Naboth’s Vineyard

1  וַיְהִ֗י (And it came to pass) אַחַר֙ (after) הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (the things) הָאֵ֔לֶּה (these), כֶּ֧רֶם (a vineyard) הָיָ֛ה (had) לְנָב֥וֹת (that Naboth) הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י (the Jezreelite) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that was) בְּיִזְרְעֶ֑אל (in Jezreel) אֵ֚צֶל (next to) הֵיכַ֣ל (the palace) אַחְאָ֔ב (of Ahab) מֶ֖לֶךְ (king) שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (of Samaria). 2  וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (And spoke) אַחְאָ֣ב (Ahab) אֶל־ (to) נָב֣וֹת׀ (Naboth), לֵאמֹר֩׀ (saying), תְּנָה־ (Give) לִּ֨י (to me) אֶֽת־ (-) כַּרְמְךָ֜ (your vineyard), וִֽיהִי־ (and it will be) לִ֣י (to me) לְגַן־ (for a garden) יָרָ֗ק (of green herbs), כִּ֣י (because) ה֤וּא (it is) קָרוֹב֙ (near) אֵ֣צֶל (by) בֵּיתִ֔י (my house). וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה (And I will give) לְךָ֙ (to you) תַּחְתָּ֔יו (in its place) כֶּ֖רֶם (a vineyard) ט֣וֹב (better) מִמֶּ֑נּוּ (than it). אִ֚ם (Or if) ט֣וֹב (it is good) בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ (in your eyes), אֶתְּנָה־ (I will give) לְךָ֥ (to you) כֶ֖סֶף (silver) מְחִ֥יר (of the price) זֶֽה׃ (of this one).

3  וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (And said) נָב֖וֹת (Naboth) אֶל־ (to) אַחְאָ֑ב (Ahab), חָלִ֤ילָה (Far be it) לִּי֙ (from me) מֵֽיהוָ֔ה (by YHWH) מִתִּתִּ֛י (to give) אֶת־ (-) נַחֲלַ֥ת (the inheritance) אֲבֹתַ֖י (of my fathers) לָֽךְ׃ (to you).

4  וַיָּבֹא֩ (And went) אַחְאָ֨ב (Ahab) אֶל־ (into) בֵּית֜וֹ (his house) סַ֣ר (sullen) וְזָעֵ֗ף (and angry) עַל־ (because) הַדָּבָר֙ (of the word) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) דִּבֶּ֣ר (had spoken) אֵלָ֗יו (to him) נָבוֹת֙ (Naboth) הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔י (the Jezreelite). וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And for he had said), לֹֽא־ (Not) אֶתֵּ֥ן (I will give) לְךָ֖ (to you) אֶת־ (-) נַחֲלַ֣ת (the inheritance) אֲבוֹתָ֑י (of my fathers). וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ (And he lay down) עַל־ (on) מִטָּת֔וֹ (his bed), וַיַּסֵּ֥ב (and he turned away) אֶת־ (-) פָּנָ֖יו (his face), וְלֹֽא־ (and not) אָ֥כַל (would eat) לָֽחֶם׃ (food).

5  וַתָּבֹ֥א (And came) אֵלָ֖יו (to him) אִיזֶ֣בֶל (Jezebel) אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ (his wife) וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר (and said) אֵלָ֗יו (to him), מַה־ (Why) זֶּה֙ (is this that) רוּחֲךָ֣ (your spirit) סָרָ֔ה (is so sullen), וְאֵינְךָ֖ (and not) אֹכֵ֥ל (you eat) לָֽחֶם׃ (food)?

6  וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (And he said) אֵלֶ֗יהָ (to her), כִּֽי־ (Because) אֲ֠דַבֵּר (I spoke) אֶל־ (to) נָב֨וֹת (Naboth) הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֜י (the Jezreelite) וָאֹ֣מַר (and said) ל֗וֹ (to him), תְּנָה־ (Give) לִּ֤י (to me) אֶֽת־ (-) כַּרְמְךָ֙ (your vineyard) בְּכֶ֔סֶף (for silver); א֚וֹ (or) אִם־ (if) חָפֵ֣ץ (it pleases) אַתָּ֔ה (you), אֶתְּנָה־ (I will give) לְךָ֥ (to you) כֶ֖רֶם (a vineyard) תַּחְתָּ֑יו (for it). וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (And He answered), לֹֽא־ (Not) אֶתֵּ֥ן (I will give) לְךָ֖ (to you) אֶת־ (-) כַּרְמִֽי׃ (my vineyard).

