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Ahab Promotes Idolatry

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. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of[a] the Lord than all who were before him. 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.[b] 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he[c] did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Kings 16:30 tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
  2. 1 Kings 16:31 tn Heb “and he went and served Baal and bowed down to him.”sn The Canaanites worshiped Baal as a storm and fertility god.
  3. 1 Kings 16:33 tn Heb “Ahab”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.

Ahab King of Israel

29 Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel during Asa’s thirty-eighth year as king of Judah, and Ahab ·ruled [reigned over] Israel in the city of Samaria for twenty-two years. 30 More than any king before him, Ahab son of Omri did ·many things the Lord said were wrong [L evil in the eyes/sight of the Lord]. 31 He ·sinned in the same ways as [L walked in the ways/paths of] Jeroboam son of Nebat, ·but he did even worse things [L as though it were a light/trivial thing]. He married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal, the king of Sidon. Then Ahab began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He built a ·temple [L house] in Samaria for worshiping Baal and put an altar there for Baal. 33 Ahab also ·made an idol for worshiping Asherah [set up an Asherah pole; 14:15]. He did more things to ·provoke [arouse] the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than all the other kings before him.

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