In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.
Leithart finds Charles Conroy’s structural analysis of I Kings 16:34 convincing. Conroy sees a parallel between Hiel and Ahab. Leithart summarizes:
Both are said to be builders and both are subjects of 3 separate verbs of construction: Ahab “erected” an altar to Baal, “built” a house for Baal in Samaria, and “made” an Asherah (vv. 32-33). Hiel “built” Jericho, “laid its foundations” and “set up its gates” (v. 34).
There is also a connection of Hiel (and Ahab) to Solomon who is the great builder in I Kings. Further, there is a reversal of the conquest. While Joshua destroyed Baal worship, Hiel restores Baal worship. The unrighteous build the foundation of the polis on the basis of death and idolatry. The righteous are to build the city on the basis of life and worship.
