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Easton's Bible Dictionary
fruits, "the Jezreelite," was the owner of a portion
of ground on the eastern slope of the hill of Jezreel ( 2
Kings 9:25 , 9:26
). This small "plat of ground" seems to have been all he possessed. It was a vineyard,
and lay "hard by the palace of Ahab" ( 1
Kings 21:1 , 21:2
), who greatly coveted it. Naboth, however, refused on any terms to part with
it to the king. He had inherited it from his fathers, and no Israelite could lawfully
sell his property ( Leviticus
25:23 ). Jezebel, Ahab's wife, was grievously offended at Naboth's refusal
to part with his vineyard. By a crafty and cruel plot she compassed his death.
His sons also shared his fate ( 2
Kings 9:26 ; 1
Kings 21:19 ). She then came to Ahab and said, "Arise, take possession of
the vineyard; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." Ahab arose and went forth into
the garden which had so treacherously and cruelly been acquired, seemingly enjoying
his new possession, when, lo, Elijah suddenly appeared before him and pronounced
against him a fearful doom ( 1
Kings 21:17 - 24
). Jehu and Bidcar were with Ahab at this time, and so deeply were the words of
Elijah imprinted on Jehu's memory that many years afterwards he refers to them
( 2
Kings 9:26 ), and he was the chief instrument in inflicting this sentence
on Ahab and Jezebel and all their house ( 2
Kings 9:30 - 37
). The house of Ahab was extinguished by him. Not one of all his great men and
his kinsfolk and his priests did Jehu spare ( 2
Kings 10:11 ).
Ahab humbled himself at Elijah's words ( 1
Kings 21:28 , 21:29
), and therefore the prophecy was fulfilled not in his fate but in that of his
son Joram ( 2
Kings 9:25 ).
The history of Naboth, compared with that of Ahab and Jezebel, furnishes a remarkable
illustration of the law of a retributive providence, a law which runs through
all history (Compare Psalms
109:17 , 109:18
).
Hitchcock's Dictionary of Bible Names
words; prophecies
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(fruits) The victim of Ahab and Jezebel, was the owner
of a small vineyard at Jezreel, close to the royal palace of Shab. ( 1
Kings 21:1 , 21:2
) (B.C. 897.) It thus became an object of desire to the king, who offered an equivalent
in money or another vineyard. In exchange for this Naboth, in the independent
spirit of a Jewish landholder, refused: "The Lord forbid it me that I should give
the inheritance of my father unto thee." Ahab was cowed by this reply; but the
proud spirit of Jezebel was aroused. She took the matter into her own hands. A
fast was proclaimed, as on the announcement of some impending calamity. Naboth
was "set on high" in the public place of Samaria; two men of worthless character
accused him of having "cursed God and the king." He and his children, ( 2
Kings 9:26 ) were dragged out of the city and despatched; the same night.
The place of execution there was by the large tank or reservoir which still remains
an the slope of the hill of Samaria, immediately outside the walls. The usual
punishment for blasphemy was enforced: Naboth and his sons were stoned; and the
blood from their wounds ran down into the waters of the tank below. For the signal
retribution taken on this judicial murder --a remarkable proof of the high regard
paid in the old dispensation to the claims of justice and independence --see AHAB;
JEHU;
JEZEBEL.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
na'-both, na'-both (nabhoth, from nubh, "a sprout"; Nabouthai):
The owner of a vineyard contiguous to the palace of King Ahab. The king desired,
by purchase or exchange, to add the vineyard to his own grounds. Naboth, however,
refused to part on any terms with his paternal inheritance. This refusal made
Ahab "heavy and displeased" 1 Kings 21:4. Jezebel, the king's wife, then took
the matter in hand, and by false accusation on an irrelevant charge procured the
death of Naboth by stoning 1 Kings 21:7 - 14. As Ahab was on his way to take possession
of the vineyard he met Elijah the prophet, who denounced his vile act and pronounced
judgment on king and royal house. A temporary respite was given to Ahab because
of a repentant mood 1 Kings 21:27 - 29; but later the blow fell, first upon himself
in a conflict with Syria 1 Kings 22:34 - 40; then upon his house through a conspiracy
of Jehu, in which Jehoram, Ahab's son, and Jezebel, his wife, were slain (2 Kings
9:25 - 26 , 9:30). In both cases the circumstances recalled the foul treatment
of Naboth.
Henry Wallace
Tags:
accused of cursing God and the king, bible commentary, bible history, bible reference, bible study, define, killed by jezebel, naboth, the jezreelite, vineyard owner
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