Ahab, son and successor of Omri, king; of Israel, reigned from 918 to 897 B. C. ' He married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. Through her influence the intercourse between Phoenicia and Israel, which had long been only commercial, now became social and religious. She introduced the worship of Baal and Astarte into the Hebrew cul-tus. The golden calves at Dan and Bethel had been guardedly worshipped for several years; but idolatry became under Ahab a predominant element of religious life. For his idolatrous as well as tyrannical practices, Ahab was reproved by Elijah; and as a result of the king's obstinacy, the prophet proposed the trial of Carmel. Benhadad, king of Syria, twice besieged Ahab's capital, but was defeated with great loss. Ahab came to his end by an arrow wound received while fighting in disguise in the battle of Ramoth-Gilead.