اَلْمُلُوكِ ٱلْأَوَّلُ 21

١ 1 وَحَدَثَ بَعْدَ هَذِهِ ٱلْأُمُورِ أَنَّهُ كَانَ لِنَابُوتَ ٱلْيَزْرَعِيلِيِّ كَرْمٌ فِي يَزْرَعِيلَ بِجَانِبِ قَصْرِ أَخْآبَ مَلِكِ ٱلسَّامِرَةِ.

King Ahab had a palace in Jezreel [city]. Near the palace was a vineyard owned by a man from that city whose name was Naboth.

٢ 2 فَكَلَّمَ أَخْآبُ نَابُوتَ قَائِلًا: «أَعْطِنِي كَرْمَكَ فَيَكُونَ لِي بُسْتَانَ بُقُولٍ، لِأَنَّهُ قَرِيبٌ بِجَانِبِ بَيْتِي، فَأُعْطِيَكَ عِوَضَهُ كَرْمًا أَحْسَنَ مِنْهُ. أَوْ إِذَا حَسُنَ فِي عَيْنَيْكَ أَعْطَيْتُكَ ثَمَنَهُ فِضَّةً».

One day, Ahab [went to] Naboth and said to him, “Your vineyard is close to my palace. I would like to buy it, so that I can plant some vegetables there. In exchange, I will give you a better vineyard [somewhere else], or if you prefer, I will pay you for your vineyard.”

٣ 3 فَقَالَ نَابُوتُ لِأَخْآبَ: «حَاشَا لِي مِنْ قِبَلِ ٱلرَّبِّ أَنْ أُعْطِيَكَ مِيرَاثَ آبَائِي».

But Naboth replied, “That land belonged to my ancestors, [so I want to keep it]. I hope that Yahweh will never allow me to give that land to you!”

٤ 4 فَدَخَلَ أَخْآبُ بَيْتَهُ مُكْتَئِبًا مَغْمُومًا مِنْ أَجْلِ ٱلْكَلَامِ ٱلَّذِي كَلَّمَهُ بِهِ نَابُوتُ ٱلْيَزْرَعِيلِيُّ قَائِلًا: «لَا أُعْطِيكَ مِيرَاثَ آبَائِي». وَٱضْطَجَعَ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ وَحَوَّلَ وَجْهَهُ وَلَمْ يَأْكُلْ خُبْزًا.

So Ahab became very sullen and angry because of what Naboth had said. He went home and lay down on his bed. He turned his face toward the wall, and he refused to eat anything.

٥ 5 فَدَخَلَتْ إِلَيْهِ إِيزَابَلُ ٱمْرَأَتُهُ وَقَالَتْ لَهُ: «لِمَاذَا رُوحُكَ مُكْتَئِبَةٌ وَلَا تَأْكُلُ خُبْزًا؟»

His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so depressed? Why are you refusing to eat anything?”

٦ 6 فَقَالَ لَهَا: «لِأَنِّي كَلَّمْتُ نَابُوتَ ٱلْيَزْرَعِيلِيَّ وَقُلْتُ لَهُ: أَعْطِنِي كَرْمَكَ بِفِضَّةٍ، وَإِذَا شِئْتَ أَعْطَيْتُكَ كَرْمًا عِوَضَهُ، فَقَالَ: لَا أُعْطِيكَ كَرْمِي».

Ahab replied, “I talked to Naboth, that man from Jezreel. I told him that [I wanted] his vineyard. [I said, ] ‘I will buy it from you, or I will give you another vineyard for it.’ But he refused [to let me have it].”

٧ 7 فَقَالَتْ لَهُ إِيزَابَلُ: «أَأَنْتَ ٱلْآنَ تَحْكُمُ عَلَى إِسْرَائِيلَ؟ قُمْ كُلْ خُبْزًا وَلْيَطِبْ قَلْبُكَ. أَنَا أُعْطِيكَ كَرْمَ نَابُوتَ ٱلْيَزْرَعِيلِيِّ».

