1After these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria.
2Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard so I can use it as a vegetable garden, because it's close to my house. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange. Or, if you prefer, I will pay you its value in money."
3Naboth said to Ahab, "May Yahweh forbid me from giving you the inheritance of my ancestors!"
4Ahab went home sullen and angry because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him. Naboth had told him, "I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors." Ahab lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat anything.
5But his wife Jezebel came to him and asked, "Why are you so sad that you won't eat anything?"
6He told her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7His wife Jezebel said to him, "Are you really the one in charge of the kingdom of Israel? Get up, eat your food, and cheer up. I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his personal seal, and sent the letters to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city.
9She wrote in the letters, "Announce a public fast, and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
10Then, bring two scoundrels to sit opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king!' Afterward, take him out and stone him to death."
11The men of his city, including the elders and nobles who lived there, did exactly what Jezebel had instructed them in the letters she had written and sent to them.
12They announced a public fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
13The two scoundrels came in and sat before him. They testified against Naboth in front of everyone, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" Then they led him outside the city and stoned him to death.
14Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."
15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to sell you for money. Naboth is no longer alive; he is dead."
16When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite and take possession of it.
17Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe, saying,
18“Get up, go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who lives in Samaria. Look, he's in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.
19Tell him, ‘Yahweh says: Have you committed murder and also stolen property?’ Also tell him, ‘Yahweh says: In the very place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your own blood.’”
20Ahab said to Elijah, “So you’ve found me, my enemy, have you?” Elijah answered, “Yes, I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do evil in Yahweh’s sight.
21I will certainly bring disaster on you. I will utterly sweep you away and cut off every male from Ahab's household, both slaves and free, in Israel.
22I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, and like the family of Baasha, son of Ahijah, because you have made me angry and caused Israel to sin.
23Yahweh also spoke about Jezebel, saying, “Dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.”
24Dogs will eat any of Ahab’s family members who die in the city, and birds of the sky will eat those who die in the field.
25Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in Yahweh’s sight, incited by his wife Jezebel.
26He did truly detestable things by following idols, just like the Amorites, whom Yahweh drove out before the people of Israel.
27When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his body, fasted, lay in sackcloth, and walked around humbly.
28Then Yahweh’s word came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
29“Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime. Instead, I will bring the disaster on his family during his son’s days.”