Open English Translation 1KI Chapter 21

21 Sometime after that, King Ahav from Shomron was in his palace in Yizreel city, and his neighbour was the Yezreelite Navot (Naboth) with his vineyard. 2 Ahav pressured Navot, “Give me your vineyard so I can make it into my vegetable garden because it’s right beside my house. I can replace it with a better vineyard, or if you prefer, I can pay you in silver for this one.”

3 But Navot replied, “Far be it for me to disobey Yahweh by giving up the inheritance entrusted to my ancestors.”

4 So Ahav went back to his palace bitter and angry because of Navot’s refusal to turn over the land. He refused to eat and went to bed with his face towards the wall, 5 but his wife Izevel went in and demanded, “What’s this about eating nothing and going to bed in a sulk?”

6 “Well, I talked with Navot the Yezreelite,” he replied. “I offered to pay cash for his vineyard or to exchange it for another one if he preferred, but he wouldn’t let me have it.”

7 “What! You’re the king of Israel!” his wife responded. “Get up and have something to eat and cheer up! I’ll make sure myself that you get Navot’s vineyard.”

8 So she wrote letters in Ahav’s name and sealed them with his seal. Then she sent them to the city elders and nobles who lived near Navot. 9 This is what she wrote, “Announce a fast, and seat Navot hear the head of the table. 10 Then seat two troublemakers opposite him, and get them to testify against him that he cursed God and the king. Then take him outside and pelt him with rocks until he’s dead.

11 Then the elders and nobles of the city did what Izevel had instructed them via the letters: 12 They announced a fast and seated Navot near the head of the table, 13 then two worthless men were seated opposite him, and they testified in front of all the people that Navot had cursed God and the king. So Navot was led out of the city and killed by having rocks thrown at him, 14 and they sent a message to Izevel to tell her that Navot had been stoned to death.

15 As soon as Izevel heard that Navot had been executed, she told Ahav, “Go on now and take over Navot’s vineyard that he refused to sell you, because he’s not around any more—he’s dead.” 16 As soon as Ahav heard that Navot was dead, he went to the vineyard to take possession of it.

17 Then Yahweh told Eliyyah (from Tishbe), 18 “Leave here and go to Israel’s king Ahav in Shomron. Listen, he’s there in Navot’s vineyard, where he’s gone to take possession of it. 19 Tell him that Yahweh’s asking if he’s taking possession of the property of a murdered man. Then tell him that Yahweh wants him to know that the dogs will lick his blood in the same place where Navot died and the dogs came and licked up his blood.”

20 When Eliyyah arrived, Ahav asked him, “Ah, my enemy. Have you found me?”

“Yes, I’ve found you,” Eliyyah replied. “It seems you’ve sold your soul by doing what Yahweh’s finds to be evil. 21 Yahweh says that he’s about to send disaster on you to destroy you and every male in your household—whether they’re slaves or free. 22 Your entire family will be eliminated like the families of Nebat’s son Yarobam and Ahiyyah’s son Baasha because you’ve provoked Yahweh’s anger and made Israel sin. 23 Also concerning Izevel, Yahweh says that the dogs will eat her body by Yezreel’s city wall.[ref] 24 The bodies of any of your family who die in the city will be eaten by dogs, and any who die in the countryside will be eaten by birds.”

25 Surely there was never anyone else as evil as Ahav who sold his soul by doing what Yahweh was said was wrong—albeit often incited by his wife Izevel. 26 He also behaved disgustingly by worshipping idols like the Amorites had done before Yahweh removed them from the land as the Israelis entered.

27 As soon as Ahav heard that message, he tore his clothes and dressed in sacking and fasted. He even slept in the sackcloth, and he walked around slowly with his head down.

28 Then Yahweh asked Eliyyah (from Tishbe), 29 “Have you noticed that Ahav has shown repentance towards me? Because he’s humbled himself, I won’t bring that disaster on his family while he’s still alive, but rather I’ll do it during his son’s reign.”