{"id":43078,"date":"2019-08-30T12:23:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-30T09:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=43078"},"modified":"2025-04-22T02:55:20","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T23:55:20","slug":"who-was-jezebel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/08\/30\/who-was-jezebel\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Was Jezebel?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

1. Jezebel\u2019s Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal<\/strong>, king of the Sidonians (1 Kings 16:31, NIV). The Sidonians, located in what is now modern-day Lebanon<\/strong>, were known for their idolatry and devotion to Baal<\/strong>, a Canaanite storm and fertility god. Ethbaal himself was not only a king but also a priest of Baal, which explains Jezebel\u2019s strong religious convictions and her later influence over Israel’s spiritual decline.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 1 Kings 16:31 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

2. Jezebel\u2019s Marriage to Ahab<\/strong><\/p>\n

When she married King Ahab<\/strong> of Israel, Jezebel brought her pagan religious practices with her, leading Ahab into Baal worship. Under her influence, temples and altars for Baal were built in Israel (1 Kings 16:32-33). This was a direct violation of the First Commandment, which forbids the worship of other gods (Exodus 20:3-5).<\/p>\n

3. Persecution of God\u2019s Prophets<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jezebel wasn’t content with simply introducing Baal worship\u2014she sought to eliminate the worship of Yahweh altogether. She ordered the execution of many of the Lord\u2019s prophets (1 Kings 18:4), while promoting hundreds of prophets of Baal and Asherah (1 Kings 18:19). This led to a spiritual crisis in Israel, culminating in the dramatic confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal<\/strong> on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:20-40).<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhile Jezebel was killing off the Lord\u2019s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 1 Kings 18:4 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

4. Jezebel\u2019s Character and Sorcery<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jezebel is also associated with witchcraft and immorality<\/strong>. Her influence extended beyond politics into the realm of spiritual corruption. In 2 Kings 9:22, Jehu confronts King Joram and accuses Jezebel of idolatry and witchcraft<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhen Joram saw Jehu he asked, \u2018Have you come in peace, Jehu?\u2019 \u2018How can there be peace,\u2019 Jehu replied, \u2018as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2013 2 Kings 9:22 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She even manipulated legal systems to have Naboth unjustly executed<\/strong> so Ahab could seize his vineyard (1 Kings 21), showing a ruthless and manipulative character.<\/p>\n

5. Jezebel in the New Testament<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the Book of Revelation<\/strong>, Jezebel is used as a symbol of a corrupting influence within the church. Jesus, speaking to the church in Thyatira, rebukes them for tolerating a false prophetess likened to Jezebel:<\/p>\n

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\u201cNevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols.\u201d<\/em> \u2013 Revelation 2:20 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This shows that Jezebel became an archetype of spiritual adultery<\/strong>, manipulation<\/strong>, and false teaching<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

6. Jezebel\u2019s Death and Divine Judgment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jezebel\u2019s death came as prophesied by the prophet Elijah. She was thrown from a window by her own servants at the command of Jehu<\/strong>, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs\u2014fulfilling Elijah\u2019s prophecy (1 Kings 21:23-24; 2 Kings 9:30-37).<\/p>\n

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\u201cThey went out to bury her, but they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. They went back and told Jehu, who said, \u2018This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel\u2019s flesh.\u2019\u201d<\/em> \u2013 2 Kings 9:35-36 (NIV)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

7. Jezebel\u2019s Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jezebel\u2019s daughter, Athaliah<\/strong>, followed her mother\u2019s footsteps in wickedness. She usurped the throne of Judah, murdered members of the royal family, and promoted Baal worship (2 Kings 11:1-3). Jezebel\u2019s legacy was one of spiritual corruption, violence, and rebellion against God<\/strong>, making her one of the most infamous women in biblical history.<\/p>\n

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