Naboth’s Vineyard
1Some time later King Ahab wanted a certain vineyard. It belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. The vineyard was in Jezreel. It was close to the palace of Ahab, the king of Samaria. 2Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard. It’s close to my palace. I want to use it for a vegetable garden. I’ll trade you a better vineyard for it. Or, if you prefer, I’ll pay you what it’s worth.”
3But Naboth replied, “May the Lord keep me from giving you the land my family handed down to me.”
4So Ahab went home. He was angry. He was in a bad mood because of what Naboth from Jezreel had said. He had told Ahab, “I won’t give you the land my family handed down to me.” So Ahab lay on his bed. He was in a very bad mood. He wouldn’t even eat anything.
5His wife Jezebel came in. She asked him, “Why are you in such a bad mood? Why won’t you eat anything?”
6He answered her, “Because I spoke to Naboth from Jezreel. I said, ‘Sell me your vineyard. Or, if you prefer, I’ll give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I won’t sell you my vineyard.’ ”
7His wife Jezebel said, “Is this how the king of Israel acts? Get up! Eat something! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel.”
8So she wrote some letters in Ahab’s name. She stamped them with his royal seal. Then she sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in the city where Naboth lived. 9In those letters she wrote,
“Announce a day when people are supposed to go without eating. Have Naboth sit in an important place among the people. 10But put two worthless and evil men in seats across from him. Have them bring charges that he has cursed God and the king. Then take him out of the city. Kill him by throwing stones at him.”
11So the elders and nobles who lived in that city did what Jezebel wanted. They did everything she directed in the letters she had written to them. 12They announced a day of fasting. They had Naboth sit in an important place among the people. 13Then two worthless and evil men came and sat across from him. They brought charges against Naboth in front of the people. The two men said, “Naboth has cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city. They killed him by throwing stones at him. 14Then they sent a message to Jezebel. They said, “Naboth is dead. We killed him by throwing stones at him.”
15Jezebel heard that Naboth had been killed. As soon as she heard it, she said to Ahab, “Get up. Take over the vineyard of Naboth from Jezreel. It’s the one he wouldn’t sell to you. He isn’t alive anymore. He’s dead.” 16Ahab heard that Naboth was dead. So Ahab got up and went down to take over Naboth’s vineyard.
17Then a message from the Lord came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The Lord said, 18“Go down to see Ahab, the king of Israel. He rules in Samaria. You will find him in Naboth’s vineyard. Ahab has gone there to take it over. 19Tell him, ‘The Lord says, “Haven’t you murdered a man? Haven’t you taken over his property?” ’ Then tell Ahab, ‘The Lord says, “Dogs licked up Naboth’s blood. In that same place dogs will lick up your blood. Yes, I said your blood!” ’ ”
20Ahab said to Elijah, “My enemy! You have found me!”
“I have found you,” he answered. “That’s because you gave yourself over to do evil things. You did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. 21So the Lord says, ‘I am going to bring horrible trouble on you. I will destroy your children after you. I will destroy every male in Israel who is related to you. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free. 22I will make your royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah. You have made me very angry. You have caused Israel to sin.’
23“The Lord also says, ‘Dogs will eat up Jezebel near the wall of Jezreel.’
24“Some of the people who belong to Ahab will die in the city. Dogs will eat them up. Others will die in the country. The birds will eat them.”
25There was never anyone like Ahab. He gave himself over to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord. His wife Jezebel talked him into it. 26He acted in the most evil way. He worshiped statues of gods. He was like the Amorites. The Lord drove them out to make room for Israel.
27When Ahab heard what Elijah had said, he tore his clothes. He put on the rough clothing people wear when they’re sad. He went without eating. He even slept in his clothes. He went around looking sad.
28Then a message from the Lord came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe. The Lord said, 29“Have you seen how Ahab has made himself humble in my sight? Because he has done that, I will not bring trouble on him while he lives. But I will bring it on his royal house when his son is king.”
Ang Ubasan ni Nabot
1May isang taong taga-Jezreel na ang pangalan ay Nabot. May taniman siya ng ubas sa Jezreel sa tabi ng palasyo ni Haring Ahab ng Samaria. 2Isang araw, sinabi ni Ahab kay Nabot, “Dahil malapit sa palasyo ko ang taniman mo ng ubas, ibigay mo na lang iyan sa akin para gawin kong taniman ng mga gulay. At bilang kapalit, bibigyan kita ng mas magandang ubasan o kung gusto mo, babayaran kita sa nararapat na halaga nito.” 3-4Pero sumagot si Nabot, “Hindi po papayag ang Panginoon na ibigay ko sa inyo ang minana ko sa aking mga ninuno.”
