Back to: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES SS2
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In today’s Christain Religious Studies class, We will be learning about Greed and It’s Effects. We hope you enjoy the class!
Ahab and Naboth’s vineyard (1Kgs 21:1-29)
Greed can be defined as a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed. Greed is a bad quality that has led to many other vices in society. Many people have met their Waterloo through the influence of greed. It’s a vice that must be curbed once it is noticed. Ahab asked Naboth to give him his vineyard in Jezreel. Ahab said he wanted to use it for a vegetable garden because of the proximity of the vineyard to his Palace.
Ahab promised to give him but whatever he desired in money or goods in exchange for the vineyard. But Naboth refused both offers. He said, “The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee.” Ahab was very annoyed by the response he got from Naboth. He went home depressed and refuse to eat any food offered to him he only laid on his bed worried. His wife Jezebel asked him what was wrong and promised to solve whatever problem could have led to his depression.
“And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” 1Kings 21:7
Ahab narrated his experience with Naboth to his wife Jezebel. Jezebel, a wicked and devilish woman, promised me to get the vineyard for her husband King Ahab.
Jezebel wrote letters over Ahab’s signature, stamped them with his official seal, and sent them to the elders in Naboth’s city and to the civic leaders. She wrote “Call for a fast day and put Naboth at the head table. Then seat a couple of stool pigeons across from him who, in front of everybody will say, ‘You! You blasphemed God and the king!’ Then they’ll throw him out and stone him to death.”
The men of the city—the elders and nobles followed Jezebel’s instructions that she wrote in the letters sent to them. They called for a fast day and seated Naboth at the head table. Then they brought in two sons of Belial and seated them opposite Naboth. In front of everybody, the two sons of Belial accused Naboth falsely that, “He blasphemed God and the king!”
Just as planned, they threw him out in the street, stoned him mercilessly, then Naboth died. Immediately, Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he set out for the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite and claimed it for himself.
Consequences of Ahab’s greed.
God intervened and spoke to Elijah the Tishbite to go down and confront Ahab of Samaria, king of Elijah said,
“Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.”1 Kings 21:19.
Ahab repented of his action and the punishment was postponed to the days of his children.
Evaluation
What are the lessons you learnt from the story of Ahab and Naboth?
Assignment
- Discuss how Ahab’s request for Naboth’s vineyard revealed his greed and disregard for the law.
- What role did Elijah the prophet play in announcing Ahab’s punishment?
We have come to the end of this class. We do hope you enjoyed the class?
Should you have any further question, feel free to ask in the comment section below and trust us to respond as soon as possible.
In our next class, we will be learning about Gehazi Greed. We are very much eager to meet you there.
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