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And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.
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Ahab Reigns in Israel
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri began to reign over Israel, and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years.
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And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him.
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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.
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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 Confronts Ahab
After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.”
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So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.
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And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly,
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And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save 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 give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me?
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And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared 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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The Prophets of Baal Defeated
So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
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The Lord Sends Rain
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.”
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So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
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And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
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And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.
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And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
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Elijah Flees 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 Syria
Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed in on Samaria and fought against it.
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And he sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad:
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Ahab Defeats Ben-hadad
And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the Lord, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
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And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the Lord, By the servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall begin the battle?” He answered, “You.”
