1.Könige 21 | New International Version

Naboth’s vineyard

1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, ‘Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.’ 3 But Naboth replied, ‘The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.’ 4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.’ He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. 5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, ‘Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?’ 6 He answered her, ‘Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, “Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.” But he said, “I will not give you my vineyard.” ’ 7 Jezebel his wife said, ‘Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.’ 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. 9 In those letters she wrote: ‘Proclaim a day of fasting and give Naboth a prominent seat among the people. 10 But put two scoundrels opposite him and get them to bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.’ 11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, ‘Naboth has cursed both God and the king.’ So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: ‘Naboth has been stoned to death.’ 15 As soon as 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 that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.’ 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard. 17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 ‘Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, “This is what the Lord says: have you not murdered a man and seized his property?” Then say to him, “This is what the Lord says: in the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood – yes, yours!” ’ 20 Ahab said to Elijah, ‘So you have found me, my enemy!’ ‘I have found you,’ he answered, ‘because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, “I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel – slave or free.* 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.” 23 ‘And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: “Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of* Jezreel.” 24 ‘Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.’ 25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.) 27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 ‘Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.’

New International Reader’s Version

Naboth’s vineyard

1 Some time later King Ahab wanted a certain vineyard. It belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. The vineyard was in Jezreel. It was close to the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria. 2 Ahab said to Naboth, ‘Let me have your vineyard. It’s close to my palace. I want to use it for a vegetable garden. I’ll trade you a better vineyard for it. Or, if you prefer, I’ll pay you what it’s worth.’ 3 But Naboth replied, ‘May the LORD keep me from giving you the land my family handed down to me.’ 4 So Ahab went home. He was angry. He was in a bad mood because of what Naboth from Jezreel had said. He had told Ahab, ‘I won’t give you the land my family handed down to me.’ So Ahab lay on his bed. He was in a very bad mood. He wouldn’t even eat anything. 5 His wife Jezebel came in. She asked him, ‘Why are you in such a bad mood? Why won’t you eat anything?’ 6 He answered her, ‘Because I spoke to Naboth from Jezreel. I said, “Sell me your vineyard. Or, if you prefer, I’ll give you another vineyard in its place.” But he said, “I won’t sell you my vineyard.” ’ 7 His wife Jezebel said, ‘Is this how the king of Israel acts? Get up! Eat something! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel.’ 8 So she wrote some letters in Ahab’s name. She stamped them with his royal seal. Then she sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in the city where Naboth lived. 9 In those letters she wrote, ‘Announce a day when people are supposed to go without eating. Have Naboth sit in an important place among the people. 10 But put two worthless and evil men in seats opposite him. Get them to bring charges that he has cursed God and the king. Then take him out of the city. Kill him by throwing stones at him.’ 11 So the elders and nobles who lived in that city did what Jezebel wanted. They did everything she instructed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They announced a day of fasting. They had Naboth sit in an important place among the people. 13 Then two worthless and evil men came and sat opposite him. They brought charges against Naboth in front of the people. The two men said, ‘Naboth has cursed God and the king.’ So they took him outside the city. They killed him by throwing stones at him. 14 Then they sent a message to Jezebel. They said, ‘Naboth is dead. We killed him by throwing stones at him.’ 15 Jezebel heard that Naboth had been killed. As soon as she heard it, she said to Ahab, ‘Get up. Take over the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel. It’s the one he wouldn’t sell to you. He isn’t alive anymore. He’s dead.’ 16 Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. So Ahab got up and went down to take over Naboth’s vineyard. 17 Then a message from the LORD came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The LORD said, 18 ‘Go down to see Ahab, the king of Israel. He rules in Samaria. You will find him in Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab has gone there to take it over. 19 Tell him, “The LORD says, ‘Haven’t you murdered a man? Haven’t you taken over his property?’ ” Then tell Ahab, “The LORD says, ‘Dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!’ ” ’ 20 Ahab said to Elijah, ‘My enemy! You have found me!’ ‘I have found you,’ he answered. ‘That’s because you gave yourself over to do evil things. You did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 So the LORD says, “I am going to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy your children after you. I will destroy every male in Israel who is related to you. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free. 22 I will make your royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah. You have made me very angry. You have caused Israel to sin.” 23 ‘The LORD also says, “Dogs will eat up Jezebel near the wall of Jezreel.” 24 ‘Some of the people who belong to Ahab will die in the city. Dogs will eat them up. Others will die in the country. The birds will eat them.’ 25 There was never anyone like Ahab. He gave himself over to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD. His wife Jezebel talked him into it. 26 He acted in the most evil way. He worshipped statues of gods. He acted like the Amorites. The LORD drove them out to make room for Israel. 27 When Ahab heard what Elijah had said, he tore his clothes. He put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. He went without eating. He even slept in his clothes. He went around looking sad. 28 Then a message from the LORD came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The LORD said, 29 ‘Have you seen how Ahab has made himself humble in my sight? Because he has done that, I will not bring trouble on him while he lives. But I will bring it on his royal house when his son is king.’

1.Könige 21 | New International Version New International Reader’s Version

Naboth’s vineyard

Naboth’s vineyard