A reading from the book of first kings.

Now Nabath, the Jesraelite, had a vineyard in Jesrael, beside the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria.

And after this Ahab said to Nabath, give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden,

because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it.

Or, if it seems good to you, I will

give you its value and money. But Naboth said to Ahab, the Lord forbid that I should give you the

inheritance of my fathers. And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth

the Jesraelite had said to him, for he had said, I will not give you the inheritance of my father's,

and he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. But Jezebel, his wife,

came to him and said to him, Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food? And he said to her,

because I spoke to Naboth the Jesriolite, and said to him, give me your vineyard for money,

or else if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it. And he answered, I will not give

you my vineyard. And Jezebel, his wife, said to him, do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread

and let your heart be cheerful. I will give you the vineyard of Nabath the Jesreelite.

So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city. And she wrote in the letters,

Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people, and set two worthless men opposite

him, and let them bring a charge against him saying, You have cursed God and the people, and set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge

against him saying, You have cursed God and the king, then take him out and stone him to death.

And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city did as Jezebel had sent

word to them, as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them. They proclaimed a fast,

and set Naboth at the head

of the people. And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him, and the worthless man brought a

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