Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

SHIN ש

Naboth Murdered for His Vineyard

21 Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. ² Ahab spoke to Naboth saying, “Give me your vineyard, so I may have it for a garden of herbs, since it’s right next to my house. I’ll give you a better vineyard than it in exchange, or if it seems better to you, I’ll give you its price in money.”

³ But Naboth said to Ahab, “Adonai forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”

⁴ So Ahab went into his house sullen and resentful because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, when he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face and would eat no food.

⁵ Then his wife Jezebel came to him and asked him, “Why is your spirit so sullen that you are eating no food?”

⁶ Then he told her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and asked him: ‘Give me your vineyard for money, or if it pleases you, I’ll give you another vineyard for it,’ but he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”

⁷ Then his wife Jezebel said to him, “Now, do you really govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, eat some food, and let your heart be merry! I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” ⁸ So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. ⁹ She wrote in the letters saying, “Proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people. ¹⁰ Then seat two sons of Belial before him, and let them testify against him saying, ‘You cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”

¹¹ So the men of his city—the elders and the nobles who lived in his city—did just as Jezebel had bid them, just as was written in the letters that she had sent to them. ¹² They proclaimed a fast then seated Naboth at the head of the people. ¹³ Then the two worthless men came in and sat before him, and the worthless men testified against him, against Naboth, before the people saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king!” Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death. ¹⁴ Then they sent word to Jezebel saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”

¹⁵ Now when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite which he refused to sell you for money—for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” ¹⁶ As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it.

⁹ Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you—for you yourselves are taught by God^[a] to love one another. ¹⁰ In fact, you even practice it toward all your brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to keep progressing more and more ¹¹ and aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, just as we directed you— ¹² so you may behave properly toward outsiders and not have need of anything.