Ahab Begins to Reign and Marries Jezebel

In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri began to reign over Israel. He reigned in Samaria for twenty-two years. The passage introduces his reign with a grave verdict: Ahab did evil in the Lord’s sight more than the kings before him.

Ahab did not only walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat. He also married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. Then Ahab went and served Baal and worshipped him, turning away from the Lord, the God of Israel.

Ahab built a house for Baal in Samaria and raised an altar for Baal there. He also made the Asherah. The writer says Ahab provoked the Lord, the God of Israel, more than all the earlier kings of Israel had done.

During Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. When he laid its foundation, Abiram his firstborn was lost, and when he set up its gates, Segub his youngest was lost. This happened according to the Lord’s word spoken through Joshua son of Nun.

These verses open Ahab’s reign with warning signs. Israel’s king turned to Baal worship, and an old word from the Lord proved true in Jericho. Before Elijah even appears, the story shows how serious Ahab’s days would be.