1 Kings 21:1-8

1 Forsooth after these words, in that time, the vinery of Naboth of Jezreel, that was in Jezreel, was beside the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. (Now after these things, at that time, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria, that is, the king of Israel.)
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.
7 Therefore Jezebel, his wife, said to him, Thou art of great authority, and thou governest well [the realm of] Israel; rise thou (up), and eat bread, and be thou patient, either comforted; I shall give to thee the vinery of Naboth of Jezreel (I shall get the vineyard of Naboth of Jezreel for thee).
8 Therefore she wrote letters in the name of Ahab, and sealed those with the ring of him; and she sent to the greater men in birth, and to the best men, that were in the city of Naboth, and dwelled with him (and she sent them to the men of great age, that is, to the elders, and to the best men, who lived in the city of Naboth with him).

1 Kings 21:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 KINGS 21

In this chapter we have an account of Ahab's design to have Naboth's vineyard, for which he offered him another, or the value of that, but Naboth refusing to part with it, Ahab fell sick, 1Ki 21:1-4, the reason of which being found out by Jezebel, she devised means to get Naboth put to death under the colour of justice for blasphemy, 1Ki 21:5-14, and then bid Ahab go and take possession of the vineyard, where he was met by Elijah, who denounced the judgments of God upon him, and Jezebel, and all his family, for his injustice, 1Ki 21:15-26, but he humbling himself, the evil threatened was deferred to the days of his son, 1Ki 21:27-29.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.