211 Now it came about after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria . 2 Ahab spoke to Naboth , saying , " Give me your vineyard , that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is close beside my house , and I will give you a better vineyard than it in its place ; if you like e , I will give you the price of it in money ." 3 But Naboth said to Ahab , "The Lord forbid me that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers ." 4 So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he said , "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers ." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Kings 21:1-4
Commentary on 1 Kings 21:1-4
(Read 1 Kings 21:1-4)
Naboth, perhaps, had been pleased that he had a vineyard situated so near the palace, but the situation proved fatal to him; many a man's possessions have been his snare, and his neighbourhood to greatness, of bad consequence. Discontent is a sin that is its own punishment, and makes men torment themselves. It is a sin that is its own parent; it arises not from the condition, but from the mind: as we find Paul contented in a prison, so Ahab was discontented in a palace. He had all the delights of Canaan, that pleasant land, at command; the wealth of a kingdom, the pleasures of a court, and the honours and powers of a throne; yet all avails him nothing without Naboth's vineyard. Wrong desires expose men to continual vexations, and those that are disposed to fret, however well off, may always find something or other to fret at.