This dominant trait in Ahab, which influenced so disastrously the fortunes of the kingdom under his successors, is revealed in an incident which took place while Elijah was still a prophet in Israel. Hard by the palace of the king was a vineyard belonging to Naboth, a Jezreelite. Ahab set his 205 heart on possessing this vineyard, and he proposed to buy it or else to give in exchange for it another piece of land. "Give me thy vineyard," he said to Naboth, "that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money."

Dette kapitel er bygget op over 1 Kong 21; 2 Kong 1
Jesabel havde haft en dårlig indflydelse på Akab lige fra begyndelsen, og hun fortsatte med at påvirke ham i uheldig retning, da han blev ældre. Det gav sig udslag i sådanne voldshandlinger, som man sjældent har set mage til i Bibelen. "Aldrig har der været nogen, der som Akab solgte sig selv til at gøre, hvad der er ondt i Herrens øjne, fordi hans hustru Jesabel forledte ham dertil."