NABOTH, an Israelite of the City of Jezreel, who lived under Ahab King of the Ten Tribes, and had a fine Vineyard in Jezreel, near the King’s Palace1. This Prince required of him, that either he would sell him his Vineyard, in Order to make a Kitchen Garden of it, or that he would accept of a better Vineyard instead of it. But Naboth answered him, God forbid that I should sell the Inheritance of my Fathers2. This Answer provoked Ahab, and returning into his House, he threw himself upon his Bed, turned towards the Wall, and refused to eat. Jezebel his Wife coming to him, asked him what was the Matter? Which he acquainting her with, she replied, Surely your Authority, I see, is great in Israel. Rise and eat, and set your Heart at Rest; I’ll take it upon my self, to give you Naboth’s Vineyard. At the same Time she writ Letters in Ahab’s Name, sealed them with the King’s Seal, and sent them to the Elders of Jezreel, where Naboth lived.
The Contents of which Letters were these. Publish a Fast, make Naboth sit among the Chief of the People, suborn against him two Sons of Belial, or two false Witnesses, who may depose, that Naboth has blasphemed against God and the King. The Text has it, that Naboth has blessed God and the King; but it is agreed, that to bless is here put for to curse, as likewise in several other Passages. See Job i. 5. ii. 9. The holy Text, out of Respect, avoids even the Mention of the Word Curse, when it is to be applied to God. The Matter was performed as the Queen had ordered it, Naboth appeared among the chief Men of Jezreel, was accused of having uttered injurious and blasphemous Words, both against God and the King, was presently condemned, taken without the City, and stoned.
These corrupt Judges presently sent Word to Jezebel that Naboth was dead, and that being found guilty of High-treason, all his Goods were forfeited to the King. Jezebel immediately went to the King, and bid him take Possession of Naboth’s Vineyard, for he was dead. Ahab immediately departed from Samaria, and came to Jezreel to take Possession of Naboth’s Estate. But the Lord commanded the Prophet Elijah to give him the Meeting, and to say to him; Have you then put Naboth to Death, and have you seized upon his Inheritance? But hear what the Lord says; in the same Place that the Dogs licked the Blood of Naboth, shall they also lick your Blood. If Ahab dies in the City, he shall be eaten up by the Dogs; and if he dies in the Country, he shall be devoured by the Birds of the Air. Jezebel shall also be eaten up of the Dogs in the Field of Jezreel. These Threats of the Prophet had some Effect upon Ahab, for he humbled himself, and put on Sack-cloth; but his Repentance was not sincere enough to repair the Evil he had committed. His Punishment was respited for a while, but not revoked. See the Articles of AHAB and JEZEBEL; and 2 Kings ix. x.
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Footnotes
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1 Kings xxi. 1, 2, 3, &c. In the Year of the World 3105, before Christ 895, before the Vulgar Æra 899. ↩
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Moses forbids the Israelites to alienate their Lands, except on the utmost Necessity, Levit. xxv. 23, 24. And even then he permitted them to redeem them continually: He ordered moreover that in the Sabbatical Year, and the Year of Jubilee, every one should re-enter upon their Inheritance, which could not have been in this Case, if Naboth had parted with his Vineyard to the King. Lastly, it was a kind of Infamy for an Israelite to sell the Lands of his Fathers. Naboth therefore chose rather to expose himself to the King’s Resentment, than to do so shameful a Thing unworthy of a Man of Honour. See St. Ambrose, l. iii. de Officiis, c. 9. The ↩