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Reign of Ahab 872-851 BCE

Religion Prophecy Peace with Judah War with Aram. Reign of Ahab 872-851 BCE. Baal and Ashera. Baal and Ashera. Ahab worshiped the imported idols Baal and Ashera Jezebel imported the cults to Israel from Tyre

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Reign of Ahab 872-851 BCE

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  1. Religion Prophecy Peace with Judah War with Aram Reign of Ahab 872-851 BCE

  2. Baal and Ashera Baal and Ashera • Ahab worshiped the imported idols Baal and Ashera • Jezebel imported the cults to Israel from Tyre • Unlike other Kings of Israel Ahab attempted to abandon Judaism in favor of these idols • He wanted to undo our connection with Hashem • Historians have trouble believing in such a radical break from traditional values and minimize the dispute • According to them Ahab and the Israelite aristocracy were advocating an open form of worship with Hashem being just one of many powers Elijah fought for exclusive worship of Hashem Religion

  3. Elijah & Other Prophets View from top of Mount Carmel looking over the Jezreel Valley • Elijah decrees drought on Israel in response to Ahab’s institutionalizing Baal worship • Ahab and his wife attempt to kill all prophets in Israel • Ovadya, who is Ahab’s steward saves 100 prophets in a cave • Has a test with the prophets of the Baal on Har Hacarmel • Rebukes Ahab for his conspiracy to steal the land of Nabboth from Jezreel through a fake trial • Other prophets are called to give messages to Ahab in time of war to let him know that Hashem is behind Ahab’s defeat of the Arameans Prophesy

  4. Development • From Shofet • Deborah • Shmuel transition to monarchy • To Royal Advisor • Nathan and Gad • To Critique of the Kings • Elijah • Elisha • Both of whom first rebuke the Kings for Syncretistic worship • Secondarily for inhumane treatment of their subjects • Later focus on social ills • Amos • Isaiah • Prophecy of Destruction • Jeremiah • Prophecy of the Exile • Ezekiel • Prophecy of Rebuilding • Zachariah Prophecy

  5. Jehoshaphat (870-846 BCE) Results of the Peace • Was the Son of Asa and became King of Judah • Made peace with Israel and is found fighting alongside of Ahab in his wars with Damascus and with Ahab’s son Jehoram in his war against Moab • He arraigned Ahab’s daughter Athaliah to marry his son Jehoram • (things become confusing when the king of Israel and the king of Judah have the same name. Sorry not my fault) • In spite of being called a צדיק by the Navi who tried but failed to removed the Baamos and tried to teach Torah to the nation • Judah still suffer losses because of the alliance with Israel • Loss of Edom • During Jehoshaphat’s lifetime Judah ruled over Edom • In his son’s reign they rebelled and Judah lost the territory • Loss of freedom in becoming a vassal of the kingdom of Israel • His new daughter-in-law Athaliah eventually kill almost all of his decedents and institutionalizes Baal and Ashera cults in Judah • Attempted an expedition from the Red Sea which failed Peace Between Israel and Judah

  6. First Battle Second Battle • Ben-Hadad threatens the independence of Israel and demands a very high tribute • Ahab is assured by the prophet that he would win and should use the victory as sign to repent because the war is not over • Ahab does not repent and after • Ben-Hadad returns the next year and says that Hashem is only powerful in the mountains so they decide to fight on the plain • A Navi reports to Ahab that since he has not repented he should lose the battle but since an Israelite loss would mean that Ben-Hadad’s blasphemy is true Ahab will win • Ahab wins and has the Ben-Hadad trapped but when Ben-Hadad surrenders treats him as an equal and makes a treaty War Between Aram-Damascus and Israel

  7. Final Battle • The incident with Nabboth from Jezreel • Elijah goes to Ahab and tells him that he will be killed by the king of Aram and that in two generations his dynasty would be killed off • Ahab repents – at least in public • After a three year peace Ahab decides to take Ramoth-Gilead from Aram • He and Jehoshaphat of Judah attack Aram and Ahab is killed in battle • The Israelites lose the battle and are weakened by the loss War Between Aram-Damascus and Israel

