Ahab and Jezebel are two infamous characters from the Old Testament books of 1 and 2 Kings. Ahab was the seventh king of Israel and Jezebel was his Phoenician wife. Together, they were responsible for leading the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry and sin.
When Ahab became king, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon (1 Kings 16:31). Jezebel was zealous in promoting the worship of Baal and Asherah in Israel, even though Yahweh was supposed to be the only God worshipped. She fiercely persecuted the prophets of Yahweh in the land (1 Kings 18:4, 13). Ahab built altars and temples for Baal worship and even erected an Asherah pole (1 Kings 16:32-33). He was complicit in allowing idolatry to spread under his watch.
One major confrontation occurred between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-40). Elijah challenged the people to choose who was the true God. The prophets of Baal could not get their god to send fire, yet when Elijah prayed, God sent fire from heaven. This discredited Baal before the people. Yet Ahab and Jezebel still refused to turn to God.
Later, Ahab desired to own the vineyard of Naboth, which was near the palace in Jezreel. But Naboth refused to sell as it was his ancestral land. At Ahab’s prompting, Jezebel arranged for false charges to be brought against Naboth, who was then stoned to death so Ahab could seize the vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16). This unlawful murder of an innocent man showed the wickedness of Ahab and Jezebel.
The prophet Elijah pronounced judgment on Ahab and Jezebel for this sin. Ahab would see his line cut off and the dogs would lick up Ahab’s blood in the same place the dogs licked Naboth’s blood. And Jezebel would be eaten by dogs within the walls of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:17-24). These judgments came about just as prophesied.
Later, Ahab died in battle at Ramoth-gilead after being struck by an arrow (1 Kings 22:29-40). The dogs licked up his blood from his chariot, in fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy. Some years later, when Jehu ousted Ahab’s son Joram as king, Jezebel was killed and her body was eaten by dogs, leaving only her skull, feet, and hands (2 Kings 9:30-37).
The story of Ahab and Jezebel is a sobering reminder of how idolatry and sin can ruin a nation when its leaders go astray. Ahab and Jezebel led Israel into grievous sin and judgment resulted. But God remained faithful to His word through the prophets who pronounced judgment. Even in the midst of rampant idolatry, God preserved a remnant of faithful believers.
Overall, Ahab and Jezebel illustrate how seductive idolatry and sin can be when people in leadership compromise their commitment to the true God. The lure of power, greed, and false religion led them away from God’s laws. Yet God’s justice prevailed in the end, showing that obedience to Him is always the right choice, no matter what opposition is faced.
The story of Ahab and Jezebel is a warning for all generations concerning the dangers of idolatry, greed, murder, deception, and abuse of power. It reminds us to remain vigilant against wavering commitment to God and His commands. Even when idolatry is popular or politically expedient, we must stay faithful to the one true God.
Though they met violent ends, Ahab and Jezebel were survived by descendants who continued in their evil ways. But Elijah’s prophesies pointed ahead to future judgment that would more fully extinguish Ahab’s line.
Key Events in the Story of Ahab and Jezebel
Here is an overview of some of the major events that feature Ahab and Jezebel:
- Ahab marries Jezebel, a worshipper of Baal, and builds a temple and altar to Baal in Samaria (1 Kings 16:31-32)
- At Jezebel’s urging, Ahab builds shrines and altars to Asherah (1 Kings 16:33)
- Elijah proclaims a drought in Israel because of Ahab’s idolatry (1 Kings 17:1)
- Obadiah hides 100 prophets of the Lord from Jezebel’s persecution (1 Kings 18:4)
- Elijah challenges and defeats the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-40)
- Ahab seizes Naboth’s vineyard after Jezebel arranges Naboth’s judicial murder (1 Kings 21:1-16)
- Elijah pronounces judgments on Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:17-24)
- Ahab dies in battle at Ramoth-gilead, dogs lick up his blood (1 Kings 22:29-40)
- Jehu kills Joram, Ahab’s son, and then has Jezebel thrown from a window to her death (2 Kings 9:30-37)
Ahab’s Rise to Power in Israel
Ahab became king over the northern kingdom of Israel during a troubled time spiritually. The kingdom had divided after Solomon’s reign into two parts – Israel in the north consisting of 10 tribes, and Judah in the south consisting of 2 tribes. The kings of the divided kingdoms were a mix of good and evil rulers.
Right before Ahab, Omri had ruled over Israel and founded a new capital in Samaria (1 Kings 16:24). The Bible says Ahab did more evil in God’s sight than all the kings before him (1 Kings 16:30). A key driver of Ahab’s evil actions was his marriage to Jezebel, daughter of the king of Sidon (1 Kings 16:31). This gave Ahab greater political ties but was disastrous spiritually.
The author of 1 Kings makes it clear that Ahab was deeply influenced by his wife Jezebel. She was zealous and determined to spread the worship of Baal and Asherah in Israel. Since Ahab loved and catered to Jezebel, he allowed the rampant growth of idolatry under his watch. He did not take steps to turn the nation back to the God of their fathers.
