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So Jezebel wrote some letters, signed Ahab's name to them, and used his own seal to seal them. Then she sent them to the elders and important men who lived in Naboth's town.

When Ahab heard that Naboth of Jezreel was dead, he got up and went to the vineyard to take it for his own.

At this time the Lord spoke his word to the prophet Elijah the Tishbite. The Lord said,

"Go to Ahab king of Israel in Samaria. He is at Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take it as his own.

Tell Ahab that I, the Lord , say to him, ‘You have murdered Naboth and taken his land. So I tell you this: In the same place the dogs licked up Naboth's blood, they will also lick up your blood!'"

There was no one like Ahab who had chosen so often to do what the Lord said was wrong, because his wife Jezebel influenced him to do evil.

After Elijah finished speaking, Ahab tore his clothes. He put on rough cloth, fasted, and even slept in the rough cloth to show how sad and upset he was.

The Lord spoke his word to Elijah the Tishbite:

"I see that Ahab is now sorry for what he has done. So I will not cause the trouble to come to him during his life, but I will wait until his son is king. Then I will bring this trouble to Ahab's family."

At that time Ahab asked his officers, "Do you remember that the king of Aram took Ramoth in Gilead from us? Why have we done nothing to get it back?"

So Ahab king of Israel told one of his officers to bring Micaiah to him at once.

But Micaiah said, "Hear the message from the Lord : I saw the Lord sitting on his throne with his heavenly army standing near him on his right and on his left.

The king of Aram had ordered his thirty-two chariot commanders, "Don't fight with anyone—important or unimportant—except the king of Israel."

By chance, a soldier shot an arrow, but he hit Ahab king of Israel between the pieces of his armor. King Ahab said to his chariot driver, "Turn around and get me out of the battle, because I am hurt!"

The battle continued all day. King Ahab was held up in his chariot and faced the Arameans. His blood flowed down to the bottom of the chariot. That evening he died.

Near sunset a cry went out through the army of Israel: "Each man go back to his own city and land."

In that way King Ahab died. His body was carried to Samaria and buried there.

The men cleaned Ahab's chariot at a pool in Samaria where prostitutes bathed, and the dogs licked his blood from the chariot. These things happened as the Lord had said they would.

So Ahab died, and his son Ahaziah became king in his place.

Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah daughter of Shilhi.