1 Kings 21:7

7 Then his wife Jezebel said to him, "Aren't you the one who rules Israel? Get up! Eat some food and cheer up. I'll get Naboth's vineyard for you myself."

1 Kings 21:7 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 21:7

And Jezebel his wife said unto him, dost thou now govern the
kingdom of Israel?
&c.] Art thou not king of Israel? canst thou not do as thou pleasest? hast thou not power to oblige a subject to obey thy commands, and especially in such a trifling matter as parting with a vineyard, and that upon the most reasonable terms? thou hast too much demeaned thyself as a king; thou oughtest to have exerted thy kingly power and authority, and demanded it from him; the Targum is,

``thou now shalt prosper in thy kingdom over Israel;''

thy reign now is prosperous, and like to continue so, having obtained two such victories over thine enemies, and therefore should not be dejected with such a trifling thing as this:

arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry:
the kingdom being in such a flourishing state; and let not this affair give thee any trouble or uneasiness; I will take care of that, leave it with me:

I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite:
without paying any money, or giving another vineyard in exchange for it.

1 Kings 21:7 In-Context

5 His wife Jezebel came to him. "Why are you upset and not eating any food?" she asked.

6 He answered her, "I was talking to Naboth. I said, ‘Sell me your vineyard. Or if you prefer, I'll give you another vineyard for it.' But he said, ‘I won't give you my vineyard!'"

7 Then his wife Jezebel said to him, "Aren't you the one who rules Israel? Get up! Eat some food and cheer up. I'll get Naboth's vineyard for you myself."

8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, putting his seal on them. She sent them to the elders and officials who lived in the same town as Naboth.

9 This is what she wrote in the letters: "Announce a fast and place Naboth at the head of the people.