1
And it came to pass after these things
that Naboth of Jezreel had a vineyard, which
was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.
2
And Ahab spoke unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard that I may have it for a garden of herbs because it
is next to my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it;
or if it seems good unto thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.
3
And Naboth replied unto Ahab, The LORD keep me from giving thee the inheritance of my fathers.
4
And Ahab came into his house, sad and angry, because of the word which Naboth of Jezreel had spoken to him, for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay down upon his bed and turned away his face and would eat no bread.
5
And Jezebel, his wife, came to him and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad that thou dost eat no bread?
6
And he said unto her, Because I spoke with Naboth of Jezreel and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee
another vineyard for it; and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.
7
And Jezebel, his wife, said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise
and eat bread and let thy heart be merry; I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel.
8
So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed
them with his seal and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that
were in his city dwelling with Naboth.
9
And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people
10
and set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And
then carry him out and stone him that he may die.
11
And the men of his city,
even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them
and as it
was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.