Ahab facts for kids
Ahab was a king of Israel and the son of King Omri. His story is told in the ancient books of the Books of Kings and the Books of Chronicles in the Bible.
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Ahab's Time as King
The Bible says that King Ahab did "more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him." Many people believe this was because of his wife, Queen Jezebel. She was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. Jezebel was even more sinful than Ahab. She often told Ahab what to do. She worshipped an idol called Baal and tried to make Ahab and all the Israelites worship Baal too.
One of Ahab's main opponents was an old prophet, a man of God, named Elijah. Elijah often told Ahab off for not obeying God. Once, Ahab gathered all the prophets of Baal to face Elijah at Mount Carmel. Elijah won by calling on God, and fire came down to burn his sacrifice. The Israelites then killed the prophets of Baal. Even during this big event, Ahab did not stop or help Elijah.
Battles with Ben-Hadad
King Ahab fought a well-known war against Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram. Ben-Hadad came with many kings, horses, and chariots. He attacked Samaria, the capital city.
Ben-Hadad first demanded Ahab's silver, gold, wives, and children. King Ahab agreed to this. But then, Ben-Hadad sent another, more demanding message. He said he would send his officials to take anything Ahab valued. King Ahab became annoyed and refused this new demand. So, Ben-Hadad decided to battle against Ahab.
Then, God sent a prophet to Ahab. The prophet told Ahab that God would help him defeat Ben-Hadad's huge army. God wanted Ahab to know that He was the Lord. The prophet also said that young officers would start the battle.
Ahab was encouraged. He gathered 232 young officers and 7,000 other Israelites. They attacked at noon while Ben-Hadad and his 32 kings were feasting. Ahab's army defeated them all.
Later, Ben-Hadad came back with his army. They came to the valleys. Ben-Hadad's army thought God was only a "god of hills," so they believed they would win in the valleys. But God wanted to show that He was the God of everything. So, He helped Ahab defeat them there too. Ahab then let Ben-Hadad live. This made God angry. Through a prophet, God told Ahab that because he had spared a man God wanted to die, Ahab's life would be taken for Ben-Hadad's.
Naboth's Vineyard
Ahab also committed a great sin that made God very angry. It involved a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth the Jezreelite.
Ahab wanted Naboth's vineyard because it was near his palace in Jezreel. Ahab offered Naboth a better vineyard or money for it. But Naboth refused. He said God forbid him from giving away his family's inheritance.
Ahab became very angry and sad. He went home, wouldn't eat, and pouted on his bed. Jezebel asked him why he was so sad. Ahab explained the situation. Jezebel told him to get up and said she would get him Naboth's vineyard.
So, Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his royal seal. She sent them to the leaders in Naboth's city. The letters told them to announce a day of fasting. They were to seat Naboth in a special place. Then, two dishonest men would falsely accuse Naboth of cursing God and the king. After that, they were to take Naboth out and stone him to death.
The leaders did exactly as Jezebel commanded. Naboth died a sad and unfair death.
Jezebel then told Ahab that Naboth was dead. Ahab immediately went to take possession of Naboth's vineyard. God was very angry about this. He told Elijah the prophet to go meet Ahab. Elijah was to tell Ahab that because he had murdered a man and stolen his property, dogs would lick up Ahab's blood in the same place where they licked Naboth's blood.
When Ahab met Elijah, he said, "So you have found me, my enemy!"
Elijah replied that he had found Ahab because Ahab had chosen to do evil. Elijah said God would bring disaster on Ahab's family. God would destroy all his male descendants in Israel. God would make Ahab's family like other wicked kings' families. Elijah also prophesied that dogs would eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. Dogs would eat Ahab's family members who died in the city, and birds would eat those who died in the country.
Hearing this, Ahab became afraid. He showed his sorrow by tearing his clothes, wearing sackcloth (a rough cloth), and fasting. He walked around humbly. God felt pity for Ahab. God told Elijah that because Ahab had humbled himself, the disaster would not happen during Ahab's lifetime. Instead, it would happen to his family in the days of his son.
Ahab's Death
For three years, there was no war between Aram and Israel. Then, King Jehoshaphat of Judah visited Ahab. Ahab asked Jehoshaphat to join him in retaking Ramoth Gilead from the king of Aram. Jehoshaphat agreed but said, "First, ask God for advice."
King Ahab called about four hundred prophets. He asked them if he should attack Ramoth Gilead. They all said, "Go." These prophets were not real prophets. They just said what they thought would make the king happy, not what God truly said. King Jehoshaphat saw that these prophets could not be trusted. He asked if there was a real prophet of God.
Ahab said there was Micaiah, but he always prophesied bad things about Ahab. Jehoshaphat still wanted to see him, so Ahab called Micaiah. Meanwhile, one of the 400 prophets, Zedekiah, made iron horns. He shouted, "With these you will gore the Arameans until they are destroyed!" All the other prophets said the same. Even the messenger who called Micaiah told him to agree with the others.
When Micaiah arrived, he first said, "Attack, and be victorious." But Ahab knew Micaiah was not serious. Ahab told him to speak only the truth. So Micaiah said he saw God in heaven. He said God had put a "lying spirit" in the mouths of all the other prophets. This was because they did not love the truth.
Zedekiah, one of the false prophets, was so angry that he slapped Micaiah. He asked sarcastically, "Which way did the spirit from the Lord go when he went from me to speak to you?" Micaiah replied that Zedekiah would find out when he had to hide in a secret room.
King Ahab put Micaiah in prison. Ahab then went to battle in disguise. He thought no one would know who he was, and Micaiah's prophecy would not come true. But one soldier accidentally shot him. Ahab was badly wounded and died in his chariot, watching the battle. Just as Elijah had prophesied, dogs licked up his blood. After Ahab, his sons Ahaziah and Jehoram became king.
Images for kids
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Shalmaneser III's (859–824 BC) Kurkh Monolith names King Ahab.
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Death of Ahab, by Gustave Doré
See also
In Spanish: Ajab para niños