Umuwi si Ahab na malungkot at galit dahil sa sagot ni Nabot sa kanya. Nahiga siya paharap sa dingding at ayaw kumain. 5Pinuntahan siya ni Jezebel na kanyang asawa, at tinanong, “Bakit ka ba nalulungkot? Bakit ayaw mong kumain?” 6Sumagot siya, “Sinabi ko kay Nabot na bibilhin ko ang taniman niya ng ubas o kung gusto niya ay papalitan ko ito ng mas magandang ubasan, pero hindi siya pumayag.” 7Sinabi ni Jezebel, “Hindi baʼt ikaw ang hari ng Israel? Bumangon ka at kumain! Magpakasaya ka dahil ibibigay ko sa iyo ang ubasan ni Nabot na taga-Jezreel.”
8Kaya sumulat si Jezebel sa pangalan ni Ahab, tinatakan niya ito ng tatak ng hari, at ipinadala sa mga tagapamahala at sa iba pang mga opisyal ng lungsod kung saan nakatira si Nabot. 9Ito ang mensahe ng kanyang sulat: “Tipunin ninyo ang mga mamamayan para mag-ayuno, at paupuin ninyo si Nabot sa unahan ng mga tao. 10Pagkatapos, paupuin ninyo sa harapan niya ang dalawang masamang tao para paratangan siya na isinumpa niya ang Dios at ang hari. Pagkatapos, dalhin ninyo siya sa labas ng lungsod at batuhin hanggang mamatay.”
11Ginawa ng mga tagapamahala at ng iba pang mga opisyal ang sinabi sa kanila ni Jezebel sa sulat. 12Tinipon nga nila ang mga mamamayan para mag-ayuno at pinaupo nila si Nabot sa unahan ng mga ito. 13Pagkatapos, may dumating na dalawang masamang tao, umupo sa harapan ni Nabot, at pinaratangan nila ito sa harapan ng mga tao. Sinabi nila, “Isinumpa ni Nabot ang Dios at ang hari.” Kaya dinala nila si Nabot sa labas ng lungsod, at binato hanggang mamatay. 14Pagkatapos, sumulat sila kay Jezebel na binato nila si Nabot at patay na ito.
15Nang malaman ni Jezebel na patay na si Nabot, sinabi niya kay Ahab, “Patay na si Nabot kaya lumakad ka at angkinin mo ang taniman niya ng ubas na itinanggi niyang ibenta sa iyo.” 16Pagkarinig ni Ahab na patay na si Nabot, umalis siya agad para angkinin ang ubasan ni Nabot.
17Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Elias na taga-Tisbe, 18“Humayo kaʼt puntahan si Haring Ahab ng Israel, na nakatira sa Samaria. Naroon siya sa ubasan ni Nabot dahil gusto niya itong angkinin. 19Sabihin mo ito sa kanya: ‘Pagkatapos mong pumatay ng tao, kukunin mo pa pati ang kanyang lupa? Dahil sa iyong ginawa, hihimurin ng mga aso ang dugo mo sa labas ng lungsod, tulad ng paghimod nila roon sa dugo ni Nabot.’ ”
20Pagkakita ni Ahab kay Elias, sinabi niya, “Natagpuan din ako ng kaaway ko!” Sumagot si Elias, “Oo, pumunta ako sa iyo dahil ipinagbili mo ang iyong sarili sa paggawa ng masama sa paningin ng Panginoon! 21Kaya ito ang sinasabi ng Panginoon sa iyo: ‘Padadalhan kita ng kapahamakan. Papatayin ko ang lahat ng iyong angkan na lalaki, alipin man o hindi. 22Lilipulin ko ang pamilya mo katulad ng ginawa ko sa pamilya ni Jeroboam na anak ni Nebat at sa pamilya ni Baasha na anak ni Ahia, dahil ginalit mo ako at ikaw ang naging dahilan ng pagkakasala ng mga Israelita.’
23“At tungkol naman kay Jezebel, sinabi ng Panginoon, na kakainin siya ng mga aso sa pader ng Jezreel. 24Ang mga kabilang sa pamilya mo na mamamatay sa lungsod ay kakainin ng mga aso, at ang mamamatay sa bukid ay kakainin ng mga ibon.”
25(Wala ng ibang taong ipinagbili ang sarili sa paggawa ng masama sa paningin ng Panginoon, katulad ng ginawa ni Ahab dahil sinulsulan siya ni Jezebel na kanyang asawa. 26Gumawa siya ng masasamang bagay sa pamamagitan ng pagsamba sa mga dios-diosan, katulad ng ginawa ng mga Amoreo na pinalayas ng Panginoon sa mga Israelita.)
27Pagkarinig ni Ahab sa sinabi ni Elias, sinira niya ang kanyang damit at nagsuot ng sako, kahit sa pagtulog. Nag-ayuno siya at malungkot na nagpalakad-lakad.
28Sinabi ng Panginoon kay Elias na taga-Tisbe, 29“Nakita mo ba kung papaano nagpakumbaba si Ahab ng kanyang sarili sa aking harapan? Dahil sa pagpapakumbaba niya, hindi ko na ipapadala ang kapahamakan sa panahon niya, kundi ipapadala ko ito sa pamilya ng kanyang anak kapag naghari na ito.”
