1 Kings 16:29-34

Ahab Promotes Idolatry

16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Omri’s son Ahab became king over Israel. Ahab son of Omri ruled over Israel for twenty-two years in Samaria. ¹  16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of ²  the Lord than all who were before him. 16:31 As if following in the sinful footsteps of Jeroboam son of Nebat were not bad enough, he married Jezebel the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians. Then he worshiped and bowed to Baal. ³  16:32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. 16:33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he ⁴  did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

16:34 During Ahab’s reign, ⁵  Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. ⁶  Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation; ⁷  Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates, ⁸  just as the Lord had warned ⁹  through Joshua son of Nun. ¹⁰ 

[16:29]  ¹ map For location see Map2 B1; Map4 D3; Map5 E2; Map6 A4; Map7 C1.

[16:30]  ² tn Heb “in the eyes of.”

[16:31]  ³ tn Heb “and he went and served Baal and bowed down to him.”

[16:33]  ⁴ tn Heb “Ahab”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

[16:34]  ⁵ tn Heb “in his days.”

[16:34]  ⁶ map For location see Map5 B2; Map6 E1; Map7 E1; Map8 E3; Map10 A2; Map11 A1.

[16:34]  ⁷ tn Heb “with Abiram, his firstborn, he founded it.”

[16:34]  ⁸ tn Heb “with Segub, his youngest, he set up its gates.”

[16:34]  ⁹ tn Heb “according to the word of the Lord which he spoke.”

[16:34]  ¹⁰ sn Warned through Joshua son of Nun. For the background to this statement, see Josh 6:26, where Joshua pronounces a curse on the one who dares to rebuild Jericho. Here that curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by God through Joshua.