Under the blighting influence of Ahab's rule, Israel wandered far from the living God and corrupted their ways before Him. For many years they had been losing their sense of reverence and godly fear; and now it seemed as if there were none who dared expose their lives by openly standing forth in opposition to the prevailing blasphemy. The dark shadow of apostasy covered the whole land. Images of Baalim and Ashtoreth were everywhere to be seen. Idolatrous temples and consecrated groves, wherein were worshiped the works of men's hands, were multiplied. The air was polluted with the smoke of the sacrifices offered to false gods. Hill and vale resounded with the drunken cries of a heathen priesthood who sacrificed to the sun, moon, and stars.

Israel vandrede langt bort fra den levende Gud og fordærvede sin vej for hans åsyn under kong Akabs ryggesløse styre. Deres ærbødighed og gudfrygtighed havde været i aftagen igennem flere år, og det så ikke ud til, at der var nogen, der burde vove livet og stå frem og hæve røsten imod den rådende gudsbespottelse. Frafaldets mørke skygge hvilede over hele landet. Der var statuer af Baal og Astarte overalt, og der blev stadig flere afgudstempler og offerlunde, hvor folket tilbad menneskers hænders værk. Luften var besmittet af røgen fra ofrene til de falske guder, og på høje og i dale kunne man høre de berusede, hedenske præster råbe, når de ofrede til solen, månen og stjernerne.