1 Kings 16:30-34
Summary for 1Kgs 16:31-33: 16:31-33 a The spiritual evaluation of Ahab is the worst yet among the kings of Israel. Later, Ahab’s evil behavior was attributed to his being “under the influence of his wife Jezebel” (21:25 b). Ahab and Jezebel propagated Canaanite worship rites, leading Israel further from the Lord. Added to Jeroboam’s false worship system, these sins eventually spelled disaster for Israel.16:34 c Despite Joshua’s curse against Jericho (Josh 6:26-27 d), the site was occasionally and temporarily occupied prior to being rebuilt by Hiel (see Judg 3:13 e; 2 Sam 10:5 f; 1 Chr 19:5 g), as archaeological excavations confirm. Hiel’s efforts signify the spiritual defection of Israel.
• When he laid its foundation ... Segub: The Targum (an interpretive Aramaic translation for Jews who did not know Hebrew after the Exile) suggests that Hiel sacrificed his sons as foundation offerings according to pagan practices; others understand the deaths to be from disease or accident. The sentence might be a Hebrew merism (using boundaries to indicate everything in between), which would imply that all of Hiel’s sons died.
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