3But Naboth said to Ahab, “As the Lord is my witness, I will never give my ancestors’ inheritance21:3 Lv 25:23; Nm 36:7 to you.”

4So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry21:4 1Kg 20:43 because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my ancestors’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,21:4 2Kg 20:2 and didn’t eat any food.21:4 1Sm 28:23

5Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat?”

6“Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard! ’”

7Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”21:7 1Sm 8:14

8So she wrote letters21:8 2Sm 11:14 in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.21:8 Est 3:12; 8:8,10 She sent the letters to the elders21:8 1Kg 20:7 and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

9In the letters, she wrote:

11The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them.

12They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.

13The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.

14Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”21:14 Lv 24:16

15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite who refused to give it to you for silver,21:15 1Kg 21:2–3 since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.”

16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.

20Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?” 21:20 1Kg 18:17

21This is what the Lord says:21:21 LXX; MT omits This is what the Lord says ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants:

25Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him.21:25 1Kg 16:30–33

26He committed the most detestable acts by following idols21:26 2Kg 17:12 as the Amorites21:26 Gn 15:16; 2Kg 21:11 had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.

27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth21:27 Gn 37:34; 2Sm 3:31; 2Kg 6:30 and walked around subdued.

28Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:

29“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,21:29 2Kg 20:19; 2Ch 32:26 because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”21:29 2Kg 9:25–37; 10:6–11