1 Kings 21

Naboth's Vineyard

1 And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in a Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your b vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid c that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!" 4 So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken 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 eat no food.

5 But d Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, "Why is your spirit so sullen that you eat no food?" 6 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 another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.' " 7 Then Jezebel his wife said to him, "You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

8 And she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were dwelling in the city with Naboth. 9 She wrote in the letters, saying,
Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth 1 with high honor among the people; 10 and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, "You have e blasphemed God and the king." Then take him out, and f stone him, that he may die. 11 So the men of his city, the elders and nobles who were inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, as it was written in the letters which she had sent to them. 12 g They proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth with high honor among the people. 13 And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels h witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!" i Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, that 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 So it was, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

The Lord Condemns Ahab

17 j Then the word of the LORD came to k Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, l who lives in Samaria. There 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: "Have you murdered and also taken possession?" ' And you shall speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: m "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs shall lick your blood, even yours." ' "

20 So Ahab said to Elijah, n "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because o you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD: 21 'Behold, p I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your q posterity, and will cut off from Ahab r every male in Israel, both s bond and free. 22 'I will make your house like the house of t Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of u Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and made Israel sin.' 23 "And v concerning Jezebel the LORD also spoke, saying, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the 2 wall of Jezreel.' 24 "The dogs shall eat w whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field."

Ahab's Repentance

25 But x there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, y because Jezebel his wife 3 stirred him up. 26 And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all z that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

27 So it was, when Ahab heard those words, that he tore his clothes and a put sackcloth on his body, and fasted and lay in sackcloth, and went about mourning. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he b has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. c In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house."

  1. Cross References
    Judges 6:33
    Then all the Midianites and Amalekites, the people of the East, gathered together; and they crossed over and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.
    1 Kings 18:45
    Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
    1 Kings 18:46
    Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 8:14
    And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants.
  3. Cross References
    Leviticus 25:23
    The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me.
    Numbers 36:7
    So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.
    Ezekiel 46:18
    "Moreover the prince shall not take any of the people's inheritance by evicting them from their property; he shall provide an inheritance for his sons from his own property, so that none of My people may be scattered from his property." '"
  4. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:1
    And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
    1 Kings 19:2
    Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 22:28
    You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.
    Leviticus 24:15
    Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin.
    Leviticus 24:16
    And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the LORD, he shall be put to death.
    Acts 6:11
    Then they secretly induced men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
  6. Cross References
    Leviticus 24:14
    Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.
  7. Cross References
    Isaiah 58:4
    Indeed you fast for strife and debate, And to strike with the fist of wickedness. You will not fast as you do this day, To make your voice heard on high.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 20:16
    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
    Exodus 23:1
    You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
    Exodus 23:7
    Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked.
  9. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:26
    'Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD, 'and I will repay you in this plot,' says the LORD. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the LORD."
    2 Chronicles 24:21
    So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.
    Acts 7:58
    And they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
    Acts 7:59
    And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
    Hebrews 11:37
    They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented -
  10. Cross References
    Psalms 9:12
    When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble.
  11. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:1
    And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword.
  12. Cross References
    1 Kings 13:32
    "For the saying which he cried out by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the shrines on the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, will surely come to pass."
    2 Chronicles 22:9
    Then he searched for Ahaziah; and they caught him (he was hiding in Samaria), and brought him to Jehu. When they had killed him, they buried him, "because," they said, "he is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the LORD with all his heart." So the house of Ahaziah had no one to assume power over the kingdom.
  13. Cross References
    1 Kings 22:38
    Then someone washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood while the harlots bathed, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken.
    2 Kings 9:26
    'Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD, 'and I will repay you in this plot,' says the LORD. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the LORD."
  14. Cross References
    1 Kings 18:17
    Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, " Is that you, O troubler of Israel?
  15. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:25
    But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.
    2 Kings 17:17
    And they caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire, practiced witchcraft and soothsaying, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger.
    Romans 7:14
    For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
  16. Cross References
    1 Kings 14:10
    Therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.
    2 Kings 9:8
    For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free.
  17. Cross References
    2 Kings 10:10
    "Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the LORD which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD has done what He spoke by His servant Elijah."
  18. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:22
    "May God do so, and more also, to the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light."
  19. Cross References
    1 Kings 14:10
    Therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.
  20. Cross References
    1 Kings 15:29
    And it was so, when he became king, that he killed all the house of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORD which He had spoken by His servant Ahijah the Shilonite.
  21. Cross References
    1 Kings 16:3
    Surely I will take away the posterity of Baasha and the posterity of his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
    1 Kings 16:11
    Then it came to pass, when he began to reign, as soon as he was seated on his throne, that he killed all the household of Baasha; he did not leave him one male, neither of his relatives nor of his friends.
  22. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:10
    The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.' " And he opened the door and fled.
    2 Kings 9:30 - 37
    Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.
  23. Cross References
    1 Kings 14:11
    "The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Jeroboam and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field; for the LORD has spoken!"'
    1 Kings 16:4
    "The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Baasha and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the fields."
  24. Cross References
    1 Kings 16:30 - 33
    Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him.
    1 Kings 21:20
    So Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" And he answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD:
  25. Cross References
    1 Kings 16:31
    And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 15:16
    "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."
    Leviticus 18:25 - 30
    For the land is defiled; therefore I visit the punishment of its iniquity upon it, and the land vomits out its inhabitants.
    2 Kings 21:11
    Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations ( he has acted more wickedly than all the Amorites who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols).
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 37:34
    Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
    2 Samuel 3:31
    Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn for Abner." And King David followed the coffin.
    2 Kings 6:30
    Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body.
  28. Cross References
    2 Kings 22:19
    Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, " says the LORD.
  29. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:25
    Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the LORD laid this burden upon him:
    2 Kings 10:11
    So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
    2 Kings 10:17
    And when he came to Samaria, he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke to Elijah.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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