He worshiped statues of gods. (1 Kings 21:25-26a). Naboth said to Ahab, 1 Kings 21:3, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. Naboth rightly refused to sell the land or to swap it for a better vineyard. Naboth was stoned . Here was a woman that sowed sin and iniquity with both hands; and she paid for it in the end, as we will notice in a few minutes. But Naboth was not doing what was right in his own eyes; he was obeying God. Yet, even after all of the horrible things that Ahab had done, God showed mercy to him because he repented of his sin. 36:7,9, So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe . It had always been his home; he had played there as a boy and toiled there as a man. Naboth owned his vineyard and, as owner, Naboth could sell his vineyard if he wanted to. The land had been provided by God as part of his grace toward Israel; therefore, no one was to take the land of another away from him. Faro particip en la Semana de la Innovacin 24 julio, 2019. Every sentence (in those letters) was filled with hate. So their children followed their wicked behavior, and they too would be punished (1 Kings 22:52, 2 Kings 2-3). The judicial setting of a heavenly tribunal brings to mind the previous chapter (21), in which, seeing that Ahab is distraught when Naboth refuses to sell him his vineyard, [14] his wife Jezebel conspires in Ahab's name to present false testimony against Naboth before a tribunal, after which he is executed and his property escheated to the Crown. Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him."1 Kings 21:1-4. We must understand that a half-truth is not the truth at all. The land had been provided by God as part of his grace toward Israel . PO Box 391 The ancient site of Jezreel was built on a rocky spur in the foothills of Mount Gilboa, overlooking the fertile Jezreel Valley, which was named after it. Some of the finest flowers that grow in the garden of God are women. You must pay for his people's lives with the lives of your people.' Even though God is just, and must punish sin because He is holy, He is also completely loving, giving us every opportunity to turn from our sin, and turn to Him. He gave the impression that Naboth was just being stubborn, when the whole truth was that Naboth was obeying God. Jezebel signed the Kings name to the orders. In the same way, God must punish sin. Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe: but everyone of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. God had said that the land should not be transferred from one tribe to another; so Naboth had a real decision to makehe had to choose between pleasing the king and displeasing the King of Kings. 1 Kings 21:1 Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel, near the hal of King Ahab of Samaria. Main Point: God is perfectly loving and perfectly just. Why? Truth matters, and as believers in Jesus, who is the Truth, we should always tell the whole truth. Well, you can have it now! Unlike fields and pastures, they required major investments in resources. But because Ahab finally bowed down to the Lord, and acted with humility, God would not punish Ahabs sons until after Ahab had died. Ahab had definitely wronged a true-hearted man in Israel, and he was punished accordingly. Ill get that vineyard for you!. Even when the prophet Elijah gave up and ran away, God went after Him. S.S.S. Such a transaction would have been a clear violation of Gods command regarding Israels inheritance. No. Some peoples land was better than others. In premodern land-tenure systems, vineyards, like houses, gardens, and terraces, belonged to the category of private property. I show great love, and I can be trusted. [11], It is difficult to date ancient rock-cut agricultural installations,[12] and the winery in Area K is no exception. " - 1 Kings 21:20-22, Elijah told Ahab that Jezebel would also be killed. The majority consisted of a rectangular treading floor with a rectangular vat, similar to the Jezreel winery, and were usually located outside of a village and cut into the edge of the bedrock outcrop next to the fields. If this is the case, why didnt Naboth go ahead and lease his vineyard, and just wait for the next Jubilee to get his vineyard back? In the book of Exodus, God told Moses, I am the Lord God. In the letters she made the implication that some terrible sin had been committed in their city. Its not a new themeits just the old story of human greed and its consequences. There is no greater proof of this than the fact that God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us (John 3:16). Franklin, Samaria, 190195; Franklin, Jezreel, 46. What did Ahab do when Elijah told him of God's anger at the murder of Naboth? The story is about covenant faithfulness and the land of promise. He ate the finest foods served on lavish platters, but he had a starved soul. See my discussion of this complex in my Jezreel: A Military City and the Location of Jehus Coup,TheTorah.com(2017). Another word for just is fair. But you see, there was another party involved in this transaction. He went home and refused to eat anything. 