The Bible says that King Ahab, urged on by Jezebel his wife, behaved in the most wicked way by worshipping idols.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 2
Close to King Ahab’s palace was a vineyard that belonged to Naboth and his family. Ahab said to Naboth, ‘Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden. In exchange, I will give you a better vineyard or pay you whatever it is worth.’Naboth refused to part with the land as it had belonged to his family for generations.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 3
So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth had refused to give him what he wanted. He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 4
His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, ‘Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?’ Ahab explained how Naboth had refused to part with his vineyard.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 5
Jezebel replied, ‘Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth.’
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 6
Jezebel wrote letters in the King’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city. In those letters she wrote: ‘Proclaim a day of fasting and give Naboth a prominent seat among the people. Put two scoundrels opposite him to bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.
The elders and nobles proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place. Two scoundrels sat opposite him and made false accusations that Naboth had cursed both God and the king.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 8
Naboth was taken out of the city and stoned to death
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 9
As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth was dead, she said to Ahab, ‘Go and take over the vineyard of Naboth. He is no longer alive.’
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 10
King Ahab went to Naboth’s vineyard and took possession of it. But God was not going to let Ahab get away with this evil deed. He told Elijah the prophet to go to Naboth’s vineyard with a message for the King.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 11
When Ahab saw Elijah he said, ‘So you have found me, my enemy!’ ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Elijah asked.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 12
‘In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood !’ Elijah declared. ‘God is going to bring disaster on you and wipe out your descendants.’
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 13
Elijah announced that Ahab would be killed, his royal line obliterated, and Jezebel would be eaten by dogs.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 14
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard 15
God told the prophet Elijah, ‘Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? As he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his family in the days of his son.’ Three years later Ahab was killed in battle.. His son Ahaziah inherited the throne but died in an accident and was succeeded by his brother Jehoram. Jehoram was shot with an arrow by Jehu, the commander of his army, who ordered his body to be dumped on the land belonging to Naboth. Jezebel was thrown
from a window to her death by her own servants. Her body was eaten by dogs as Elijah had foretold.
King Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth's vineyard
King Ahab wants Naboth's vineyard and his wife Jezebel schemes to get it for him.
1 Kings 21:1-29
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