Page 394 - BAMIDBAR

Chazal relate that Achav had no desire for his wife. Therefore, she placed # 26347-EYAL-6
pictures of women in his chariot. How could he have begot seventy
children without being interested in his wife? He did have an interest in
her, but Izevel wanted to increase it.

Achav was always straddling opposing forces. On the one hand, he
studied Torah and even interpreted it in eighty-five ways. He was also
punctilious to avoid the sin of lashon hara. Hashem granted him success.
He ruled unequivocally and emerged victorious in battle. He even had half
his sins forgiven. On the other hand, he transgressed the three cardinal
sins. He claimed that Moshe’s words held no water, as the rains continued
even as they sinned. He also attempted to kill Eliyahu Hanavi.How was
this possible?
Chazal explain the words “This is the teaching regarding a man if he will
die in a tent” to mean that Torah endures only in one who “kills himself
for it.” This means that one should break his negative traits. He can do