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.

²² In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful^(A) to the Lord.

⁴⁵ Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain^(A) started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.^{(B) 46} The power^(C) of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt,^(D) he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

³³ Now all the Midianites, Amalekites^(A) and other eastern peoples^(B) joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.^(C)

⁴ Then the Lord said to Hosea, “Call him Jezreel,^(A) because I will soon punish the house of Jehu for the massacre at Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel. ⁵ In that day I will break Israel’s bow in the Valley of Jezreel.^(B)”

A Prophet Condemns Ahab

³⁵ By the word of the Lord one of the company of the prophets^(A) said to his companion, “Strike me with your weapon,” but he refused.^(B)

³⁶ So the prophet said, “Because you have not obeyed the Lord, as soon as you leave me a lion^(C) will kill you.” And after the man went away, a lion found him and killed him.

³⁷ The prophet found another man and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him and wounded him. ³⁸ Then the prophet went and stood by the road waiting for the king. He disguised himself with his headband down over his eyes. ³⁹ As the king passed by, the prophet called out to him, “Your servant went into the thick of the battle, and someone came to me with a captive and said, ‘Guard this man. If he is missing, it will be your life for his life,^(D) or you must pay a talent^[a] of silver.’ ⁴⁰ While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”

“That is your sentence,”^(E) the king of Israel said. “You have pronounced it yourself.”

⁴¹ Then the prophet quickly removed the headband from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. ⁴² He said to the king, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You^(F) have set free a man I had determined should die.^[b](G) Therefore it is your life for his life,^(H) your people for his people.’” ⁴³ Sullen and angry,^(I) the king of Israel went to his palace in Samaria.