And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
Dost thus now govern the kingdom of Israel? - a sarcastic taunt: 'A pretty king then art! Canst thou use thy power, and take what thy heart is set upon?' Ahab seems not to have contemplated acquiring the much-wished-for plot of ground by injustice and cruelty. He never dreamed of the desperate expedient of realizing his desires by the method which Jezebel devised-at least he did not hint at such a thing; while her unscrupulous mind at once and unhesitatingly determined on the truly Oriental, despotic plan of getting rid of Naboth by murder.
Arise ... I will give thee the vineyard. - No sooner does Jezebel learn the sense of her husband's distress than, after upbraiding him for his pusillanimity, and bidding him act as a king, she tells him to trouble himself no more about such a trifle; else would guarantee the possession of the vineyard.