36:7) Clearly, Naboth had Jehovah's view of matters. God had already decreed a punishment - Ahab, Jezebel, and their sons would be destroyed. King Ahab wanted a piece of land to plant a garden. When Naboth refused to sell his inheritance, Queen Jezebel suggested that Naboth be charged with insurrection and be killed. More than 360 features were documented, among them 57 agricultural installations such as wine and olive oil presses. The piece of dirt on which his vineyard sat was that apportioned to his family by God himself when Israel took possession of the land of promise. He gave himself over to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord. She wrote a letter to the leaders of the town where Naboth lived. He loved his family, and he loved his nation, He was a good man; he abhorred that which was evil and clave to that which was good. Say: Thats it exactly! The man asking the question was troubled that within the pages of Scripture was a story where an evil king took away both the life and the property of a good man. The Jezreel winery was typical for this area and general period. Eventually, Ahabs queen Jezebel arranged for Naboth to be murdered and God sent his prophet Elijah to denounce the kings actions. Guide to Building a Profitable eCommerce Website, Self-Hosted LMS or Cloud LMS We Help You Make the Right Decision, ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BANJO TUNING FOR BEGINNERS. 21:2 Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it as a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my house, I will give you a better vineyard in exchange; or, if you prefer, I will pay you the price in money." 21:3 But Naboth was Ahab's cousin, with the result that the king, by killing Naboth's sons (ii Kings 9:26), could claim his vineyard by right of inheritance (Sanh. This was an awful doom pronounced upon Ahab, and it happened just as Elijah had said it would. Sadly, since the order had been sealed with the Kings seal, it had to be followed. I will destroy your children after you. Later, your mom came and asked, Honey, did you see what happened to the neighbors window? Since your eyes were closed, you quickly reply, No. You may not have seen it, but you certainly knew what happened. He lived in palaces inlaid with ivory and gold, but still he wasnt satisfied. [17] The fermentation process enhances the nutritional content and preservation of food, including wine. It seems that the rules of Leviticus 25:29-30 would apply: if a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, then his redemption right remains valid until a full year from its sale; his right of redemption lasts a full year. Ahab received his first just reward during battle (1 Kings 22:34-38). So King Ahab did not get what he wanted. The Lord has done exactly what He promised through His servant Elijah." - 1 Kings 21:1-4 NLT. So God appointed a new prophet for Elijah to train up. The second person named here is Ahab: Ahab was the seventh king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (c. 850 B.C. He wore rich robes, but beneath those beautiful robes was a wicked and troubled heart. I am merciful and very patient with My people. . Ahab wanted Naboth to sell his vineyard to him. [2] [3] Since he inherited the land from his ancestors, Naboth refused to sell it to Ahab. You have caused Israel to commit sin.' script>. So you must pay for his life with yours. Failing to honor God is, in the end, the real injustice from which all other kinds come. Every father ought to lovingly teach it to his sons and daughters. If the property produces an annual harvest, it is counted as land, and any sale is actually a sale of a certain number of harvests (25:15). Surely Naboth will do well to sell or exchange on such liberal terms. Why did Naboth not sell his vineyard? He gave them many, many opportunities to repent and turn to Him. [3] Ahab's wife, Jezebel asked him why he was downcast (sulking) and he told her that Naboth would not sell him his vineyard. You can almost hear the whine in his voice. I am merciful and very patient with My people. This meant that Samaria was his capital, not Jezreel, and his temple in Jezreel was not the palace, only his temple, not because he was the king." 3 Cf. This meant that Naboth never had full ownership of the land. [16] Although we dont have textual evidence of quite such lavish entertaining in ancient Israel, wine also flowed freely at the Israelite capital, Samaria. During those years, I can imagine that Ahab never heard a dog bark, but that he didnt jump. Teacher: Hold up a bunch of grapes. 48b). Back when God handed out the land to the twelve tribes of Israel, He forbid them to sell or give their part of the land to another tribe or family (Leviticus 25:23). Since Naboths vineyard was in Jezreel, it was presumably within a walled city. . The sacred text utilized the vineyard as a metaphor for believers to understand the importance of making a decision to stay connected to the vine, a fruit-bearing source. Yes. God had blessed him with being made the earthly King of Gods own people, and Ahab turned his back on God and all this was right. Hes dead! So Ahab immediately went down to the vineyard of Naboth to claim it. The complex covers an area of approximately 12 square meters, and its characteristics indicate that it was a winery: The wine in Jezreel was made by traditional grape-stomping. But I will bring it on his royal house when his son is king." why did naboth refuse to sell his vineyard. Naboth was one of the seven thousand (in Elijahs day) who had refused to bow the knee to Baal; and soquickly and firmly and courteouslyhe refused the offer. You