In the thirty-eighth year of Asa’s reign over Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria twenty-two years.
We have here the beginning of the reign of Ahab, of whom we have more particulars recorded than of any of the kings of Israel. We have here only a general idea given us of him, as the worst of all the kings, that we may expect what the particulars will be. He reigned twenty-two years, long enough to do a great deal of mischief. I.
Commenting on 1 Kings 16:29-34
Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him--The worship of God by symbols had hitherto been the offensive form of apostasy in Israel, but now gross idolatry is openly patronized by the court. This was done through the influence of Jezebel, Ahab's queen.
1Ki 16:29 The ascent of the throne of Israel by Ahab (1Ki 16:29) formed a turning-point for the worse, though, as a comparison of 1Ki 16:30 with 1Ki 16:25 clearly shows, the way had already been prepared by his father Omri.