1 Kings 16:32

1Ki 16:32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria.

Ver. 32. And he reared up an altar.] For the sake, and by the instigation of his wicked wife, a qua totus possidebatur et regebatur, et ut ita dicam, regina erat Rex, Rex vero regina. {a}

{a} Bucholc.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

1Ki 16:32-33. And he reared up an altar for Baal — On which to offer sacrifices to him, whereby they acknowledged their dependance upon him, and sought his favour. In the house of Baal which he had built in Samaria — The royal city, for the convenience of his worship. Because the temple of God was in Jerusalem, the royal city in the other kingdom, he would have Baal’s temple in Samaria, that, being near him, he might the more frequently attend it, protect, and put honour upon it. And Ahab made a grove — Another piece of idolatry which God had expressly prohibited, Deu 7:5. He either made a natural one by planting shady trees there; or, if he thought these would be too long in growing, an artificial one in imitation thereof: somewhat that answered the intention of a grove, which was to conceal, and so to countenance the abominable impurities that were practised in the filthy worship of Baal. He that doth evil hates the light. O the stupidity of idolaters, who are at a great expense to do honour to mere imaginary beings, who have no existence, save in their own fancies, and to make those their friends who are no gods, and from whom they have nothing either to fear or hope!

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

reared up an altar for Baal--that is, the sun, worshipped under various images. Ahab set up one (Kg2 3:2), probably as the Tyrian Hercules, in the temple in Samaria. No human sacrifices were offered--the fire was kept constantly burning --the priests officiated barefoot. Dancing and kissing the image (Kg1 19:18) were among the principal rites.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

32. in the house of Baal] The LXX. renders by ἐν οἴκῳ τῶν προσοχθισμάτων αὐτοῦ= in the house of his abominations. This is after the fashion of the Jews who preferred to use the word ‘bosheth’ = shame, rather than the name ‘Baal’ when the latter could be avoided. Cf. the names ‘Ishbosheth’ and ‘Mephibosheth’ which are instead of ‘Eshbaal’ and ‘Meribbaal.’

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

32. An altar for Baal in the house of Baal — That is, he built a temple in honour of this Zidonian god, and in it erected an altar on which sacrifices might be offered to him. Thus he added to the number of the houses of high places that were already in the land. Compare 1Ki_12:31.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And he reared up an altar for Baal in Heb. omits in; (cf. 1Ki_15:15, etc.) the house of Baal A temple, we can hardly doubt, of considerable splendour. Jezebel would not be satisfied with less, which he had built in Samaria According to 2Ki_3:2, 2Ki_10:27, he also raised a pillar (A.V image) in the house of Baal. We learn from Dius and Menander that Hiram had raised a golden pillar to Baal in Tyre. Perhaps Ahab may have copied this. But it is probable that this image, which represented the generative powers of nature, was an essential part of the impure worship of Baal. The house and its contents alike were destroyed by Jehu. (2Ki_10:27)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.