From the time of Jeroboam's death to Elijah's appearance before Ahab the people of Israel suffered a steady spiritual decline. Ruled by men who did not fear Jehovah and who encouraged strange forms of worship, the larger number of the people rapidly lost sight of their duty to serve the living God and adopted many of the practices of idolatry.

Fra Jeraboms død, til Elias trådte frem for Akab, gik det stadig tilbage for Israel i åndelig henseende. Landet blev styret af mænd, som ikke frygtede Herren, men tilskyndende israelitterne til at dyrke fremmede guder. Resultatet var, at størstedelen af folket hurtigt glemte, at det var deres pligt at tjene den levende Gud, og gav sig til at praktisere mange afguderiske skikke.