Monday in Season after Pentecost

15Verse 15. And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time, 16Verse 16. saying, “By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your only son, 17Verse 17. I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18Verse 18. And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

1Verse 1. Some time after these events, Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2Verse 2. So Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard to use as a vegetable garden, since it is next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in its place — or if you prefer, I will give you its value in silver.” 3Verse 3. But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” 4Verse 4. So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat. 5Verse 5. Soon his wife Jezebel came in and asked, “Why are you so sullen that you refuse to eat?” 6Verse 6. Ahab answered, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and told him, ‘Give me your vineyard for silver, or if you wish, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ And he replied, ‘I will not give you my vineyard!’” 7Verse 7. But his wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you not reign over Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful, for I will get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” 8Verse 8. Then Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab’s name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. 9Verse 9. In the letters she wrote: “Proclaim a fast and give Naboth a seat of honor among the people. 10Verse 10. But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify, ‘You have cursed both God and the king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” 11Verse 11. So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel had instructed in the letters she had written to them. 12Verse 12. They proclaimed a fast and gave Naboth a seat of honor among the people. 13Verse 13. And the two scoundrels came in and sat opposite Naboth, and these men testified against him before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king!” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death. 14Verse 14. Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.” 15Verse 15. When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, who refused to give it to you for silver. For Naboth is no longer alive, but dead.” 16Verse 16. And when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.