Ahab

Ahab
Ahab
	from Promptuarium Iconum Insigniorum
King of Northern Israel
Reign	c. 874 – c. 853 BC
Predecessor	Omri
Successor	Ahaziah
Died	c. 853 BC; Ramoth-Gilead, Syria
Burial	Samaria, Kingdom of Israel
Consort	Jezebel of Sidon
Issue	Ahaziah of Israel; Jehoram of Israel; Athaliah of Judah;
Dynasty	Omrides
Father	Omri

Ahab (/ˈeɪhæb/; Hebrew: אַחְאָב, Modern: ʾAḥʾav, Tiberian: ʾAḥʾāḇ; Akkadian: 𒀀𒄩𒀊𒁍 Aḫâbbu; Koinē Greek: Ἀχαάβ Achaáb; Latin: Achab) was the son and successor of King Omri and the husband of Jezebel of Sidon, according to the Hebrew Bible.^[2] He was widely criticized for causing "moral decline" in Israel, according to the Yahwists. But modern scholars argue that Ahab was a Yahwist and introduced his god to the Kingdom of Judah via imperialism. This mostly occurred in the latter half of his reign.^[3]^[4]^[5]

The existence of Ahab is historically supported outside the Bible. Shalmaneser III of Assyria documented in 853 BC that he defeated an alliance of a dozen kings in the Battle of Qarqar; one of these was Ahab. He is also mentioned on the inscriptions of the Mesha Stele.^[6]

Ahab became king of Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa of Judah, and reigned for twenty-two years, according to 1 Kings.^[7] William F. Albright dated his reign to 869–850 BC, while Edwin R. Thiele offered the dates 874–853 BC.^[8] Most recently, Michael Coogan has dated Ahab's reign to 871–852 BC.^[9]

^ For a discussion about whether Athaliah was actually the daughter of Ahab or Ahab's father Omri, see Klein, Reuven Chaim (2014). "Queen Athaliah: The Daughter of Ahab or Omri?" (PDF). Jewish Bible Quarterly. 42 (1): 11–20.
^ 1 Kings 16:29–34
^ Grabbe, Lester (2017). p. 183-184. Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-0-567-67043-4. “ His chief palace overseer Obadiah was a devoted Yhwh worshipper, and Ahab could hardly have been ignorant of that (1 Kgs 17.3). Furthermore, his two sons had theophoric names that contained a form of the divine name Yhwh (Ahaziah [1 Kgs 22.40] and Jehoram [2 Kgs 1.17]), which would hardly have been the case if he had been a Baal worshipper.”
^ Frevel, Christian (2021). "When and from Where did YHWH Emerge? Some Reflections on Early Yahwism in Israel and Judah". Entangled Religions. 12 (2) – via RUB.
^ Stahl, Michael J. (2023). "Yahweh or Baal- Who Was the God of Northern Israel?". Biblical Archaeology Review. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024.
^ Finkelstein & Silberman 2002, pp. 169–195.
^ 1 Kings 16:29
^ Thiele 1965.
^ Coogan 2009, p. 237.

[1] For a discussion about whether Athaliah was actually the daughter of Ahab or Ahab's father Omri, see Klein, Reuven Chaim (2014). "Queen Athaliah: The Daughter of Ahab or Omri?" (PDF). Jewish Bible Quarterly. 42 (1): 11–20.

[2] 1 Kings 16:29–34

[3] Grabbe, Lester (2017). p. 183-184. Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?. Bloomsbury. ISBN 978-0-567-67043-4. “ His chief palace overseer Obadiah was a devoted Yhwh worshipper, and Ahab could hardly have been ignorant of that (1 Kgs 17.3). Furthermore, his two sons had theophoric names that contained a form of the divine name Yhwh (Ahaziah [1 Kgs 22.40] and Jehoram [2 Kgs 1.17]), which would hardly have been the case if he had been a Baal worshipper.”

[Frevel_2021-4] Frevel, Christian (2021). "When and from Where did YHWH Emerge? Some Reflections on Early Yahwism in Israel and Judah". Entangled Religions. 12 (2) – via RUB.

[:32-5] Stahl, Michael J. (2023). "Yahweh or Baal- Who Was the God of Northern Israel?". Biblical Archaeology Review. Archived from the original on April 18, 2024.

[FOOTNOTEFinkelsteinSilberman2002169–195-6] Finkelstein & Silberman 2002, pp. 169–195.

[7] 1 Kings 16:29

[FOOTNOTEThiele1965-8] Thiele 1965.

[FOOTNOTECoogan2009237-9] Coogan 2009, p. 237.

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