  8. Ashurnasirpal II Shalamaneser III Rise of Assyria

  9. Ashurnasirpal II (854-859 BCE) Shalmaneser III (859-824 BCE) • Contemporary of Omri • Built up the Army • Pillaged for wealth not territory • Conquered upper Mesopotamia and Northern Syria as far as the northern Phoenician coast • He conquered and was forced to leave either to put down a revolt or to attack elsewhere • Began to campaign annually in the Levant • Subjugated a Kingdom known as Bit Adini • 12 States in the Levant formed a coalition to hold off Assyria • This included Ahab of Israel and Haddezer of Damascus • According to Shalmaneser’s records Ahab provided 2,000, chariots and 10,000 Infantry • The largest contingent of chariots in the coalition • Ahab and the coalition held off Assyria in the battle of Qarqar • The temporary alliance between Damascus and Israel would account for the three years of peace and the defeat of Shalmaneser would account for the renewed hostilities between them Rise of Assyria

  10. Map of Assyrian Campaigns in the Levant

  11. Shalmaneser III

  12. How to be forgotten by history Ahaziah, son of Ahab, King of Israel850-851 BCE

  13. How to be forgotten by history Ahab’s Palace in Samaria • After Ahab’s death his oldest son Ahaziah becomes king • He falls through a lattice in a window or a railing from a wall and gets injured • He turns to Baal Zebub to find out his fate • His messengers meet up with Elijah who burns them up until they are polite • Elijah then says Ahaziah will die and he does • Reigned less than 2 years Ahazia

  14. War with Moab jehoram, son of Ahab, King of Israel850-841 BCE

  15. Coalition Mesha Stele • Moab had been a vassal of Israel from the time Omri but since the death of Ahab stopped paying tribute • Jehoram, gathered a coalition to retake Moab • Jehoshaphat of Judah and the King of Edom joined • This again shows the more powerful and rich Israel exercising control over the smaller and weaker kingdoms of Israel and its vassal of Edom War with Moab

  16. The Shocking Conclusion Jane Taylor/Sonia Halliday Photographs A 12th-century Crusader castle perches atop a 2,500 foot-long plateau in central Jordan, once the site of Kir-hareseth, the ancient capital of Moab. Isolated by a 300-foot-deep valley, this location, today modern Kerak, has been a strategic military stronghold throughout much of history.Nearly 2,000 years before the Crusader castle was built, allied Hebrew-Edomite armies surrounded the badly beaten Moabite army after its retreat to Kirhareseth. According to the account in 2 Kings 3:26–27, the desperate Moabite king Mesha scarified his oldest son as a burnt offering on top of the city wall, in full view of the conquering armies. After this dramatic death, for reasons not clarified in the Biblical account, the Hebrews and the Edomites returned home without taking the city. Horn, Siegfried H. “Why the Moabite Stone Was Blown to Pieces.” Biblical Archaeology Review, May/Jun 1986, 50-59, 61 • The coalition attacks Moab • They get stuck in the desert with no water • Elisha promises water because of the righteousness of Jehoshaphat • The coalition defeats Moab and are about to take the city when Mesha the king of Moab scarifies’ his own son to their ע"ז and the Israelite coalition disbands War with Moab

  17. The reign of Jehoram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of judah & Ahaziah son of Jehoram Jehoram – 846-841BCEAhaziah 841BCE

  18. Israel and Judah • He continued the relationship that his father had with Israel • He send aid and assistance to Israel when in need • He was married to Athalia the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel • During his time Edom revolted and was lost to Judah • This is a critical loss of control of the “King’s Highway” trade route it was now controlled by Edom and Moab who were under the control of Aram-Damascus • He died and his son Ahaziah rules Judah for a few months until Jehu’s revolt Jehoram of Judah

  19. War with Aram-Damascus Phase One Phase Two Phase Three Final Phase Coup d'états Back to Jehoram of Israel & the war with Aram Damascus

  20. First Phase Horses and Chariots of Fire (Very Scary) • Naaman visits Elisha • Elisha reveals Aram’s ambush • Aram seeks to capture him • Elisha prays and the Arameans see an army with horses and chariots of fire • Then Elisha smites the Arameans with blindness • Then leads the Aramean army to Samaria • Jehoram is shocked to see them and at Elisha’s request feeds the army and sends them home War with Aram Damascus

