Ahab

Technical Profile

• Name Meaning: Hebrew ’Aḥ’āv (“father’s brother/uncle”), a common West Semitic-style name.
• Period/Era: Divided Kingdom
• Main References: 1 Kings 16:29–22:40; 2 Kings 1; 2 Chronicles 18
• Key Connections: Omri (father); Jezebel (wife); Elijah and Micaiah (prophets); Ben-hadad of Aram (political rival)

Who was Ahab?

Ahab was king of Israel (Northern Kingdom), son of Omri, ruling from Samaria.
He married Jezebel of Sidon and supported the worship of Baal alongside Israel’s God.
His reign is repeatedly evaluated negatively in Kings for intensifying Israel’s covenant unfaithfulness.
He is best known for confrontations with the prophet Elijah and for his death in battle.

Key Events & Achievements

• Baal promotion: Built a temple and altar for Baal in Samaria under Jezebel’s influence (1 Kings 16:31–33).
• Mount Carmel contest: Faced Elijah in a public challenge that exposed the weakness of Baal’s prophets (1 Kings 18).
• Naboth’s vineyard: Acquired Naboth’s land after Naboth’s judicial killing, leading to Elijah’s oracle of judgment (1 Kings 21).

Life Lesson & Legacy

Ahab’s rule illustrates how royal power and foreign alliances could accelerate Israel’s departure from covenant obligations and provoke prophetic opposition.

Key Verse

"And Ahab made an Asherah. 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, ESV