Early in his reign, Ahab built a temple and altar for Baal worship in Samaria. He also constructed an Asherah pole, which was a sacred pole representing the goddess Asherah (1 Kings 16:32-33). Ahab was likely influenced both by his political motivations to align with Phoenicia and by the weaker faith of the northern tribes compared to Judah. But Scripture is clear he was responsible for not leading the nation to follow the Lord.
The idolatry of Israel under Ahab shows the tragic consequences of compromise with surrounding pagan nations. Ahab allowed political expediency and earthly perspectives to take priority rather than boldly leading Israel to follow the Lord and Him alone.
Jezebel’s Scheming Against Naboth
One of the most notorious acts tracing to Jezebel was the conspiracy to murder an innocent man named Naboth. This episode revealed the unchecked greed and thirst for power residing in Ahab and Jezebel’s hearts.
Naboth owned a vineyard in Jezreel adjacent to King Ahab’s palace. Ahab offered to buy or trade for the vineyard since it was convenient for him. But Naboth refused, as that vineyard was his ancestral property (1 Kings 21:2-3).
Ahab was depressed and sullen over Naboth’s refusal, so Jezebel promised to obtain the vineyard for him. She wrote orders in Ahab’s name and had the elders falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king. Naboth was dragged outside the city and stoned to death (1 Kings 21:7-13).
After Naboth was killed, Ahab took possession of the vineyard he had coveted (1 Kings 21:16). But the Lord was angry at both Ahab and Jezebel for murdering an innocent man. Through Elijah the prophet, God pronounced severe judgments on Ahab and Jezebel (1 Kings 21:17-24).
This episode illustrates how far Ahab and Jezebel were willing to go to satisfy their selfish desires. They showed no regard for God’s law in scheming to murder Naboth. Their actions displayed an ends-justify-the-means mentality.
The Lord brought just recompense on both Ahab and Jezebel. Ahab died in battle just as the prophet foretold, and Jezebel was thrown from a window to her death and eaten by dogs. Their lust for power led to their downfall.
The Confrontation at Mount Carmel
One of the most dramatic moments in Ahab and Jezebel’s story was the contest at Mount Carmel between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. This came after Elijah had pronounced a 3-year drought on Israel due to their idolatry.
When the drought’s end drew near, Elijah summoned all Israel to Mount Carmel along with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah who ate at Jezebel’s table (1 Kings 18:19). Elijah told the people to choose who was truly God – Baal or the Lord.
The prophets of Baal could not get their god to consume their sacrifice with fire. Yet when Elijah prayed, the Lord instantly sent fire from heaven to burn up Elijah’s altar and sacrifice (1 Kings 18:20-38). The people fell on their faces declaring “The Lord, he is God!” (1 Kings 18:39). Then Elijah had the prophets of Baal slaughtered.
When Ahab told Jezebel all that had happened, she threatened to kill Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-2). This reveals that even after such an astonishing miracle, Jezebel stubbornly refused to acknowledge the Lord. Her heart was devious and set against God’s prophets.
The contest at Mount Carmel was a tremendous victory for God’s truth. Though later Ahab and Jezebel persisted in their rebellion, this event discredited Baal before Israel and showed the Lord’s superiority. It was a pivotal moment in the struggle against idolatry in Israel.
Judgments on Ahab and Jezebel
After Naboth’s murder, Elijah pronounced God’s judgments on both Ahab and Jezebel. These prophesies highlighted how seriously God took the sins perpetrated under their leadership.
For Ahab, Elijah declared that his royal line would come to an end and that dogs would lick up his blood in the same place they licked up Naboth’s blood (1 Kings 21:21-22). This occurred just as prophesied when Ahab died in battle at Ramoth-gilead (1 Kings 22:29-38).
For Jezebel, Elijah prophesied that dogs would eat her flesh within the walls of Jezreel (1 Kings 21:23). This was fulfilled when Jehu had Jezebel thrown down from her palace window in Jezreel and the dogs ate her flesh (2 Kings 9:30-37). Only her skull, feet and hands remained.
These gruesome deaths served as reminders of God’s justice against those who murder and spread idolatry. Though Ahab and Jezebel lived wickedly, God’s word through Elijah was vindicated. Their judgments showed that no one, not even kings and queens, can evade God’s decrees.
In the end, Ahab and Jezebel’s legacy was one of leading Israel into grievous idolatry and sin. But God remained faithful to His word and His prophets. The righteous standards of God’s kingdom prevailed over the corruption propagated by these evil rulers.
The story of Ahab and Jezebel has continued to serve as a cautionary tale regarding the dangers of idolatry, greed and corruption of power. Their lives illustrate the destruction that results when leaders oppose God’s truth and ignore His commands. May we all learn from their failings.