His wife replied, “You are [RHQ] the king of Israel, [so you can get whatever you want] Get up, and eat some food and do not worry [about what Naboth said]. I will get Naboth’s vineyard for you.”

٨ 8 ثُمَّ كَتَبَتْ رَسَائِلَ بِٱسْمِ أَخْآبَ، وَخَتَمَتْهَا بِخَاتِمِهِ، وَأَرْسَلَتِ ٱلرَّسَائِلَ إِلَى ٱلشُّيُوخِ وَٱلْأَشْرَافِ ٱلَّذِينَ فِي مَدِينَتِهِ ٱلسَّاكِنِينَ مَعَ نَابُوتَ.

Then Jezebel wrote some letters, and she signed Ahab’s name on them. She used his official seal to seal them. Then she sent them to the older leaders and other important men who lived in Naboth’s town.

٩ 9 وَكَتَبَتْ فِي ٱلرَّسَائِلِ تَقُولُ: «نَادُوا بِصَوْمٍ، وَأَجْلِسُوا نَابُوتَ فِي رَأْسِ ٱلشَّعْبِ.

This is what she wrote in the letters: “Proclaim a day when all the people will [gather together and] (fast/abstain from eating food). Give to Naboth an important place to sit among them.

١٠ 10 وَأَجْلِسُوا رَجُلَيْنِ مِنْ بَنِي بَلِيَّعَالَ تُجَاهَهُ لِيَشْهَدَا قَائِلَيْنِ: قَدْ جَدَّفْتَ عَلَى ٱللهِ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ. ثُمَّ أَخْرِجُوهُ وَٱرْجُمُوهُ فَيَمُوتَ».

Then find two men who always cause trouble. Give them places to sit opposite/facing him. Tell these men to testify that they heard Naboth say things that criticized God and the king. Then take Naboth out of the city and kill him by throwing stones at him.”

١١ 11 فَفَعَلَ رِجَالُ مَدِينَتِهِ، ٱلشُّيُوخُ وَٱلْأَشْرَافُ ٱلسَّاكِنُونَ فِي مَدِينَتِهِ، كَمَا أَرْسَلَتْ إِلَيْهِمْ إِيزَابَلُ، كَمَا هُوَ مَكْتُوبٌ فِي ٱلرَّسَائِلِ ٱلَّتِي أَرْسَلَتْهَا إِلَيْهِمْ.

The leaders [received the letters and] did what Jezebel had written in the letters for them to do.

١٢ 12 فَنَادَوْا بِصَوْمٍ وَأَجْلَسُوا نَابُوتَ فِي رَأْسِ ٱلشَّعْبِ.

They declared a day on which the people would all (fast/abstain from food). And they gave Naboth a seat in a place where honored people sat, in front of the people.

١٣ 13 وَأَتَى رَجُلَانِ مِنْ بَنِي بَلِيَّعَالَ وَجَلَسَا تُجَاهَهُ، وَشَهِدَ رَجُلَا بِليَّعَالَ عَلَى نَابُوتَ أَمَامَ ٱلشَّعْبِ قَائِلَيْنِ: «قَدْ جَدَّفَ نَابُوتُ عَلَى ٱللهِ وَعَلَى ٱلْمَلِكِ». فَأَخْرَجُوهُ خَارِجَ ٱلْمَدِينَةِ وَرَجَمُوهُ بِحِجَارَةٍ فَمَاتَ.

Two men who always caused trouble sat opposite/facing Naboth. While everyone was listening, they stated that they had heard Naboth say things that criticized God and the king. So the people seized Naboth. They took him outside the city and killed him [by throwing] stones at him.

١٤ 14 وَأَرْسَلُوا إِلَى إِيزَابَلَ يَقُولُونَ: «قَدْ رُجِمَ نَابُوتُ وَمَاتَ».

Then those leaders sent a message to Jezebel, saying “We have executed Naboth.”

