Israel split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom, known as Israel, consisted of ten of the twelve tribes. The southern kingdom, known as Judah, consisted of Judah and what was left of Benjamin. Israel’s capital became Samaria, and Judah’s capital became Jerusalem. This will be important information moving forward in our reading of the Old Testament, especially for the rest of Kings and Chronicles. Furthermore, as we will see, Israel never again enjoyed godly leadership. Judah, on the other hand, had a few godly men lead their portion of the kingdom.
Israel’s worst king was a man by the name of Ahab, and that’s saying something. We just read a few chapters previously how Jeroboam did quite a number on Israel’s spiritual health. The writer of 1 Kings says, “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him” (1 Kings 16:30–31). Did you catch that? Ahab did evil in the sight of the Lord above all who were before him. Jeroboam, remember, had the people to worship bulls. Omri, Ahab’s father, had just been labeled the crown prince of evil (16:25). Now Ahab was considered worse than all of them put together!
The writer, in his introduction to Ahab, gives us a glimpse into his evil regime. Under Ahab’s direction, Hiel the Bethlehemite, built Jericho. This isn’t just some random act of improving past infrastructure. The writer even explains the history of the matter: “In Ahab’s time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun” (1 Kings 16:34 NIV). After the destruction of Jericho Joshua pronounced a curse upon anyone who would attempt to rebuild Jericho (Josh. 6:26). Joshua said the man who would lay again Jericho’s foundation would lose his firstborn. Moreover, if they rebuilt the gates of Jericho, he would lose his youngest son. That is exactly what happened to Hiel. He relaid Jericho’s foundation and his firstborn son died. As if that wasn’t bad enough he rebuilt the city’s gates which was followed by the death of his youngest son.
How do we know Ahab was more evil than all previous kings? He openly defied God’s Word. He dared to rebuild what God had previously torn down. Keep in mind, dear reader, this isn’t some random king from another nation rebuilding Jericho. This is Israel’s king, and this is God’s chosen people. This was the offspring of the people who marched around Jericho, and shouted as the walls fell at their feet. It was Ahab and Hiel’s ancestors who had witnessed the possession of the Promised Land. And now look at them. They were relinquishing everything that God had given them.
Beloved, it’s dangerous territory to rebuild things that God has torn down in our lives. It’s just as dangerous to go back and rebuild things that God tore down in previous generations. Because it won’t just be the present generation that suffers, but it will be future generations that are buried beneath the rubble.