17
At this time the Lord spoke his word to the prophet Elijah the Tishbite. The Lord said,
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"Go to Ahab king of Israel in Samaria. He is at Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take it as his own.
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Tell Ahab that I, the Lord, say to him, 'You have murdered Naboth and taken his land. So I tell you this: In the same place the dogs licked up Naboth's blood, they will also lick up your blood!'"
20
When Ahab saw Elijah, he said, "So you have found me, my enemy!" Elijah answered, "Yes, I have found you. You have always chosen to do what the Lord says is wrong.
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So the Lord says to you, 'I will soon destroy you. I will kill you and every male in your family, both slave and free.
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Your family will be like the family of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the family of King Baasha son of Ahijah. I will destroy you, because you have made me angry and have led the people of Israel to sin.'
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"And the Lord also says, 'Dogs will eat the body of Jezebel in the city of Jezreel.'
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"Anyone in your family who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the fields will be eaten by birds."
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There was no one like Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the Lord said was wrong, because his wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil.
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Ahab sinned terribly by worshiping idols, just as the Amorite people did. And the Lord had taken away their land and given it to the people of Israel.
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After Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes. He put on rough cloth, refused to eat, and even slept in the rough cloth to show how sad and upset he was.