1 Kings 21:1-29 Ahab Wants Naboth's Vineyard

 

Ahab Wants Naboth's Vineyard

1 Kings 21:1-29                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

After these things, Naboth, the Jezreelite, had a vineyard in Jezreel, [next to] the palace of Ahab [Samaria's] king. Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, I will give you an [even] better vineyard or pay [its value,] if you will give me your vineyard, so I may have it as an herb garden, because it's near my house.

Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord [forbids] me, that I should give the inheritance of my [forefathers] to you. Ahab [returned] to his house [saddened] & displeased [when] Naboth, the Jezreelite, had [said that] he wouldn't give him the inheritance of his [forefathers].

[Ahab] lay on his bed & turned his face away & wouldn't eat [any] bread. Jezebel, his wife, came to him & said, [Why] are you so sad that you won't eat [any] bread?

[Ahab told] her, Because I spoke to Naboth & said to him, Give me your vineyard for money or else, if it [pleases] you, I will give you another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give you my vineyard.

Jezebel said to [Ahab,] Don't you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise & eat bread & let your heart be [happy]. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite.

So, [Jezebel] wrote letters in Ahab's name & sealed them with his seal & sent them to the elders & nobles in his city, [where] Naboth [lived]. In the letters, [Jezebel] wrote, saying, Proclaim a fast & [put] Naboth [in a place of respect] among the people.

[Put] 2 [unscrupulous] men [in front of Naboth,] to [testify] against him, saying, [Naboth] has [cursed] God & the king. Then carry him out & stone him, [so] he [dies].

The men of his city, even the elders & nobles of his city, did as Jezebel had [requested] in the letters she had sent them. They proclaimed a fast & [put] Naboth [in a place of respect].

Two [scoundrels] came & sat [in front of Naboth & testified] against Naboth saying in the presence of the people, Naboth [cursed] God & the king. They carried [Naboth] out of the city & stoned him & he died.

They sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth [has been] stoned & is dead. When Jezebel heard Naboth was dead, she said to Ahab, Arise & take possession of Naboth's vineyard, that he refused to give you [for] money. For Naboth isn't alive, but [is] dead.

It [happened] when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he rose up & went down to [Naboth's] vineyard to take possession of it. The word of the Lord came to Elijah, the Tishbite [prophet,] saying, Arise & go meet Ahab, [Israel's] king in Samaria.

[Look,] he is in the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite & [has] gone down to take possession of it. You shall say to [Ahab,] The Lord says [this,] Have you killed & also taken possession?

You shall [say] to him, The Lord says [this,] In the place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, they shall lick your blood. Ahab said to Elijah, Have you found me, O my enemy?

[Elijah] answered, I have found you, because you have sold yourself to work evil in the sight of the Lord. [The Lord says, Look,] I will bring [calamity] upon you & will take away your [descendants] & cut off all the [males] of Ahab that [are] shut up & left in Israel.

They will make your house like the [houses] of: Jeroboam, [Nebat's] son & Baasha, [Ahijah's] son, for provoking Me to anger [by making & worshiping false gods] & [making] Israel sin.

The Lord also spoke of Jezebel, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. [Those of Ahab's family who] die in the city, the dogs will eat. [Those who] die in the field, the [birds] of the air shall eat.

There was [no one] like Ahab, [who was] stirred up by Jezebel, his wife, [who sold] himself to [do such] wickedness in the sight of the Lord.

[Ahab became] very [abominable by] following idols [false gods,] [like] all the things the Amorites did, whom the Lord cast out before the children [people] of Israel.

It [happened,] when Ahab heard [these] words, he [tore] his clothes & put sackcloth upon his flesh & fasted [signs of mourning] & [he walked timidly].

The word of the Lord came to Elijah, the Tishbite, saying, [Do] you see how Ahab [has] humbled himself before Me? I will not bring the [calamity] upon him in his [life,] but [during] his son's [life] I will bring the [calamity] upon his house.

