King Ahab

How He Became King: After his father Omri died
When He Began Reigning: Uncertain
Reign Length: 22 years
Ruled Over: Israel
Type of King: Evil
Prophet: Elijah, Micaiah
Death: Killed in battle
Burial: Buried in Samaria

Ahab became king after his father Omri died. He reigned for 22 years, and he was even more wicked than the rulers who came before him:

I Kings 16:29: “And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years.
30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.”

King Ahab married the wicked woman Jezebel and worshiped Baal:

1 Kings 16:31: “And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.
33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.”

Elijah the prophet had his ministry during the reign of Ahab. Elijah told Ahab that there would be no rain but by his word, and there was no rain for three years. Ahab tried to find Elijah so he could kill him, but the Lord watched over Elijah and protected him. In the third year God told Elijah to go to Ahab, and the prophet challenged the king to a contest:

I Kings 18:17: “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.”

Elijah said that both sides were to build altars, but neither were to light their sacrifices. Instead they were to call out to their gods and ask their gods to light the sacrifices for them, in order to prove that they were the true God. The servants of Baal spent hours calling out, but nothing happened and their sacrifice remained unlit. When Elijah called out to God, though, fire came down from Heaven and consumed both the sacrifice and the altar itself (1 Kings 18:20-38).

Elijah then commanded that the prophets of Baal be killed. After they were dead, Elijah told Ahab that it was going to rain (I Kings 18:41-45).

When Jezebel heard what had happened, she said that she was going to kill Elijah:

1 Kings 19:2: “Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.”

Elijah then fled to Horeb, where God spoke to him and told him to anoint Jehu as king over Israel.

Benhadad, king of Syria, fought against Samaria. When God delivered them into Ahab’s hands the king defeated them, but instead of destroying them he made peace with Benhadad and sent him away. God sent a prophet to tell Ahab that since he refused to kill Benhadad, God would kill him instead:

I Kings 20:42: “And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people.
43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.”

After this Ahab saw Naboth’s vineyard and coveted it. Ahab tried to purchase it, but Naboth refused to sell it. When the king told Jezebel about this, she arranged for Naboth to be murdered. After Naboth was dead the king seized his vineyard. Elijah met him there and told the king that the dogs would lick his blood in the same place where they licked Naboth’s blood:

I Kings 21:17: “And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it.
19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.”

Furthermore, God said that He was going to destroy Ahab’s house as utterly and completely as He had destroyed Jeroboam’s house:

1 Kings 21:21: “Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel,
22 And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin.”

However, when Ahab put on sackcloth and wept, God said that He would bring the judgment in the days of Ahab’s sons, and not in Ahab’s days.

When Ahab went to attack Ramothgilead, he persuaded Jehoshaphat (the king of Judah) to help him in battle. The prophet Micaiah warned them that the battle would not lead to victory:

I Kings 22:15: “So he came to the king. And the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go against Ramothgilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
16 And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou tell me nothing but that which is true in the name of the Lord?
17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the Lord said, These have no master: let them return every man to his house in peace.”

Ahab became angry with Micaiah and had him thrown in prison. However, Micaiah was correct. During the battle Ahab was shot by a chance arrow and wounded, and he died of his injuries:

I Kings 22:34: “And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.
35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
36 And there went a proclamation throughout the host about the going down of the sun, saying, Every man to his city, and every man to his own country.
37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria.
38 And one washed the chariot in the pool of Samaria; and the dogs licked up his blood; and they washed his armour; according unto the word of the Lord which he spake.”

After he died, his body was brought back to Samaria and buried. His son Ahaziah then ruled over Israel in his stead.