1 Kings 21 · a question people ask
Did Ahab know what Jezebel had done?
The chapter doesn't say whether Ahab knew about the letters. It says what it says and no more. Jezebel told him, "I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite" (21:7). The letters went out "in Ahab’s name", sealed "with his seal" (21:8). The report came to Jezebel (21:14), and she told Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite… for Naboth is not alive, but dead" (21:15). "When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard" (21:16). And the LORD's question is to Ahab: "Have you killed and also taken possession?" (21:19). The narrator says Ahab was the one "whom Jezebel his wife stirred up" (21:25). So the chapter holds Ahab to account for the killing, and names Jezebel as the one who stirred him up, without saying what Ahab knew about the letters before Naboth died.
The verses
“Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now govern the kingdom of Israel? Arise, and eat bread, and let your heart be merry. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and to the nobles who were in his city, who lived with Naboth.”
“Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.” When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.”
“You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “Have you killed and also taken possession?”’ You shall speak to him, saying, ‘The LORD says, “In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, dogs will lick your blood, even yours.”’””
“But there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.”