1 Kings 20:1-43 Ahab & Ben Hadad Battle

 

Ahab & Ben Hadad Battle

1 Kings 20:1-43                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Ben Hadad, [Syria's] king, gathered all his [army] together, [along] with: 32 kings, horses & chariots & [attacked] Samaria & [battled] against it.

[Ben Hadad] sent messengers into the city to Ahab, [Israel's] king & [Ben Hadad's messengers said on his behalf:] Your silver & gold [are] mine & even your wife, your children & [everything of value] are mine.

King [Ahab] of Israel answered & said, My lord, O king, according to what [you say,] I am yours & all I have. [Ben Hadad's] messengers [returned] to [Ahab] & said, Ben Hadad [says,] Although I have sent to you saying, You shall deliver [to] me your silver, gold, wives & children;

I will [still] send my servants to you tomorrow about this time & they shall search your house & the houses of your servants & will take away [whatever is pleasing].

Then, [Ahab] called all the elders of the land & said, I pray that you see how this man [looks for trouble] for he has sent to me for my wives, children, silver & my gold & I didn't [say, No, to him].

All the elders & all the people said to [Ahab,] Don't [listen] to him [or agree to this]. [Therefore, Ahab] said to the messengers of Ben Hadad, Tell my lord, the king, All that you first sent for, I will do, but I may not do this thing.

The messengers [left] & brought [Ben Hadad his reply]. Ben Hadad sent to [Ahab] & said, The gods do [the same] to me & also more, if [enough] dust [remains in] Samaria, for all the people [who] follow me to have a handful.

[Ahab,] king of Israel, answered & said, Don't let [the person who straps] on [his armor], boast [like someone taking] it off. It [happened] when Ben Hadad heard this message [while] he was drinking [with] the kings in the pavilions.

[Ben Hadad] said to his servants, [Get ready to attack] & they [got themselves ready] in [rows] against the city. A prophet came to Ahab, [Israel's] king, saying, The Lord says [this,] Have you seen all this [large] multitude?

[Look,] I [the Lord God] will deliver it into your hand this day, [so] you shall know that I am the Lord. Ahab said, By whom? The [prophet] said, The Lord says [this,] By the young [officers] of the provinces.

Then [Ahab] said, Who shall [lead] them to battle? And [the prophet] said, You. Then, [Ahab counted] the young [officers] & there were 232. After them, he [counted] all the children [people] of Israel & [there were] 7,0000.

They went out at noon [while] Ben Hadad was [getting] drunk in the pavilions [with the] 32 kings [who] helped him. The young [officers] went out 1st. Ben Haddad sent out [scouts] & they told him, There are men [coming] out of Samaria.

[Ben Hadad] said, Whether they come out for peace or for war, take them alive. The young [officers] came out of the city [followed by] the army & every one [struck down] his [opponent] & the Syrians fled & Israel pursued them.

Ben Hadad, [Syria's] king, escaped on a horse with the horsemen. [Ahab] went out & [attacked] the horses, chariots & [killed] the Syrians with a [large] slaughter.

The prophet came to [Ahab] & said  to him, Go & strengthen yourself & be ready & watch what you do; for [after the beginning] of the year, the king of Syria will come against you.

[Ben Hadad's] servants said to him, Their gods are gods of the hills; therefore they were stronger than [us;] but let us fight against them in the plain & we shall surely be stronger than [them].

Do this, Take the kings away & put captains in their [place]. [Muster] an army like the army you have lost, horse for horse, chariot for chariot & we will fight against them in the plain & we shall surely be stronger than [them].

[Ben Hadad listened to them] & did so. It [happened after the beginning] of the year, Ben Hadad [mustered] the Syrians & went up to Aphek to fight against Israel.

The [people] of Israel were [mustered] & were all present & went against them. The [people] of Israel pitched [tents in front of them,] like 2 little flocks of [kid goats,] but the Syrians filled the country.

