He offered Naboth a fair price. Or a better vineyard elsewhere.
Naboth said: The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.
Ahab went home resentful and sullen.
He lay on his bed and turned away his face and would not eat.
His wife Jezebel came to him.
She asked why he was sulking.
He told her what Naboth had said.
She said: Do you now govern Israel?
Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful.
I will give you the vineyard of Naboth.
She wrote letters in Ahab's name.
She sealed them with his seal.
She sent them to the elders and nobles in Naboth's city.
She said to proclaim a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.
Set two worthless men opposite him to charge him with cursing God and the king.
Then take him out and stone him to death.
The men of the city did as Jezebel said.
They proclaimed the fast.
They set Naboth at the head.
Two worthless men came in and sat opposite him.
They charged him.
He was stoned to death outside the city.
Jezebel told Ahab: Arise, take possession of the vineyard.
Ahab arose and went down to take possession.
God sent Elijah.
Elijah found him in the vineyard.
He said: Have you killed and also taken possession?
In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, shall dogs lick your own blood.
Ahab said: Have you found me, O my enemy?
Elijah said: I have found you because you have sold yourself to do what is evil.
The vineyard Ahab had so badly wanted became the most cursed piece of land in the story.
He had taken it.
It cost him everything.
Scripture — 1 Kings 21:16
"And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it."
Reflection
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Ahab sulked in bed over a vineyard he couldn't have. Jezebel did the deed. But it was Ahab who walked down to take possession.
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He said have you found me, O my enemy. He called Elijah his enemy for being the one who named what he had done.