did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. No. And doing business with the king would certainly create additional benefits for Naboth down the road. Answers (1) Give five reasons why David was successful as a King of Israel. He was obviously less powerful than the king, but at the very least he owned a piece of productive land. 1 Kings 21:15 When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. When Ahab asked for the vineyard, Naboth said, " The . He probably looked a lot like this. Naboth could have lived richly by selling his vineyard, but the word of the Lord meant more to him than earthly riches, and he stood firm. Close by the summer palace of Ahab the king, Naboth had a little vineyard which he had inherited from his forefathers, and it was dear to his heart. Jezebel 's influence over him was as strong as ever. Please support us. It took twenty years (she lived twenty years after the murder of Naboth), but the harvest finally came. Why did Naboth not take King Ahabs offer? It is very interesting that even though she was not an Israelite, she knew enough about Israelite law to use it against an Israelite. Why did Naboth refuse to sell his vineyard to King Ahab? why did naboth refuse to sell his vineyardkanawha county board of education. And so Ahab tells her, 1 Kings 21:6 "I asked Naboth to sell me his vineyard or to let me give him a better one, and he told me I couldn't have it.". He refused because the land belonged to the whole family. That was no way for a King to behave! When Naboth refused to part with his vineyard (the inheritance of my fathers), Jezebel falsely charged him with blaspheming God and the king, which led to Naboths death by stoning. As the author of 1 Kings puts it, There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife.. At the urging of Ahabs Phoenician, Baal-worshiping wife, the kings covetousness turned to murder. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat! [17] Jezreel in the Iron Age was a military center, probably the main mustering station for Ahabs chariot force, and he would have used his own vineyard to provision the army. The story of Naboth's vineyard is a simple story to conceptualize for most readers. Or, at times, we might want to give a certain impression by leaving details out of our story. [14] Though not the case for Jezreel, some early wineries were undoubtedly altered in later periods and continued to function. vv. The townspeople believed that Naboth had cursed God and the King. For Ahab to even suggest such a property swap reveals how far he had fallen. This threw Ahab into a tizzy because he didn't get what he wanted, and he began pouting. The Jubilee law makes a distinction between property in the land, property in unwalled villages, property in walled cities, and property in Levitical cities (cf. His mother used to gather purple clusters of grapes from those vines; and thus, surely Naboth loved every spot in that vineyard. Nothing in the story indicates that Naboth was particularly poor. Theopolis Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation. Because of this, Ahab desired to acquire the vineyard so that he could use it for a vegetable (or herb) garden. Naboth shrinks back from Ahab in horror at the . Application: There are many times in our lives when we may be tempted not to tell the whole truth. (2 Kings 9:26 says both Naboth and his sons were killed, therefore Naboths property was without family heirs and reverted to the king). It does not matter whether they are slaves or free You have made me very angry. Ahab said to Elijah, "My enemy! King Ahab did not die right away, but his time was coming. At the return of Jesus, however, You see, the wealthy are not satisfied (even with all their possessions) but are constantly lusting after more. The phrase, set Naboth on high (verse 9), meant to set him before the bar of justice, not in the seat of honor. She is the co-directer of the Jezreel Expedition with Dr. Jennie Ebeling. [4] vv. She was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of Tyre (1 Kings 16:31). He tore his clothes and put on black clothes. Say: Okay - lets see it. God had clearly said that the land should not be transferred from tribe to tribe, and he was afraid to disobey Gods clear command. Modern interpreters tend to view this story through the lens of economic exploitation and use words like fairness and justice to describe the situation. [10] The wine was then strained into jars that were stored in a cool place for secondary fermentation. This would also fit with the current assumptions about the winery in the capital, Samaria, where a 5 by 10 meter treading floor and some smaller treading areas were excavated by the Harvard Excavations in the early 1900s. But instead, this grown man stormed off, pouting! He refused because of the law concerning land. Like a good judge, God must punish sin. God sent a prophet to speak to Ahab once again. Application: In todays story, we see that God is just, and He is also loving. He proposed to Naboth to give him a better in exchange, or to obtain it by purchase; but the owner declined to part with it. He was a spiritual giant named Elijah. Just so it is todaywhen a law of the country clearly conflicts with an express command of God, we ought to obey God rather than men, Acts 5:29; and thats exactly what Naboth did. The piece of dirt on which his vineyard sat was that