1 Kings 21:1 — Meaning and Application

1 Kings 21:2

"And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it {is} near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; {or}, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money. {seem...: Heb. be good in thine eyes}"

1 Kings 21:3

"And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee."

1 Kings 21:4

"And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread."

1 Kings 21:5

"But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread?"

1 Kings 21:6

"And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee {another} vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard."