1 Kings 21:17–29

THE LORD’S JUDGMENT ON AHAB

17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:w 18 “Get up and go to meet King Ahab of Israel,x who is in Samaria.y He’s in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you murderedz and also taken possession?’aa Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood!’ ”ab

20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So, my enemy, you’ve found me, have you?”ac

He replied, “I have found you because you devotedad yourself to do what is evil in the Lord’s sight. 21 This is what the Lord says:A ‘I am about to bring disaster on you and will eradicate your descendants:

I will wipe out all of Ahab’s males,B

both slave and free,C in Israel;a

22 I will make your house like the house of Jeroboamb son of Nebat and like the house of Baashac son of Ahijah, because you have angered me and caused Israel to sin.’d 23 The Lord also speaks of Jezebel: ‘The dogs will eat Jezebel in the plot of land* at Jezreel:e

24 Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat,

and anyone who dies in the field, the birdsE will eat.’ ”f

25 Still, there was no one like Ahab, who devoted himself to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight, because his wife Jezebel incited him.g 26 He committed the most detestable acts by following idolsh as the Amoritesi had, whom the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.

27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put sackcloth over his body, and fasted. He lay down in sackclothj and walked around subdued. 28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? I will not bring the disaster during his lifetime,k because he has humbled himself before me. I will bring the disaster on his house during his son’s lifetime.”l