Naboth's vineyard

There are different ways to govern a people. We can have a single person ruling over the rest. This is monarchy. We can have an assembly of people passing laws, making decisions for the rest. This is representative government. We can involve everybody in the decision making process. This is pure democracy. Obviously, this is the fairest as far as justice is concerned, but it is also the most inefficient for a relatively large group of people since the efficiency of decision making decreases exponentially as the group size increases. Ever since Enlightenment and the rise of industrialization, people do not trust emperors. How can you rely on a single person to satisfy the wants and needs of the whole empire? Nowadays, monarchy loses its charisma and is left with only symbolic functions. Nepal is the latest casualty in the history of monarchy. Different forms of representative government become the norm.
In ancient time, monarchy was legitimized either by tradition or by theocracy. The king was invested with the authority to rule the land because he came from the royal family which had been in power for many generations or because the king represented God to rule the subjects. Theocracy is a two-edged sword. It legitimates the authority of the king while at the same time, it prevents him from abusing his power. God is watching over the king, not simply to protect him, but to make sure that he would be punished if he went astray. Theocracy was the sole effective weapon to counteract the abuses of kings. The story of Naboth's vineyard in 1 Kings 21 illustrates this.
Naboth's vineyard was next to Ahab's palace. It was unfortunate for Naboth because Ahab wanted to expand his royal garden. Ahab offered Naboth a generous package in exchange for his vineyard.
"Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money." (1 Kings 21:2b)
It was a fair deal in terms of economic transactions. Ahab was not stealing or robbing Naboth. It was rather impossible to decline such a generous offer from the king. But decline Naboth did. The reason?
The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers." (1 Kings 21:3b)
The key concept here is inheritance. For the Israelites, an inheritance meant a piece of land given by God. Naboth was calling upon God to counteract the greed of the king and king Ahab had no way to fight back against God. He was crestfallen.
And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen ... And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food. (1 Kings 21:4)
Then the evil woman Jezebel entered the scene. She engineered a death trap and made use of the elders of the city to have Naboth killed. She wrote a letter in Ahab's name to instruct the elders and nobles of the city how to proceed.
And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people;
and set two base fellows opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, `You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out, and stone him to death." (1 Kings 21:9-10)
Therefore, Ahab, Jezebel, the two false witnesses, the elders and nobles of Jezreel were all responsible for the innocent blood of Naboth.
Kings are themselves human and vulnerable to vanity and greed. They can be selfish and prey on their people. Laws (according to Israelite customs, two witnesses were enough to establish the truth of a case) can be abused and manipulated to satisfy the lust of the privileged. For the lowly people, where then will protection and security come from? Poor old Naboth was a typical victim under monarchy.
And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it. (1 Kings 21:16)

My Advocate, You are our refuge and our rock of salvation. Protect Your chosen ones from the abuses of the mighty. Amen.