flourished 9th century BC
Seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel (r. с 874–853 BC).
He inherited a realm that included territory east of the Jordan River, in Gilead and probably Bashan , and also the tributary kingdom of Moab . His marriage to Jezebel revived an alliance with the Phoenician s, but her efforts to establish Baal worship provoked bitter opposition from Elijah . Ahab's reign was dominated by a fierce border war with Syria; he died in an attempt to recover Ramoth-Gilead from the Syrians.