Read 1 Kings 16.29-34. In 16.29-34: The beginning of Ahab's reign. Like his father, Ahab was also a powerful king. His prominence in the Bible, however, is due to religious reasons. He is regarded as the most wicked king of Israel (v. 33), largely because of his wife, Jezebel (v. 32). His reign also stands out in 1 Kings as the setting of the Elijah stories. In verse 31: Jezebel means "Where is the prince?" and comes from ritual lamentation in the worship of Baal. Ethbaal means "Baal exists." These names set the stage for the conflict between the Lord (Yahweh) and Baal in the following stories. Ethbaal was king of Tyre, a city-state of the Phoenicians, who are here called Sidonians. In verse 34: This verse alludes to the curse in Josh 6.26. It is unclear whether at the cost of implies accidental death of the sons or deliberate sacrifice. The practice of burying children in the foundation of buildings to bring good fortune is known from elsewhere in the ancient Near East. Comments or Questions..
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