A man of God came & spoke to [Ahab, Israel's] king & said, The Lord [God] says [this;] Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but He isn't the God of the valleys, I [the Lord God] therefore, will deliver all this [large] multitude into your hand & you shall know I am the Lord.

They [camped opposite each other for] 7 days. [On] the 7th day, they joined into battle & the [people] of Israel killed 100,000 Syrian footmen in 1 day. But the rest fled to Apphek, into the city & a wall there fell upon 27,000 men [who] were left.

Ben Hadad fled & came into his inner [room] in the city. His servants said to him, We have heard the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. I pray that you let us put on sackcloth on our [waists] & ropes upon our heads [signs of mourning] & go out to the king of Israel.

So, they [strapped] on sackcloths on their [waists,] & put ropes on their heads & came to king [Ahab of] Israel & said, Your servant, Ben Hadad, says, I pray that you, let me live. [Ahab] said, Is he [still] alive? He is my brother.

Now, the men [watched] diligently, to [see] whether anything would come from him & they [quickly caught] it. They said, Your brother, Ben Hadad. Then [Ahab] said, Go & bring him & [Ahab let them go] in a chariot.

Ben Hadad said to him, I will restore these cities [that] my father took from your father & you shall make streets for [yourself] in Damascus, [like] my father made in Samaria.

Then, Ahab said, I will send you away with this covenant [contract]. So [Ahab] made a covenant with [Ben Hadad,] and sent him away. [By the word of the Lord, [one] of the [prophet's] sons said to his neighbor, I pray that you [hit] me. The man refused to [hit] him.

Then, the [prophet] said to him, Because you haven't obeyed the voice of the Lord, as soon as you [have left] from me, a lion shall [kill] you. And as soon as he departed from him, a lion found him & [killed] him.

Then, the [prophet] found another man & said, I pray that you [hit] me & the man [did] & wounded [the prophet]. So, the prophet [left] & waited for the king by the [road] & disguised himself with ashes upon his face.

As the king passed by, [the prophet] cried out to the king & said, Your servant went out into the midst of the battle & [someone] came to me & brought a man I said, Kiip this man. If he [ends] up missing, then I will take your life for his life, or you shall pay a talent of silver.

While [I,] your servant was busy here & there & he was gone. [Ahab,] the king of Israel said to [the disguised prophet,] Your judgment shall be so, because [you,] yourself have decided it.

[The disguised prophet hurried]& took the ashes away from his face & [Ahab, Israel's] king [realized] he was one of the prophets.

[The prophet] said to the king, The Lord [God] says [this, Because you have let a man go [free] whom I appointed to [total] destruction, out of your hand, therefore, your life, shall [be] for his life, and your people, shall [be] for his people.

[Ahab,] the king of Israel went to his house [saddened] & displeased & came to Samaria.

1 Kings 19:1-21 Elijah Escapes Jezebel's Threat on His Life

 

Elijah Escapes Jezebel's Threat on His Life

1 Kings 19:1-21                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

[King] Ahab told [queen] Jezebel all Elijah had done & how he had [killed] the [false] prophets [of the false god, Baal] with a sword.

Then, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, Let the gods do to me & more also, if I don't make your life [like] the life of [1 of these dead prophets] by tomorrow [around] this time.

When [Elijah] saw that [his life was threatened,] he arose & [ran] for his life & left his servant there. [Elijah] went a day's journey into the wilderness & came & sat down under a juniper tree & requested that he might die & said, O Lord, take my life, for I'm not better than my [forefathers].

As [Elijah] slept under the juniper tree & an Angel touched him & said, Arise & eat. [Elijah] looked & [saw] a cake [of bread] was [cooking] there on the coals & a [jug] of water [was by] his head. He ate & drank & laid down again.

The Angel of the Lord came again the 2nd time & touched him & said, Arise & eat; because the journey is too [long] for you. [Elijah] arose & ate & drank & went [in] the strength of that [food for] 40 days & nights to Horeb, the Mount of God.

