1 Kings 21:4

4 Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not give you my ancestral inheritance." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.

1 Kings 21:4 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 21:4

And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased
Just in the same humour he was after the prophet had delivered his message to him, ( 1 Kings 20:43 ) , where the same words are used as here:

because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for
he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers,
neither by way of exchange nor of purchase: and such a denial he could not bear, since it looked like treating him with contempt, and taxing him with imprudence at least, if not with injustice, or both:

and he laid him down upon his bed;
or couch, which might be not in his bedchamber, but in one of his halls, where his courtiers were:

and turned away his face;
to the wall, not choosing to have conversation with any of his nobles:

and would eat no bread;
the vexation took away his stomach, and he became melancholy, at least sullen.

1 Kings 21:4 In-Context

2 And Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money."
3 But Naboth said to Ahab, "The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance."
4 Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, "I will not give you my ancestral inheritance." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came to him and said, "Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?"
6 He said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, "Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it'; but he answered, "I will not give you my vineyard.' "
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.