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Omri slept with his ancestors, and was buried in Samaria; his son Ahab succeeded him.
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Ahab Reigns over Israel
In the thirty-eighth year of King Asa of Judah, Ahab son of Omri began to reign over Israel; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.
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Ahab son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him.
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Ahab Marries Jezebel and Worships Baal
And as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as his wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshiped him.
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Ahab also made a sacred pole. Ahab did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than had all the kings of Israel who were before him.
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Elijah Predicts a Drought
Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”
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Elijah’s Message to Ahab
After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab; I will send rain on the earth.”
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So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.
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Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. (Now Obadiah revered the Lord greatly;
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Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the wadis; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.”
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So they divided the land between them to pass through it; Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself.
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And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would hand your servant over to Ahab, to kill me?
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As soon as I have gone from you, the spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where; so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have revered the Lord from my youth.
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So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
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When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”
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Elijah’s Triumph over the Priests of Baal
So Ahab sent to all the Israelites, and assembled the prophets at Mount Carmel.
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The Drought Ends
Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of rushing rain.”
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So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees.
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At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
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In a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind; there was a heavy rain. Ahab rode off and went to Jezreel.
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But the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran in front of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
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Elijah Flees from Jezebel
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.
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Ahab’s Wars with the Arameans
King Ben-hadad of Aram gathered all his army together; thirty-two kings were with him, along with horses and chariots. He marched against Samaria, laid siege to it, and attacked it.
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Then he sent messengers into the city to King Ahab of Israel, and said to him: “Thus says Ben-hadad:
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Prophetic Opposition to Ahab
Then a certain prophet came up to King Ahab of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Look, I will give it into your hand today; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
