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Who was King Ahab in the Bible? |
Q.Who was King Ahab in the Bible? (Submitted by: Anita) A. Ahab, benOmri, was one of Israel's most powerful kings. He was also the most wicked. Ahab married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal of Tyre, the priest of Astarte [also known as Eastre] and, being persuaded by his wife, Ahab built an altar to Baal and an oracular grove in Samaria ( 1 Kings 16:30-33). "Ahab walked in the sins of Jeroboam, and did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him (1Kings 16:31)." What Ahab wanted, Ahab got, especially with Jezebel's help. When Naboth wouldn't sell his vineyard, Jezebel arranged for false accusations of blasphemy against the king, and so had Naboth executed. Upon his death, Ahab took possession of the fields ( 1 Kings 21:1-16). Ahab was so evil Elijah declared his entire family should be exterminated, but when Ahab repented God postponed the punishment until his death ( vs. 17-29). Of his wife, God declared, "The dogs will eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel" ( vs. 23) The prophet Micaiah foretold Ahab's death at Ramoth-Gilead. Ahab disguised himself, and went to a battle at Ramoth, where he was killed by an errant arrow ( 1 Kings 22:30-37). As his chariot was being washed, dogs came and licked up his blood, a partial fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy in 1 Kings 21:19. |
| Who was like Ahab? Several references are made to kings, other than Ahab,
walking in the sins of Jeroboam (
1 Kings 14:16) including Jeroboam's son Nadab (
1 Kings 15:31). Baasha succeeded Nadab by killing
him (
1 Kings 15:28), but he too walked in the sins of
Jeroboam (
1 Kings 16:2). Then came Elah (
vs. 14), and Zimri (
vs. 15-19), Omri (
vs. 25), and Ahab whom we have already seen. After
Ahab's death his son Ahaziah continued his evil reign (
1 Kings 22:51-53). Other Recommended Bible Study Materials:
Answer Given By: Les Turvey |
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