Who was Jezebel’s Husband?
In the Old Testament, Jezebel was a Princess and Queen of ancient Israel. According to theological history, Jezebel was a wicked queen who misled the Jews from serving their true...
Tagged: King Ahab
King Ahab was one of the kings of the northern Kingdom of Israel during the time of the divided monarchy in ancient Israel.
Reign of King Ahab
Ahab reigned over Israel from approximately 874–853 BC. He was the son of King Omri, and his reign followed that of his father.
Wife
Ahab’s wife was Jezebel, a Phoenician princess. Jezebel is often remembered for her efforts to promote the worship of the Phoenician god Baal in Israel, as well as for her conflicts with the prophet Elijah.
Religious Tension
A major theme during Ahab’s reign was the tension between the worship of the Canaanite god Baal (promoted by Jezebel) and the worship of Yahweh (the God of Israel). This religious conflict was epitomized in the biblical account of the contest on Mount Carmel between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18).
Military Campaigns
Ahab had several military campaigns, including those against the Arameans. In one notable battle, he formed an alliance with Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, to retake Ramoth-Gilead from the Arameans, but he died in the battle.
Naboth’s Vineyard
One of the most infamous stories associated with Ahab is his coveting of Naboth’s vineyard. When Naboth refused to sell his vineyard, Jezebel orchestrated a scheme to have Naboth falsely accused and executed, after which Ahab took possession of the vineyard. This act brought severe condemnation from the prophet Elijah.
How did King Ahab die?
King Ahab, in alliance with Jehoshaphat of Judah, tried to reclaim Ramoth-Gilead from the Arameans. Although Ahab disguised himself in battle, a stray arrow fatally wounded him. As prophesied by Elijah, dogs licked Ahab’s blood. The Septuagint adds that pigs did too, marking him unclean to Israelites who avoided pork. Ahab’s sons, Ahaziah and Jehoram, succeeded him.
In a stark contrast, Jezebel met a grisly end. Jehu’s servants threw her from a window, leading to her death. Dogs consumed her body, leaving only her skull, feet, and palms, fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy.
Biblical Evaluation
The biblical account in 1 and 2 Kings portrays Ahab as doing “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). Much of this negative assessment stems from his allowance and promotion of Baal worship due to the influence of Jezebel.
WHE’s Take
Despite the predominantly negative portrayal of Ahab in the biblical text, archaeological findings, such as the inscriptions from the Mesha Stele, indicate that he was a significant and influential ruler in the geopolitics of the Levant during his time.