[Elijah went into] a cave & lodged there & behold, the word of the Lord [God] came to him & He said to [Elijah,] What [are you doing] here, Elijah?

[Elijah] said, I have been very [zealous] for the Lord God of Hosts: for the children [people] of Israel have [abandoned] Your covenant [contract] & thrown down Your altars & [killed] Your prophets with the sword & I am the only 1 left.

They seek to take my life away. [The Lord] said, Go [out] & stand upon the mount before the Lord. behold, the Lord passed by & a great, strong wind [tore] the mountains & broke the rocks [into] pieces before the Lord; but the Lord wasn't in the wind.

After the wind, [there was] an earthquake; but the Lord wasn't in the earthquake. After the earthquake, [there was] a fire; but the Lord wasn't in the fire.

After the fire, [there was] a still, small voice & it was when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his [cloak] & went out & stood in the [cave's] entrance. Behold, a voice came to him & said, What [are you doing] here, Elijah?

[Again, Elijah] said, I have been very [zealous] for the Lord God of Hosts; because the [people] of Israel have [abandoned] Your covenant [contact,] thrown down Your altars & [killed] Your prophets with the sword & only I am left & they seek to take my life.

The Lord said to him, Go & return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus. When you come [there,] anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. You shall [also] anoint Jehu, [Nimshi's] son, to be king over Israel.

You shall anoint Elisha, [Shaphat's] son, [who was] the son of Abel Meholah, to be [the] priest in your [place]. It shall [happen] that [the person who] escapes [death by] the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall [kill].

And [the person who] escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall [kill]. I, [the Lord God,] have left 7,000 in Israel for Me who haven't bowed [their] knees to Baal [a false god] or kissed him.

[Then,] Elijah departed & found Elisha, [Shaphat's] son, who was plowing with 12 [pairs] of oxen [in front of] him & he was behind the 12th [pair]. Elijah passed by [Elisha] & [Elijah threw his cloak on Elisha].

[Elisha] left the oxen & ran after Elijah & said, I pray that you let me kiss my father & mother & then, I will follow you. [Elijah] said to [Elisha,] Go back again: for what have I done to you?

And [Elisha left Elijah] & returned. [Elisha] took a [pair] of oxen & killed & boiled [them] with the oxen's [tools] & gave [it to] the people & they [ate]. Then, [Elisha] arose & went after Elijah & ministered to him.

1 Kings 18:1-46 Elijah Proves to Baal Worshipers The Lord God is the Only God

 

Elijah Proves to Baal Worshipers The Lord God is the Only God

1 Kings 18:1-46                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

In the 3rd year [Ahab ruled,] it [happened] after many days, [that] the word of the Lord came to Elijah, saying, Go [show] Yourself to Ahab & I will send rain upon the earth [& Elijah did so].

There was a [severe] famine in Samaria. Ahab called [for] Obadiah, [who was in charge of Ahab's palace]. (Obidiah greatly feared [respected] the Lord [God]: for he took 100 prophets & hid them 50 [to a] cave & fed them with bread & water when [queen] Jezebel [massacred the other] prophets of the Lord).

Ahab said to Obadiah, Go into the land to all the fountains of water & brooks, [trying to find] grass to save the horses & mules alive, [so] we don't lose all the [animals].

So, they divided [up] & Ahab went 1 way by himself & Obadiah went another way. As Obadiah was in the [road,] Elijah met him. [Obadiah] knew him & fell on his face & said, [Are] you my lord, Elijah? He answered, I am.

Go tell your lord, [Ahab, Come see,] Elijah is here. [Obadiah] said, What [is my sin] that you would deliver [me,] your servant, into the hand of Ahab to [kill] me?

As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom [where] my lord, [Ahab,] hasn't sent to [find] you. When they [told Ahab] you weren't there, [he made the kingdoms & nations take] an oath that they hadn't found you.

