1Ki 21:1-14 | ESV | STEP | Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel , beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria .

j[See ver. 8 above]

1 Kings 21:1-14

Naboth’s Vineyard

1 Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in ^aJezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And after this Ahab said to Naboth, ^b“Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” 3 But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid ^cthat I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4 And Ahab ^dwent into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, “Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?” 6 And he said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ And he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’” 7 And Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

8 ^eSo she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to ^fthe elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 And she wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people. 10 And set two ^gworthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, ^h‘You have cursed ^{▼▼Hebrew blessed; also verse 13} God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11 And the men of his city, ^jthe elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 ^kthey proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. 13 And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.”