The Way
Naboth's Vineyard
The prophet waiting in a stolen vineyard
Story
Right beside the palace in Jezreel was Naboth's vineyard. King Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard. I want it for a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard for it, or pay you what it is worth.” Naboth answered, “The Lord forbids me to give you the land I inherited from my ancestors.” Ahab went home sullen, lay on his bed with his face turned away, and would not eat.
Ahab's wife Jezebel said, “Aren't you the one who rules Israel now? I will get you that vineyard.” Jezebel wrote letters in the king's name and sealed them with the king's seal. Where a fast had been proclaimed, two worthless men stood up and gave false testimony: “Naboth has cursed God and the king.” Naboth was dragged outside the city and stoned to death.
When Ahab went down to take the vineyard, Elijah was standing there. Ahab said, “So you have found me, my enemy?” Elijah said, “I have found you. In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood too.” Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. The Lord saw how Ahab had humbled himself and put off the disaster on his house until his son's day.
Walk this scene on the map →Words of God and the Prophets
Have you murdered a man and taken his land as well? In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood too.
I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the Lord's eyes.
The Lord forbids me to give you the land I inherited from my ancestors.
Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his day.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: 1 Kgs 21:1–29
Background
In Israel each family's land was an inheritance received from God, and it could not simply be sold off. Jezreel, like Samaria, was a royal city where Ahab stayed, on a hill overlooking the broad Valley of Jezreel.
Pause and Reflect
Is my greed making me take lightly what belongs to others?