1. Near King Ahab's palace in Jezreel there was a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth.
2. One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard; it is close to my palace, and I want to use the land for a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard for it, or, if you prefer, I will pay you a fair price.”
3. “I inherited this vineyard from my ancestors,” Naboth replied. “The Lord forbid that I should let you have it!”
4. Ahab went home, depressed and angry over what Naboth had said to him. He lay down on his bed, facing the wall, and would not eat.
5. His wife Jezebel went to him and asked, “Why are you so depressed? Why won't you eat?”
6. He answered, “Because of what Naboth said to me. I offered to buy his vineyard, or, if he preferred, to give him another one for it, but he told me that I couldn't have it!”
7. “Well, are you the king or aren't you?” Jezebel replied. “Get out of bed, cheer up and eat. I will get you Naboth's vineyard!”
8. Then she wrote some letters, signed them with Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the officials and leading citizens of Jezreel.
9. The letters said: “Proclaim a day of fasting, call the people together, and give Naboth the place of honour.
10. Get a couple of scoundrels to accuse him to his face of cursing God and the king. Then take him out of the city and stone him to death.”