1 Kings 21:4

4 Therefore Ahab came into his house, having indignation, and gnashing on the word which Naboth of Jezreel had spoken to him, and said, I shall not give to thee the heritage of my fathers. And Ahab casted down himself into his bed, and turned away his face to the wall, and ate not bread (And Ahab threw himself down onto his bed, and turned his face to the wall, and ate 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 Therefore Ahab spake to Naboth, and said, Give thou to me thy vineyard, that I make to me thereof a garden of worts, for it is nigh to me, and nigh mine house; and I shall give to thee a better vinery for it; either if thou guessest it more profitable to thee, I shall give thee the price of silver, as much as it is worth. (And so Ahab spoke to Naboth, and said, Give thou thy vineyard to me, so that I can make a herb garden out of it for myself, for it is close to me, and close to my house; and I shall give thee a better vineyard for it; or if thou guessest that it be more profitable to thee, I shall give thee the price of it in silver, for as much as it is worth.)
3 To whom Naboth answered, The Lord be merciful to me, that I give not to thee the heritage of my fathers.
4 Therefore Ahab came into his house, having indignation, and gnashing on the word which Naboth of Jezreel had spoken to him, and said, I shall not give to thee the heritage of my fathers. And Ahab casted down himself into his bed, and turned away his face to the wall, and ate not bread (And Ahab threw himself down onto his bed, and turned his face to the wall, and ate no food).
5 And Jezebel, his wife, entered to him, and said to him, What is this thing, whereof thy soul is made sorry? and why eatest thou not bread? (and why eatest thou no food?)
6 Which answered to her, I spake to Naboth of Jezreel, and I said to him, Give thy vineyard to me for money taken, either if it pleaseth thee, I shall give to thee a better vinery for it. And he said, I shall not give to thee my vineyard.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.