After King Ahab’s (forbidden) treaty with Ben-Hadad

In Jezreel, where Ahab’s palace was, there was Naboth’s vineyard. The vineyard bordered Ahab’s palace and he wanted to buy it to use as a garden for his kitchen. He did make a fair offer.

However Naboth refused. It belonged to his family and he didn’t want to sell it to Ahab. So the king went home and literally pouted like a toddler about it.

Queen Jezebel asked him what was going on.

King Ahab told her, sounding like a pouty little kid.

Jezebel pointed out that this was no way for a king to behave, but she vowed to obtain the vineyard FOR Ahab.

To do so, she wrote letters under Ahab’s name and official stamp, telling the elders and nobles to hold a day of fasting and seat Naboth at the head table, then have two scumbags seated with him who would accuse him of blaspheming the king and God in front of everyone.

And they did so, resulting in Naboth being murdered.

At that news, Jezebel told Ahab the vineyard could now be his.

Immediately, Ahab went to claim Naboth’s vineyard for himself.

Elijah learned of what had happened through God Himself, Who told him to go confront the king with his crime and the verdict. Crime = murder + theft. Verdict = the same spot dogs lapped up Naboth’s blood, they would lap up Ahab’s. (when does this story take place–isn’t Jezebel still hunting Elijah? Is Elisha with him?)

Ahab responded to this with surprise that his enemy knew what had happened. And Elijah assured him, he knew and God knew, and as a result there would be punishment on him and his descendants. “The same fate that fell on Jeroboam and Baasha.”

And as for Jezebel and anyone connected to Ahab in the city, they will be eaten by stray dogs. Anyone in the countryside would be eaten by crows. (this curse was given to Baasha too.)

Ahab (who served as king for 22 years [as stated in 1 Kings 16:29]) had set a record in evil.

When Ahab heard what Elijah had to say, he ripped his clothes to shreds (like you do when someone dies or you are devastated) and became very humble.

God was pleased by Ahab’s remorse and told Elijah that because of the repentance, he wouldn’t bring the doom during his lifetime…but his son would still get it.