Naboth (lit. fruits) "the Jezreelite," is the central figure of a story from the Old Testament. According to the story, Naboth was the owner of a portion of ground on the eastern slope of the hill of Jezreel. Described as a small "plat of ground", the vineyard seems to have been all he possessed and lay close to the palace of Ahab, who wished to acquire to "have it for a garden of herbs" (probably as a ceremonial garden for Baal worship). Naboth, however, had inherited his land from his father, and, according to Jewish law, could not alienate it. Accordingly, he refused to sell it to the king.