1 Kings 21:4

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.

1 Kings 21:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 21:4

And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased
Just in the same humour he was after the prophet had delivered his message to him, ( 1 Kings 20:43 ) , where the same words are used as here:

because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for
he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers,
neither by way of exchange nor of purchase: and such a denial he could not bear, since it looked like treating him with contempt, and taxing him with imprudence at least, if not with injustice, or both:

and he laid him down upon his bed;
or couch, which might be not in his bedchamber, but in one of his halls, where his courtiers were:

and turned away his face;
to the wall, not choosing to have conversation with any of his nobles:

and would eat no bread;
the vexation took away his stomach, and he became melancholy, at least sullen.

1 Kings 21:4 In-Context

2 So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your 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 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 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.' "