International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Meanwhile, there was a man named Naboth from Jezreel who owned a vineyard that was located contiguous to King Ahab's palace in Samaria.

1וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה כֶּ֧רֶם הָיָ֛ה לְנָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיִזְרְעֶ֑אל אֵ֚צֶל הֵיכַ֣ל אַחְאָ֔ב מֶ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃

2Ahab addressed Naboth and asked him, "I would like to plant a vegetable garden near my house. Please exchange your vineyard with a better one from me, or if you'd rather have cash, I'll buy it for its full value."

2וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַחְאָ֣ב אֶל־ נָב֣וֹת ׀ לֵאמֹר֩ ׀ תְּנָה־ לִּ֨י אֶֽת־ כַּרְמְךָ֜ וִֽיהִי־ לִ֣י לְגַן־ יָרָ֗ק כִּ֣י ה֤וּא קָרוֹב֙ אֵ֣צֶל בֵּיתִ֔י וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ תַּחְתָּ֔יו כֶּ֖רֶם ט֣וֹב מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אִ֚ם ט֣וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אֶתְּנָה־ לְךָ֥ כֶ֖סֶף מְחִ֥יר זֶֽה׃

3But Naboth replied to Ahab, "No way! The LORD prohibits the sale to you of the inheritance of my ancestors!"

3וַיֹּ֥אמֶר נָב֖וֹת אֶל־ אַחְאָ֑ב חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵֽיהוָ֔ה מִתִּתִּ֛י אֶת־ נַחֲלַ֥ת אֲבֹתַ֖י לָֽךְ׃

4Ahab went back to his palace, sullen and in a foul mood, because Naboth the Jezreelite had turned down Ahab's offer by saying "I will not transfer my ancestors' inheritance to you!" He laid down on his bed, curled up with his face to the wall, and refused to eat.

4וַיָּבֹא֩ אַחְאָ֨ב אֶל־ בֵּית֜וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֗ף עַל־ הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁר־ דִּבֶּ֣ר אֵלָ֗יו נָבוֹת֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־ אֶתֵּ֥ן לְךָ֖ אֶת־ נַחֲלַ֣ת אֲבוֹתָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ עַל־ מִטָּת֔וֹ וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־ פָּנָ֖יו וְלֹֽא־ אָ֥כַל לָֽחֶם׃

5But his wife Jezebel went to him and asked him, "How is it that you're so sullen and refusing to eat?"

5וַתָּבֹ֥א אֵלָ֖יו אִיזֶ֣בֶל אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֗יו מַה־ זֶּה֙ רוּחֲךָ֣ סָרָ֔ה וְאֵינְךָ֖ אֹכֵ֥ל לָֽחֶם׃

6"I asked Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard for cash, or if you want, I'll give you a better one in its place.' But he refused. He told me, 'I won't give you my vineyard!'"

6וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יהָ כִּֽי־ אֲ֠דַבֵּר אֶל־ נָב֨וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֜י וָאֹ֣מַר ל֗וֹ תְּנָה־ לִּ֤י אֶֽת־ כַּרְמְךָ֙ בְּכֶ֔סֶף א֚וֹ אִם־ חָפֵ֣ץ אַתָּ֔ה אֶתְּנָה־ לְךָ֥ כֶ֖רֶם תַּחְתָּ֑יו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־ אֶתֵּ֥ן לְךָ֖ אֶת־ כַּרְמִֽי׃

7"Aren't you the reigning king of Israel," his wife Jezebel replied. "Get up, have a meal, and get ready to be happy. I'll go get you the vineyard that Naboth the Jezreelite owns."

7וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אִיזֶ֣בֶל אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ אַתָּ֕ה עַתָּ֛ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה מְלוּכָ֖ה עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ק֤וּם אֱכָל־ לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְיִטַ֣ב לִבֶּ֔ךָ אֲנִי֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לְךָ֔ אֶת־ כֶּ֖רֶם נָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃

8So she wrote some memos in Ahab's name, set his personal seal to them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city.

