1And it happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
2And Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.
3And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you.
4And Ahab came into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers. And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.
5But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to him, Why is your spirit so sad, that you eat no bread?
6And he said to her, Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it; and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.
7And Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry: I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
8So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who were in his city, dwelling with Naboth.
9And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:
10And set two men, worthless fellows, before him to bear witness against him, saying, You blasphemed God and the king. And then carry him out and stone him, that he may die.
11And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants of his city, did as Jezebel had sent to them, and as it was written in the letters she had sent to them.
12They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.
13And two men, worthless fellows, came in and sat before him; and the men bore witness against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth blasphemed God and the king. Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.
14Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.