As we begin chapter 21 of the book of 1 Kings (the content of study for this and the next few articles), Jezreel was apparently the location of a winter palace for Ahab [per Long, p. 218, 249], and there was a vineyard next to it, owned by a guy named Naboth.
Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”
1 Kings 21:1-2 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.21.1-2.NIV
Ahab was looking to expand his property, it seems, and wanted like to obtain this land for himself. I suspect that Ahab was more interested in fresh food (like the salsa my wife makes in late summer with food from her garden), rather than actually getting his hands dirty. Being the king, he had people to plant and harvest things for him, after all.
So, Ahab made what we might consider today to be a reasonable business offer for Naboth’s land. He offered a better vineyard in exchange, or an outright purchase for it. Although Ahab’s offer seems fair from a modern business perspective, though, Naboth declined to sell his vineyard.
But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
1 Kings 21:3 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.21.3.NIV
While we may hear stories about people today who don’t want to sell their land to a developer (even if their neighbors are OK selling their adjacent property), back in ancient Israel, one’s family-inherited property was really important.
In fact, the week before I taught from this passage, my oldest son was observing how God’s instructions in the Bible help protect and provide for those in poverty, including the returning of land every 50 years, in the year of Jubilee [see also Leviticus 25:33-34; Numbers 36:1-12, suggested by Long, p.249]. If your tribe had been allocated land when the Israelites first took over the land of Canaan, that seems to have been a more or less permanent assignment, at least in the time of Ahab.
Let’s see what Ahab’s response was…
So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”
He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”
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 of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
1 Kings 21:4-7 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/1ki.21.4-7.NIV
So, what did Ahab do? He went home and pouted!
Now, that’s not very dignified behavior for an adult, but maybe we sometimes still do that ourselves. Compared to children, though, we might be more refined about “adult pouting”, as we sulk in silence about not getting our way.
Ahab’s wife Jezebel saw what he was doing and asked about it. That’s what pouting is all about, isn’t it: for other people to see you and feel sorry for you?
So, Ahab told his wife why he was sulking and not eating. She reminded him that he was the king, and said that she would take care of things.
While this account (of 1 Kings 21) is just getting started, we’re already learning a little bit about the people who had a role in it. Naboth was understandably protective of his family’s legacy, King Ahab wasn’t as mature as one would like to see for a nation’s ruler, and Jezebel was up to something. If this sounds like the plot to a movie, a TV episode, or a novel, just remember: people are complicated, and as a result, sometimes reality is more interesting than fiction!
From Sunday School lesson prepared for May 25, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – 1 & 2 Kings, by Jesse C. Long, Jr. © 2002 College Press Publishing Co.
Those Who Sin Differently 