Now, you say, Go, tell your lord, [Ahab, Come see] Elijah is here. As soon as I am gone, the Spirit of the Lord shall carry you [someplace] I don't know & when I tell Ahab & he can't find you, he shall [kill] me.

But I, your servant, [has feared] [respected] the Lord from my youth. Weren't you told how I hid the 100 prophets, 50 [to a] cave & fed them with bread & water when Jezebel [killed the other] prophets of the Lord?

And now you say, Go tell your lord, [Ahab, Come & see] Elijah is here. He shall [kill] me. Elijah said, As the Lord of Hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will [certainly show] myself to [Ahab] today.

Obajiah went to meet Ahab & told him & Ahab went to meet Elijah. It [happened] when Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab [asked] him, Are you [the one who] troubles Israel?

[Elijah] answered, I haven't troubled Israel; but you & your father's house [have,] in that you have [abandoned] the commandments of the Lord & have followed Baalim [a false god].

Therefore, send [for] & gather to me all [of] Israel to Mount Carmel & 450 [false] prophets of Baal [a false god] & [the false goddess] [Asherah's] 400 [false] prophets of the groves [where they worship the false gods,]  [who] eat at Jezebel's table.

So, Ahab sent & gathered all the children [people] of Israel & the [false] prophets together to Mount Carmel. Elijah came to all the people & said, How long [have you been torn] between 2 opinions?

If the Lord [is] God, follow Him, but if Baal, [false god] then follow him. No [one said] a word. Then, Elijah said to the people, I am the only prophet of the Lord [who] remains; but Baal, [a false god,] [has] 450 [false] prophets.

Therefore, give us 2 bulls & let them choose 1 bull for themselves & cut it [into] pieces & lay it  on wood [with] no fire under [it]. I will [prepare] the other bull & lay it on wood [with] no fire under [it].

Call on the name of your [false] gods & I will call on the name of the Lord. And the God [who] answers by fire, [shall be God. All the people said, It is well spoken.

Elijah said to the [false] prophets of Baal, [a false god,] Choose 1 bull for yourselves & [prepare] it 1st, [since] you are many & call on the name of your [false] gods, but [you aren't to put] fire under [it].

They [prepared] the bull & called on the name of Baal, [a false god,] from morning until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice or any that answered. They leaped on the altar [that] was made.

It [happened] at noon, Elijah mocked them & said, Cry [out louder,] for he is a god; either he is talking, or is busy, or on a journey, or [maybe he's sleeping] & must be awakened.

They cried [out louder] & cut themselves with knives & lancets [according to pagan rituals,] till blood gushed out upon them. When midday was past, [Baal's prophets] prophesied until the evening sacrifice, [but] there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any [false] [god who paid attention].

Elijah said to all the people, Come [close] to me [& they did]. [Elijah] repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down & took 12 stones for Jacob's 12 sons, the 12 tribes of Israel, unto whom the word of the Lord came [to Jacob] saying, Israel shall [now] be your name.

[Elijah] built an altar with the 12 stones in the name of the Lord & put a trench [around] the altar, [deep enough to hold] 2 measures of seed. [Elijah] put the wood in order & cut the bull [into] pieces & laid [them] on the wood.

[He] said, Fill 4 barrels with water & pour it on the sacrifice [to be burned] & on the wood. [Then,] he said, Do it a 2nd time & they did it. [Elijah] said, Do it a 3rd time & they did it a 3rd time.

The water ran [around] the altar & filled the trench with water. It [happened] at the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah, the prophet, came near & said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac & of Israel, let it be known this day that You are the God in Israel & that I'm Your servant & I have done all these things at Your word.

Hear me, O Lord, hear me, [so] these people know that You are the Lord God, [so] they turn their hearts back [to You] again. Then, the fire of the Lord fell & [burned] the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust & licked up the water in the trench.

