Thematic Bible




1 Kings 21:1 (show verse)

Meanwhile, there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel who owned a vineyard that was located contiguous to King Ahab's palace in Samaria.

1 Kings 21:2 (show verse)

Ahab addressed Naboth and asked him, "I would like to plant a vegetable garden near my house. Please exchange your vineyard with a better one from me, or if you'd rather have cash, I'll buy it for its full value."

1 Kings 21:3 (show verse)

But Naboth replied to Ahab, "No way! The LORD prohibits the sale to you of the inheritance of my ancestors!"

1 Kings 21:4 (show verse)

Ahab went back to his palace, sullen and in a foul mood, because Naboth the Jezreelite had turned down Ahab's offer by saying "I will not transfer my ancestors' inheritance to you!" He laid down on his bed, curled up with his face to the wall, and refused to eat.

1 Kings 21:5 (show verse)

But his wife Jezebel went to him and asked him, "How is it that you're so sullen and refusing to eat?"

1 Kings 21:6 (show verse)

"I asked Naboth the Jezreelite, "Sell me your vineyard for cash, or if you want, I'll give you a better one in its place.' But he refused. He told me, "I won't give you my vineyard!'"

1 Kings 21:7 (show verse)

"Aren't you the reigning king of Israel," his wife Jezebel replied. "Get up, have a meal, and get ready to be happy. I'll go get you the vineyard that Naboth the Jezreelite owns."

1 Kings 21:8 (show verse)

So she wrote some memos in Ahab's name, set his personal seal to them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

1 Kings 21:9 (show verse)

In the memos, she wrote the following directives: "Proclaim a public fast and seat Naboth in the front row.

1 Kings 21:10 (show verse)

Seat two wicked men in front of him, and make them testify against him. Tell them to claim "You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."

1 Kings 21:11 (show verse)

So the leading men of the city, along with the elders and nobles who lived there, did precisely what Jezebel had directed them to do. They followed the instructions that she had set forth in the memos:

1 Kings 21:12 (show verse)

They proclaimed a public fast and seated Naboth in the front row.

1 Kings 21:13 (show verse)

Two wicked men came in, sat down in front of them, and testified against Naboth in public, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
false Accusation » Incidents illustrative of » Against naboth by jezebel
Blasphemy » False indictments for » Of naboth
Confiscation » By ahab, of naboth's vineyard
Conspiracy » Instances of » Of jezebel, against naboth
Covetousness » Instances of » Ahab, in desiring naboth's vineyard
Dishonesty » Instances of » Ahab confiscates naboth's vineyard
False teachers » Instances of » Witnesses » Against naboth
Falsehood » Instances of » The conspirators against naboth
Government » Mosaic » Corrupt
Government » Monarchical » By solomon
Government » Corruption in
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Ahab and jezebel
Indictments » Instances of » Naboth on the charge of blasphemy
Injustice » Examples of
Jezebel » Wickedly accomplishes the death of naboth
Judge » Corrupt, instances of » The judges of jezreel
King » Influential queens » Jezebel
King » Profiting from » Confiscations of property
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Ahab
Murder » Examples of
Murder » Exemplified » Elders of jezreel
Naboth » His vineyard forcibly taken by ahab; stoned at the instigation of jezebel
Perjury » Instances of » Witnesses against naboth
Punishments » Stoning » Examples of
Slander » Exemplified » Children of belial
Slander » Instances of » Of naboth, by jezebel
Stoning » Examples of
Stoning » Instances of stoning » Naboth
The Nation » Stoning » Examples of
Women » Queens » Jezebel » Characteristics of » A murderess
Women » Instances of » Jezebel, in her conspiracy against naboth, to cheat him out of his vineyard

1 Kings 21:14 (show verse)

Afterwards, they sent a message to Jezebel that said, "Naboth has been stoned. He's dead."

1 Kings 21:15 (show verse)

When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told Ahab, "Get up and confiscate Naboth's vineyard that he refused to sell you for cash. Naboth the Jezreelite isn't alive anymore. He's dead!"

