Do you know the story of King Ahab in the Bible? Do you know who this man was and why his story was so important in the time of the kings of Israel? If you want to know more about the worst king of Israel, keep reading this article.
King Ahab was the seventh king of northern Israel and his story is recorded in the first book of Kings of the Old Testament. Ahab was a king who led Israel into idolatry, bringing his life to a tragic end.
Ahab was a king of Israel who ruled for twenty-two years. He was a powerful and prosperous king who did evil in the eyes of God. Influenced by his wife, Ahab worshiped the god Baal. The Bible says that he was the worst of all the kings of Israel.
Related: Who was Jezebel in the Bible? The spirit of Jezebel
What does the name Ahab mean?
The meaning of the name Ahab comes from the original Hebrew «אַחְאָב» or its transliteration «Achab».
The name Ahab is made up of two words, “ach”, which can be understood as “brother”, and “ab”, which is translated as “father”. Thus, the meaning of Ahab is “father’s brother,” although other meanings are possible, such as “uncle,” “paternal uncle,” or “brother.”
See also: Who is King Darius in the Bible?
The story of King Ahab
Ahab was the son of Omri, king of Israel, and replaced his father on the throne of the northern kingdom, becoming the seventh king of Israel.
Ahab is described in the Holy Scriptures as a strong and politically influential king, but spiritually weak and reprobate.
King Ahab reigned for 21 or 22 years, between 874 and 853 BC Politically, Ahab was respected by both his allies and his opponents. However, in the aspect of the things of God, Ahab was extremely wicked, allowing the syncretism and even paganism will gain strength among the Israelites.
Ahab, an evil king who did evil in the eyes of God
King Ahab dedicated himself to strengthening the Israelite cities (1Kings 16:34; 22:39) and invested in improving Samaria, the capital of the Northern kingdom.
King Ahab’s palace reflected the grandeur of his reign, being described as: “the palace that he built and inlaid with ivory” (1 Kings 21:1; 22:39; Amos 3:15).
During Ahab’s reign there were frequent international conflicts. King Ahab fought against Syria (1 Kings 20), he also fought alongside them against the Assyrians, and then, allied with the southern kingdom, Ahab again waged war against Syria in which he was killed (1 Kings 22).
Important note: King Ahab was the most terrible king in the history of Israel. The Bible says in 1 Kings 16:33 that Ahab angered the Lord the most of all the kings who had reigned before him.
See also: Who was King Uzziah in the Bible?
King Ahab and Jezebel
In a marriage for political purposes, King Ahab married Jezebel. On that occasion, an alliance was made with Eth-baal, father of Jezebel and king of the Sidonians (1 Kings 16:31). This alliance brought commercial advantages to Israel.
The big problem was that along with the commercial advantages also came the pagan practices of the princess of the Sidonians. Jezebel introduced into Israel an idolatry that was opposed to the worship of the Lord.
Jezebel eventually got her husband involved in Baal worship and Asherah became common in Israel, eventually having a temple dedicated to Baal in Samaria, with numerous priests.
See also: What is a Priest in the Bible?
Why did Ahab and Jezebel persecute the Lord’s prophets?
Jezebel promoted a great persecution of the prophets of the Lord, killing them mercilessly, and the altars to Jehovah were torn down.
During this period, the prophet Elijah had to flee, and Obadiaha minister of Ahab, managed to hide a hundred prophets (1Kings 18:3,4).
Pagan influence was so great in Israel that this practice threatened even Judah, the southern kingdom, when King Ahab’s daughter Athaliah married Joram son of the king jehoshaphat.
It may interest you: History of King David: Who was David in the Bible?
Ahab and the vineyard of Naboth
At one point in his reign, Ahab tried to buy the vineyard from a man named Naboth. The vineyard was next to the king’s palace and he wanted to use it as a garden. But Naboth refused to sell the inheritance that he had received from his parents.
Ahab became very angry and upset with this situation and went into a state of considerable depression.
When Jezebel found out, she posed as Ahab, planned a trap, and had Naboth assassinated. At that moment, the prophet Elijah went to Ahab, after all these events, and pronounced a harsh word to him as a consequence of his attitudes: «In the same place where the dogs licked the blood of Naboth, they will also lick your own blood! » (1 Kings 21:19).
When Ahab heard this, he fasted and began to live humbly. Therefore, God did not destroy his family during his reign.
See also: Who was King Solomon in the Bible?
How was Ahab and Elijah’s relationship?
King Ahab found his great opponent in the ministry of the prophet Elijah. Elías actively denounced their abhorrent practices. The case of Naboth’s vineyard perfectly exemplifies the failure of King Ahab in defending the law and justice.
On the occasion that Naboth’s vineyard was seized without scruples, the prophet Elijah prophesied about the decline and complete extermination of the house of Ahab (1 Kings 21:20-24; 2 Kings 9:7-26).
Idolatry installed during the reign of King Ahab influenced later generations in some way, so that even the prophet Hosea (Hosea 1:4) and the prophet Micah (Micah 6:16) denounced such practice.
See also: Who was the prophet Elisha in the Bible?
How did King Ahab die?
After three years of peace, Ahab decided to join the king of Judah and attack Syria again. It was in this war that King Ahab was finally destroyed.
Before going into battle, the two kings consulted the prophets, who assured them that they would win. But the king of Judah wanted another opinion. Ahab then sent for a prophet named Micaiah, although he did not like him, because he never prophesied anything good about Ahab (1 Kings 22: 8).
At first, Micaiah said that they would be victorious, but the king insisted that he not lie. Then the prophet revealed that it was a trap, because God wanted Ahab to die. Angered, Ahab arrested Micaiah until he returned from battle (1 Kings 22:26-27).
Ahab decided to enter the war in disguise, but an arrow shot by chance fatally wounded him.
King Ahab’s death exactly fulfilled Elijah’s prophecy, and dogs licked up his blood (1 Kings 22:38). Ahab was buried in Samaria, and his son Ahaziah reigned in his place over Israel. Later, his entire family was wiped out because of his sins.
Who was Ahab the false prophet?
It is also important to mention another man with this name, which was Ahab the false prophet, a man who was denounced by the prophet Jeremiah and deported to Babylon..
This Ahab abused the name of Jehovah, prophesying falsely. He ended up being burned at the stake under the orders of Nebuchadnezzar.
This event was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:21). It is important not to confuse this Ahab with the king we described above.
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