Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard

21 Some time passed after these events. Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard; it was in Jezreel(A) next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.(B) So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard(C) so I can have it for a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place, or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.”

But Naboth said to Ahab, “As the Lord is my witness, I will never give my ancestors’ inheritance(D) to you.”

So Ahab went to his palace resentful and angry(E) because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had told him. He had said, “I will not give you my ancestors’ inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away,(F) and didn’t eat any food.(G)

Then his wife Jezebel came to him and said to him, “Why are you so upset that you refuse to eat?”

“Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite,” he replied. “I told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you a vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!’”

Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, exercise your royal power over Israel. Get up, eat some food, and be happy. For I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”(H) So she wrote letters(I) in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal.(J) She sent the letters to the elders(K) and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. In the letters, she wrote:

Proclaim a fast(L) and seat Naboth at the head of the people. 10 Then seat two wicked men(M) opposite him and have them testify against him, saying, “You have cursed God and the king!” (N) Then take him out and stone him to death.(O)

11 The men of his city, the elders and nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters she had sent them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 The two wicked men came in and sat opposite him. Then the wicked men testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones. 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”(P)

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,(Q) since Naboth isn’t alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.

The Lord’s Judgment on Ahab

17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:(R) 18 “Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel,(S) who is in Samaria.(T) He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murdered(U) and also taken possession?’ (V) Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’” (W)

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?” (X)

He replied, “I have found you because you devoted(Y) yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21 This is what the Lord says:[a] ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants:

I will wipe out all of Ahab’s males,[b]
both slave and free,[c] in Israel;(Z)

22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam(AA) son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha(AB) son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.’(AC) 23 The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land[d] at Jezreel:(AD)

24 Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,
and anyone who dies in the field, the birds[e] will eat.’”(AE)

25 Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him.(AF) 26 He committed the most detestable acts by following idols(AG) as the Amorites(AH) had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth(AI) and walked around subdued. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,(AJ) because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”(AK)

Jehoshaphat’s Alliance with Ahab

22 There was(AL) a lull of three years(AM) without war between Aram and Israel. However, in the third year, King Jehoshaphat(AN) of Judah went to visit the king of Israel.(AO) The king of Israel had said to his servants, “Don’t you know that Ramoth-gilead(AP) is ours, but we’re doing nothing to take it from the king of Aram?” So(AQ) he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight Ramoth-gilead?” (AR)

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”(AS) But Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “First, please ask what the Lord’s will is.”(AT)

So the king of Israel gathered the prophets, about four hundred men,(AU) and asked them, “Should I go against Ramoth-gilead for war or should I refrain?”

They replied, “March up, and the Lord will hand it over to the king.”(AV)

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Isn’t there a prophet of the Lord here anymore?(AW) Let’s ask him.”

The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man who can inquire of the Lord, but I hate him(AX) because he never prophesies good about me,(AY) but only disaster. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king shouldn’t say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.

So the king of Israel called an officer and said, “Hurry and get Micaiah son of Imlah!”

10 Now the king of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah,(AZ) clothed in royal attire, were each sitting on his own throne. They were on the threshing floor(BA) at the entrance to the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying in front of them. 11 Then Zedekiah(BB) son of Chenaanah made iron horns(BC) and said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You will gore the Arameans with these until they are finished off.’” 12 And all the prophets were prophesying the same: “March up to Ramoth-gilead(BD) and succeed, for the Lord will hand it over to the king.”

Micaiah’s Message of Defeat

13 The messenger(BE) who went to call Micaiah instructed him, “Look, the words of the prophets are unanimously favorable for the king. So let your words be like theirs, and speak favorably.”

14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives,(BF) I will say whatever the Lord says to me.”(BG)

15 So he went to the king, and the king asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth-gilead for war, or should we refrain?”

Micaiah told him, “March up and succeed. The Lord will hand it over to the king.”

16 But the king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear not to tell me anything but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

17 So Micaiah said:

I saw all Israel scattered on the hills
like sheep without a shepherd.(BH)
And the Lord said,
“They have no master;
let everyone return home in peace.”(BI)

18 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you he never prophesies good about me, but only disaster?”

19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore, hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne,(BJ) and the whole heavenly army(BK) was standing by him at his right hand and at his left hand. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab to march up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ (BL) So one was saying this and another was saying that.

21 “Then a spirit came forward, stood in the Lord’s presence, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 “The Lord asked him, ‘How?’

“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit(BM) in the mouth of all his prophets.’

“Then he said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail.(BN) Go and do that.’

23 “You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”

24 Then Zedekiah(BO) son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah on the cheek, and demanded, “Did[f] the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?” (BP)

25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see when you go to hide in an inner chamber on that day.”(BQ)

26 Then the king of Israel ordered, “Take Micaiah and return him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, the king’s son,(BR) 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this guy in prison(BS) and feed him only a little bread and water[g] until I come back safely.’”