7  וַתֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אֵלָיו֙ (to him) אִיזֶ֣בֶל (Jezebel) אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ (his wife) אַתָּ֕ה (You) עַתָּ֛ה (now) תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה (exercise) מְלוּכָ֖ה (authority) עַל־ (over) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (Israel)? ק֤וּם (Arise), אֱכָל־ (eat) לֶ֙חֶם֙ (bread), וְיִטַ֣ב (and let be cheerful) לִבֶּ֔ךָ (your heart). אֲנִי֙ (I) אֶתֵּ֣ן (will give) לְךָ֔ (to you) אֶת־ (-) כֶּ֖רֶם (the vineyard) נָב֥וֹת (of Naboth) הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃ (the Jezreelite).

Jezebel’s Plot

8  וַתִּכְתֹּ֤ב (And she wrote) סְפָרִים֙ (letters) בְּשֵׁ֣ם (in the name) אַחְאָ֔ב (of Ahab), וַתַּחְתֹּ֖ם (and sealed them) בְּחֹתָמ֑וֹ (with his seal), וַתִּשְׁלַ֣ח (and she sent) הַסְפָרִים (the letters) אֶל־ (to) הַזְקֵנִ֤ים (the elders) וְאֶל־ (and to) הַֽחֹרִים֙ (the nobles) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) בְּעִיר֔וֹ (in the city) הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים (were dwelling) אֶת־ (with) נָבֽוֹת׃ (Naboth). 9  וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב (And she wrote) בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים (in the letters), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying),

קִֽרְאוּ־ (Proclaim) צ֔וֹם (a fast) וְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּ (and seat) אֶת־ (-) נָב֖וֹת (Naboth) בְּרֹ֥אשׁ (with high honor) הָעָֽם׃ (the among people). 10  וְ֠הוֹשִׁיבוּ (And seat) שְׁנַ֨יִם (two) אֲנָשִׁ֥ים (men), בְּנֵֽי־ (sons) בְלִיַּעַל֮ (of worthlessness), נֶגְדּוֹ֒ (before him) וִיעִדֻ֣הוּ (and to bear witness against him), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ (You have cursed) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) וָמֶ֑לֶךְ (and the king). וְהוֹצִיאֻ֥הוּ (And take him out) וְסִקְלֻ֖הוּ (and stone him), וְיָמֹֽת׃ (that he may die).

11  וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ (And did) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (the men) עִיר֜וֹ (of his city), הַזְּקֵנִ֣ים (the elders) וְהַחֹרִ֗ים (and nobles) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (who) הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ (were dwellers) בְּעִיר֔וֹ (of his city), כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר (as) שָׁלְחָ֥ה (had sent) אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (to them) אִיזָ֑בֶל (Jezebel), כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (as) כָּתוּב֙ (it was written) בַּסְּפָרִ֔ים (in the letters) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁלְחָ֖ה (she had sent) אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (to them). 12  קָרְא֖וּ (They proclaimed) צ֑וֹם (a fast) וְהֹשִׁ֥יבוּ (and seated) אֶת־ (-) נָב֖וֹת (Naboth) בְּרֹ֥אשׁ (with high honor) הָעָֽם׃ (the among people).

13  וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ (And came in) שְׁנֵ֨י (two) הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים (men), בְּנֵֽי־ (the sons) בְלִיַּעַל֮ (of worthlessness), וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ (and sat) נֶגְדּוֹ֒ (before him). וַיְעִדֻהוּ֩ (And witnessed against him) אַנְשֵׁ֨י (the men) הַבְּלִיַּ֜עַל (of worthlessness), אֶת־ (against) נָב֗וֹת (Naboth) נֶ֤גֶד (before) הָעָם֙ (the people), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), בֵּרַ֥ךְ (Has cursed) נָב֛וֹת (Naboth) אֱלֹהִ֖ים (God) וָמֶ֑לֶךְ (and the king).

