Jezebel his wife said to him, “(A)Do you now [a]reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

(B)So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to (C)the elders and to the nobles who were living with Naboth in his city. Now she had written in the letters, saying, “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the head of the people; 10 and seat two (D)worthless men opposite him, and have them testify against him, saying, ‘(E)You [b]cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out and (F)stone him [c]to death.”

Jezebel’s Plot

11 So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did just as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent them. 12 They (G)proclaimed a fast, and seated Naboth at the head of the people. 13 Then the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him; and the worthless men testified against him, against Naboth, before the people, saying, “Naboth [d]cursed God and the king.” (H)So they took him outside the city and stoned him [e]to death with stones.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 21:7 Lit exercise kingship
  2. 1 Kings 21:10 Lit blessed, an ancient euphemism to avoid any mention of the cursing of God
  3. 1 Kings 21:10 Lit so that he dies
  4. 1 Kings 21:13 See note 1 v 10
  5. 1 Kings 21:13 Lit with stones so that he died

Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard(A) of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

So she wrote letters(B) in Ahab’s name, placed his seal(C) on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. In those letters she wrote:

“Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels(D) opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed(E) both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”

11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast(F) and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.(G)

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13 [a]Offending and (A)denying the Lord,
And turning away from our God,
Speaking (B)oppression and revolt,
Conceiving and (C)uttering lying words from the heart.
14 (D)Justice is turned back,
And (E)righteousness stands far away;
For truth has stumbled in the street,
And uprightness cannot enter.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 59:13 Or Revolting against and

13 rebellion(A) and treachery against the Lord,
    turning our backs(B) on our God,
inciting revolt and oppression,(C)
    uttering lies(D) our hearts have conceived.
14 So justice(E) is driven back,
    and righteousness(F) stands at a distance;
truth(G) has stumbled in the streets,
    honesty cannot enter.

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They speak mere words,
[a]With (A)worthless oaths they make covenants;
And (B)judgment sprouts like poisonous weeds in the furrows of the field.

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Footnotes

  1. Hosea 10:4 Or Swearing falsely in making a covenant

They make many promises,
    take false oaths(A)
    and make agreements;(B)
therefore lawsuits spring up
    like poisonous weeds(C) in a plowed field.

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For those who turn (A)justice into wormwood,
And [a]throw righteousness to the earth.”

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:7 Lit they have thrown

There are those who turn justice into bitterness(A)
    and cast righteousness(B) to the ground.(C)

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11 Therefore because you impose heavy [a]rent on the poor
And take a tribute of grain from them,
Though you have built (A)houses of cut stone,
Yet you will not live in them;
You have planted beautiful vineyards, yet you will (B)not drink their wine.
12 For I know your offenses are many and your sins are great,
You who are (C)hostile to the righteous and accept bribes,
And [b]turn away the poor from justice at the [c]gate.

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Footnotes

  1. Amos 5:11 Or tax
  2. Amos 5:12 Lit they turn
  3. Amos 5:12 I.e., the place where court was held

11 You levy a straw tax on the poor(A)
    and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,(B)
    you will not live in them;(C)
though you have planted lush vineyards,
    you will not drink their wine.(D)
12 For I know how many are your offenses
    and how great your sins.(E)

There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes(F)
    and deprive the poor(G) of justice in the courts.(H)

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