Changes

''5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?” 6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”''

''5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?” 6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”''

It is quite symptomatic that Ahab avoids speaking about grounds of Naboth’s refusal to cede his inheritance that are stemming from respect for God. It plays no role for him and he makes no mention of it. What is essential for him is that he came across someone who dared to dispute his will. At this moment there is king’s wife coming into scene who knows her husband quite well. She knows how much gratification he attaches to his power and how much inadmissible it is for him to face someone, who, notwithstanding in the name of God, backfires him. When on different occasion prophet Elijah dared to do so, who spoke even with authority of God Himself, king made orders to search for him for many days all over the nations and kingdoms and falsely blamed him to be a ‘troubler of Israel’.  

It is quite symptomatic that Ahab avoids speaking about grounds of Naboth’s refusal to cede his inheritance that are stemming from respect for higher authority, for God. It plays no role for him and he makes no mention of it. What is essential for him is that he came across someone who dared to dispute his will. At this moment there is king’s wife coming into scene who knows her husband quite well. She knows how much gratification he attaches to his power and how much inadmissible it is for him to face someone, who, notwithstanding in the name of God, backfires him. When on different occasion prophet Elijah dared to do so, who spoke even with authority of God Himself, king made orders to search for him for many days all over the nations and kingdoms and falsely blamed him to be a ‘troubler of Israel’.  

''7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”''

''7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”''