Naboth's Vineyard is a significant biblical account found in the Old Testament, specifically in 1 Kings 21. This narrative highlights themes of justice, divine retribution, and the abuse of power. Naboth, a Jezreelite, owned a vineyard adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. The vineyard's location made it desirable to Ahab, who sought to acquire it for a vegetable garden.

The Proposal and Refusal

King Ahab approached Naboth with a proposal to purchase the vineyard or exchange it for a better one. However, Naboth refused, citing his adherence to the inheritance laws of Israel, which prohibited the permanent sale of family land. Naboth's response is recorded in 1 Kings 21:3 : "But Naboth replied, 'The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.'"

Ahab's Reaction and Jezebel's Scheme

Ahab returned home sullen and angry, lying on his bed and refusing to eat. His wife, Queen Jezebel, noticed his distress and questioned him. Upon learning the reason, Jezebel devised a plan to secure the vineyard for Ahab. She wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles of Naboth's city. The letters instructed them to proclaim a fast and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. Two scoundrels were to accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king, a crime punishable by death.

The Injustice and Naboth's Death

The elders and nobles complied with Jezebel's instructions. As recorded in 1 Kings 21:13 , "Then the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him, and they charged 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." Following Naboth's execution, Jezebel informed Ahab that the vineyard was now his to possess.

Divine Judgment

The LORD, however, was not indifferent to this injustice. He sent the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab. Elijah delivered a message of divine judgment, declaring that Ahab's dynasty would be cut off and that dogs would lick up his blood in the same place where Naboth had died. Furthermore, Jezebel's fate was sealed with a prophecy that dogs would devour her by the wall of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:23).

Ahab's Repentance and Partial Mercy

Upon hearing Elijah's words, Ahab tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, fasted, and went about meekly. The LORD took note of Ahab's humility and postponed the disaster on his house until after his death, as recorded in 1 Kings 21:29 : "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in the days of his son, I will bring the disaster upon his house."

Theological Significance

Naboth's Vineyard serves as a poignant reminder of the sanctity of God's laws regarding inheritance and property. It underscores the moral responsibility of leaders to uphold justice and the consequences of failing to do so. The account also illustrates God's sovereignty and His ultimate justice, ensuring that wrongdoing does not go unpunished. Naboth's steadfastness in the face of royal pressure exemplifies faithfulness to God's commandments, even unto death.

Royal Murderers
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS ROYAL MURDERERS. 'And it came to pass after these things,
that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/royal murderers.htm

Ahab and Naboth
... SERMON XI. AHAB AND NABOTH. ... And Naboth said unto Ahab, The Lord forbid it me,
that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xi ahab and naboth.htm

Ahab the Thief
... THE OLD TESTAMENT AHAB THE THIEF. Now Naboth, the Jezreelite, had a vineyard
in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab, who ruled at Samaria. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/ahab the thief.htm

Ahab and Elijah
... in lofty places always do"after something that belongs to somebody else; with all
his gardens, coveting the one little herb-plot of the poor Naboth; weak and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/ahab and elijah.htm

Examples of Such Offences under the Old Dispensation no Pattern ...
... You will maintain communion, too, with the murderer: because Ahab, by deprecation,
washed away (the guilt of) Naboth's blood; [764] and David, by confession ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter vi examples of such offences.htm

Blessed are they that Mourn
... Thus Ammon mourned and was sick, till he defiled his sister Tamar (2 Samuel 13:2).
Thus Ahab mourned for Naboth's vineyard: He laid him down upon his bed, and ...
/.../the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/6 blessed are they that.htm

The Fall of the House of Ahab
... Hard by the palace of the king was a vineyard belonging to Naboth, a
Jezreelite. ... Naboth's refusal made the selfish monarch ill. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 16 the fall of.htm

Matt. x. 34
... Thus Paul also divided them that were conspiring against him. [1466] And in Naboth's
case that agreement was at the same time more grievous than any war. ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxxv matt x 34.htm

Auxentius on the Giving up of the Basilicas.
... Next, after applying Naboth's history and Christ's entry into Jerusalem to the present
state of affairs, he censures Auxentius' cruel law, answers the Arians ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/sermon against auxentius on the.htm

How Ahab when He had Taken Jezebel to Wife Became More Wicked than ...
... When He Had Taken Jezebel To Wife Became More Wicked Than All The Kings That Had
Been Before Him; Of The Actions Of The Prophet Elijah, And What Befell Naboth. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how ahab when.htm

Naboth's (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Naboth's (5 Occurrences). 1 Kings 21:8 So she
wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal ...
/n/naboth's.htm - 7k

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 9:7 regards the massacre of Ahab's family as a punishment for the persecution
of the prophets by Jezebel 2. Jezebel's Plot Against Naboth (1 Kings 21 ...
/j/jezebel.htm - 26k

Naboth (18 Occurrences)
...Naboth, however, refused on any terms to part with it to the king. ... Jezebel, Ahab's
wife, was grievously offended at Naboth's refusal to part with his vineyard. ...
/n/naboth.htm - 16k

Jehu (63 Occurrences)
... To himself we owe the information that he was present at the judicial murder of
Naboth, and that Naboth's sons were put to death with their father (2 Kings 9:26 ...
/j/jehu.htm - 47k

Nabuchodonosor

/n/nabuchodonosor.htm - 6k

Fasting (34 Occurrences)
... According to 1 Kings 21:4, Ahab, "heavy and displeased" on account of Naboth's refusal
to part with his estate, sulked and "would eat no bread." Fasting ...
/f/fasting.htm - 23k

Judge (297 Occurrences)
... An evil king could also bend local courts to do his will, as may be gathered
from the case of Naboth's vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-13). ...
/j/judge.htm - 46k

Fast (157 Occurrences)
... According to 1 Kings 21:4, Ahab, "heavy and displeased" on account of Naboth's refusal
to part with his estate, sulked and "would eat no bread." Fasting ...
/f/fast.htm - 49k

Kingdom (409 Occurrences)
... The tragedy of Naboth's vineyard would not have happened but for the influence of
Tyrian ideas, any more than in the case of the famous windmill which stands ...
/k/kingdom.htm - 101k

Who was Naboth in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Ahab in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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