Ahab, son of Omri, was the seventh king of Israel, reigning in the northern kingdom during the 9th century BC. His reign is notably marked by his marriage to Jezebel, a Phoenician princess, and his subsequent promotion of Baal worship, which led to significant religious and moral decline in Israel. The biblical narrative, primarily found in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles, details several prophecies pronounced against Ahab due to his idolatry and disobedience to the LORD.

Prophecy of Drought

One of the earliest and most significant prophecies against Ahab was delivered by the prophet Elijah. In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah declares, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years, except at my word." This prophecy of drought was a direct challenge to Baal, the Canaanite storm god, whom Ahab and Jezebel worshipped. The ensuing drought lasted three and a half years, demonstrating the LORD's power over the false gods and serving as a judgment against Ahab's apostasy.

Prophecy of Ahab's Downfall

Following the confrontation on Mount Carmel, where Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal, Ahab's continued defiance led to further prophetic judgments. In 1 Kings 21, after Ahab and Jezebel orchestrated the murder of Naboth to seize his vineyard, Elijah delivered a severe prophecy against Ahab. The LORD declared through Elijah, "In the place where the dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will also lick up your blood—yes, yours!" (1 Kings 21:19). This prophecy foretold the violent end of Ahab's dynasty and his own demise.

Prophecy of Ahab's Death in Battle

Another significant prophecy concerning Ahab's fate is found in 1 Kings 22. Despite the warnings of the prophet Micaiah, Ahab chose to go into battle against the Arameans at Ramoth-gilead. Micaiah prophesied, "I saw all Israel scattered on the hills like sheep without a shepherd, and the LORD said, ‘These people have no master; let each one return home in peace’" (1 Kings 22:17). This prophecy indicated that Ahab would not return from battle alive. Despite attempting to disguise himself, Ahab was struck by a random arrow and died, fulfilling the prophetic word.

Prophecy of the End of Ahab's Line

The LORD's judgment extended beyond Ahab himself to his descendants. In 1 Kings 21:21-22, Elijah prophesied, "I will bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, slave or free. I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked My anger and caused Israel to sin" . This prophecy was fulfilled when Jehu, anointed by the prophet Elisha, eradicated Ahab's lineage, as recorded in 2 Kings 9-10.

Ahab's reign is a sobering testament to the consequences of idolatry and disobedience to God. The prophecies against him underscore the LORD's sovereignty and justice, serving as a warning to all who turn away from His commandments.1 Kings 20:42
And he said to him, Thus said the LORD, Because you have let go out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 21:19-24
And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus said the LORD, Have you killed, and also taken possession? And you shall speak to him, saying, Thus said the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your blood, even yours.
Nave's Topical Index

1 Kings 22:19-28
And he said, Hear you therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 9:8,25,26
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that urinates against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
Nave's Topical Index

Hazael Makes an Expedition against the People of Israel and the ...
... From The Death Of Ahab To The Captivity Of The Ten Tribes. ... prophet, who was already
very old, and was now fallen into a disease, the king of Israel came to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 8 hazael makes an.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... knew him to be the prophet of the true God, the supreme King of Israel, [for they ...
no other than the widow of Obadiah, the good steward of Ahab, is confirmed ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

The Prophet Hosea.
... Kings would lead us to think that, with the reign of Ahab, the dominion ... the prophecies
of Hosea extend to the time when the last king of Israel attempted to ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

From Jezreel to Horeb
... on Jezebel; and the impression made on the king and the ... have influence over the mind
of Ahab, and that there would be a speedy reform throughout Israel. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 12 from jezreel to.htm

Book 8 Footnotes
... acted entirely as the supreme King of Israel, and the ... to him, their supreme and heavenly
King, and General ... the false prophet, in order to persuade Ahab not to ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 8 footnotes.htm

Elijah's Weakness, and Its Cube
... in another way; for they assured him of the divine judgments on the house of Ahab,
and of the use of the Syrian king as a rod to chastise Israel. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/elijahs weakness and its cube.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... From The Death Of Ahab To The Captivity Of The Ten ... Rezin, King Of Syria And Pekah
King Of Israel, Made War ... CHAPTER 8. How The King Of Babylon Took Jerusalem And ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Greater Prophets.
... Saul, and Nathan David, and Elijah Ahab, and Elisha ... of Ahaz by the allied forces
of Israel and Syria ... and in Hezekiah's reign by Sennacherib, king of Assyria ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

Prophets and Prophets. (xxiii. 9-32, xxvii-xxix, Etc. )
... Lord set thee like Sedekiah and like Ahab, whom the ... these] nations, that they may
serve the king of Babylon ... and dear His age-long relations to Israel had been ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/2 prophets and prophets xxiii.htm

CHAP. I. -II. 3 (II. 1).
... is distinguished from the other prophecies by this,"that ... you differ in nothing from
your king Ahab." We cannot ... the kingdom of the house of Israel," cannot, as ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i -ii 3 ii 1.htm

Who was King Jehoshaphat in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Jehu in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was King Joash in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus