AI Summary
5 min readNaboth’s Vineyard and the Wicked That Thrives on Silence
On day 168 of the Bible in a Year, Father Mike Schmitz walks through three connected readings—1 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 21–22, and Song of Solomon 7—but the weight of the episode falls on a single, unsettling question: what does it mean when ordinary people cooperate with evil simply by doing nothing?
The story of Naboth’s vineyard is the anchor. King Ahab wants a piece of land that belongs to a man named Naboth the Jezreelite. Naboth refuses, not out of stubbornness, but because in ancient Israel land was not a commodity to be bought and sold. It was a sacred inheritance, tied to the promise God made to Abraham—land and blessing passed down through families. Naboth cannot dispossess his family, even for a king’s offer of a better vineyard or fair payment. Ahab, in response, goes home sullen, lies on his bed, and refuses to eat. He pouts like a child.
But the episode’s real focus is not Ahab’s petulance. It is what happens next.
The Mechanism: How Evil Gets Done
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:03) **Episode Opening & Scripture Readings** - Fr. Mike introduces the podcast, the reading plan, and lists today's passages: 1 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 21-22, and Song of Solomon 7.
- 2 (01:16) **Naboth's Vineyard: The Conflict** - Ahab demands Naboth's vineyard, but Naboth refuses to sell his family's inheritance, remaining faithful to God's law.
- 3 (02:10) **Jezebel's Conspiracy and the Complicity of the Elders** - Jezebel orchestrates Naboth's murder through false accusations, and the local elders and nobles go along with it.
- 4 (03:20) **Elijah Pronounces God's Sentence** - The prophet Elijah confronts Ahab, declaring divine judgment on him, Jezebel, and his entire house.
- 5 (05:11) **Jehoram's Wicked Reign in Judah** - Jehoram, son of the good king Jehoshaphat, murders his brothers and follows the wicked example of his wife, the daughter of Ahab.
- 6 (06:51) **Elijah's Letter of Warning** - Elijah sends a letter to Jehoram, condemning his unfaithfulness and prophesying a plague and a gruesome disease.
- 7 (07:53) **Jehoram's Death and Legacy** - Jehoram dies in great agony from an incurable bowel disease, "departed with no one's regret," and is not buried in the tombs of the kings.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Today we read about Elijah's discouragement after fleeing from Jezebel, and how God tells him to "arise and eat" to strengthen him for the journey ahead. Fr. Mike points out how God calls us to draw strength for the journey as well, even at the end of our earthly lives. The readings are 1 Kings 19-20, 2 Chronicles 20, and Song of Solomon 6.
For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear.
Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
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