1 Nabote, um indivíduo de Jezreel, tinha uma vinha nos subúrbios da cidade, perto do palácio do rei Acabe, rei da Samaria. 2 Um dia, o rei propôs-lhe comprar-lhe aquele pedaço de terra. "Quero fazer um jardim", explicou-lhe, "porque está junto ao palácio." Ofereceu-se para lhe pagar em dinheiro ou dar-lhe em troca outra vinha melhor.

3 Nabote respondeu: "Nunca poderia vender essa terra, porque se trata de uma herança dos meus antepassados, já de há muitas gerações. O Senhor não o permite." 4 Acabe foi para casa abatido e indignado. Não queria comer e meteu-se na cama com a cara virada para a parede.

5 "Que desgosto tão grande é esse?", perguntou-lhe a mulher, Jezabel. "Porque é que nem sequer queres comer?"

6 "Pedi a Nabote que me vendesse a vinha, ou que a desse em troca de outra e recusou!", disse-lhe Acabe.

7 "Afinal, és ou não o rei de Israel? Trata de te levantar e andar normalmente, porque eu me ocuparei desse assunto; hei de conseguir essa vinha de Nabote!"

8 Jezabel escreveu uma série de cartas, em nome de Acabe, com o selo real, e endereçou-as aos líderes da cidade de Jezreel, onde vivia Nabote. 9 Nelas dava a seguinte ordem:

"Façam uma proclamação, por toda a cidade, para que a população jejue. 10 Convoquem Nabote e arranjem dois marginais que o acusem de ter amaldiçoado a Deus e ao rei. Depois levem-no e apedrejem-no até morrer."

11 Os chefes locais obedeceram àquelas instruções. 12,13 Convocaram uma reunião, acarearam Nabote com dois marginais, os quais o acusaram de ter amaldiçoado a Deus e ao rei. Nabote foi arrastado para fora da cidade e apedrejado até morrer. 14 Depois os líderes da cidade participaram a Jezabel que Nabote já estava morto.

15 Quando a rainha tomou conhecimento disso, falou a Acabe: "Lembras-te da vinha que Nabote não te queria ceder? Pois bem, já podes tê-la. O homem morreu!" 16 Então Acabe desceu para ir tomar posse da terra.

17 No entanto, o Senhor disse a Elias, o tesbita: 18 "Vai até Samaria falar com Acabe. Ele há de estar na vinha de Nabote, tomando posse dela. 19 Dá-lhe esta mensagem da minha parte: ‘Não terá sido bastante que tenhas morto Nabote? Irás ainda roubá-lo? Visto que fizeste tamanha maldade, o teu sangue virá a ser lambido por cães, fora da cidade, tal como lamberam o sangue de Nabote!’ "

20 "Acabas sempre por me encontrar, meu inimigo!", exclamou Acabe para Elias. "Sim, é verdade", respondeu Elias. "Vim para te dar a conhecer a maldição que Deus colocou sobre ti, porque te vendeste para fazeres o que é mau aos olhos do Senhor. 21 Ele trará um grande mal sobre ti e não deixará que um só dos teus descendentes masculinos sobreviva! 22 Deus destruirá a tua família, como o fez com a de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, e a do rei Bacha, filho de Aías, porque acendeste a sua ira muitíssimo e levaste todo o Israel a pecar. 23 O Senhor também me disse que os cães despedeçarão o corpo da tua mulher Jezabel junto à muralha de Jezreel. 24 Os membros da tua família que morrerem na cidade serão comidos pelos cães e os que morrerem no campo serão devorados pelas aves dos céus."

25 Não houve ninguém que se tivesse vendido como Acabe, para fazer o que era mau aos olhos do Senhor, instigado por sua mulher Jezabel. 26 A sua culpa era especialmente agravada porque prestava culto aos ídolos, tal como os amorreus, o povo que o Senhor tinha lançado fora da terra para dar lugar ao seu povo de Israel.

27 Quando Acabe ouviu estas profecias, rasgou a roupa que trazia vestida, cobriu-se com saco e até assim dormia, jejuou e andava profundamente triste.

28 Mais tarde, veio outra mensagem a Elias, o tesbita: 29 "Estás a ver como Acabe anda humilhado perante mim? Visto que tomou essa atitude, não farei o que lhe prometi durante o tempo da sua vida; isso dar-se-á com os seus filhos; destruirei os seus descendentes."

1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.*21.2 seem…: Heb. be good in thine eyes 3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. 7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:*21.9 on high…: Heb. in the top of the people 10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. 13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine. 20 And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, 22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.*21.23 wall: or, ditch 24 Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat.

25 But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.*21.25 stirred…: or, incited 26 And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel. 27 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.