Jezebel Has an Innocent Man Stoned to Death for His Vineyard

Ahab covets Naboth's vineyard next to the palace and offers to buy it. Naboth refuses — it is his ancestral inheritance, forbidden by law to sell. Ahab goes home sulking, refuses to eat, and lies in bed with his face to the wall. Jezebel acts for him: she forges royal letters ordering the elders to seat two false witnesses who will accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king — a capital crime. They do it. Naboth is stoned outside the city. Jezebel tells Ahab: 'Arise and take possession.' He does.