28 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken through me.”(BT) Then he said, “Listen, all you people!” [h](BU)

Ahab’s Death

29 Then(BV) the king of Israel and Judah’s King Jehoshaphat went up to Ramoth-gilead.(BW) 30 But the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise(BX) myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal attire.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.(BY)

31 Now the king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders,(BZ) “Do not fight with anyone at all[i] except the king of Israel.”(CA)

32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they shouted, “He must be the king of Israel!” So they turned to fight against him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 When the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

34 But a man drew his bow(CB) without taking special aim and struck the king of Israel through the joints of his armor. So he said to his charioteer, “Turn around and take me out of the battle,[j] for I am badly wounded!” (CC) 35 The battle raged throughout that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died that evening,(CD) and blood from his wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 Then the cry rang out in the army as the sun set, declaring:

Each man to his own city,
and each man to his own land!(CE)

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria. They buried the king in Samaria.(CF) 38 Then someone washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes bathed in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken.(CG)

39 The rest of the events of Ahab’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, including the ivory palace(CH) he built, and all the cities he built, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(CI) 40 Ahab rested with his ancestors,(CJ) and his son Ahaziah(CK) became king in his place.

Judah’s King Jehoshaphat

41 Jehoshaphat(CL) son of Asa became king over Judah in the fourth year of Israel’s King Ahab. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king; he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the ways of his father Asa;(CM) he did not turn away from them but did what was right in the Lord’s sight. However, the high places were not taken away;[k] the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.(CN) 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.(CO)

45 The rest of the events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, along with the might he exercised and how he waged war, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(CP) 46 He eradicated from the land the rest of the male cult prostitutes who were left from the days of his father Asa.(CQ) 47 There was no king in Edom;(CR) a deputy served as king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish(CS) to go to Ophir(CT) for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber.(CU) 49 At that time, Ahaziah(CV) son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my servants go with your servants in the ships,” but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of his ancestor David.(CW) His son Jehoram(CX) became king in his place.

Israel’s King Ahaziah

51 Ahaziah(CY) son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria(CZ) in the seventeenth year of Judah’s King Jehoshaphat,(DA) and he reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight.(DB) He walked in the ways of his father,(DC) in the ways of his mother,(DD) and in the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.(DE) 53 He served Baal and bowed in worship to him.(DF) He angered the Lord God of Israel just as his father had done.(DG)

Footnotes

  1. 21:21 LXX; MT omits This is what the Lord says
  2. 21:21 Lit eliminate Ahab’s one who urinates against the wall
  3. 21:21 Or males, even the weak and impaired; Hb obscure
  4. 21:23 Some Hb mss, Syr, Tg, Vg, 2Kg 9:36; other Hb mss, LXX read the rampart
  5. 21:24 Lit birds of the sky
  6. 22:24 Lit “Which way did
  7. 22:27 Lit him on bread of oppression and water of oppression
  8. 22:28 LXX omits Then he said, “Listen, all you people!”
  9. 22:31 Lit with small or with great
  10. 22:34 LXX; MT reads camp
  11. 22:43 LXX, Syr, Vg read he did not remove the high places

Naboth’s Vineyard

21 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth(A) the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel,(B) close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”

But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance(C) of my ancestors.”

So Ahab went home, sullen and angry(D) because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused(E) to eat.

His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”

He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard(F) of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

So she wrote letters(G) in Ahab’s name, placed his seal(H) on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels(I) opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed(J) 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 directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast(K) and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.(L) 14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard(M) of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.” 16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.

17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’(N) Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood,(O) dogs(P) will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!”(Q)

“I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold(R) yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. 21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male(S) in Israel—slave or free.[a](T) 22 I will make your house(U) like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’(V)

23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs(W) will devour Jezebel by the wall of[b] Jezreel.’

24 “Dogs(X) will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds(Y) will feed on those who die in the country.”

25 (There was never(Z) anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites(AA) the Lord drove out before Israel.)

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth(AB) and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.(AC)

28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled(AD) himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day,(AE) but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”(AF)

Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab(AG)

22 For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel. But in the third year Jehoshaphat king of Judah went down to see the king of Israel. The king of Israel had said to his officials, “Don’t you know that Ramoth Gilead(AH) belongs to us and yet we are doing nothing to retake it from the king of Aram?”

So he asked Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to fight(AI) against Ramoth Gilead?”

Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, “First seek the counsel(AJ) of the Lord.”

So the king of Israel brought together the prophets—about four hundred men—and asked them, “Shall I go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

“Go,”(AK) they answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”(AL)

But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet(AM) of the Lord here whom we can inquire(AN) of?”

The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the Lord, but I hate(AO) him because he never prophesies anything good(AP) about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

“The king should not say such a thing,” Jehoshaphat replied.

