Naboth's Vineyard

1 Kings 21

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.

  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 -
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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