Originally from here.

From Idiotic Things People Did in the Bible

As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned…Ahab got up to go down to take possession of the vineyard of Naboth. 1 Kings 21:15–16

What He Did

Ahab pouted because Naboth wouldn’t sell his vineyard. Jezebel arranged a fake trial and had Naboth killed. Ahab gleefully claimed the land.

Why It Was Idiotic

Killing a man over a vegetable patch? That’s how far their greed and arrogance went. Elijah showed up and pronounced God’s judgment: dogs would lick Ahab’s blood and eat Jezebel’s body. And they did.

Here’s the Scoop

Ahab, king of Israel, did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all who were before him, largely because of his marriage to Jezebel, a Sidonian princess who led him and Israel into the wicked worship of Baal (1 Kings 16:30–33). Under her influence, Ahab built altars to Baal and allowed Jezebel to massacre the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4).

One of their most wicked acts was orchestrating the death of Naboth so Ahab could seize his vineyard, prompting God to send Elijah to pronounce judgment: Ahab’s blood would be licked by dogs in the same place as Naboth’s, and Jezebel would be eaten by dogs (1 Kings 21:19, 23).

Though Ahab briefly humbled himself and delayed judgment (1 Kings 21:27–29), he later died in battle, and dogs licked his blood as foretold (1 Kings 22:37–38). Years later, Jezebel was thrown from a window by her own servants at Jehu’s command, and dogs devoured her body, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy (2 Kings 9:33–36).

***

There are certain biblical names that carry negative connotations. Call someone a “Judas,” and you’re accusing him of the worst kind of treachery. Call a woman a “Jezebel,” and you’re labeling her as a conniving, deceitful person. And Jezebel was certainly conniving and deceitful.

“The Bible also says that God’s ways are far above human ways. We cannot begin to understand the mind or purposes of God: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

As we’ve seen before, the door of evil is opened by the sin of idolatry. She led her husband into Baal worship. That’s why we must soak our souls in the Word of God—so that if anyone tries to give us an image of God that doesn’t match the one revealed in Scripture, we immediately reject it.

Both Jezebel and her weak husband ended up having dogs lick their blood. These were not house pets, but unclean feral dogs. What a horrible and degrading thing. Demons, like hungry dogs or lions, thirst for our blood. We are surrounded by an unseen enemy—a spiritual one that we wrestle with, not in flesh and blood. Again, as Scripture keeps repeating, we give a license to the devil when we give ourselves to sin. That is his territory, and he wants to consume us:

Be of sober spirit, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard for a vegetable garden (1 Kings 21:2). But Naboth refused to sell because it was his family inheritance. Jezebel saw Ahab sulking and wrote letters in his name, commanding:

…seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.” Then take him out, and stone him, that he may die. (1 Kings 21:10)

Naboth was then taken outside the city and murdered. Ahab promptly took possession of the vineyard.

Once again, the gospel has parallels with this story. Both Naboth and Jesus were innocent. Both had illegal trials. Both were charged with blasphemy, and both were murdered outside the city. In Matthew 21:38, Jesus said the religious leaders wanted to kill Him to seize His inheritance:

“But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’” (Matthew 21:38)

Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. For many bore false witness against Him. (Mark 14:55–56)

“He has spoken blasphemy!…He is deserving of death.” (Matthew 26:65–66)

Jesus also…suffered outside the gate. (Hebrews 13:12)

We are told that Ahab reigned for a long 22 years. Here is a question that has no doubt plagued Bible believers throughout history: If Ahab was so evil and provoked God to anger more than any before him, why didn’t God just kill him instead of allowing him to continue doing evil? Why does God allow evil men and women to exist? Wicked dictators have slaughtered hundreds of millions throughout history, yet at the same time, they’ve enjoyed the warmth of the sun, the love of music, the blessing of having a family, and even a veggie garden. They continued to commit unspeakable atrocities, and Heaven remained silent.

It is a great mystery, but one partly answered by Scripture. The Bible tells us that Pharaoh was a cruel dictator, yet God used him for His purposes (see Exodus 9:16). He used the evil Joseph’s brothers committed for His own plan (see Genesis 50:20). The Bible also says that God’s ways are far above human ways. We cannot begin to understand the mind or purposes of God:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8–9)

But we do know this: when evil deeds are committed, God’s wrath is stored up and will eventually be made manifest on the Day of Judgment. When it comes to God’s judgment, it’s not a matter of if but of when. It is therefore wise not to question the moral character of God for allowing evil to exist. It’s wise not to accuse God of unfairness especially because we were once evil, and God mercifully held back His judgment from falling upon us and instead fell upon Christ (see Isaiah 53). Such thoughts are consoling to a humble heart. Our big takeaway from this evil couple is a solemn warning about how pride, idolatry, and injustice provoke the judgment of a holy God—who in the end will show that He will not be mocked (Galatians 6:7).