Jezebel’s Plot
Jezebel writes official letters in Ahab’s name and orders a staged fast, false witnesses, and Naboth’s execution on charges of cursing God and the king.
T8hen Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9In the letters she wrote: 10“Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.”
The elders and nobles carry out Jezebel’s instructions exactly, and Naboth is publicly accused, taken outside the city, and stoned to death.
11So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. 12They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people. 13And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” 14So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”
After hearing Naboth is dead, Jezebel tells Ahab to take the vineyard, and he goes down to possess it.
15When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.” 16And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.