AHAB, king of Israel, was the son and successor of Omri. He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians ; and was persuaded by her to es tablish in Israel the idols Baal and Ashtaroth. The pro phet Elijah reproved him for his idolatry, and predicted a famine of three years, duration in his dominions. About the end of that period, Ahab, at the request of Elijah, as sembled the people of Israel, and the prophets of Baal, to of sacrifice. Elijah then proposed to ascertain which was the true God, whether Baal or Jehovah, by calling upon them separately to consume the offering on then respective altars, by lire from heaven. The pro posal was accepted ; and, at the prayer of Elijah, " the lire or the Lord fell and consumed his burnt offering ;" w bile the priests of Baal invoked their idol in vain. They were instantly put to death, as false prophets ; and the land was freed from its barrenness. About six years af terwards, Benhadad, the king of Assyria, laid siege to the city of Samaria, and insulted Ahab with messages of defiance. Ahab made a sally with a few chosen troops, while Benhadad and his princes were indulging them selves at a banquet, and routed the whole Syrian army great slaughter. Benhadad returned the following year, as a prophet had predicted ; but Ahab, with a very inferior force, gave him battle, and gained a complete victory. Benhadad surrendered himself to Ahab, who received him very favourably, and immediately formed an alliance with him, upon his engaging to restore the cities which his lather had taken, and to allow Ahab cer tain prig lieges in the city of Damascus. About a year after this, Ahab was guilty of a very unjust and inhu man act, which proved fatal to himself and his whole family. He was desirous to purchase the vineyard of Naboth, an inhabitant of Jezreel, in order to make an addition to the gardens of his palace in that city ; but Naboth, in obedience to the law, refused to sell the in heritance of his fathers. Anab was so mortified by this
trilling incident, that he threw himself upon his bed in a fit of vexation, and refused all nourishment. Jezebel, however, who had still less principle and feeling than her husband, wrote letters, in his name, to the elders of Jezreel, and directed them to procure, by false wit nesses, the death of Naboth, as a blasphemer and a traitor. These orders were faithfully executed ; and Ahab took possession of the property of Naboth. For this deed of oppression, he was severely reproved by Elijah ; and threatened with the judgments of heaven upon his house. But, upon expressing his sorrow and contrition, the prophet was directed to declare, that these evils should not take place in his days. About two years afterwards, in opposition to the advice of the prophet Micaiah, he went out with Jehosaphat, king of Judah, to attack Ramoth Gilead, which Benhadad had re fused to deliver up to him, according to their late treaty. The prophet had foretold, that he should not return in safety, and Ahab therefore resolved to enter the battle in disguise. He was wounded, however, by a random shot from a Syrian bow ; and, having desired his chario teer to turn aside, lest his troops should be dishearten ed by the sight of his wound, he continued to face the enemy, while his blood flowed upon his chariot. He ex pired in the evening of the same day, and was buried in the city of Samaria, in the year before Christ 897. When his chariot and horses' reins were brought to be washed at the fish-pool of Samaria, the dogs licked his blood, with which they were stained ; and thus fulfilled the prediction of the prophet Elijah. He reigned 22 years; and exceeded all his predecessors in impiety. See 1 Kings, xvii., Szc Joseph. Antic/. i. viii. c. 7, ke. Ancient Universal History, vol. 4. b. i. c. 7. (q)