Jezebel, a prominent figure in the Old Testament, is often remembered as one of the most infamous women in biblical history. She was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and became the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. Her account is primarily found in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, where she is depicted as a powerful and influential queen who led Israel into idolatry and moral corruption.

Marriage to Ahab and Influence in Israel

Jezebel's marriage to Ahab is recorded in 1 Kings 16:31: "And as if it were a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and then proceeded to serve and worship Baal." This union was politically advantageous, strengthening ties between Israel and Phoenicia, but it also introduced the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity, into Israel. Jezebel's influence over Ahab was significant, as she actively promoted the worship of Baal and Asherah, leading to widespread idolatry among the Israelites.

Persecution of the Prophets

Jezebel is notorious for her persecution of the prophets of Yahweh. She sought to eradicate the worship of the God of Israel, as seen in 1 Kings 18:4: "While Jezebel was killing off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water." Her actions led to a severe spiritual crisis in Israel, culminating in the dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel between the prophet Elijah and the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40).

Naboth's Vineyard

Jezebel's ruthlessness is further exemplified in the account of Naboth's vineyard. When Naboth refused to sell his vineyard to Ahab, Jezebel orchestrated a scheme to have Naboth falsely accused of blasphemy and stoned to death, allowing Ahab to seize the vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-16). This act of injustice and abuse of power drew a severe rebuke from Elijah, who prophesied the downfall of Ahab's dynasty and Jezebel's own gruesome death (1 Kings 21:17-24).

Death and Legacy

Jezebel's death is recorded in 2 Kings 9:30-37. As Jehu, anointed by God to destroy the house of Ahab, approached Jezreel, Jezebel adorned herself and looked out of a window. Jehu ordered her eunuchs to throw her down, and she was trampled underfoot. Her body was left to be devoured by dogs, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy: "On the plot of ground at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh" (2 Kings 9:36).

Jezebel's legacy is one of idolatry, manipulation, and defiance against God. Her name has become synonymous with wickedness and immorality, often used as a symbol of false prophets and corrupting influences within the church, as referenced in Revelation 2:20: "But I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads My servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols."

Jezebel's life serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of idolatry, the consequences of turning away from God, and the destructive power of a corrupting influence within leadership.1 Kings 21:1
And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 9:30-37
And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
Nave's Topical Index

2403. Iezabel -- Jezebel, the symbolic name of a false prophetess
... Short Definition: Jezebel Definition: Jezebel, name given to a false prophetess
of Thyatira, possibly borrowed from the name of Ahab's wife, queen of Israel. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2403.htm - 6k348. Izebel -- queen of Isr. with King Ahab
... with King Ahab NASB Word Usage Jezebel (21), Jezebel's (1). Jezebel. From 'iy and
Zbul; Izebel, the wife of king Ahab -- Jezebel. see HEBREW 'iy. see HEBREW Zbul ...
/hebrew/348.htm - 6k

Elijah the Great Heart of Israel.
... He and his wicked wife Jezebel had taken the vineyard of Naboth away from him because
Ahab wanted it for a garden, and they had caused the death of Naboth, so ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxvii elijah the great.htm

How Ahab when He had Taken Jezebel to Wife Became More Wicked than ...
... How Ahab When He Had Taken Jezebel To Wife Became More Wicked Than All The Kings
That Had Been Before Him; Of The Actions Of The Prophet Elijah, And What ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 13 how ahab when.htm

Self-Destruction
... We read of Ahab in the first lesson this morning as a thoroughly wicked man,"mean
and weak, cruel and ungodly, governed by his wife Jezebel, a heathen woman ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon viii self-destruction.htm

The Story of Elijah, the Prophet
... He provoked the anger of the Lord. His wife, Jezebel, who was a worshiper
of Baal, persuaded him to build an altar to the false god. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of elijah the.htm

The Record of Two Kings
... And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins
of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the record of two kings.htm

National Apostasy
... Taking to wife Jezebel, "the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians" and
high priest of Baal, Ahab "served Baal, and worshiped him. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... [10] This son of a murderer was Joram, the son of Ahab, which Ahab slew, or permitted
his wife Jezebel to slay, the Lord's prophets, and Naboth, 1 Kings 18:4 ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

Adam's Sin
... Ahab sold himself to work wickedness, whom his wife Jezebel stirred up.' I Kings
21:15. She blew the coals, and made his sin flame out the more. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/2 adams sin.htm

Ahab the Thief
... But Jezebel his wife came to him and said, "Why are you in such bad humor that you
will not eat?" He replied, "Because I made this offer to Naboth, 'Give me ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/ahab the thief.htm

Tenth Commandment
... Recall how the covetousness of Ahab instigated his wife Jezebel to employ sons of
Belial to bear blasphemous and fatal testimony against Naboth, saying, 'Thou ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/tenth commandment.htm

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