Thematic Bible: Naboth


Thematic Bible



And it came to pass, after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had, a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, - hard by the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab, therefore, spake unto Naboth, saying - Come! give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, for, the same, is near by my house, and let me give thee, instead thereof, a vineyard better than it, - if it be good in thine eyes, I will give thee silver to the value of this. And Naboth said unto Ahab, - Far be it from me, of Yahweh! that I should give up the inheritance of my fathers, unto thee! read more.
So Ahab came into his house, sullen and disturbed, because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken unto him, that he should have said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. So he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and did eat no food. Then came unto him Jezebel his wife, - and said unto him - Why is it, that thy spirit is sullen, that thou art, not eating food? And he said unto her - Because I spake unto Naboth, the Jezreelite, and said unto him - Come! give me thy vineyard for silver, or, if thou wouldst prefer, I will give thee a vineyard, in its stead; and he said - I will not give thee my vineyard. Then Jezebel his wife said unto him: Art, thou, still, going to carry on the kingdom over Israel? Rise! eat food, and let thy heart be merry, I, will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite! So she wrote letters, in the name of Ahab, and sealed them with his signet-ring, - and sent the letters unto the elders, and unto the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. Now she wrote in the letters, saying, - Proclaim ye a fast, and cause Naboth to sit at the head of the people; then let two reckless men take their seats before him, that they may bear witness against him, saying, Thou hast reviled God and king! then shall ye carry him forth and stone him, that he die. So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who dwelt in his city, did just as Jezebel had sent unto them, - as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them: they proclaimed a fast, - and caused Naboth to sit at the head of the people. Then came in the two reckless men, and sat before him, and the men bare witness against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, Naboth hath reviled God and king! So they carried him forth, outside the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. Then sent they unto Jezebel, saying, - Naboth is stoned and is dead. And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said unto Ahab - Rise! take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead! And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab arose, to go down unto the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession thereof. Then came the word of Yahweh unto Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Arise! go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria, - lo! he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he hath gone down, to take possession thereof. Then shalt thou speak unto him, saying - Thus, saith Yahweh, Hast thou committed murder, and also taken possession? Then shalt thou speak unto him, saying: Thus, saith Yahweh, In the place where the dogs have lapped up the blood of Naboth, shall the dogs lap up thy blood, even thine.


Then said Jehoram, Harness! So one harnessed his chariot, - and Jehoram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went forth, each man in his chariot, yea they went forth to meet Jehu, and came upon him in the heritage of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Jehoram saw Jehu, that he said - Is it peace, Jehu? And he said - What can be the peace, while thy mother Jezebel's harlotries and her incantations do so abound? Then Jehoram turned his hands, and fled, - and said unto Ahaziah - Treachery! O Ahaziah! read more.
And, Jehu, bent his bow, and smote Jehoram, between his arms, - and the arrow came out at his heart, - and he sank down in his chariot. Then said he unto Bidkar his officer, Take him up, and cast him forth, into the field-portion of Naboth the Jezreelite, - for remember, when I and thou were riding as a couple together after Ahab his father, that, Yahweh, laid upon him this doom: Surely, the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, have I lately seen, declareth Yahweh, therefore will I requite thee in this portion, declareth Yahweh. Now, therefore, take him up, and cast him forth into the portion, according to the word of Yahweh. And, Ahaziah king of Judah, saw it, and fled by the way of the garden house, - and Jehu pursued him, and said - Him also! smite him in the chariot! It was in the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Mepidgo, and died there. And his servants conveyed him in a chariot and brought him into Jerusalem, - and buried him in his sepulchre, with his fathers, in the city of David. Now it was, in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, that Ahaziah began to reign over Judah. Now, when Jehu entered Jezreel and, Jezebel, heard of it, she set her eyes in stibium, and ornamented her head, and looked forth through the lattice. So, when, Jehu, had entered in at the gate, she said, Was it peace, when Zimri slew his lord? And he lifted up his face unto the lattice, and said - Who, is with me? Who? And there looked out unto him, two or three eunuchs. And he said - Hurl her down. And they hurled her down, - and there was sprinkled of her blood - upon the wall, and upon the horses, and they trode upon her. And, when he had entered and eaten and drunk, he said - Look, I pray you, after this accursed woman, and bury her, for the daughter of a king, she is. So they went to bury her, - but found not of her - save the skull, and the feet, and the palms of the hands. Then came they back, and told him, and he said - The word of Yahweh, it is, which he spake by the hand of his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, saying - In the town-land of Jezreel, shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel!


Then came in the two reckless men, and sat before him, and the men bare witness against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, Naboth hath reviled God and king! So they carried him forth, outside the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died.