Bible Strands
1 Kings 16:33
Then he set up an Asherah pole. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel before him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records King Ahab’s actions in Samaria immediately after he constructed a temple and altar for Baal. The account situates this event within Ahab’s reign, following the establishment of the Baal sanctuary.
The words — The text states that Ahab וַ/יַּ֥עַשׂ (va/i.Ya.'as) "made" or "set up" the הָ/אֲשֵׁרָ֑ה (ha./'a.she.Rah) "Asherah pole." It further notes he וַ/יּ֨וֹסֶף (va/i.Yo.sef) "increased" in doing לְ/הַכְעִיס֙ (le./hakh.'Is) "to provoke to anger" the Lord.
The thread — This pattern of provoking the Lord through idolatry recurs in 1 Kings 21:25, which notes Ahab sold himself to do evil, and 2 Kings 13:6, which describes Israel’s continued adherence to Jeroboam’s sins. The prohibition against Asherah poles originates in Exodus 34:13.
Why it lands — The text states that Ahab provoked the Lord to anger more than all previous kings of Israel before interpreting his actions as cumulative rebellion. It demands a reader recognize that religious syncretism and political power, when combined, escalate judgment rather than mitigate it.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 13:6 Nevertheless, they did not turn away from the sins that the house of Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit, but they continued to walk in them. The Asherah pole even remained standing in Samaria.
- 1 Kings 21:25 (Surely there was never one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, incited by his wife Jezebel.
- Exodus 34:13 Rather, you must tear down their altars, smash their sacred stones, and chop down their Asherah poles.
- 2 Kings 21:3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had destroyed, and he raised up altars for Baal. He made an Asherah pole, as King Ahab of Israel had done, and he worshiped and served all the host of heaven.
- 1 Kings 14:9 You have done more evil than all who came before you. You have proceeded to make for yourself other gods and molten images to provoke Me, and you have flung Me behind your back.
- 1 Kings 16:29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.
- 1 Kings 21:19 Tell him that this is what the LORD says: ‘Have you not murdered a man and seized his land?’ Then tell him that this is also what the LORD says: ‘In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, there also the dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’”
- 1 Kings 22:6 So the king of Israel assembled the prophets, about four hundred men, and asked them, “Should I go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I refrain?” “Go up,” they replied, “and the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king.”
- 1 Kings 22:8 The king of Israel answered, “There is still one man through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good for me, but only bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.” “The king should not say that!” Jehoshaphat replied.
- 2 Kings 17:16 They abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves two cast idols of calves and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the host of heaven and served Baal.