Ahab and Jezebel, king and queen of Samaria
King Ahab and his wife Jezebel (c. 9th century BCE) were the infamous royal couple of Israel, often vilified by later biblical writers for their idolatry and moral failings. However, Ahab’s reign, from a historical and political perspective, marked a period of significant growth and consolidation for Israel. According to the Hebrew Bible, Ahab was the son and successor of King Omri, the sixth king of Israel, and inherited a kingdom that growed in power and influence under his leadership.
Ruins of the ancient city Samaria (Sebastia) on the mountains of Samaria in Palestine, about 10 km northwest of Nablus. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Israel in the 9th and 8th centuries BCE.
Ahab beautified the new capitalSamaria, turning it into a symbol of Israel’s strength. Archaeological evidence suggests that during his reign, the capital and some cities across the kingdom were fortified, helping Israel defend against external threats from neighboring states. His military and political prowess made Israel one of the most formidable powers in the region during the early ninth century BCE.
Group of statues: Ahab, his wife Gezebels and the vineyard of Nabot of Izreel, by Gioacchino Vitagliano (Palermo, 1669-1739, aged 70). Church of Jesus in Palermo, Italy
Ahab’s strategic marriage to Jezebel, the daughter of Ithobaal I, priest and king of the Phoenician city of Tyre, cemented a crucial alliance with the Phoenicians, a powerful and influential maritime civilization. This political union was meant to strengthen ties with Israel's northern neighbors, ensuring peace and trade between the two kingdoms. Ahab's foreign policy demonstrated a careful balance of diplomacy and warfare. He maintained peaceful relations with Judah to the south, the Philistine city-states to the west, and the Phoenicians to the north, allowing him to conserve resources and focus on the more pressing threat of the Aramaeans to the northeast.
Orontes river
Ahab's most daunting challenge, however, came from the rising power of the Assyrian Empire. The Assyrians, led by Shalmaneser III, were seeking to expand their influence into the western part of the Fertile Crescent. Ahab played a key role in forming a coalition of regional kings to oppose the Assyrian advance.
According two Assyrian sources, Ahab, who fought multiple wars with them, winning at least two decisive battles, which helped secure Israel’s northern borders.
- The Mesha Stele, a stone inscribed by King Mesha of Moab, which recounts how his people had been subjected to the rule of Omri and Ahab before successfully rebelling with the help of their god Chemosh. The stele provides a rare glimpse into the relationships between Israel and its neighbors, showcasing the regional power dynamics of the time.
- The Kurkh stele of Shalmaneser III, which testifies to the famous Battle of Qarqar (or Karkar) in the Orontes Valley in the coastal region of present-day Syria in 853 BCE. Ahab’s participation demonstrates his significance on the international stage and confirms his involvement in this alliance, providing historical validation of his reign outside biblical sources.
The Mesha Stele at the Louvre: The brown fragments are pieces of the original stele, whereas the smoother black material is Ganneau's reconstruction from the 1870s.
Kurkh stele of Shalmaneser III depicting Battle of Karkar, 853 BCE. British Museum, London.
Domestically, Ahab is noted for managing a kingdom with diverse religious influences. He sought to integrate non-Israelite elements, particularly the worshippers of Baal and Asherah, alongside the traditional Israelite faith. Samaria became the center of this syncretism, while the older city of Jezreel maintained Israelite traditions. Ahab’s tolerance of foreign religious practices, however, was seen by later biblical writers as a fatal compromise. Under Jezebel’s influence, Ahab reportedly allowed the worship of Baal to flourish, establishing temples and altars dedicated to foreign gods. Jezebel, a devout follower of Baal, actively sought to promote her religion, often clashing with the prophets of Yahweh, particularly the prophet Elijah.
Jezebel and Ahab Met by Elijah, c.1862-3, by Frederic Leighton
Jezebel’s political and religious ambitions made her a powerful and controversial figure. According to some sources, she was related to Dido, the legendary founder of Carthage, and shared her Phoenician family’s strong-willed nature. She is portrayed in the Bible as manipulative and ruthless, working behind the scenes to advance her religion and secure power for her dynasty. She famously orchestrated the persecution of Yahweh’s prophets and plotted against Elijah, making her one of the most reviled figures in biblical tradition. Jezebel's influence extended beyond Ahab’s reign. After Ahab’s death, she continued to wield power through her children, with her sons Ahaziah and Joram succeeding Ahab as kings of Israel, and her daughter Athaliah marrying into the royal family of Judah, eventually ruling as queen in her own right.
Despite Ahab’s political and military accomplishments, the biblical narrative casts him in a negative light, largely due to his religious compromises. He is depicted as a pragmatic ruler willing to tolerate idolatry, while Jezebel is portrayed as a force of chaos and false worship. In the New Testament, Jezebel becomes a symbol of corruption and false prophecy, representing the dangers of immorality cloaked in religious authority.
Last update: September 30, 2024
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