Jezebel: The Embodiment of Wickedness
The annals of biblical history are replete with figures who exemplify both righteousness and depravity. Among the most notorious, a name that echoes through time as a byword for ungodliness, cruelty, and spiritual corruption, is Jezebel. Her story, primarily recounted in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, serves as a stark warning against the insidious nature of sin and the devastating consequences of rejecting the living God.
Jezebel was not an Israelite; she was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Zidonians, and a priest of Baal. Her marriage to Ahab, king of Israel, orchestrated for political alliance, proved to be the catalyst for Israel's deepest descent into idolatry and moral decay. The KJV states, "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 Ethbaal the king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him." (1 Kings 16:31). This union was not merely a political arrangement; it was a spiritual catastrophe. Jezebel brought with her a zealous devotion to Baal and Asherah, actively promoting their worship and seeking to eradicate the worship of the one true God from Israel.
The Architect of Idolatry and Persecution
Jezebel's wickedness manifested initially and most prominently in her fervent promotion of idolatry. She was not content to merely practice her pagan religion; she sought to impose it upon the entire nation of Israel. She established temples and altars for Baal and Asherah, maintaining hundreds of their prophets and priests at her own table. The Bible records, "Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table." (1 Kings 18:19). This was an unprecedented level of state-sponsored idolatry in Israel, a direct affront to the covenant God had made with His people.
Her zeal for Baal was matched only by her hatred for the Lord's prophets. Jezebel embarked on a systematic campaign of persecution, slaughtering those who dared to speak for Jehovah. Obadiah, a devout man who feared the Lord, secretly hid a hundred prophets in two caves to save them from her murderous rage. "For it was so, that, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water." (1 Kings 18:4). This demonstrates her active, aggressive role in attempting to silence the voice of God in Israel, replacing divine truth with demonic falsehood.
The Audacity of Injustice: Naboth's Vineyard
Beyond her spiritual transgressions, Jezebel's character was marked by an utter disregard for justice, human life, and the Mosaic Law. The incident involving Naboth's vineyard stands as a chilling testament to her depravity. When King Ahab coveted Naboth's vineyard but was lawfully refused its sale (as it was an inheritance, forbidden to be sold permanently by Israelite law), Ahab became sullen and depressed. Jezebel, observing her husband's distress, mocked his weakness and took matters into her own hands.
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
Her method was insidious: she forged letters in Ahab's name, commanding the elders and nobles of Naboth's city to proclaim a fast and set Naboth on high among the people. Then, she arranged for two false witnesses to accuse Naboth of blasphemy against God and the king, a capital offense. "And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died." (1 Kings 21:13). This act was a blatant perversion of justice, a cold-blooded murder motivated by covetousness and executed with ruthless efficiency. Upon hearing of Naboth's death, Jezebel promptly told Ahab to take possession of the vineyard.
God's swift response to this heinous crime underscored its gravity. The prophet Elijah was sent to confront Ahab, pronouncing divine judgment upon both him and Jezebel. "Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine." (1 Kings 21:19). And concerning Jezebel, the prophecy was equally grim: "And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel." (1 Kings 21:23). This prophecy highlighted the depth of her wickedness and the certainty of God's righteous retribution.
A Corrupting Influence and Her Prophesied Doom
Jezebel's influence extended far beyond her immediate actions. She was a spiritual cancer in Israel, corrupting not only her husband but also their children, particularly her daughter Athaliah, who later brought similar idolatry and bloodshed to the kingdom of Judah. Her legacy was one of persistent rebellion against God, promoting immorality and bloodshed as tools for power and pleasure. She was the driving force behind Ahab's evil, as the scripture attests: "But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up." (1 Kings 21:25).
Centuries later, her name would be invoked in the New Testament as a symbol of spiritual corruption and false teaching within the church. In Revelation 2, the Lord Jesus Christ rebukes the church in Thyatira for tolerating a woman whom He calls "Jezebel": "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols." (Revelation 2:20). This passage indicates that the "spirit of Jezebel" represents a powerful, deceptive, and corrupting influence that leads God's people into idolatry and immorality, much like the original Jezebel did.
The Fulfillment of Judgment and Her Ignominious End
God's judgment against Jezebel was meticulously fulfilled. Years after Elijah's prophecy, Jehu, a captain in the army, was anointed king by God's command to utterly destroy the house of Ahab and avenge the blood of the Lord's prophets and Naboth. "For I have spilled the blood of the prophets, and the blood of the servants of the LORD, and with the blood of Jezebel I will repay thee, saith the LORD." (2 Kings 9:7).
As Jehu approached Jezreel, Jezebel, ever defiant, attempted to maintain an air of regal dignity, even in the face of certain death. She painted her face and adorned her head, then looked out a window, taunting Jehu. "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." (2 Kings 9:30). Jehu, however, was undeterred. He called out to those inside, "Who is on my side? who?" And two or three eunuchs looked out. He commanded them, "Throw her down." And they did, casting her from the window. "So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot." (2 Kings 9:33).
After Jehu ate and drank, he ordered her body to be buried, recognizing her as a king's daughter. But when they went to bury her, they found only her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands. The dogs had devoured her flesh, just as the prophet Elijah had foretold. "Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel." (2 Kings 9:36). Her gruesome end served as a powerful and visible demonstration of God's unyielding justice against profound wickedness.
Lessons from Jezebel: A Warning for the Church
Jezebel's life and death provide profound lessons for believers today. Her story is a timeless warning against:
The account of Jezebel serves as a clear reminder that God is a God of justice, who will not tolerate unrepentant wickedness. His patience has limits, and His judgment is sure. For the church today, the call is to exercise discernment, contend for the faith, and remain pure from the corrupting influences that seek to undermine true worship and righteous living. Just as Jezebel met her prophesied end, so too will all who embody such profound wickedness face the righteous judgment of God, unless they repent and turn to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness.