Jump to: Hitchcock's • Smith's • ATS • ISBE • Easton's • Concordance • Thesaurus • Greek • Hebrew • Library • Subtopics • Terms Topical Encyclopedia Ahab, the son of Omri, was the seventh king of Israel and reigned in Samaria for 22 years during the 9th century BC (1 Kings 16:29). His reign is notably marked by his marriage to Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, which led to significant religious and moral decline in Israel. Ahab's account is primarily recorded in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles.Religious Apostasy and Idolatry Ahab's marriage to Jezebel had profound religious implications for Israel. Jezebel was a fervent worshiper of Baal, and under her influence, Ahab erected an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria (1 Kings 16:32). This act of idolatry was a direct violation of the covenantal laws given to Israel, which prohibited the worship of foreign gods. The Bible records that Ahab "did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him" (1 Kings 16:33). Conflict with Elijah Ahab's reign is also characterized by his tumultuous relationship with the prophet Elijah. Elijah, a staunch opponent of Baal worship, confronted Ahab on several occasions. One of the most dramatic encounters occurred on Mount Carmel, where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest to demonstrate the power of the true God. The LORD answered Elijah's prayer with fire from heaven, leading to the defeat of the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:20-40). Naboth's Vineyard Ahab's moral failings are further exemplified in the account of Naboth's vineyard. Ahab desired the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which was adjacent to his palace. When Naboth refused to sell his ancestral inheritance, Jezebel orchestrated a plot to have Naboth falsely accused and executed. After Naboth's death, Ahab took possession of the vineyard. This act of injustice prompted Elijah to deliver a severe prophecy against Ahab, declaring that disaster would befall his house (1 Kings 21:1-24). Military Campaigns and Death Ahab engaged in several military campaigns during his reign, including battles against Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. Despite initial victories, Ahab's alliances and decisions often reflected his lack of reliance on the LORD. In a final attempt to reclaim Ramoth-gilead from the Arameans, Ahab disguised himself in battle but was struck by a random arrow and died from his wounds (1 Kings 22:29-37). Legacy Ahab's legacy is one of apostasy and moral corruption, largely influenced by his marriage to Jezebel. His reign is a cautionary tale of the consequences of turning away from the LORD and embracing idolatry. The prophetic judgments pronounced against Ahab and his house were fulfilled, as his dynasty was eventually eradicated by Jehu, fulfilling the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah (2 Kings 9:7-10). Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary AhabSmith's Bible Dictionary Ahab(uncle).
ATS Bible Dictionary Ahab1. The sixth king of Israel, succeeded his father Omri B. C. 918, and reigned twenty-two years. His wife was Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal king of Tyre; an ambitious and passionate idolatress, through whose influence the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth was introduced in Israel. Ahab erected in Samaria a house of Baal, and set up images of Baal and Ashtoreth; idolatry and wickedness became fearfully prevalent, and the king "did more to provoke the Lord to anger than all the kings that were before him." In the midst of this great apostasy, God visited the land with three years of drought and famine; and then, at Mount Carmel, reproved idolatry by fire from heaven, and by the destruction of four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. About six years later, Ben-hadad, king of Syria, invaded Israel with a great army, but was ignominiously defeated; and still more disastrously the year after, when Ahab took him captive, but soon released him, and thus incurred the displeasure of God. In spite of the warnings and mercies of Providence, Ahab went on in sin; and at length, after the murder of Naboth, his crimes and abominable idolatries were such that God sent Elijah to denounce judgments upon him and his seed. These were in part deferred, however, by his apparent humiliation. Soon after, having gone with Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, to regain Ramoth-gilead from the Syrians, and joined battle with them in defiance of Jehovah, he was slain, and dogs licked up his blood at the pool of Samaria, 1 Kings 16:29-22:40. 2. A false prophet, who seduced the Israelites at Babylon, and was denounced by Jeremiah, Jeremiah 29:21,22. Easton's Bible Dictionary Father's brother. (1.) The son of Omri, whom he succeeded as the seventh king of Israel. His history is recorded in 1 Kings 16-22. His wife was Jezebel (q.v.), who exercised a very evil influence over him. To the calf-worship introduced by Jeroboam he added the worship of Baal. He was severely admonished by Elijah (q.v.) for his wickedness. His anger was on this account kindled against the prophet, and he sought to kill him. He undertook three campaigns against Ben-hadad II., king of Damascus. In the first two, which were defensive, he gained a complete victory over Ben-hadad, who fell into his hands, and was afterwards released on the condition of his restoring all the cities of Israel he then held, and granting certain other concessions to Ahab. After three years of peace, for some cause Ahab renewed war (1 Kings 22:3) with Ben-hadad by assaulting the city of Ramoth-gilead, although the prophet Micaiah warned him that he would not succeed, and that the 400 false prophets who encouraged him were only leading him to his ruin. Micaiah was imprisoned for thus venturing to dissuade Ahab from his purpose. Ahab went into the battle disguised, that he might if possible escape the notice of his enemies; but an arrow from a bow "drawn at a venture" pierced him, and though stayed up in his chariot for a time he died towards evening, and Elijah's prophecy (1 Kings 21:19) was fulfilled. He reigned twenty-three years. Because of his idolatry, lust, and covetousness, Ahab is referred to as pre-eminently the type of a wicked king (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chronicles 22:3; Micah 6:16). (2.) A false prophet referred to by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 29:21), of whom nothing further is known. International Standard Bible Encyclopedia AHABa'-hab ('ach'abh, Assyrian a-cha-ab-bu; Septuagint Achaab, but Jeremiah 29:21, Achiab, which, in analogy with '-h-y- m-l-k, (')-h-y-'-l, etc., indicates an original 'achi'abh, meaning "the father is my brother"): The compound probably signifies that "the father," referring to God, has been chosen as a brother. AHAB AND ZEDEKIAH a'-hab, zed-e-ki'-a ('ach'abh, "uncle"; tsidhqiyahu, "Yahweh is my righteousness"): Ahab, son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah, son of Maaseiah, were two prophets against whom Jeremiah uttered an oracle for prophesying falsely in the name of Yahweh, and for immoral conduct. They should be delivered over to Nebuchadrezzar and be slain, and the captives of Judah that were in Babylon should take up the curse concerning them. "Yahweh make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the King of Babylon roasted in the fire" (Jeremiah 29:21). Greek 2403. Iezabel -- Jezebel, the symbolic name of a false prophetess ... ed-zab-ale') Short Definition: Jezebel Definition: Jezebel, name given to a false prophetess of Thyatira, possibly borrowed from the name of Ahab's wife, queen ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2403.htm - 6k Strong's Hebrew 158. ahab -- love (noun)... 157, 158. ahab. 159 . love (noun). Transliteration: ahab Phonetic Spelling: (ah'-hab) Short Definition: lovers. ... see HEBREW 'ahab. 157, 158. ahab. 159 . ... /hebrew/158.htm - 6k 348. Izebel -- queen of Isr. with King Ahab 6271. Athalyah -- daughter of Ahab, also three Israelites 256. Achab -- "father's brother," a king of Isr., also a false ... 160. ahabah -- love (noun) 159. ohab -- love (noun) Library Ahab and Micaiah Ahab and Elijah Ahab and Naboth At that Time, Ahab, King of Samaria, Coveted the vineyard of ... How Ahab when He had Taken Jezebel to Wife Became More Wicked than ... Ahab the Thief The End of Ahab's Selfish Family Concerning Jehoshaphat the King of Jerusalem and How Ahab Made an ... How Hadad King of Damascus and of Syria, Made Two Expeditions ... The Fall of the House of Ahab Thesaurus Ahab (85 Occurrences)... his hands, and was afterwards released on the condition of his restoring all the cities of Israel he then held, and granting certain other concessions to Ahab. ... /a/ahab.htm - 52k Ahab's (14 Occurrences) Naboth (18 Occurrences) Micaiah (27 Occurrences) Jeho'ram (21 Occurrences) Jezreelite (9 Occurrences) Jizreel (30 Occurrences) Reigneth (54 Occurrences) Mesha (4 Occurrences) Ahazi'ah (33 Occurrences) Resources What is an Ahab spirit? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Naboth in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Micaiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Ahab (85 Occurrences)1 Kings 16:28 1 Kings 16:29 1 Kings 16:30 1 Kings 16:33 1 Kings 17:1 1 Kings 18:1 1 Kings 18:2 1 Kings 18:3 1 Kings 18:5 1 Kings 18:6 1 Kings 18:9 1 Kings 18:12 1 Kings 18:15 1 Kings 18:16 1 Kings 18:17 1 Kings 18:20 1 Kings 18:41 1 Kings 18:42 1 Kings 18:44 1 Kings 18:45 1 Kings 18:46 1 Kings 19:1 1 Kings 20:2 1 Kings 20:10 1 Kings 20:13 1 Kings 20:14 1 Kings 20:33 1 Kings 20:34 1 Kings 21:1 1 Kings 21:2 1 Kings 21:3 1 Kings 21:4 1 Kings 21:8 1 Kings 21:15 1 Kings 21:16 1 Kings 21:18 1 Kings 21:20 1 Kings 21:21 1 Kings 21:24 1 Kings 21:25 1 Kings 21:27 1 Kings 21:29 1 Kings 22:20 1 Kings 22:39 1 Kings 22:40 1 Kings 22:41 1 Kings 22:49 1 Kings 22:51 2 Kings 1:1 2 Kings 3:1 2 Kings 3:5 2 Kings 8:16 2 Kings 8:18 2 Kings 8:25 2 Kings 8:27 2 Kings 8:28 2 Kings 8:29 2 Kings 9:7 2 Kings 9:8 2 Kings 9:9 2 Kings 9:25 2 Kings 9:29 2 Kings 10:1 2 Kings 10:10 2 Kings 10:11 2 Kings 10:17 2 Kings 10:18 2 Kings 10:30 2 Kings 21:3 2 Kings 21:13 2 Chronicles 18:1 2 Chronicles 18:2 2 Chronicles 18:3 2 Chronicles 18:19 2 Chronicles 21:6 2 Chronicles 21:13 2 Chronicles 22:3 2 Chronicles 22:4 2 Chronicles 22:5 2 Chronicles 22:6 2 Chronicles 22:7 2 Chronicles 22:8 Jeremiah 29:21 Jeremiah 29:22 Micah 6:16 Subtopics Ahab: King of Israel: Closing History and Death of Ahab: King of Israel: Defeats Ben-Hadad Ahab: King of Israel: Fraudulently Confiscates Naboth's Vineyard Ahab: King of Israel: Idolatry of Ahab: King of Israel: Marries Jezebel Ahab: King of Israel: Other Wickedness of Ahab: King of Israel: Prophecies Against Ahab: King of Israel: Reproved by Elijah; Assembles the Prophets of Baal Ahab: King of Israel: Sons of, Murdered Ahab: King of Israel: Succeeded by his Son, Ahaziah Related Terms |