١٥ 15 وَلَمَّا سَمِعَتْ إِيزَابَلُ أَنَّ نَابُوتَ قَدْ رُجِمَ وَمَاتَ، قَالَتْ إِيزَابَلُ لِأَخْآبَ: «قُمْ رِثْ كَرْمَ نَابُوتَ ٱلْيَزْرَعِيلِيِّ ٱلَّذِي أَبَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَكَ إِيَّاهُ بِفِضَّةٍ، لِأَنَّ نَابُوتَ لَيْسَ حَيًّا بَلْ هُوَ مَيْتٌ».

When Jezebel found out that Naboth had been killed, she told Ahab, “Naboth is dead. Now you can go and take possession of the vineyard that he refused to sell to you.”

١٦ 16 وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَخْآبُ أَنَّ نَابُوتَ قَدْ مَاتَ، قَامَ أَخْآبُ لِيَنْزِلَ إِلَى كَرْمِ نَابُوتَ ٱلْيَزْرَعِيلِيِّ لِيَرِثَهُ.

When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went to the vineyard to claim that he now owned it.

١٧ 17 فَكَانَ كَلَامُ ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَى إِيلِيَّا ٱلتِّشْبِيِّ قَائِلًا:

Then Yahweh spoke to Elijah the prophet. He said,

١٨ 18 «قُمِ ٱنْزِلْ لِلِقَاءِ أَخْآبَ مَلِكِ إِسْرَائِيلَ ٱلَّذِي فِي ٱلسَّامِرَةِ. هُوَذَا هُوَ فِي كَرْمِ نَابُوتَ ٱلَّذِي نَزَلَ إِلَيْهِ لِيَرِثَهُ.

“Go to Samaria and talk to Ahab, the king of Israel. He is in the vineyard of a man named Naboth. He has gone there to claim that he now owns it.

١٩ 19 وَكَلِّمْهُ قَائِلًا: هَكَذَا قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: هَلْ قَتَلْتَ وَوَرِثْتَ أَيْضًا؟ ثُمَّ كَلِّمْهُ قَائِلًا: هَكَذاَ قَالَ ٱلرَّبُّ: فِي ٱلْمَكَانِ ٱلَّذِي لَحَسَتْ فِيهِ ٱلْكِلَابُ دَمَ نَابُوتَ تَلْحَسُ ٱلْكِلَابُ دَمَكَ أَنْتَ أَيْضًا».

Tell Ahab that this is what I, Yahweh, say to him: ‘You have murdered Naboth and taken his land.’ So I am telling you this: ‘In the same place where [Naboth died and] dogs came and licked up Naboth’s blood, [you will die and] the dogs will lick up your blood, too!’”

٢٠ 20 فَقَالَ أَخْآبُ لِإِيلِيَّا: «هَلْ وَجَدْتَنِي يَا عَدُوِّي؟» فَقَالَ: «قَدْ وَجَدْتُكَ لِأَنَّكَ قَدْ بِعْتَ نَفْسَكَ لِعَمَلِ ٱلشَّرِّ فِي عَيْنَيِ ٱلرَّبِّ.

So when Elijah met with Ahab, Ahab said to him, “You, my enemy, have found me!” [RHQ] Elijah answered, “Yes, I have found you. You have never stopped doing the things that Yahweh says are wrong.

٢١ 21 هَأَنَذَا أَجْلِبُ عَلَيْكَ شَرًّا، وَأُبِيدُ نَسْلَكَ، وَأَقْطَعُ لِأَخْآبَ كُلَّ بَائِلٍ بِحَائِطٍ وَمَحْجُوزٍ وَمُطْلَقٍ فِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

So this is what Yahweh says to you: ‘I will soon get rid of you. I will kill you, and I will also kill every male in your household, including those who are slaves and those who are not slaves.

