וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כֶּרֶם הָיָה לְנָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי אֲשֶׁר בְּיִזְרְעֶאל אֵצֶל הֵיכַל אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ שֹׁמְרוֹן

It was after these matters; Navot the Yizre’elite had a vineyard that was in Yizre’el, near the palace of Ahav king of Samaria.

וַיְדַבֵּר אַחְאָב אֶל־נָבוֹת לֵאמֹר תְּנָה־לִּי אֶת־כַּרְמְךָ וִיהִי־לִי לְגַן־יָרָק כִּי הוּא קָרוֹב אֵצֶל בֵּיתִי וְאֶתְּנָה לְךָ תַּחְתָּיו כֶּרֶם טוֹב מִמֶּנּוּ אִם טוֹב בְּעֵינֶיךָ אֶתְּנָה־לְּךָ כֶסֶף מְחִיר זֶה

Ahav spoke to Navot, saying: Give me your vineyard, and it will be for me. I will transform it into a vegetable garden, as it is near my house, and if you wish, I will give you in its stead a better vineyard than it; if it is preferable in your eyes, I will give you this price in silver.

וַיֹּאמֶר נָבוֹת אֶל־אַחְאָב חָלִילָה לִּי מֵה' מִתִּתִּי אֶת־נַחֲלַת אֲבֹתַי לָךְ

Navot said to Ahav: This is not a vineyard that I have purchased but an inheritance from my ancestors. Far be it from me before the Lord that I should give the inheritance of my ancestors to you, who are not part of my family. Navot refused completely and did not allow for any possibility of a transaction.

וַיָּבֹא אַחְאָב אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ סַר וְזָעֵף עַל־הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר אֵלָיו נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא־אֶתֵּן לְךָ אֶת־נַחֲלַת אֲבוֹתָי וַיִּשְׁכַּב עַל־מִטָּתוֹ וַיַּסֵּב אֶת־פָּנָיו וְלֹא־אָכַל לָחֶם

Ahav came to his house troubled and furious because of the matter that Navot the Yizre’elite had spoken to him, saying: I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors. He, Ahav, lay on his bed and turned his face so it faced the wall, and he would not eat bread.

וַתָּבֹא אֵלָיו אִיזֶבֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ וַתְּדַבֵּר אֵלָיו מַה־זֶּה רוּחֲךָ סָרָה וְאֵינְךָ אֹכֵל לָחֶם

Izevel his wife came to him, and she said to him: Why is your spirit troubled, and you are not eating bread?

וַיְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיהָ כִּי־אֲדַבֵּר אֶל־נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי וָאֹמַר לוֹ תְּנָה־לִּי אֶת־כַּרְמְךָ בְּכֶסֶף אוֹ אִם־חָפֵץ אַתָּה אֶתְּנָה־לְּךָ כֶרֶם תַּחְתָּיו וַיֹּאמֶר לֹא־אֶתֵּן לְךָ אֶת־כַּרְמִי

He said to her: When I spoke to Navot the Yizre’elite, and said to him: Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you desire, I will give you a vineyard in its stead, he said: I will not give you my vineyard.

וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אִיזֶבֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ אַתָּה עַתָּה תַּעֲשֶׂה מְלוּכָה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵל קוּם אֱכָל־לֶחֶם וְיִטַב לִבֶּךָ אֲנִי אֶתֵּן לְךָ אֶת־כֶּרֶם נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי

Izevel his wife said to him: Will you now assert sovereignty over Israel as you struggle to decide and execute the proper course of action? Rise, eat food, and you will feel better. I will give you the vineyard of Navot the Yizre’elite.

וַתִּכְתֹּב סְפָרִים בְּשֵׁם אַחְאָב וַתַּחְתֹּם בְּחֹתָמוֹ וַתִּשְׁלַח סְפָרִים אֶל־הַזְּקֵנִים וְאֶל־הַחֹרִים אֲשֶׁר בְּעִירוֹ הַיֹּשְׁבִים אֶת נָבוֹת

She wrote scrolls, letters, in the name of Ahav and she sealed them with his seal; she sent the scrolls to the elders and to the officials who were in his city, Yizre’el, who dwelled with Navot.

וַתִּכְתֹּב בַּסְּפָרִים לֵאמֹר קִרְאוּ־צוֹם וְהֹשִׁיבוּ אֶת־נָבוֹת בְּרֹאשׁ הָעָם

She wrote instructions in the scrolls, saying: Proclaim a fast, a general assembly, and place Navot at the head of the people. Navot was a prominent figure, and Izevel instructed that he be given a prominent seat at the assembly, so that he should have the appearance of a popular individual.

