Bible Figure

Ithobaal I

Male • Old Testament
Phoenician king (1 Kings 16)
A Visit With Jesus
Ethbaal, sometimes rendered Ithobaal, was king of the Sidonians and father of Jezebel, Ahab's wife.
Ithobaal I

Biography

First Kings 16:31 identifies Jezebel as the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. Scripture supplies no biography of Ethbaal himself. Historical sources outside the Bible provide additional information about a Phoenician ruler of this name, but those details should be distinguished from the biblical statement.

Biblical Significance

Ethbaal is important to the biblical narrative because Jezebel's marriage to Ahab strengthened the Phoenician connection through which Baal worship received royal sponsorship in Israel.