1 Kings 16:29-34·~1 min

Ahab Reigns in Israel, Marries Jezebel

Ahab begins a long reign in Samaria and is judged worse than all before him. He treats Jeroboam’s sins as too little, marries Jezebel, serves Baal, and gives that worship public form through an altar, a temple, and an Asherah.

I²⁹n the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. ³⁰However, Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. ³¹And as if it were not enough for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he even married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and he then proceeded to serve and worship Baal. ³²First, Ahab set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria. ³³Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.

During Ahab’s days, Hiel rebuilds Jericho, and the work costs him his firstborn and youngest son, just as the LORD had spoken through Joshua.

³⁴In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.

Section summaryAhab’s reign is introduced as a new depth of evil. He not only continues Jeroboam’s sins but joins himself to Jezebel, builds for Baal in Samaria, and in his days even Jericho is rebuilt at the cost Joshua’s word had once named.

Role in the chapterThis closing section brings the chapter to its darkest point. It sets Ahab apart from earlier kings and opens the larger conflict that will dominate the chapters that follow.