Jezebel’s Plot

8 Then [Jezebel] wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent [them] to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 In the letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed [both] God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and nobles who lived in [Naboth’s] city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people.

13 And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite [Naboth], and [these men] testified against [him] before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed [both] God and the king!”

So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, [she] said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.”

16 And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up [and] went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.