When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces & said, The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God! Elijah said to them, Take the [false] prophets of Baal [a false god] & don't [let any] escape.

They took them & Elijah brought them down to the Brook [of] Kishon & [killed] them there. Elijah said to Ahab, Get up & eat & drink; for there is the sound of [an] abundance of rain. So, Ahab went to eat & drink.

Elijah went to the top of [Mount] Carmel & [threw] himself down on the [ground] & put his face between his knees. [Elijah] said to his servant, Go up now & look toward the sea. He went up & looked & said, there is nothing.

Elijah said, Go again 7 times. It [happened] on the 7th time, he said, [Look,] there [arises] a little cloud [up] out of the sea, like a man's hand. [Elijah] said to [his servant,] Go up & say to Ahab, Prepare your chariot & [go] down, [so] the rain doesn't stop you.

In the [meantime,] it [happened,] that the heaven was black with clouds, wind & [heavy] rain. Ahab rode & went to Jezreel. The hand of the Lord was on Elijah & he [strapped his belt around his clothes] & ran [in front of] Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

1 Kings 17:1-24 Elijah Foretells the Drought to Ahab

 

Elijah Foretells the Drought to Ahab

1 Kings 17:1-24                               1 Kings [in Smaller Chunks]

Elijah, the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to [king] Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be no dew or rain [all] these years [of drought, [until I give the] word.

The word of the Lord came to [Elijah] saying, [Go from here] & turn [east] & hide yourself by the Brook Cherith, [in front of] the Jordan [River]. It shall [happen] that you shall drink [from] the brook & I have commanded ravens to feed you there.

So, [Elijah] went & did according to the word of the Lord & the ravens brought him bread & [meat] in the morning & the evening & he drank [from] the brook. After a while, the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.

The word of God came to [Elijah] saying, Arise & go to Zarephath, [that] belongs to Zidon [a.k.a. Sidon] & [live] there. I have commanded a widow woman there to [feed] you.

When [Elijah] came to the [city's] gate, [he saw] a widow woman gathering sticks there & he called to her & said, I pray that you [get] me a little water in a [jar to] drink.

As she was going to [get] it, [Elijah] called to her & said, I pray that you bring me a [piece] of bread, in your hand. She said, As the Lord your God lives, I don't have a cake, but [only] a handful of [corn] meal in a barrel & a little oil in a [jug].

[Look,] I am gathering 2 sticks, so I may go & [prepare] it for me & my son, so we may eat it & die. Elijah said to her, Don't [be fearful]. Go & do as I have said: but make me a little cake [of it] 1st & bring it to me.

[Afterwards,] make 1 for you & your son. For the Lord God of Israel said, The barrel of [corn] meal won't [go empty,] nor will the [jug] of oil [run out,] until the Lord sends rain upon the earth.

She went & did as Elijah said & she, [Elijah] & her [household] ate [of it] many days. The barrel of [corn] meal didn't [go empty] & neither did the [jug] of oil [run out,] according to the word of the Lord that He spoke to Elijah.

It [happened] after [this,] the [widow's] son fell sick. His sickness was so [severe that] he couldn't breathe. She said to Elijah, O man of God, what do I have to do with you? [Have] you come to bring my sin to remembrance & [kill] my son?

[Elijah] answered her, Give me your son. [Elijah] took him from her [arms] & carried him up to the loft where he [stayed] & laid him on his bed. [Elijah] cried [out] to the Lord & said, O Lord my God, [have] You brought evil upon this widow [that] I [stay] with, by [killing] her son?

[Elijah] stretched himself upon the child 3 times & cried [out] to the Lord & said, O Lord my God, I pray You let this child's soul [return] to him again. The Lord heard Elijah's voice & the soul of the child [returned] to him again & he revived.

Elijah took the child & brought him [from] the [bedroom] & down into the house & delivered him to his mother. Elijah said, See, your son lives. The woman said to Elijah, By this, I know you are a man of God & the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth.