Ahab’s Repentance

The narrative pauses to say there was no one like Ahab in selling himself to evil, especially under Jezebel’s influence, and in following idols like the Amorites.

(²⁵Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel. ²⁶He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)

When Ahab hears the judgment, he tears his clothes, fasts, and walks humbly. The LORD sees this and delays the calamity until his son’s days.

²⁷When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and fasted. He lay down in sackcloth and walked around meekly. ²⁸Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: ²⁹“Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity during his days, but I will bring it upon his house in the days of his son.”