Daily Tanach Wednesday Sefer Melachim 1 Chapter 21 Part 2: Achav & the vineyard of Navos HaYizraeili

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer
  1. Navos is framed and promptly killed, and Achav takes possession of his vineyard:
  • A letter is sent instructing for false witnesses to testify against Navos: Izevel wrote letters in Achav’s name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the officials of the city of Yizrael, where Navos lived. The letter stated that the elders should proclaim a fast day [on which it was accustomed to search for the sins of the people[1]] and place Navos in the forefront of the people. It instructed them to set up two wicked men opposite him for them to testify against him that he had cursed G-d and the king, in order so they can put him to death through stoning.
  • Navos is killed due to the false testimony: The men of the city, the elders and the officials that dwelled in his city, did as they were instructed in the letter that was sent to them by Izevel. They proclaimed a fast, and they set Navos at the head of the people. Two wicked men came forward and sat opposite him, and the wicked men testified against Navos in front of the people saying, that Navos had cursed G-d and the king. They took him out of the city and stoned him and he died.
  • Achav takes possession of the vineyard of Navos: Messengers were sent to Izevel informing her that Navos had been stoned and has died. When Izevel heard the news that Navos was stoned and killed she told Achav that he should get up and take possession of the vineyard of Navos the Yizraelite, being that he is now dead [and the assets of those killed by capital punishment go to the king, as well as that Navos was the nephew of Achav, and Izevel had him and all of his sons killed making Achav the heir[2]]. When Achav heard that Navos had died, he got up and went to the vineyard of Navos the Yizraelite to take possession of it.

[1] Rashi 21:9

[2] Rashi 21:15; Sanhedrin 48b

About The Author

Leave A Comment?

You must be logged in to post a comment.