8וַתִּכְתֹּ֤ב סְפָרִים֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם אַחְאָ֔ב וַתַּחְתֹּ֖ם בְּחֹתָמ֑וֹ וַתִּשְׁלַ֣ח [הספרים] (סְפָרִ֗ים) אֶל־ הַזְקֵנִ֤ים‪‬ וְאֶל־ הַֽחֹרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּעִיר֔וֹ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים אֶת־ נָבֽוֹת׃

9In the memos, she wrote the following directives: "Proclaim a public fast and seat Naboth in the front row.

9וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר קִֽרְאוּ־ צ֔וֹם וְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־ נָב֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃

10Seat two wicked men in front of him, and make them testify against him. Tell them to claim 'You cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."

10וְ֠הוֹשִׁיבוּ שְׁנַ֨יִם אֲנָשִׁ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־ בְלִיַּעַל֮ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ וִיעִדֻ֣הוּ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים וָמֶ֑לֶךְ וְהוֹצִיאֻ֥הוּ וְסִקְלֻ֖הוּ וְיָמֹֽת׃

11So the leading men of the city, along with the elders and nobles who lived there, did precisely what Jezebel had directed them to do. They followed the instructions that she had set forth in the memos:

11וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֜וֹ הַזְּקֵנִ֣ים וְהַחֹרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּעִיר֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר שָׁלְחָ֥ה אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אִיזָ֑בֶל כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּתוּב֙ בַּסְּפָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלְחָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃

12They proclaimed a public fast and seated Naboth in the front row.

12קָרְא֖וּ צ֑וֹם וְהֹשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־ נָב֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃

13Two wicked men came in, sat down in front of them, and testified against Naboth in public, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

13וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵ֨י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־ בְלִיַּעַל֮ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ וַיְעִדֻהוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַבְּלִיַּ֜עַל אֶת־ נָב֗וֹת נֶ֤גֶד הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֵּרַ֥ךְ נָב֛וֹת אֱלֹהִ֖ים וָמֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּצִאֻ֙הוּ֙ מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֔יר וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים וַיָּמֹֽת׃

14Afterwards, they sent a message to Jezebel that said, "Naboth has been stoned. He's dead."

14וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֖וּ אֶל־ אִיזֶ֣בֶל לֵאמֹ֑ר סֻקַּ֥ל נָב֖וֹת וַיָּמֹֽת׃

15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she told Ahab, "Get up and confiscate Naboth's vineyard that he refused to sell you for cash. Naboth the Jezreelite isn't alive anymore. He's dead!"

15וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ אִיזֶ֔בֶל כִּֽי־ סֻקַּ֥ל נָב֖וֹת וַיָּמֹ֑ת וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אִיזֶ֜בֶל אֶל־ אַחְאָ֗ב ק֣וּם רֵ֞שׁ אֶת־ כֶּ֣רֶם ׀ נָב֣וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר מֵאֵן֙ לָתֶת־ לְךָ֣ בְכֶ֔סֶף כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין נָב֛וֹת חַ֖י כִּי־ מֵֽת׃

16So once he heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab got up, went down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, and confiscated it.

16וַיְהִ֛י כִּשְׁמֹ֥עַ אַחְאָ֖ב כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת נָב֑וֹת וַיָּ֣קָם אַחְאָ֗ב לָרֶ֛דֶת אֶל־ כֶּ֛רֶם נָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י לְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ ס

17That's when this message from the LORD came to Elijah the foreigner:

17וַיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־ אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י לֵאמֹֽר׃

18"Get up and go down to meet King Ahab of Israel. He's in Samaria. Look! He's in Naboth's vineyard, where he's gone to confiscate it.

18ק֣וּם רֵ֗ד לִקְרַ֛את אַחְאָ֥ב מֶֽלֶךְ־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן הִנֵּה֙ בְּכֶ֣רֶם נָב֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־ יָ֥רַד שָׁ֖ם לְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

19Ask the king, 'Did you commit murder? And now you're going to steal as well?' Also tell him, 'This is what the LORD says: "Where the dogs were licking up Naboth's blood, dogs will also lick up your blood—that's right—yours!"'"

19וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה הֲרָצַ֖חְתָּ וְגַם־ יָרָ֑שְׁתָּ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בִּמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לָקְק֤וּ הַכְּלָבִים֙ אֶת־ דַּ֣ם נָב֔וֹת יָלֹ֧קּוּ הַכְּלָבִ֛ים אֶת־ דָּמְךָ֖ גַּם־ אָֽתָּה׃

20Later on, Ahab asked Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" But Elijah answered, "I've found you because you sold yourself to do what the LORD considers to be evil!

20וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ אֶל־ אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ הַֽמְצָאתַ֖נִי אֹיְבִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מָצָ֔אתִי יַ֚עַן הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ֔ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃

21Now pay attention! I'm going to send evil in your direction! I will completely sweep you away and eliminate from Ahab every male, whether indentured servant or free, throughout Israel.

21הִנְנִ֨י [מבי] (מֵבִ֤יא) אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ רָעָ֔ה וּבִעַרְתִּ֖י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י לְאַחְאָב֙ מַשְׁתִּ֣ין בְּקִ֔יר וְעָצ֥וּר וְעָז֖וּב בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

22I will make your household resemble that of Nebat's son Jeroboam, or like the household of Ahijah's son Baasha, because of how you've provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin.

22וְנָתַתִּ֣י אֶת־ בֵּיתְךָ֗ כְּבֵית֙ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־ נְבָ֔ט וּכְבֵ֖ית בַּעְשָׁ֣א בֶן־ אֲחִיָּ֑ה אֶל־ הַכַּ֙עַס֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִכְעַ֔סְתָּ וַֽתַּחֲטִ֖א אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

23The LORD also has this to say about Jezebel: 'Dogs will eat Jezebel within the outer ramparts of Jezreel.

23וְגַ֨ם־ לְאִיזֶ֔בֶל דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הַכְּלָבִ֛ים יֹאכְל֥וּ אֶת־ אִיזֶ֖בֶל בְּחֵ֥ל יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃

24Dogs will eat whoever belongs to Ahab and who dies in the city. The birds of the sky will eat whoever dies in the fields.'"

24הַמֵּ֤ת לְאַחְאָב֙ בָּעִ֔יר יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכְּלָבִ֑ים וְהַמֵּת֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה יֹאכְל֖וּ ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃

25It can be truly said that no one else sold himself to practice what the LORD considered to be evil quite like the way Ahab did, because his wife Jezebel incited him.

25רַ֚ק לֹֽא־ הָיָ֣ה כְאַחְאָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִתְמַכֵּ֔ר לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה אֲשֶׁר־ הֵסַ֥תָּה אֹת֖וֹ אִיזֶ֥בֶל אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃

26His behavior in pursuing idolatry was detestable, just like the Amorites had done whom the LORD had expelled in front of the army of Israel.

26וַיַּתְעֵ֣ב מְאֹ֔ד לָלֶ֖כֶת אַחֲרֵ֣י הַגִּלֻּלִ֑ים כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֣וּ הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁר֙ הוֹרִ֣ישׁ יְהוָ֔ה מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ ס

27Nevertheless, as soon as Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and wandered around meekly.

27וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ אַחְאָ֜ב אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ וַיִּקְרַ֣ע בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיָּֽשֶׂם־ שַׂ֥ק עַל־ בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וַיָּצ֑וֹם וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב בַּשָּׂ֔ק וַיְהַלֵּ֖ךְ אַֽט׃ ס

28Later, this message from the LORD came to Elijah the foreigner:

28וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־ אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י לֵאמֹֽר׃

29"Have you noticed that Ahab has humbled himself in my presence? Because he has humbled himself in my presence, I will not bring his evil to harvest during his lifetime, but I will bring evil to his household during his son's lifetime."

29הֲ‍ֽרָאִ֔יתָ כִּֽי־ נִכְנַ֥ע אַחְאָ֖ב מִלְּפָנָ֑י יַ֜עַן כִּֽי־ נִכְנַ֣ע מִפָּנַ֗י לֹֽא־ [אבי] (אָבִ֤יא) הָֽרָעָה֙ בְּיָמָ֔יו בִּימֵ֣י בְנ֔וֹ אָבִ֥יא הָרָעָ֖ה עַל־ בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

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