Jezebel The Evil Queen
Jezebel though a woman, plays a major role— but backstage. Her influence on her husband, King Ahab, was enormous. As the Biblical text puts it “There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited” (IK21:25). She never gave up her Phoenician religion, nor her devotion to Baal. Ahab sinned not only by taking a worshiper of Baal for his wife, but, at her urging he, too worshiped Baal. No doubt this strong Biblical criticism is colored by later Deuteronomistic theology, but it stands to reason that Jezebel did deserve her reputation somehow.
Jezebel went even further. She began killing off the prophets of the Lord. Apparently a hundred were saved when they were hidden in two caves by Obadiah. At that point the prophet Elijah confronts the king, who responds to Elijah with the famous line, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel? (I Kings 18:17)
Elijah then sets up a contest on Mount Carmel: 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Ashera who sup at Jezebel’s table, face Elijah alone. A bull is placed on Baal’s altar; but try as they may, even gashing themselves with knives, the prophets of Baal can produce no fire. Then Elijah orders water to be poured on his meal offering to the Lord. Elijah beseeches the Lord and fire descends from heaven consuming the meal offering and even the water.
In another episode, Ahab decides to enlarge his palace complex by acquiring the adjacent vineyard owned by Naboth. However, Naboth refuses to sell—at any price. Disappointed and depressed, Ahab tells Jezebel about it, “Now is the time to show yourself king over Israel… I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite,” she tells him (IK21:7) She acts in Ahab’s name, even using the king’s seal rather than her own. She arranges for Naboth to be falsely accused, and he is stoned to death. When Jezebel learns that the deed has been done, she urges Ahab; “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezereelite which he refused to give you for money” (IK21:19-23)
Jezebel’s life indeed ends badly. When Elisha (Elijah’s successor) anoints Jehu as Ahab’s successor, Jehu is instructed to wipe out Ahab’s line: “That I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets” (2K9:7)
When Jehu arrives in Jezreel, where Ahab has a royal residence, Jezebel prepares to greet him. She “paints her eyes with kohl and dresses her hair” and appears at an upper window, apparently hoping to seduce Jehu. Instead, Jezebel is thrown down from the window: “Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her (2K9:35-37).
Jezebel in Rabbinic Literature
The Rabbis gave serious weight to the leadership of Queen Jezebel:
“Governed by women” (Isaiah 3:12): Four women governed the world. Jezebel and Athalia in Israel and Shimirmit and Vashti among the nations. (Esther Rabbah 3:20)
They also highlighted the intensity of her evil. They claim that the righteous in Israel would hide to avoid her. They take their lead from the biblical text and embellish it as follows:
Jezebel the daughter of Etbaal the King of Sidon and the wife of Ahab (both princess and Queen in two countries at the same time) the son of Omri taught him (Ahab) idolatry from the very first year. Through her he sold himself to paganism. As it says:” There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited” (IK21:25). Because of her actions and those of her husband they were obliterated from this world and the next and their son was among them. (Tanah debei Eliyahu 10:2)
What caused Ahab to lose his portion in this world and the next? Jezebel his wife. Of her and her ilk and those who [in any way] resemble her and do the things she did it says: “The wisest of women builds her house, But folly tears it down with its own hands. (Prov. 14:1)