וַיֹּצִאֻ֙הוּ֙ (And they took him) מִח֣וּץ (outside) לָעִ֔יר (of the city) וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ (and stoned him) בָאֲבָנִ֖ים (with stones), וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (so that he died). 14  וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֖וּ (And they sent) אֶל־ (to) אִיזֶ֣בֶל (Jezebel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), סֻקַּ֥ל (Has been stoned) נָב֖וֹת (Naboth), וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (and he is dead).

15  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And it came to pass), כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ (when heard) אִיזֶ֔בֶל (Jezebel) כִּֽי־ (that) סֻקַּ֥ל (had been stoned) נָב֖וֹת (Naboth) וַיָּמֹ֑ת (and was dead), וַתֹּ֨אמֶר (that said) אִיזֶ֜בֶל (Jezebel) אֶל־ (to) אַחְאָ֗ב (Ahab), ק֣וּם (Arise), רֵ֞שׁ (take possession) אֶת־ (-) כֶּ֣רֶם׀ (of the vineyard) נָב֣וֹת (of Naboth) הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֗י (the Jezreelite) אֲשֶׁ֤ר (that) מֵאֵן֙ (he refused) לָתֶת־ (to give) לְךָ֣ (to you) בְכֶ֔סֶף (for silver). כִּ֣י (For) אֵ֥ין (not) נָב֛וֹת (Naboth) חַ֖י (is alive), כִּי־ (but) מֵֽת׃ (he has died).

16  וַיְהִ֛י (And it came to pass), כִּשְׁמֹ֥עַ (when heard) אַחְאָ֖ב (Ahab) כִּ֣י (that) מֵ֣ת (was dead) נָב֑וֹת (Naboth), וַיָּ֣קָם (that got up) אַחְאָ֗ב (Ahab) לָרֶ֛דֶת (and went) אֶל־ (down) כֶּ֛רֶם (the vineyard) נָב֥וֹת (of Naboth) הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י (the Jezreelite), לְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ס (to possess it).

Elijah Denounces Ahab and Jezebel

17  וַיְהִי֙ (And came) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ (Elijah) הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י (the Tishbite), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 18  ק֣וּם (Arise), רֵ֗ד (go down) לִקְרַ֛את (to meet) אַחְאָ֥ב (Ahab) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן (is in Samaria). הִנֵּה֙ (Behold), בְּכֶ֣רֶם (he is in the vineyard) נָב֔וֹת (of Naboth), אֲשֶׁר־ (where) יָ֥רַד (he has gone down) שָׁ֖ם (there) לְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (to possess it).

19  וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ (And you shall speak) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): הֲרָצַ֖חְתָּ (Have you murdered), וְגַם־ (and also) יָרָ֑שְׁתָּ (taken possession)?

וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ (And you shall speak) אֵלָ֜יו (to him) לֵאמֹ֗ר (saying), כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH): בִּמְק֗וֹם (In the place) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (where) לָקְק֤וּ (licked) הַכְּלָבִים֙ (the dogs) אֶת־ (-) דַּ֣ם (the blood) נָב֔וֹת (of Naboth), יָלֹ֧קּוּ (will lick) הַכְּלָבִ֛ים (dogs) אֶת־ (-) דָּמְךָ֖ (your blood)— גַּם־ (even) אָֽתָּה׃ (you).

20  וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (And said) אַחְאָב֙ (Ahab) אֶל־ (to) אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ (Elijah), הַֽמְצָאתַ֖נִי (Have you found me) אֹיְבִ֑י (my enemy)?

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (And he answered), מָצָ֔אתִי (I have found you) יַ֚עַן (because) הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ֔ (of you have sold yourself) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to do) הָרַ֖ע (evil) בְּעֵינֵ֥י (in the eyes) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

21  הִנְנִ֨י (Behold), מֵבִי (I will bring) אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ (on you) רָעָ֔ה (calamity)

וּבִעַרְתִּ֖י (and I will take away) אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ (your posterity),

וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י (and will cut off) לְאַחְאָב֙ (from Ahab) מַשְׁתִּ֣ין (those who urinate) בְּקִ֔יר (against the wall),

וְעָצ֥וּר (and the restrained) וְעָז֖וּב (and the free) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (in Israel).

