The tragedy of Naboth is a lesson in the lengths some leaders will go to have their way and maintain power. Theft of property, conspiracy, and assassination are a few of the diabolical machinations employed by some leaders to maintain control over their subjects. In our text today we find that Jezebel has plotted the death of a man named Naboth because he refused to give up his land to King Ahab so that the king might have a vegetable garden. The crimes of grand theft and murder over such a paltry thing as planting vegetables seem an extreme absurdity, but it is not unusual today where people are killed and kingdoms are toppled, where people murder loved ones to get the insurance payoff, and where others do anything to satiate their lust for greed.

The land was invaluable to Naboth becaus…