1 Kings 16:31

31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.

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 became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah's King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years.

30 But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord's sight more than all who were before him.

31 Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.

32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he had built in Samaria.

33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.