5 His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?" 6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it'; but he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" 7 His wife Jezebel said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 She wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; 10 seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death." 11 The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. 13 The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead." 15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16 As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 18 Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. 19 You shall say to him, "Thus says the LORD: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the LORD: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood." (1 Kings 21: 5-19)
(Naboth's Vineyard Caspar Luiken 1712)
Thoughts: Ahab was one of the richest kings in the history of Israel. He had a large palace with a large army. He had alliances with Judah to the south and Tyre to the north. But it was not enough. Greed can easily destroy realationships with neighbors or even family members. How many families split apart after the will is read? Ahab had enough- he did not need another vineyard to survive. He would rather have a neighbor defamed or killed than not have his greed satisfied. This is a classic example of coveting and jealousy. Jezebel clearly had the idea that the king could do anything to the little guy that he wanted. Elijah confronted Ahab one more time. It is a reminder to us all to trust in God who owns everything, and that no one is insignificant in God's eyes.
Prayer: Today, Lord, help me be content with what I have. Instead of coveting my neighbor's stuff, help me to be generous to my neighbor.
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9 She wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; 10 seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death." 11 The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, 12 they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. 13 The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead." 15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." 16 As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. 17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: 18 Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. 19 You shall say to him, "Thus says the LORD: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the LORD: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood." (1 Kings 21: 5-19)
(Naboth's Vineyard Caspar Luiken 1712)Thoughts: Ahab was one of the richest kings in the history of Israel. He had a large palace with a large army. He had alliances with Judah to the south and Tyre to the north. But it was not enough. Greed can easily destroy realationships with neighbors or even family members. How many families split apart after the will is read? Ahab had enough- he did not need another vineyard to survive. He would rather have a neighbor defamed or killed than not have his greed satisfied. This is a classic example of coveting and jealousy. Jezebel clearly had the idea that the king could do anything to the little guy that he wanted. Elijah confronted Ahab one more time. It is a reminder to us all to trust in God who owns everything, and that no one is insignificant in God's eyes.
Prayer: Today, Lord, help me be content with what I have. Instead of coveting my neighbor's stuff, help me to be generous to my neighbor.
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