Scripture: this account comes from a sacred text. Court and archive records of it do not exist.
Kings says Naboth refused to sell King Ahab "the inheritance of my fathers," and Queen Jezebel had him and his sons killed for it
The first book of Kings says Naboth owned a vineyard beside King Ahab's palace in Jezreel. Ahab offered him a better vineyard or its price in money. Naboth said, "The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee." Ahab went home and would not eat. His wife Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal and sent them to the town's elders. They proclaimed a fast, set Naboth at the head of the people and seated two worthless men opposite him. The men testified that Naboth had cursed God and the king. He was taken out and stoned. Ahab went to take possession of the vineyard. The prophet Elijah met him there and said dogs would lick his blood where they had licked Naboth's, and dogs would eat Jezebel. The second book of Kings says the general Jehu later killed Ahab's son Joram and threw his body onto Naboth's plot, citing "the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons." His men threw Jezebel from a window, and only her skull, feet and palms were found. Since 2012 the Jezreel Expedition under Norma Franklin of the University of Haifa has excavated a rock-cut winery east of Tel Jezreel, with a treading floor 3.2 metres square and two vats over a metre deep. Franklin says it cannot be dated closely, only that it is pre-Hellenistic, and that the story's author knew Jezreel had a vineyard and winery.
With Naboth's sons dead there was no heir to claim the land, which is why the killing included them.
- mechon-mamre.orgPress
- mechon-mamre.orgPress
- thetorah.comPress
Cite as: celebrity.estate, “Kings says Naboth refused to sell King Ahab "the inheritance of my fathers," and Queen Jezebel had him and his sons killed for it,” story s846, https://www.celebrity.estate/naboths-vineyard-860-bc, updated 30 October 2026.

















































































































































