Naboth had a vineyard near Ahab’s palace. Ahab wanted the vineyard from Naboth to make a garden of herbs. He wanted to give him a better vineyard or even money. But Naboth replied, “I will not give you my father’s inheritance.”
Ahab went home resentful and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite said to him and lay down on his bed. His wife Jezebel came to him and asked why he looked so troubled, “Why is your spirit so sad and why won’t you eat?” He told her about Naboth’s answer. Jezebel said, “You are king over Israel. I will get the vineyard you.” So she wrote letters in
Ahab’s
name, sealed them and sent them to the elders and rulers of the city of Naboth. She wrote, “Proclaim a feast and seat Naboth high among the people.” They did this, and two wicked men sat before him and said, “You have blasphemed God!” They testified this against him and they led Naboth outside of the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent to Jezebel and reported the death of Naboth. And she said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money.” Ahab rose up to take possession of the vineyard.
The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel and say, ‘You had killed and also taken another’s heritage. In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood also. ’ ” Ahab said, “Have you found me, my enemy?” And he said, “Yes, because you have sold yourself to do evil before the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will sweep you and your descendants away. I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam and like the house of Baasha for the sake of my anger, because you have made Israel sin.
The dogs will eat Jezebel at the wall of Jezreel and whoever of the family of Ahab dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and those who die in the field, the birds will eat.
But when Ahab heard this, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth upon his body and fasted, and lay in sackcloth and went softly. The Lord said to Elijah, “Have you not seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Therefore, I will not bring the evil during his lifetime, but I will bring the evil on his house in his son’s lifetime.”