apportioned to his family by God himself when Israel took possession of the land of promise. Families were not free to do with the land whatever they wanted. Jezebel came up with an evil plan. [13] The one thing we can say about the dating is that it is pre-Hellenistic, since from the Hellenistic period onwards wineries used a beam or screw press, and the Jezreel winery does not. What does vineyard mean in the Bible? Though Ahab was an evil king, God was faithful to the promises He had made to His people, the Israelites (Deuteronomy 20:10-13). So I tell you this: In the same place the dogs licked up Naboth's blood, they will also lick up your blood!'". [7], Vineyards do not leave archaeological remains, but circumstantial evidence suggests that Jezreel likely had one. On high meant he should be placed in the seat of the accused, so that every eye could watch his reactions closely. With the report of Naboth's death, Jezebel tersely dispatches Ahab to seize the property as his own: Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead. Vineyards. The distinction between land and city-property seems to be one of productivity. See Hebrews 11:25- 26. These Old Testament accounts were written for our learning. God did not let the King Ahab get away with murder because the prophet Elijah found him and passed on God's message of displeasure. Isnt that a ridiculous picture? When Naboth is murdered by a mob incited by the queen, his property falls to the crown. He acted in the most evil way. - 1 Kings 21:15-16 NLT. During the time it was in use, any pottery or other artifacts that could help date the complex would have been cleared away on a regular basis because they would have interfered with wine production. It said, "Have you seen how Ahab has made himself low in My sight? Ahab stepped out onto the soft, rich soil and walked around, inspecting the vineyard. Its one of the most gruesome accounts in the whole Bible, but there are a number of lessons we should learn from it. [3] Excavations commenced in June 2013 in four very different areasK, M, P and S.. [4] The first large-scale excavations at Tel Jezreel were conducted in the 1990s by David Ussishkin of Tel Aviv University and John Woodhead of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem, and it focused on excavating the remains of a 9th-(more likely 8th) century-BCE military enclosure. Leviticus 25 is right, but there are some complexities. Then Ahab ordered Jehu, his chauffeur, to get his chariot ready; and off he went on the twenty-minute journey to the summer palace to take possession of the vineyard. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. All Ahab's sins come down to one. [15] Norma Franklin, Samaria: From the Bedrock to the Omride Palace,Levant36 (2004): 189202 [19094]. (Solved) Give five reasons why David was successful as a King of Israel. 2020 Theopolis Institute. Moreover, the editor of Kings is clearly picturing a vineyard located east of Jezreel and close to the main highway, the Via Maris. [13] Gsta W. Ahlstrm, Wine Presses and Cup Marks of the JeninMegiddo Survey,Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research 231 (1978): 1949 (48). [5], Also, over 100 rock-cut bottle-shaped pits, scattered over the summit of the hill, were found. In a room in the palace in Samaria, King Ahab is lying on his couch with . He didn't tell his wife why Naboth refused to sell the land. Naboth is not just a stubborn homesteader. BCE and approximately 100 other examples can be found at Samaria and other hill-top sites from that period. Who was the owner of the vineyard in the Bible? Nevertheless, we may not be fully vindicated in this life. But if it is not bought back for him within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city passes permanently to its purchaser throughout his generations; it does not revert in the jubilee. This rule is stated with respect to dwelling houses in walled cities, and does not explicitly apply to land within walled cities. The law provided that the land could be leased for a period, but that it could never be sold outright (Leviticus 25:13-15).. Choose Justice. Lets listen very carefully to Ahabs answer. Jodi has a passion for Biblical ac More, The Net Pastors Journal, Eng. For our purposes, however, all you need to know is that the permanent possession of the land was not primarily a matter of economic fairness or justice. The benefit of treading grapes by feet as opposed to using a wine press is that it prevents the pips (little grape seeds) from being smashed and changing the taste of the wine. Even though Ahab and Jezebel bore the condemnation of God, as he saw it they still benefited from the vineyard and in some sense got away with it. From the window of his palace in Jezreel, King Ahab could see a vineyard that belonged to a man named Naboth. He decreed the punishment for this prideful, selfish, idol-worshipping couple. The young, unfiltered grape juice, called must, would have started to ferment as soon as it came into contact with the yeast that occurs naturally on the grape skins. Not a word of what He has said will fail. 1 meter in diameter, that possibly functioned as another vat. It was because he feared God. Soon, his wife, Jezebel, came in. See, Frederico Mario Fales, A Fresh Look at the Nimrud Wine Lists, in Drinking in Ancient Societies(ed.

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