Naboth's Vineyard

During the Divided Monarchy around 899 BC, Naboth the Jezreelite possessed a vineyard in Jezreel located near the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. Ahab requested to purchase the vineyard or exchange it for a better one to use as a vegetable garden, but Naboth refused to give up the inheritance of his fathers (1 Kings 21:1-3). Ahab returned to his house heavy and displeased, lying on his bed and refusing to eat. When Queen Jezebel inquired about his condition, she told him to arise and eat, promising to give him the vineyard herself (1 Kings 21:4-7).

Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, sending them to the elders and nobles of Jezreel. The letters commanded a fast and directed that two men, described as sons of Belial, bear witness against Naboth, accusing him of blaspheming God and the king. The men of the city followed these instructions; they carried Naboth out of the city and stoned him with stones until he died (1 Kings 21:8-13). After receiving word of the death, Jezebel told Ahab to take possession of the vineyard, and Ahab went down to the property (1 Kings 21:15-16).

The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, commanding him to meet Ahab in the vineyard. Elijah declared that in the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs would lick Ahab's blood. The prophet further stated that the Lord would bring evil upon Ahab, consume his posterity, and that dogs would eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:17-23). The text does not say how long Naboth had owned the land before these events. Upon hearing these words, Ahab rent his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. Because Ahab humbled himself, the Lord told Elijah that the evil would not be brought in Ahab’s days, but in the days of his son (1 Kings 21:27-29).