٢٢ 22 وَأَجْعَلُ بَيْتَكَ كَبَيْتِ يَرُبْعَامَ بْنِ نَبَاطَ، وَكَبَيْتِ بَعْشَا بْنِ أَخِيَّا، لِأَجْلِ ٱلْإِغَاظَةِ ٱلَّتِي أَغَظْتَنِي، وَلِجَعْلِكَ إِسْرَائِيلَ يُخْطِئُ».

Your family will all be killed, just like the family of King Jeroboam and like the family of King Baasha were killed. I will get rid of you because you have caused me to become very angry, and you have also led the Israeli people to sin.’

٢٣ 23 وَتَكَلَّمَ ٱلرَّبُّ عَنْ إِيزَابَلَ أَيْضًا قَائِلًا: «إِنَّ ٱلْكِلَابَ تَأْكُلُ إِيزَابَلَ عِنْدَ مِتْرَسَةِ يَزْرَعِيلَ.

Yahweh has also told me that [your wife] Jezebel [will be killed, and] dogs in Jezreel will eat her corpse.

٢٤ 24 مَنْ مَاتَ لِأَخْآبَ فِي ٱلْمَدِينَةِ تَأْكُلُهُ ٱلْكِلَابُ، وَمَنْ مَاتَ فِي ٱلْحَقْلِ تَأْكُلُهُ طُيُورُ ٱلسَّمَاءِ».

The [dead bodies of the] members of your family who die in this city [will not be buried, they] will be eaten by dogs, and [the corpses of] those who die in the fields will be eaten by vultures.”

٢٥ 25 وَلَمْ يَكُنْ كَأَخْآبَ ٱلَّذِي بَاعَ نَفْسَهُ لِعَمَلِ ٱلشَّرِّ فِي عَيْنَيِ ٱلرَّبِّ، ٱلَّذِي أَغْوَتْهُ إِيزَابَلُ ٱمْرَأَتُهُ.

There was no man no man like Ahab who always did things that Yahweh considered to be evil. His wife Jezebel incited/urged him to do [many of] those things.

٢٦ 26 وَرَجِسَ جِدًّا بِذَهَابِهِ وَرَاءَ ٱلْأَصْنَامِ حَسَبَ كُلِّ مَا فَعَلَ ٱلْأَمُورِيُّونَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَرَدَهُمُ ٱلرَّبُّ مِنْ أَمَامِ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ.

The most abominable/detestable thing that Ahab did was to worship idols, just like the Amor people-group had done. And that is why Yahweh took the Amor people’s land from them and gave it to the Israelis.

٢٧ 27 وَلَمَّا سَمِعَ أَخْآبُ هَذَا ٱلْكَلَامَ، شَقَّ ثِيَابَهُ وَجَعَلَ مِسْحًا عَلَى جَسَدِهِ، وَصَامَ وَٱضْطَجَعَ بِٱلْمِسْحِ وَمَشَى بِسُكُوتٍ.

After Elijah finished talking to Ahab, Ahab tore his clothes [to show that he was sorry for all the sins that he had committed]. He put on rough clothes that were made from sacks, and he refused to eat anything. He even wore those rough clothes made from sacks when he slept, to show that he was sorry.

٢٨ 28 فَكَانَ كَلَامُ ٱلرَّبِّ إِلَى إِيلِيَّا ٱلتِّشْبِيِّ قَائِلًا:

Then Yahweh said this to Elijah:

٢٩ 29 «هَلْ رَأَيْتَ كَيْفَ ٱتَّضَعَ أَخْآبُ أَمَامِي؟ فَمِنْ أَجْلِ أَنَّهُ قَدِ ٱتَّضَعَ أَمَامِي لَا أَجْلِبُ ٱلشَّرَّ فِي أَيَّامِهِ، بَلْ فِي أَيَّامِ ٱبْنِهِ أَجْلِبُ ٱلشَّرَّ عَلَى بَيْتِهِ».

“I have seen [RHQ] that Ahab is now very sorry for all the evil things that he has done. So the things that I promised to do to his [family] will not happen while he is still alive. I will cause them to happen after his son becomes king. Then those things will happen to his family.” [MTY]