1 Kings 21 2

1 Kings 21:2 kjv

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.

1 Kings 21:2 nkjv

So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money."

1 Kings 21:2 niv

Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."

1 Kings 21:2 esv

And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money."

1 Kings 21:2 nlt

One day Ahab said to Naboth, "Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange, or if you prefer, I will pay you for it."

1 Kings 21 verses

1 Kings 21 2 Meaning

King Ahab, coveting Naboth's ancestral vineyard due to its proximity to his palace, offers to exchange it for a better vineyard or to purchase it for its monetary worth. This offer, while seemingly fair by common standards, directly challenged the sacred Israelite law regarding inalienable family land.

1 Kings 21 2 Context

1 Kings chapter 21 introduces a conflict between King Ahab, a powerful but ungodly monarch influenced by his Phoenician wife Jezebel, and Naboth, an ordinary Israelite who faithfully upholds the divine law. This chapter immediately follows Ahab's victory against Syria and his display of mercy, which the prophet condemns. Here, the focus shifts to Ahab's covetousness and a more profound disregard for Yahweh's laws than mere idolatry. The historical and cultural context is crucial: Israelite land tenure was divinely ordained. Land was considered God's gift, an inalienable inheritance (nachalah, נַחֲלָה) belonging to a family, especially tribes and clans. It could not be permanently sold, as it was supposed to revert to the original family in the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25). This covenantal land system stood in stark contrast to the monarchical systems of surrounding nations where kings often had absolute ownership of land, taking what they wished. Ahab's desire, therefore, directly challenges not only Naboth's property rights but also the very foundation of Israel's covenant with God regarding land ownership and ancestral inheritance. His proposal, while superficially appealing to a modern, commercial mindset, was fundamentally an attempt to subvert divine law through royal decree.

1 Kings 21 2 Word analysis

• And Ahab spoke: Indicates the initiation of a direct address and interaction by the king, signaling his active desire and intent.

• to Naboth: Naboth, Hebrew (נָבוֹת - Navot), is identified as the vineyard's owner, establishing the target of Ahab's desire and the central figure upholding the Mosaic Law.

• saying: Introduces Ahab's direct proposition, highlighting the negotiation attempt.

• Give me: A royal request, yet carries the implicit force of command from a king to a subject. While not a direct order yet, it implies strong expectation.

• thy vineyard (כֶּרֶם - kerem): A vineyard in ancient Israel was a valuable asset, symbolizing a family's heritage, livelihood, and connection to the promised land. Its significance extended beyond mere economic value to include deeply held covenantal and identity aspects.

• that I may have it: Expresses Ahab's specific purpose for acquiring the land.

• for a garden of herbs (גַּן יָרָק - gan yaraq): Literally a "garden of vegetables." This reveals Ahab's personal, aesthetic, and practical desire – not for more agricultural output, but for convenience, for a private garden next to his residence. This implies a desire for personal luxury rather than a public need.

• because it is near (קָרוֹב - qarov) unto my house (בַּיִת - bayit): Proximity is Ahab's primary stated motivation. His "house" refers not just to his dwelling but encompasses his royal palace and surrounding grounds, suggesting a desire for territorial expansion of his personal domain. This highlights covetousness driven by immediate convenience and a perceived improvement to his private estate.

• and I will give thee for it: Ahab offers compensation, framing his request as a transaction rather than an outright seizure (initially). This makes his proposal seem reasonable on the surface.

• a better vineyard than it: Ahab offers an alternative of "better" quality. This sounds generous but overlooks the unique, inalienable nature of Naboth's ancestral land (his nachalah), which could not be exchanged for something else, regardless of perceived quality, according to Mosaic Law. It represents an attempt to bypass religious and traditional laws with secular wealth.

• or, if it seem good to thee: Provides an alternative, demonstrating a (feigned) flexibility, which later proves insincere. This gives an illusion of choice to Naboth.

• I will give thee the worth (מְחִיר - mechir) of it in money (כֶּסֶף - keseph): The offer of monetary compensation. "Money" refers to silver, the standard medium of exchange. Again, this proposition directly clashes with the fundamental Israelite law that land inheritance, especially tribal or family nachalah, was not to be sold or exchanged permanently, even for money, as it belonged ultimately to God and represented a family's enduring stake in the covenant land.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Give me thy vineyard... near unto my house": This phrase encapsulates Ahab's self-serving desire, fueled by covetousness for personal convenience and expanded royal grounds. It reveals a monarch who prioritizes his own wants over the established religious and societal norms of his kingdom.
  • "for a garden of herbs... better vineyard... worth of it in money": These represent Ahab's proposed compensations. While appearing economically sound or even generous, they fundamentally disregard the spiritual and ancestral significance of Naboth's vineyard. Ahab approaches the transaction from a purely commercial mindset, ignoring the inalienable nature of the nachalah (inheritance) under the covenant law, which Naboth understood and upheld.

1 Kings 21 2 Bonus section

The seemingly innocent desire for a garden for "herbs" subtly foreshadows the poisonous schemes to come. Ahab's approach reflects a common royal prerogative in other cultures of the day, where monarchs held ultimate dominion over land, contrasting sharply with the covenantal system in Israel where land tenure was directly linked to divine ownership. The "garden of herbs" may imply a sense of casualness or low significance to Ahab, in contrast to its deep value to Naboth. This also illustrates how powerful individuals often fail to comprehend or respect the intrinsic value and profound attachment others have to things that appear mundane to them. This verse sets up a legalistic test for Ahab: will he respect the Mosaic law despite his personal desires, or will he seek to bypass it through either persuasion or, as we later see, perversion of justice?

1 Kings 21 2 Commentary

1 Kings 21:2 is pivotal because it immediately reveals King Ahab's true character and the nature of the ensuing conflict. Ahab, a king marked by idolatry, here manifests intense covetousness. His desire for Naboth's vineyard, driven by proximity and convenience for a "garden of herbs" rather than any state necessity, highlights a selfish and indulgent king. While his offer to buy or exchange seems outwardly fair and common in many ancient Near Eastern cultures, it represented a fundamental transgression of Israelite law (Lev 25:23). This law forbade the permanent sale or alienation of ancestral land, as the land ultimately belonged to Yahweh and was intended as an everlasting inheritance for specific families and tribes. Naboth's refusal (in the following verse) is not obstinacy but adherence to divine commandment, prioritizing God's law over the king's will. The tension established in this verse – between a powerful, covetous monarchy and a faithful, law-abiding subject defending sacred principles – sets the stage for a dramatic example of injustice, prophetic confrontation, and divine judgment against a corrupt king and his wicked queen. It powerfully illustrates how personal desire, when unconstrained by divine law, leads to profound moral failings and abuse of power.