Ahab continues to displease the Lord, failing to follow His instructions and commands, worshipping Baal, and taking the vineyard of a good man, Naboth.
Indeed, no one gave himself up to the doing of evil in the sight of the Lord as did Ahab, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He became completely abominable by following idols, just as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.
When he is confronted (again) by Elijah, Ahab is (finally) repentant and humbles himself. The Lord shows mercy by deciding that He will not punish Ahab directly, but rather will deliver justice to Ahab's son.
Ahab and Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, join together to make war on the Aramites, despite the prophetic warning of Micaiah. Ahab is killed in the battle, and is succeeded by his son, Ahaziah. Ahaziah follows in his parents' dishonorable footsteps, further displeasing the Lord. Jehoshaphat follows the righteous path blazed by his father, Asa, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord.
I love the name of Asa's son. I seem to remember some TV show (a cartoon?) or a movie when I was younger where a character would say "Jumpin' Jehoshaphat!!" I wish I could remember what it was.
One other thing I found humorous in this passage is Ahab's response to the threat of Ben-hadad to slaughter the Israelites in battle (relayed to Ahab by the king of Aram's messenger):
It is not for the man who is buckling his armor to boast as though he were taking it off.
I guess that's the Old Testament way to say: "Don't count your chickens before they're hatched."
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