King Ahab discovered a beautiful vineyard adjacent to his palace property. He tried to buy the land, but Naboth, the vineyard owner wasn’t interested in selling. So Ahab went home and had a pity party.
Jezebel wanted to know what was bothering him. When she heard what he wanted, she told him she’d get him his vineyard. She sent out letters in Ahab’s name, lined up scoundrels to bear false witness against Naboth, and had him stoned to death.
When word reached them that Naboth was dead, Jezebel told Ahab to go enjoy his vineyard.
Ahab’s enjoyment was short-lived, however. God sent Elijah to confront Ahab
Elijah pointed out to Ahab that he’d sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Then he shared a message from God.
“Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’ Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat.” (1 Kings 21:21-24)
1 Kings 21:25 reminds us, “There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.”
Read about Jezebel and Naboth’s vineyard in Scripture: 1 Kings 21
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