘^aThe dogs will eat the body of Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’ 24 ^aThe dogs will eat anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city, and the birds of the air will eat anyone who dies in the field.” 1+@Kin 14:11; 16:4

25 ^aThere certainly was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him. 26 ^aHe acted very repulsively in following idols, ^bin accordance with everything the Amorites had done, whom the LORD expelled from the land before the sons of Israel.

27 Now when Ahab heard these words of Elijah, ^ahe tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted, and he lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly (mourning) . 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil (catastrophe) in his lifetime, but ^ain his son’s days I will bring evil upon his house.”