1
Near King Ahab's palace in Jezreel there was a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth.
2
One day Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard; it is close to my palace, and I want to use the land for a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard for it or, if you prefer, I will pay you a fair price."
3
"I inherited this vineyard from my ancestors," Naboth replied. "The Lord forbid that I should let you have it!"
4
Ahab went home, depressed and angry over what Naboth had said to him. He lay down on his bed, facing the wall, and would not eat.
5
His wife Jezebel went to him and asked, "Why are you so depressed? Why won't you eat?"
6
He answered, "Because of what Naboth said to me. I offered to buy his vineyard or, if he preferred, to give him another one for it, but he told me that I couldn't have it!"
7
"Well, are you the king or aren't you?" Jezebel replied. "Get out of bed, cheer up, and eat. I will get you Naboth's vineyard!"
8
Then she wrote some letters, signed Ahab's name to them, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the officials and leading citizens of Jezreel.
9
The letters said: "Proclaim a day of fasting, call the people together, and give Naboth the place of honor.
10
Get a couple of scoundrels to accuse him to his face of cursing God and the king. Then take him out of the city and stone him to death."