1 Kings 16:29–17:1

Ahab Promotes Idolatry

16:29 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.34 16:30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the sight of35 the Lord than all who were before him. 16:31 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.36 16:32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal he had built in Samaria. 16:33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole; he37 did more to anger the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

16:34 During Ahab’s reign,38 Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho.39 Abiram, his firstborn son, died when he laid the foundation;40 Segub, his youngest son, died when he erected its gates,41 just as the Lord had warned42 through Joshua son of Nun.43

Elijah Visits a Widow in Sidonian Territory

17:1 Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As certainly as the Lord God of Israel lives (whom I serve),1 there will be no dew or rain in the years ahead unless I give the command.”2

34	map For location see Map2-B1; Map4-D3; Map5-E2; Map6-A4; Map7-C1.
35	tn Heb “in the eyes of.”
36	tn Heb “and he went and served Baal and bowed down to him.” sn The Canaanites worshiped Baal as a storm and fertility god.
37	tn Heb “Ahab”; the proper name has been replaced by the pronoun (“he”) in the translation for stylistic reasons.
38	tn Heb “in his days.”
39	map For location see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
40	tn Heb “with Abiram, his firstborn, he founded it.”
41	tn Heb “with Segub, his youngest, he set up its gates.”
42	tn Heb “according to the word of the Lord which he spoke.”
43	sn Warned through Joshua son of Nun. For the background to this statement, see Josh 6:26, where Joshua pronounces a curse on the one who dares to rebuild Jericho. Here that curse is viewed as a prophecy spoken by God through Joshua.
1	tn Heb “before whom I stand.”
2	tn Heb “except at the command of my word.”