So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

10 Dressed in their royal robes, the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah were sitting on their thrones at the threshing floor(AQ) by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, with all the prophets prophesying before them. 11 Now Zedekiah(AR) son of Kenaanah had made iron horns(AS) and he declared, “This is what the Lord says: ‘With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed.’”

12 All the other prophets were prophesying the same thing. “Attack Ramoth Gilead and be victorious,” they said, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

13 The messenger who had gone to summon Micaiah said to him, “Look, the other prophets without exception are predicting success for the king. Let your word agree with theirs, and speak favorably.”(AT)

14 But Micaiah said, “As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him only what the Lord tells me.”(AU)

15 When he arrived, the king asked him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or not?”

“Attack and be victorious,” he answered, “for the Lord will give it into the king’s hand.”

16 The king said to him, “How many times must I make you swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?”

17 Then Micaiah answered, “I saw all Israel scattered(AV) on the hills like sheep without a shepherd,(AW) and the Lord said, ‘These people have no master. Let each one go home in peace.’”

18 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Didn’t I tell you that he never prophesies anything good about me, but only bad?”

19 Micaiah continued, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne(AX) with all the multitudes(AY) of heaven standing around him on his right and on his left. 20 And the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab into attacking Ramoth Gilead and going to his death there?’

“One suggested this, and another that. 21 Finally, a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord and said, ‘I will entice him.’

22 “‘By what means?’ the Lord asked.

“‘I will go out and be a deceiving(AZ) spirit in the mouths of all his prophets,’ he said.

“‘You will succeed in enticing him,’ said the Lord. ‘Go and do it.’

23 “So now the Lord has put a deceiving(BA) spirit in the mouths of all these prophets(BB) of yours. The Lord has decreed disaster(BC) for you.”

24 Then Zedekiah(BD) son of Kenaanah went up and slapped(BE) Micaiah in the face. “Which way did the spirit from[c] the Lord go when he went from me to speak(BF) to you?” he asked.

25 Micaiah replied, “You will find out on the day you go to hide(BG) in an inner room.”

26 The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son 27 and say, ‘This is what the king says: Put this fellow in prison(BH) and give him nothing but bread and water until I return safely.’”

28 Micaiah declared, “If you ever return safely, the Lord has not spoken(BI) through me.” Then he added, “Mark my words, all you people!”

Ahab Killed at Ramoth Gilead(BJ)

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah went up to Ramoth Gilead. 30 The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will enter the battle in disguise,(BK) but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31 Now the king of Aram(BL) had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, “Do not fight with anyone, small or great, except the king(BM) of Israel.” 32 When the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they thought, “Surely this is the king of Israel.” So they turned to attack him, but when Jehoshaphat cried out, 33 the chariot commanders saw that he was not the king of Israel and stopped pursuing him.

34 But someone drew his bow(BN) at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor. The king told his chariot driver, “Wheel around and get me out of the fighting. I’ve been wounded.” 35 All day long the battle raged, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. The blood from his wound ran onto the floor of the chariot, and that evening he died. 36 As the sun was setting, a cry spread through the army: “Every man to his town. Every man to his land!”(BO)

37 So the king died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him there. 38 They washed the chariot at a pool in Samaria (where the prostitutes bathed),[d] and the dogs(BP) licked up his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.

39 As for the other events of Ahab’s reign, including all he did, the palace he built and adorned with ivory,(BQ) and the cities he fortified, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 40 Ahab rested with his ancestors. And Ahaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoshaphat King of Judah(BR)

41 Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king of Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi. 43 In everything he followed the ways of his father Asa(BS) and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. The high places,(BT) however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.[e] 44 Jehoshaphat was also at peace with the king of Israel.

45 As for the other events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, the things he achieved and his military exploits, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 46 He rid the land of the rest of the male shrine prostitutes(BU) who remained there even after the reign of his father Asa. 47 There was then no king(BV) in Edom; a provincial governor ruled.

48 Now Jehoshaphat built a fleet of trading ships[f](BW) to go to Ophir for gold, but they never set sail—they were wrecked at Ezion Geber.(BX) 49 At that time Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, “Let my men sail with yours,” but Jehoshaphat refused.

50 Then Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Jehoram his son succeeded him as king.

Ahaziah King of Israel

51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. 52 He did evil(BY) in the eyes of the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. 53 He served and worshiped Baal(BZ) and aroused the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father(CA) had done.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 21:21 Or Israel—every ruler or leader
  2. 1 Kings 21:23 Most Hebrew manuscripts; a few Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 2 Kings 9:26) the plot of ground at
  3. 1 Kings 22:24 Or Spirit of
  4. 1 Kings 22:38 Or Samaria and cleaned the weapons
  5. 1 Kings 22:43 In Hebrew texts this sentence (22:43b) is numbered 22:44, and 22:44-53 is numbered 22:45-54.
  6. 1 Kings 22:48 Hebrew of ships of Tarshish