1. Now it happened sometime later that Naboth from Jezreel had a vineyard in Jezreel that was next to the palace of King Ahab of Samaria.
2. Ahab ordered Naboth, "Give me your vineyard so it can become my vegetable garden, because it is right next to my palace. In exchange for it, I’ll give you an even better vineyard. Or if you prefer, I’ll pay you the price in silver."
3. Naboth responded to Ahab, "Lord forbid that I give you my family inheritance!"
4. So Ahab went to his palace, irritated and upset at what Naboth had said to him—because Naboth had said, "I won’t give you my family inheritance!" Ahab lay down on his bed and turned his face away. He wouldn’t eat anything.
5. His wife Jezebel came to him. "Why are you upset and not eating any food?" she asked.
6. He answered her, "I was talking to Naboth. I said, ‘Sell me your vineyard. Or if you prefer, I’ll give you another vineyard for it.’ But he said, ‘I won’t give you my vineyard!’"
7. Then his wife Jezebel said to him, "Aren’t you the one who rules Israel? Get up! Eat some food and cheer up. I’ll get Naboth’s vineyard for you myself."
8. So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, putting his seal on them. She sent them to the elders and officials who lived in the same town as Naboth.
9. This is what she wrote in the letters: "Announce a fast and place Naboth at the head of the people.