  21. Second Phase Phase Three • Ben-Hadad laid siege on Samaria • A report of cannibalism causes Jehoram to break down and blames Elisha • The incident of the four metzoraim and the miraculous abandonment of the Aramean camp • Ben-Hadad king of Damascus falls ill • Elisha is sent by Hashem to Ben-Hadad • Hazael one of Ben-Hadad’s generals greets Elisha who predicts that Hazael would kill Ben-Hadad and rule in his place • Hazael kills Ben-Hadad and became king of Damascus • Jehoram of Judah does evil like his father in law Ahab • But Hashem did not want to destroy Judah because of his love of David War with Aram Damascus

  22. War with Aram Damascus

  23. Final Phase Importance of Ramoth Gilead • Hazael is on the throne of Damascus • It could be that Israel thought that Aram-Damascus was weak from the coup • Israel decided to attack Aram at Ramoth Gilead • King Ahaziah join Israel • Ramoth Gilead was a strategically important area controlling the King’s Highway War with Aram Damascus

  24. Jehu’s Coup • Elisha sends a Navi to anoint Jehu king of Israel • In the Battle fro Ramoth Gilead Jehoram king of Israel was wounded • Both he and Ahazia of Judah return to the city of Jezreel to recuperate • Jehu is left as the officer in charge at the front • Soon Jehu’s men proclaim him king • Jehu moves on Jezreel where he killed Jehoram and Ahazia as well at all of Jehoram’s family and Jezebel, Jehoram’s mother and Ahazia’s grand-mother Coup D'états

  25. Why? • Support of Elisha and the prophets is indicative of popular hatred of the syncretistic ruling dynasty of the House of Omri • Economic/ class hatred to the ruling upper class from the rural agricultural class • Alliance with Assyria • The enemy of my enemy is my friend • The state who is on the other side of my enemy is my friend • Jehu killed all the family of Ahab and those who sided with Aram in there coalition to war with Assyria Coup D'états

  26. Israel Loses because of the Coup • Shalmaneser III dies a year after Jehu’s coup • After his death Shamshi-Adad V (824-811BCE) becomes king • He has to deal with “the Great Revolt” in Ninveh • Assyria is too weak to project power all the way to Southern Syria until 805BCE • A weak Assyria causes Aram to becomes stronger • Aram-Damascus takes Transjordan from Israel Results of the Coup

  27. After the Coup Jehoiada Queen athalia 841-835 BCE

  28. Consolidating Power Archeologist Yigal Yadin believed that Ramat Rachel was the house of Baal that Athaliah built • Athaliah mother of Ahazia Daughter of Ahab and Jezebel • Slaughters all the rest of her family to allow her to rule independently • She rules for 6 years on her own as a Queen • She institutes Baal worship in Jerusalem After the Coup

  29. Saving the line of David Jehoiada hid Jehoash in an upper floor of the Beis Hamikdash • Jehosheba sister of king Ahaziah saved baby Jehoash • Brought him to Jehoiada who kept him safe in an upper chamber in the Beis Hamikdash until he was seven years old • Jehoiada brought out the boy king Jehoash in the Beis Hamikdash to the cheers of the crowd • When Athaliah walked into the Beis Hamikdash people dragged her out and killed her • The common person was loyal to Hashem, and resented the rule of foreign Queen with her foreign ע"ז Jehoiada

  30. Relationship between Jehoash and Jehoiada Reign of Jehoash of Judah835 – 801 BCE

  31. Rebuilds the Beis Hamikdash After Jehoiada’s Death • Jehoash grows and decides to rebuild the Beis Hamikdash • He sends out the Kohanim to collect the funds • This was demeaning to the Kohanim and unsuccessful in raising funds • He asks for donations using a pushka in the Beis Hamikdash and is very successful • Divrei Hayamim 2 24:17 • After Jehoiada died, Jehoash fell under the influence of the Princes שרי of Judah • The king stopped the construction of the Beis Hamikdash and started worshiping Baal and Ashera • Jehoiada’s son Zecharia protested, on Yom Kippur and Shabbos that people were worshiping idols and not Hashem • He was stoned to death in the Bies Hamikdash at the command of the king Relationship between Jehoash and Jehoiada

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