וְהוֹשִׁיבוּ שְׁנַיִם אֲנָשִׁים בְּנֵי־בְלִיַּעַל נֶגְדּוֹ וִיעִדֻהוּ לֵאמֹר 'בֵּרַכְתָּ' אֱלֹהִים ומֶלֶךְ וְהוֹצִיאֻהוּ וְסִקְלֻהוּ וְיָמֹת

And seat two men, wicked [beliya’al] men, or: men of low status who have no hope of elevating themselves [beli ya’al], opposite him, and let them testify against him, saying: You blessed, a euphemism for cursed, both God and the king. Rebelling against the king and against God are two severe transgressions. He, of course, will deny the accusations, and you should go through the motions of holding a trial. Since the judges and city elders will already be present, once the witnesses testify, take him out and stone him, in accordance with the rules of the Torah, and he will die.

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אַנְשֵׁי עִירוֹ הַזְּקֵנִים וְהַחֹרִים אֲשֶׁר הַיֹּשְׁבִים בְּעִירוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר שָׁלְחָה אֲלֵיהֶם אִיזָבֶל כַּאֲשֶׁר כָּתוּב בַּסְּפָרִים אֲשֶׁר שָׁלְחָה אֲלֵיהֶם

The men of his city, the elders, and the officials who lived in his city did as Izevel sent to them, as it was written in the scrolls that she sent to them in the name of Ahav.

קָרְאוּ צוֹם וְהֹשִׁיבוּ אֶת־נָבוֹת בְּרֹאשׁ הָעָם

They proclaimed a fast, and they seated Navot at the head of the people.

וַיָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים בְּנֵי־בְלִיַּעַל וַיֵּשְׁבוּ נֶגְדּוֹ וַיְעִדֻהוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַבְּלִיַּעַל אֶת־נָבוֹת נֶגֶד הָעָם לֵאמֹר ‘בֵּרַךְ' נָבוֹת אֱלֹהִים וָמֶלֶךְ וַיֹּצִאֻהוּ מִחוּץ לָעִיר וַיִּסְקְלֻהוּ בָאֲבָנִים וַיָּמֹת

The two wicked men came and sat opposite him, and the wicked men testified against him, against Navot, in the presence of the people, saying: Navot blessed God and the king. Consequently, the elders sentenced Navot to death. They took him out of the city, and stoned him with stones, and he died.

וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ אֶל־אִיזֶבֶל לֵאמֹר סֻקַּל נָבוֹת וַיָּמֹת

They sent to Izevel, saying: Navot was stoned, and he died.

וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אִיזֶבֶל כִּי־סֻקַּל נָבוֹת וַיָּמֹת וַתֹּאמֶר אִיזֶבֶל אֶל־אַחְאָב קוּם רֵשׁ אֶת־כֶּרֶם נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי אֲשֶׁר מֵאֵן לָתֶת־לְךָ בְכֶסֶף כִּי אֵין נָבוֹת חַי כִּי מֵת

It was when Izevel heard that Navot had been stoned and had died and Izevel said to Ahav: Rise, take possession of the vineyard of Navot the Yizre’elite that he refused to give you for silver, as Navot is not alive anymore, but has died.

וַיְהִי כִּשְׁמֹעַ אַחְאָב כִּי מֵת נָבוֹת וַיָּקָם אַחְאָב לָרֶדֶת אֶל־כֶּרֶם נָבוֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִי לְרִשְׁתּוֹ

It was when Ahav heard that Navot was dead, and Ahav rose to go down into the vineyard of Navot the Yizre’elite, to take possession of it. Ahav may or may not have been aware of his wife’s actions; in any event, he was pleased with the resulting death of Navot, as now he could take ownership of the vineyard.

וַיְהִי דְּבַר־ה' אֶל־אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי לֵאמֹר׃

The word of the Lord was with Elijah the Tishbite, saying:

קוּם רֵד לִקְרַאת אַחְאָב מֶלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן הִנֵּה בְּכֶרֶם נָבוֹת אֲשֶׁר־יָרַד שָׁם לְרִשְׁתּוֹ

Rise, go down to meet Ahav king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is currently in the vineyard of Navot, to which he went down to take possession.

וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר ה' הֲרָצַחְתָּ וְגַם־יָרָשְׁתָּ וְדִבַּרְתָּ אֵלָיו לֵאמֹר כֹּה אָמַר ה' בִּמְקוֹם אֲשֶׁר לָקְקוּ הַכְּלָבִים אֶת־דַּם נָבוֹת יָלֹקּוּ הַכְּלָבִים אֶת־דָּמְךָ גַּם־אָתָּה

You shall speak to him, saying: So said the Lord: Will you murder, and also take possession? Is it not sufficient that you murdered Navot that you also wish to inherit his property? Are you not ashamed of your deplorable actions? You shall speak to him, saying: So said the Lord: In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Navot, dogs will lick your blood as well. You too will be killed in a demeaning manner.

