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King Ahab is the king of Israel in the Hebrew and Christian Bible. In the Bible, it recounts Ahab's marriage and corruption by the Phoenician princess Jezebel. In 1 Kings, it explains how they had the people worshiping Canaanite gods rather than the God of Israel. In 1 Kings 17:1, the prophet Elijah encounters him, and predicts a drought. He later has a conflict with Baal's prophets to see which god would accept a burnt sacrifice. It was proven that Baal did not accept the sacrifice, but the Hebrew's God did. Later on, the Hebrew God tried to get Ahab to recognise and worship Him only by granting him a military victory over Ben-Hadad (and his 32 king alliance), an Aramean king who wished to plunder his capital, wives and children. Ahab was understandably uncomfortable with what Ben-Hadad wanted and thus, warred against him, killing many of his soldiers. However, Ahab gave into Ben-Hadad's influence when the latter promised to give him back the cities his father conquered and establish bazaars in his hometown of Damascus. A prophet then confronted him about sparing Ben-Hadad, whom Ahab previously (and hypocritically) condemned for failing to fulfill his conditions to a man he guarded. However, this was all a ruse to test Ahab's integrity as a ruler. Ahab then grew sullen and presumably, his mental health also declined. This was seen in his overreaction and depressive episodes after one of his neighbours, Naboth, refused to sell his vineyard to him. He felt so pathetic and torn that he relied upon Jezebel to cheer him up, which she did by sadistically arranging Naboth's unjust execution. Elijah soon confronts him, and says that God would punish him and Jezebel. Ahab then finally comes to his senses and repents, which the Hebrew God takes notice of and relays it to Elijah. On 1 Kings 21, Ahab unfortunately lapses into his sinful ways as he gathers his false prophets, whom God allowed to be possessed by "lying spirits", to finally turn Ahab over to his transgressions. All of them responded, "Fight, and be successful." The prophet Micaiah, whom Ahab recognises is a true prophet but nonetheless despises, sarcastically repeats the other prophets' responses, but then gives his true message. He says that God was planning to have Ahab die in the battle. Ahab later disguises himself in the battle, but is shot by a stray arrow. It was later stated in the Hebrew Bible that dogs later licked up his blood.
