1 Kings 21:1-16
1After this the following episode took place. ▼▼ Heb “after these things.” The words “the following episode took place” are added for stylistic reasons.
Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. ▼▼ King Ahab of Samaria. Samaria, as the capital of the northern kingdom, here stands for the nation of Israel.
▼ 2Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard so I can make a vegetable garden out of it, for it is adjacent to my palace. I will give you an even better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, ▼
▼ Heb “if it is good in your eyes.”
I will pay you silver for it.” ▼▼ The Old Greek translation includes the following words: “And it will be mine as a garden of herbs.”
3But Naboth replied to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should sell you my ancestral inheritance.” ▼▼ Heb “Far be it from me, by the Lord, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.”
4 So Ahab went into his palace, bitter and angry that Naboth the Jezreelite had said, ▼
▼ Heb “on account of the word that Naboth the Jezreelite spoke to him.”
“I will not sell to you my ancestral inheritance.” ▼▼ Heb “I will not give to you the inheritance of my fathers.”
He lay down on his bed, pouted, ▼▼ Heb “turned away his face.”
and would not eat. 5Then his wife Jezebel came in and said to him, “Why do you have a bitter attitude and refuse to eat?” 6He answered her, “While I was talking to Naboth the Jezreelite, I said to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for silver, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not sell you my vineyard.’” ▼▼ Heb “While I was talking…, I said…, he said….” Ahab’s explanation is one lengthy sentence in the Hebrew text, which is divided in the English translation for stylistic reasons.
7His wife Jezebel said to him, “You are the king of Israel! ▼▼ Heb “You, now, you are exercising kingship over Israel.”
Get up, eat some food, and have a good time. ▼▼ Heb “so your heart [i.e., disposition] might be well.”
I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.” 8 She wrote out orders, ▼
▼ Heb “scrolls.”
signed Ahab’s name to them, ▼▼ Heb “in the name of Ahab.”
and sealed them with his seal. She then sent the orders ▼▼ Heb “scrolls.”
to the leaders ▼▼ Heb “elders.”
and to the nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. ▼▼ Heb “to the nobles who were in his city, the ones who lived with Naboth.”
9This is what she wrote: ▼▼ Heb “she wrote on the scrolls, saying.”
“Observe a time of fasting and seat Naboth in front of the people. 10Also seat two villains opposite him and have them testify, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11 The men of the ▼
▼ Heb “his.”
city, the leaders ▼▼ Heb “elders.”
and the nobles who lived there, ▼▼ Heb “and the nobles who were living in his city.”
followed the written orders Jezebel had sent them. ▼▼ Heb “did as Jezebel sent to them, just as was written in the scrolls which she sent to them.”
12They observed a time of fasting and put Naboth in front of the people. 13The two villains arrived and sat opposite him. Then the villains testified against Naboth right before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they dragged him ▼▼ Heb “led him.”
outside the city and stoned him to death. ▼▼ Heb “and they stoned him with stones and he died.”
14Then they reported to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.” ▼ 15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she ▼
▼ Heb “Jezebel”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“she”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
said to Ahab, “Get up, take possession of the vineyard Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for silver, for Naboth is no longer alive; he’s dead.” 16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, ▼▼ The Old Greek translation includes the following words here: “he tore his garments and put on sackcloth. After these things.”
he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
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