Summary
Four Levels of Interpretation
Literal Comprehension:
There are mainly fie characters in
this story. They are Naboth, Ahab, Jezebe, Belial, Elihag the Tishbite, Naboth
is the owner of the vineyard. Ahab is the king of Samara, Israel. Jezebel is
the wife of Ahab. Belial is the supporter of Jezebel. According to the story,
Naboth had a vineyard. It was near the palace of the king Abab. Ahab liked that
vineyard so he asked Naboth to sell it but Naboth didn’t like to sell it
because it was the inheritance of his father. Then Ahab felt sad and Ahab left
eating food. Ahab’s wife consoled him and she told him that she would provide
Ahab the vineyard of Naboth. She wrote letters in the name of Ahab and sent
them to the nobles. According to jezebel’s plan, she asked the sons of Belial
to create a false story against Naboth. They were asked to be a false witness.
In the letter, there was written, “proclaim a day of fasting, call the people
together and give Naboth the place of honor. Get a couple of scoundrels to
accuse him to his face of cursing God and the king. Then take him out of the
city and stone him to death. “When the officials and leading citizens got this
message, they did as Jezebel instructed. Then Jezebel got a message that Naboth
was dead. Then Jezebel could provide Ahab Naboth’s vineyard. When Ahab tried to
possess his Vineyard, God asked Elijah to go to Ahab and see whether he has
possessed the vineyard of Naboth. Elijah went to Ahab and told him that dogs
shall lick his blood where dogs had licked the blood of Naboth because he had
committed a crime killing innocent Naboth.
Interpretation:
This story also comes from the Bible.
Here the writers try to show how greed leads us towards destruction. People
face troubles due to their greed. Here, the king had everything but he again
wanted to possess Naboth’s vineyard. The king’s queen-Jezebel makes conspiracy
to kill innocent Naboth. Others also create false story though Naboth didn’t do
any wrong. In this way whether someone is great or not but all have agreed.
Critical Thinking:
The rich become more greedy than the poor.
We have seen this around us. Similarly, under the despotism and common people
suffer much. But the names given in the story are complex similarly it is
difficult to believe that there is an appearance of God at the end of the
story. Next thing the king takes help from his queen but in reality, the king
does such activities or plans.
Assimilation:
When I read this story, I remembered
about the late kings of Nepal who became cruel rather than serving people.
Among our royal family members, late king Rajendra’s wife used to make similar
plans to make their son king. Later on, common people suffered from the Ranas
rule for 103 years. I knew that we should satisfaction what we possess.
Otherwise, our greed may lead us towards destruction.
Possible question
1. Retell the plot of “Ahab and Naboth”
in one paragraph.
Word Meaning
Thee = You
Forbid = Prohibit
Thou = Your
Proclaim = Announce
Carry out = Implement
Inhabitants = Dwellers
Forth = Further
Possession = Ownership
Behold = Look
Possess = Own
Merry = Happy
Lick = Pass the tongue over
Enemy = Foe
Sight = View
Thyself = For your sake
Hast = Has
Evil = Bad
Reviewed by Bijay Munikar
on
August 12, 2020
Rating:
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