וַיֹּאמֶר אַחְאָב אֶל־אֵלִיָּהוּ הַמְצָאתַנִי אֹיְבִי וַיֹּאמֶר מָצָאתִי יַעַן הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה'

Ahav obviously had not publicized the Navot incident. Consequently, the sudden appearance of Elijah was a complete surprise to him. Ahav therefore said to Elijah: Have you found me, my enemy? He said: I have found you. Because you have devoted yourself to doing evil in the eyes of the Lord, and there is no defense for such a terrible atrocity,

הִנְנִי מֵבִי אֵלֶיךָ רָעָה וּבִעַרְתִּי אַחֲרֶיךָ וְהִכְרַתִּי לְאַחְאָב מַשְׁתִּין בְּקִיר וְעָצוּר וְעָזוּב בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

behold, I am bringing harm upon you, and I will destroy those remaining members of your family who come after you; I will eliminate from Ahav any who urinates against the wall, every male member of the family, or, alternatively, this phrase refers to a dog, and the protected, or one who possesses the power to rule the kingdom, and supported in Israel (see above, 14:10). The latter phrase may also refer to one who is in charge of caring for the royal household. No remnant will remain from your household, and certainly no inheritor or individual who can replace you as ruler.

וְנָתַתִּי אֶת־בֵּיתְךָ כְּבֵית יָרָבְעָם בֶּן־נְבָט וּכְבֵית בַּעְשָׁא בֶן־אֲחִיָּה אֶל הַכַּעַס אֲשֶׁר הִכְעַסְתָּ וַתַּחֲטִא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל

I will render your house like the house of Yorovam son of Nevat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahiya, for the anger that you have angered, and your having caused Israel to sin. The most recent sin was especially despicable.

וְגַם־לְאִיזֶבֶל דִּבֶּר ה' לֵאמֹר הַכְּלָבִים יֹאכְלוּ אֶת אִיזֶבֶל בְּחֵל יִזְרְעֶאל

Of Izevel too, the Lord spoke, saying: The dogs shall eat the corpse of Izevel in the wall of Yizre’el, between the walls of the city, or within its borders.

הַמֵּת לְאַחְאָב בָּעִיר יֹאכְלוּ הַכְּלָבִים וְהַמֵּת בַּשָּׂדֶה יֹאכְלוּ עוֹף הַשָּׁמָיִם

The dead of Ahav in the city the dogs will eat, and the dead in the field the birds of the heavens will eat.

רַק לֹא־הָיָה כְאַחְאָב אֲשֶׁר הִתְמַכֵּר לַעֲשׂוֹת הָרַע בְּעֵינֵי ה'אֲשֶׁר־הֵסַתָּה אֹתוֹ אִיזֶבֶל אִשְׁתּוֹ

The following comment, which was not part of Elijah’s prophecy to Ahav, is appended to the narrative: Indeed, there was no one like Ahav who devoted himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, who was incited by Izevel his wife.

וַיַּתְעֵב מְאֹד לָלֶכֶת אַחֲרֵי הַגִּלֻּלִים כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ הָאֱמֹרִי אֲשֶׁר הוֹרִישׁ ה' מִפְּנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

He acted most abominably, following false gods, according to everything that the Emorites did, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the children of Israel. Unlike Yorovam or Baasha, who at least maintained some semblance of worship of God, Ahav worshipped the Canaanite gods.

וַיְהִי כִשְׁמֹעַ אַחְאָב אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַיִּקְרַע בְּגָדָיו וַיָּשֶׂם־שַׂק עַל־בְּשָׂרוֹ וַיָּצוֹם וַיִּשְׁכַּב בַּשָּׂק וַיְהַלֵּךְ אַט

It was when Ahav heard these matters that he rent his garments due to the severity of the rebuke and his shame at murdering an innocent individual simply out of greed for his property. In addition, he had expected that as the second king in a dynasty that had already ruled for many years, his descendants would continue to rule for a long period of time; this would no longer occur. And he placed sackcloth upon his flesh; he fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and walked slowly. These were all expressions of his grief.

וַיְהִי דְּבַר־ה' אֶל־אֵלִיָּהוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּי לֵאמֹר׃

The word of the Lord was with Elijah the Tishbite, saying:

הֲרָאִיתָ כִּי־נִכְנַע אַחְאָב מִלְּפָנָי יַעַן כִּי־נִכְנַע מִפָּנַי לֹא־אָבִיא הָרָעָה בְּיָמָיו בִּימֵי בְנוֹ אָבִיא הָרָעָה עַל־בֵּיתוֹ

Have you seen that Ahav has submitted before Me? He has accepted the rebuke, and thereby confessed his sins. Because he submitted himself before Me, I will not bring the harm in his days; in the days of his sons I will bring the harm upon his house. He will remain king for his entire life and will have the kingdom removed from his household only in the days of his son.