Naboth נָבוֹת
Jezreelite vineyard owner, unjustly killed by Ahab and Jezebel.
Biography
Naboth was a Jezreelite who owned a vineyard adjacent to the palace of King Ahab of Israel. His story, recorded in 1 Kings 21 and 2 Kings 9, is a tragic account of injustice and the abuse of power.
King Ahab desired to acquire Naboth's vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, offering to purchase it or provide a better vineyard in exchange. However, Naboth refused, stating that he could not give up the inheritance of his ancestors (1Ki.21.1-3). This refusal greatly displeased Ahab, who sulked and refused to eat.
Ahab's wife, Queen Jezebel, learning of the situation, devised a wicked plan to secure the vineyard. She wrote letters in Ahab's name, ordering the elders and nobles of Jezreel to proclaim a fast and seat Naboth in a prominent place. Then, they were to have two scoundrels accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king, leading to his execution by stoning (1Ki.21.8-14).
The plan was carried out, and Naboth was unjustly killed. After his death, Ahab took possession of the vineyard (1Ki.21.15-16). However, the prophet Elijah confronted Ahab, pronouncing God's judgment on him and his household for their wickedness (1Ki.21.17-24).
Years later, as prophesied by Elijah, Ahab's son King Joram was killed by Jehu in the same plot of land that had belonged to Naboth (2Ki.9.21-26), fulfilling the divine retribution for the unjust murder of Naboth and the seizure of his ancestral property.
Naboth's story illustrates the importance of justice, the sanctity of ancestral inheritance, and the consequences of abusing power and disregarding God's laws. It also demonstrates the role of prophets in speaking truth to power and pronouncing judgment on those who commit evil.
In Scripture
2 biblical books1 Kings 5 verses
- 1 Kings 21:1
"After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria."
- 1 Kings 21:2
"Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”"
- 1 Kings 21:3
"Naboth said to Ahab, “May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”"
- 1 Kings 21:4
"Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread."
- 1 Kings 21:6
"He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.’ He answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”"
2 Kings 3 verses
- 2 Kings 9:21
"Joram said, “Get ready!” They got his chariot ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him on Naboth the Jezreelite’s land."
- 2 Kings 9:25
"Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him:"
- 2 Kings 9:26
"‘Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,’ says Yahweh; ‘and I will repay you in this plot of ground,’ says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to Yahweh’s word.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | נָבוֹת | H5022 |
Naboth
however, refused to part on any terms with his paternal inheritance. This refusal made Ahab "heavy and displeased" (1Ki 21:4). Jezebel, the king's wife, then took the matter in hand, and by false accusation on an irrelevant charge procured the death of Naboth by stoning (1Ki 21:7-14). As Ahab was on his way to take possession of the vineyard he met Elijah the prophet, who denounced his vile act and pronounced judgment on king and royal house. A temporary respite was given to Ahab because of a repentant mood (1Ki 21:27-29); but later the blow fell, first upon himself in a conflict with Syria (1Ki 22:34-40); then upon his house through a conspiracy of Jehu, in which Jehoram, Ahab's son, and Jezebel, his wife, were slain (2Ki 9:25-26,30). In both cases the circumstances recalled the foul treatment of Naboth.
Henry Wallace
nab-u-ko-don'-o-sor (Nabouchodonosor): Septuagint and Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) form of "Nebuchadnezzar" ("Nebuchadrezzar") found in the King James Version of the Apocrypha in 1 Esdras 1:40,4