22  וְנָתַתִּ֣י (And I will make) אֶת־ (-) בֵּיתְךָ֗ (your house) כְּבֵית֙ (like the house) יָרָבְעָ֣ם (of Jeroboam) בֶּן־ (son) נְבָ֔ט (of Nebat),

וּכְבֵ֖ית (and like the house) בַּעְשָׁ֣א (of Baasha) בֶן־ (son) אֲחִיָּ֑ה (of Ahijah),

אֶל־ (because) הַכַּ֙עַס֙ (of the provocation) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (with which) הִכְעַ֔סְתָּ (you have provoked Me to anger),

וַֽתַּחֲטִ֖א (and caused to sin) אֶת־ (-) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (Israel).

23  וְגַ֨ם־ (And also) לְאִיזֶ֔בֶל (concerning Jezebel) דִּבֶּ֥ר (has spoken) יְהוָ֖ה (YHWH), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying),

הַכְּלָבִ֛ים (The dogs) יֹאכְל֥וּ (will devour) אֶת־ (-) אִיזֶ֖בֶל (Jezebel)

בְּחֵ֥ל (by the wall) יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ (of Jezreel).

24  הַמֵּ֤ת (Whoever dies) לְאַחְאָב֙ (of Ahab) בָּעִ֔יר (in the city)

יֹאכְל֖וּ (shall eat) הַכְּלָבִ֑ים (the dogs),

וְהַמֵּת֙ (and whoever dies) בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה (in the field)

יֹאכְל֖וּ (shall eat) ע֥וֹף (the birds) הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (of the heavens).

Ahab’s Repentance

25  רַ֚ק (Surely) לֹֽא־ (not) הָיָ֣ה (there has been one) כְאַחְאָ֔ב (like Ahab), אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who) הִתְמַכֵּ֔ר (sold himself) לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת (to do) הָרַ֖ע (wickedness) בְּעֵינֵ֣י (in the eyes) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁר־ (because) הֵסַ֥תָּה (incited) אֹת֖וֹ (Him) אִיזֶ֥בֶל (Jezebel) אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (his wife). 26  וַיַּתְעֵ֣ב (And he acted abominably) מְאֹ֔ד (very) לָלֶ֖כֶת (in following) אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) הַגִּלֻּלִ֑ים (the idols), כְּכֹל֙ (according to all) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) עָשׂ֣וּ (had done) הָאֱמֹרִ֔י (the Amorite), אֲשֶׁר֙ (whom) הוֹרִ֣ישׁ (had cast out) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) מִפְּנֵ֖י (before) בְּנֵ֥י (the sons) יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ס (of Israel).

27  וַיְהִי֩ (And it came to pass), כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ (when heard) אַחְאָ֜ב (Ahab) אֶת־ (-) הַדְּבָרִ֤ים (the words) הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (these), וַיִּקְרַ֣ע (that he tore) בְּגָדָ֔יו (his clothes), וַיָּֽשֶׂם־ (and put) שַׂ֥ק (sackcloth) עַל־ (on) בְּשָׂר֖וֹ (his body), וַיָּצ֑וֹם (and he fasted), וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב (and lay) בַּשָּׂ֔ק (in the sackcloth), וַיְהַלֵּ֖ךְ (and he walked) אַֽט׃ס (softly).

28  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And came) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶל־ (to) אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ (Elijah) הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י (the Tishbite), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 29  הֲ‍ֽרָאִ֔יתָ (Have you seen) כִּֽי־ (how) נִכְנַ֥ע (has humbled himself) אַחְאָ֖ב (Ahab) מִלְּפָנָ֑י (before Me)? יַ֜עַן (Because) כִּֽי־ (that) נִכְנַ֣ע (he has humbled himself) מִפָּנַ֗י (before Me), לֹֽא־ (not) אָבִי (I will bring) הָֽרָעָה֙ (the calamity) בְּיָמָ֔יו (in his days); בִּימֵ֣י (in the days) בְנ֔וֹ (of his son) אָבִ֥יא (I will bring) הָרָעָ֖ה (the calamity) עַל־ (on) בֵּיתֽוֹ׃ (his house).