1 Kings 16:31

31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.

1 Kings 16:31 Meaning and Commentary

1 Kings 16:31

And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him
to walk in the sin of Jeroboam the son of Nebat
To worship the golden calves he set up:

that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the
Zidonians;
who is called Ithobalus and Itobalus king of the Tyrians, by Heathen historians ^F8; and, by Theophilus of Antioch ^F9, Juthobalus, priest of Astarte; for Tyre and Zidon were under one king. This woman was not only of another nation, and an idolater, but a very filthy woman, and is made the emblem of the whore of Rome, ( Revelation 2:20 )

and went and served Baal, and worshipped him
that is, went to Zidon and Tyre, and worshipped his wife's gods, which were either Jupiter Thalassius, the god of the Zidoaians, or Hercules, whom the Tyrians worshipped.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Menander apud Joseph. Antiqu. l. 8. c. 13. sect. 1, 2. & contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 21. Diodor. Sicul. apud Junium in loc.
F9 Ad Autolye. l. 3. p. 132.

1 Kings 16:31 In-Context

29 Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.

30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the LORD ’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him.

31 And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.

32 First Ahab built a temple and an altar for Baal in Samaria.

33 Then he set up an Asherah pole. He did more to provoke the anger of the LORD, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.