Much ado over a vineyard.

It came to pass after these things...

What things?

After Ahab had called Ben-Hadad his brother.

After an unnamed prophet had pronounced God’s judgment on Ahab.

After Ahab had returned to Samaria in victory, but also in heaviness and displeasure.

In Ahab’s despondency, he notices the vineyard of a man that lives next door to him. 1

Naboth is his name.

The Bible doesn’t say if it was an especially nice vineyard.

The only description that we have of it is that it was near to Ahab’s house. 1

It would be very convenient for Ahab if he could acquire this vineyard.

Ahab decides to approach Naboth about the vineyard. 2

He offers to trade him for a better vineyard. 2

Or, he offers to purchase the vineyard for money.

Naboth refuses both of the king’s offers. 3

He refuses based on the fact that the vineyard is a part of his family’s inheritance.

Oklahomans can relate to this possibly better than residents of other states.

Many Oklahomans live on their family’s property.

The land has been in their family for generations.

Therefore, the current residents are not so much the owners of it, but rather, stewards of it.

Naboth did not view the vineyard as something that was his to give away.

It belonged to the generations before him and those that would come after him.

He isn’t spiteful towards the king, he just can’t steal from his future family.

Needless to say, an already despondent king does not take this well. 4

Ahab goes back to his house dejected.

He lays down in his bed and stares at the wall.

When the servants bring him food, he refuses to eat.

Word of the king’s condition gets back to Jezebel. 5

Being the kind, compassionate woman that she is known to be, she goes to check on her husband.

Who knows if Ahab had told her about the prophecy from the previous chapter.

She is probably confused as to why her husband is so upset after winning such a great victory.

Ahab tells her all about his interaction with Naboth and his refusal to give him what he wants. 6

Jezebel scoffs at Ahab and his weak rule. 7

She tells him to get up and eat.

Ahab can just get back to being happy.

Jezebel will figure out a way to get the vineyard for him.

She immediately gets to work concocting a scheme to acquire the vineyard.

Her plan formulates into one of the most detestable portions of scripture in the Bible.

It’s up there with Lot offering his daughters to the citizens of Sodom.

It’s up there with David orchestrating Uriah’s death.

It’s almost as sick as Judas betraying Jesus.

It illustrates Jezebel’s disregard for normal human decency.

She starts by writing letters in the kings name. 8

She sends these letters to the leaders of the city.

They are to proclaim a fast to the people. 9

During the fast, they are to place Naboth in a position of prominence among the people. 9

He needs to be in a place where everyone can see him and where he feels honored. 9

Two men will then be arranged who will bear witness against Naboth as a blasphemer. 10

They will say that he blasphemed God and the king.

The people will then carry Naboth outside the city and stone him to death.

The leaders of the city do exactly what Jezebel had told them.

They proclaimed the fast. 12

They set Naboth before the people. 12

They arranged for the false witnesses to come and stir up the people. 13

They watched as the people carried Naboth out of the city and killed him. 13

They wrote back to Jezebel telling her that Naboth was dead. 14

Jezebel informs Ahab that Naboth is dead and he is free to claim the vineyard. 15

Ahab goes and possesses the vineyard of Naboth. 16

Everything is right again in Ahab’s world.

He has the vineyard for his herbs conveniently located next to his house.

As with any and every human action, God was watching. 17

God’s word comes to Elijah and tells him to go pay Ahab a visit.

One last time, Ahab and Elijah will interact.

God tells Elijah exactly where he will find Ahab. 18

He is in the vineyard of Naboth taking possession of it.

When Elijah gets there, he is to ask Ahab if he has killed in order to take possession of the vineyard. 19

This is, as usual, not to gain information, but to make a point.

God knows what has transpired.

God knew the spot where Naboth’s innocent blood had burst from his body and ran through the streets.

Elijah is to tell Ahab that his blood will be licked up by the dogs of the city in the same spot where they licked up the blood of Naboth. 19

Ahab is flabbergasted by Elijah, and his response shows a total disdain for Elijah.

He refers to him as his enemy.

Elijah was no enemy of Ahab’s

It is doubtful that he got any joy out of pronouncing the penalty for Ahab’s actions.

Elijah continues to fill Ahab in on the extent of his judgment. 21-26

Ahab and Jezebel had sold themselves to do wickedly.

No one could compare to their wickedness.

Since their wickedness was so terrible, so would their deaths be.

They would both die, and everything that they had worked for would be lost.

They would be eaten by animals.

When Ahab hears Elijah’s words, an amazing transformation takes place. 27-29

His hardness is broken. 27

He rends his clothes.

He puts on sackcloth

He fasts.

He even slept in sackcloth.

This is true repentance and humility being displayed in Ahab’s life.

He is crushed by a lifetime of sin.

He is miserable.

In the last two chapters, Ahab finds himself unable to be happy in any situation.

His sin has ruined his life.

Upon hearing Elijah’s words, Ahab, finally, repents.

Just as God saw Ahab’s sin, he saw Ahab’s repentance. 28-29

God points out to Elijah how Ahab had responded.

Because of his humility, God will show Ahab mercy.

He will withhold the evil that he had planned until after his life was over.

It would still happen, but he wouldn’t have to see it.