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, 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, 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 (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 (10:11). Ahab humbled himself at Elijah's words (1 Kings 21:28, 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 (Comp. Psalm 109:17, 18). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia NABOTH 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, 30). In both cases the circumstances recalled the foul treatment of Naboth. Henry Wallace

Multi-Version Concordance Naboth (18 Occurrences) 1 Kings 21:1 It happened after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:2 Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near to my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:3 Naboth said to Ahab, "May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:4 Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite, and said to him,'Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' He answered,'I will not give you my vineyard.'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:7 Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, who lived with Naboth. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:9 She wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:13 The two men, the base fellows, came in and sat before him. The base fellows testified against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king!" Then they carried him out of the city, and stoned him to death with stones. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned, and is dead." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:15 It happened, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:16 It happened, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:18 "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who dwells in Samaria. Behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone down to take possession of it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 1 Kings 21:19 You shall speak to him, saying,'Thus says Yahweh, "Have you killed and also taken possession?"' You shall speak to him, saying,'Thus says Yahweh, "In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours."'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Kings 9:21 Joram said, "Get ready!" They got his chariot ready. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Kings 9:25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him: (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV) 2 Kings 9:26 'Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons,' says Yahweh;'and I will repay you in this plot of ground,' says Yahweh. Now therefore take and cast him onto the plot of ground, according to the word of Yahweh." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)