What I really think of Jezebel

The name “Jezebel” is forbidden among Christian mothers because pronouncing it is synonymous with spelling “Judas Iscariot.” True to her namesake, “Jezebel” seems to ignite a wave of negativity, not just among mothers, but also among the entire population. Why is there such instant prejudice about this infamous name? What is behind its history and origin?

Jezebel was actually a queen of Phoenicia, back in the 9th century BC. C. She was given in marriage to King Ahab of northern Israel. So, in a way, her marriage was one of convenience: a political alliance. Due to their unlikely union, Israel had an easy gateway to maritime exploration and trade from Phoenicia and vice versa.

The big problem arose when Jezebel took her retinue of 850 Baal-worshipping priests with her to the land of Jezreel. Naturally, she expected the Israelites to join her in paying homage to pagan worship and her sexual exploits. She could not understand Israel’s monotheistic religion, which was the worship of Yahweh alone.

Eventually, her stubborn husband, Ahab, succumbed to her whims and welcomed pagan deities. He himself began to worship Baal. Soon the deceived Israelites began to eat the food offered to Baal and partake of his prostitutes.

The latent pagan cult further angered God and he sent the prophet Elijah to confront the evil queen Jezebel. Elijah challenged the priests of Baal to a duel on Mount Carmel. The deity who could put fire in the sacrificed bull would be pronounced as the true God. The priests of Baal danced and sang to their heart’s content but there was no fire from heaven. When it was Elijah’s turn to pray, behold, the bull was destroyed by instant fire!

Jezebel was mortified by open mourning and cursed Elijah and all the prophets of God.

His reaction to the contest on Mount Carmel served as the first point I got about his character.

1. JEZEBEL WAS THE MOTHER OF FEMINISM.

She was not intimidated by Elijah’s declaration that he was God’s prophet. Instead, Jezebel yelled, “IF YOU ARE ELIAS, THEN I AM JEZEBEL!” Elijah was so afraid of Jezebel that he ran for the hills. This scene was really hilarious: a man hiding and running away from a poisonous woman!

Another stigma for the male psyche was King Ahab’s sudden despair over Naboth’s vineyard. Back then, the Israelites honored farmland inherited from their ancestors so that these lands could not be sold to the public. But Ahab searched for the vineyard so that he could turn it into a garden.

Jezebel walked in and what did she do? She orchestrated a mob in which she spread the lie that Naboth was blaspheming God! So this mob stoned Naboth to death. Final score? The vineyard was given to Ahab through the intrigues of his wife. Ahab was a cry baby. And Jezebel was so downright cunning. She seemed to repeat: “Don’t worry husband, I’ll take care of it.”

The rest of the female biblical characters were all voiceless creatures, who followed the instructions of their husbands to the letter. But Jezebel refused to tolerate Ahab’s childish tantrums over the vineyard and treated him more directly. She refused to bow to his nonsensical musings and musings. She solved her problem the best way she could.

2. JEZEBEL WAS TRUE AND DEDICATED TO HER OWN TRADITIONS.

Now Jezebel’s father, Et-baal of Tyre, whose ancestors were Canaanites, was the original worshiper of Baal. His paganism was a direct influence on his daughter, who in turn perpetuated the ancient form of worship. From her birth through childhood to her adulthood, Jezebel was exposed to the witchcraft and prostitution forms of her pagan religion.

Come to think of it, if Jezebel had been born and raised a Christian all her life, I don’t think she would resort to Baal worship.

3. SHE REMAINED DIGNIFIED UNTIL HER DEATH.

Jezebel died a very premature and violent death. Elijah prophesied that she would be thrown from the walls of Jezreel and devoured by dogs. A more sinister version happened after this prophecy because Jezebel was unrecognizable after her death. When Jehu, the newly appointed King of Israel military commander at the time, ordered his soldiers to search for Jezebel’s disembodied body, they were shocked to find only spare parts of her legs, arms, and skull scattered on the ground. They dehumanized her.

This woman was not a coward. She was faced with her own imminent death. She even prepared herself for her own death by painting her eyes with kohl, combing her hair with the crown, and standing in front of the open window as she awaited Jehu’s arrival. Her bravery shone through when she had a direct dispute with Jehu.

Jehu ordered the eunuchs to throw Jezebel out of the window. And she was gone.

What an unforgettable evil woman, indeed, but a lot of fun in the midst of her fiery passion and strong beliefs.

by: KIM R. REALUBIT