1 Kings 21:16 (show verse)

So once he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab got up, went down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and confiscated it.

1 Kings 21:17 (show verse)

That's when this message from the LORD came to Elijah the foreigner:

1 Kings 21:18 (show verse)

"Get up and go down to meet King Ahab of Israel. He's in Samaria. Look! He's in Naboth's vineyard, where he's gone to confiscate it.

1 Kings 21:19 (show verse)

Ask the king, "Did you commit murder? And now you're going to steal as well?' Also tell him, "This is what the LORD says: "Where the dogs were licking up Naboth's blood, dogs will also lick up your blood that's right yours!"'"

1 Kings 21:20 (show verse)

Later on, Ahab asked Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?"
Ahab » King of israel » Prophecies against
Bondage, spiritual » Sold under sin
Character » Of the wicked » Sold under sin
Character of the wicked » Sold under sin
Courage » Examples of » David
Courageous reformers » Elijah before king ahab
Elijah » Miracles of » Prophecies of
Elijah » Three times fed with divine supplies » Rebuked kings
Elijah » Prophecies of » The destruction of ahab and his house
Exposure » No matter how committed, sin will be exposed » Like the sin of ahab, it may be prompted by others
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Ahab and jezebel
Judgments » Ahab and jezebel
Kings » Their revenues derived from » Punished for transgressing the divine law
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Ahab
Leaders » Courageous reformers, rebuke sinful rulers » Elijah before king ahab
Prophecy » Miscellaneous, fulfilled » The death of ahab
Prophets » Were sent to » Denounce the wickedness of kings
Rebuke » Appointed by God corrupt » Elijah rebukes ahab
Courageous reformers » Rebuke sinful rulers » Elijah before king ahab
Religious » Reformers courageous reformers, rebuke sinful rulers » Elijah before king ahab
Religious » Courageous reformers, rebuke sinful rulers » Elijah before king ahab
Repentance » Instances of » Ahab, when reproved by elijah for ahab's idolatry
Reproof » Faithfulness in » Elijah, of ahab
Reproof » Despised » By ahab
Reproof » Exemplified » Elijah
Sin » Secret » Sold under
Sin » Will be exposed, no matter how committed » Like the sin of ahab, it may be prompted by others
Sin » For punishments, ancient modes of reacts » Elijah rebukes ahab
Sinners » Snared no matter how committed, sin will be exposed » Like the sin of ahab, it may be prompted by others
Women » Instances of » Jezebel, in her evil counsels to, and influence over, ahab

1 Kings 21:21 (show verse)

But Elijah answered, "I've found you because you sold yourself to do what the LORD considers to be evil! Now pay attention! I'm going to send evil in your direction! I will completely sweep you away and eliminate from Ahab every male, whether indentured servant or free, throughout Israel.

1 Kings 21:22 (show verse)

I will make your household resemble that of Nebat's son Jeroboam, or like the household of Ahijah's son Baasha, because of how you've provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin.

1 Kings 21:23 (show verse)

The LORD also has this to say about Jezebel: "Dogs will eat Jezebel within the outer ramparts of Jezreel.

1 Kings 21:24 (show verse)

Dogs will eat whoever belongs to Ahab and who dies in the city. The birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the fields.'"

1 Kings 21:25 (show verse)

It can be truly said that no one else sold himself to practice what the LORD considered to be evil quite like the way Ahab did, because his wife Jezebel incited him.

1 Kings 21:26 (show verse)

His behavior in pursuing idolatry was detestable, just like the Amorites had done whom the LORD had expelled in front of the army of Israel.

1 Kings 21:27 (show verse)

Nevertheless, as soon as Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and wandered around meekly.

1 Kings 21:28 (show verse)

Later, this message from the LORD came to Elijah the foreigner:

1 Kings 21:29 (show verse)

"Have you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his son's lifetime."