Bible Strands
1 Kings 21:1
Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrative identifies Naboth the Jezreelite as the subject, establishing that he owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to the palace of Ahab, who is designated king of Samaria. This statement occurs some time after the preceding events, fixing the geographical and temporal coordinates before any dialogue begins.
The words — The phrase וַ/יְהִי אַחַר הַ/דְּבָרִים הָ/אֵ֔לֶּה (va/y.Hi 'a.Char ha./de.va.Rim ha./'E.leh) literally renders "and it was after the things these," marking a narrative transition. The verb הָיָ֛ה (ha.Yah) functions here to denote possession, stating that the vineyard belonged to Naboth.
The thread — Jezreel is listed in Joshua 19:18 as part of tribal territory and in Judges 6:33 as a campsite for eastern forces. Ahab’s prior movement to Jezreel is recorded in 1 Kings 18:45 following the rain on Mount Carmel.
Why it lands — The text states Naboth’s ownership and the vineyard’s proximity to royal authority before detailing Ahab’s subsequent offer. It requires the reader to note the legal and geographical setup that makes the coming conflict structurally inevitable.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
Cross-references
- Joshua 19:18 Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
- Judges 6:33 Then all the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east gathered together, crossed over the Jordan, and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.
- 1 Kings 18:45 Meanwhile, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain began to fall. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.
- 2 Chronicles 28:22 In the time of his distress, King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 29:1 Now the Philistines brought all their forces together at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.
- 1 Kings 20:35 Meanwhile, by the word of the LORD, one of the sons of the prophets said to his companion, “Strike me, please!” But the man refused to strike him.
- Ezra 9:13 After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),
- Isaiah 9:13 But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts.
- Jeremiah 5:3 O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.
- Hosea 1:4 Then the LORD said to Hosea, “Name him Jezreel, for soon I will bring the bloodshed of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and I will put an end to the kingdom of Israel.