1 Kings 16:23-34

Common English Bible

²³ In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king of Israel. He ruled for twelve years, six of which were in Tirzah. ²⁴ He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two kikkars of silver. He fortified the hill and named the town that he built there after Shemer, the previous owner of the hill of Samaria. ²⁵ Omri did evil in the Lord’s eyes, more evil than anyone who preceded him. ²⁶ He walked in all the ways and sins of Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, because he caused Israel to sin. They angered Israel’s God, the Lord, with their worthless idols. ²⁷ The rest of Omri’s deeds and his powerful acts, aren’t they written in the official records of Israel’s kings? ²⁸ Omri lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab succeeded him as king.

Ahab rules Israel

²⁹ In the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa, Ahab, Omri’s son, became king of Israel. He ruled over Israel in Samaria for twenty-two years ³⁰ and did evil in the Lord’s eyes, more than anyone who preceded him. ³¹ Ahab found it easy to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, Nebat’s son. He married Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, who was the king of the Sidonians. He served and worshipped Baal. ³² He made an altar for Baal in the Baal temple he had constructed in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made a sacred pole^[a] and did more to anger the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of Israel’s kings who preceded him. ³⁴ During Ahab’s time, Hiel from Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He set up its foundations at the cost of his oldest son Abiram. He hung its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub. This fulfilled the Lord’s word spoken through Joshua, Nun’s son.