Topical Encyclopedia Jezebel, the infamous queen of Israel, is a prominent figure in the Old Testament, particularly noted for her vehement opposition to the prophet Elijah. Her account is primarily found in the books of 1 Kings and 2 Kings, where she is depicted as a powerful and malevolent force against the worship of Yahweh in Israel.Background and Character Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and she became the wife of Ahab, king of Israel (1 Kings 16:31). Her marriage to Ahab marked the beginning of a significant religious and cultural shift in Israel, as she introduced and fervently promoted the worship of Baal, a Canaanite deity. Jezebel's influence over Ahab and her determination to establish Baal worship led to widespread idolatry and apostasy among the Israelites. Conflict with Elijah The prophet Elijah emerges as a central figure in opposition to Jezebel's religious policies. Elijah, a staunch defender of the worship of Yahweh, directly challenged the legitimacy of Baal worship. This conflict reached a dramatic climax on Mount Carmel, where Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal in a contest to demonstrate the true God of Israel. The account in 1 Kings 18:20-40 describes how Elijah, through divine intervention, called down fire from heaven to consume his sacrifice, proving the power of Yahweh over Baal. Jezebel's Persecution Following the defeat and execution of the prophets of Baal, Jezebel's wrath against Elijah intensified. In 1 Kings 19:1-2, Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, threatening his life: "So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, 'May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like the lives of those you killed.'" This threat forced Elijah to flee for his life into the wilderness, where he sought refuge and divine guidance. Jezebel's persecution of Elijah is emblematic of her broader campaign against the prophets of Yahweh. She is described as having "cut off the prophets of the LORD" (1 Kings 18:4), indicating her ruthless efforts to eradicate the worship of Yahweh from Israel. Her actions contributed to a period of severe spiritual decline and moral corruption in the northern kingdom. Legacy and Influence Jezebel's legacy is one of infamy and wickedness, often symbolizing the dangers of idolatry and the corrupting influence of foreign religious practices. Her persecution of Elijah and the prophets of Yahweh underscores the intense spiritual battle between the forces of idolatry and the faithful remnant of Israel. Her eventual downfall, as recorded in 2 Kings 9:30-37, serves as a divine judgment against her and a vindication of the prophetic mission of Elijah and his successors. Jezebel's account continues to serve as a cautionary tale within the biblical narrative, illustrating the consequences of turning away from the worship of the one true God and the inevitable judgment that follows such apostasy. Nave's Topical Index 1 Kings 19:2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not your life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. Nave's Topical Index Library Elijah Demonstration xxi. --Of Persecution. Obadiah; Or, Early Piety Eminent Piety part vii. God's People in the Furnace The Best Strengthening Medicine Letter xxii. To Eustochium. Letter Xciii. (AD 408. ) A Sermon on Isaiah xxvi. By John Knox. A Treatise of the Fear of God; Resources Why do women have such a small role in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about women leaders in government? Should a woman be President? | GotQuestions.org What roles can women fill in ministry? | GotQuestions.org Women: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Women are Courteous to Strangers Women are Tender to Her offspring Women of the Body (Ekklesia) of Christ Women: A Persian Queen Sat on a Throne Beside Her King Women: Active in Instigating to Iniquity Women: As Prophets: Philip's Four Unmarried Daughters Women: Athaliah, in Destroying the Royal Household and Usurping the Throne Women: Bath-Sheba, in Her Adultery, in Becoming the Wife of Her Husband's Murderer Women: Consecrated Jewels to Tabernacle Women: Converted by Preaching of Paul Women: Could not Marry Without the Consent of Parents Women: Deborah, a Judge, Prophetess, and Military Leader Women: Delilah, in Her Conspiracy Against Samson Women: Difference in Ceremonies Made Between Male and Female Children Women: Dinah, in Her Fornication Women: Eve, in Yielding to Temptation and Seducing Her Husband Women: Fall of, and Curse Upon Women: First to Whom the Risen Lord Appeared Women: Fond of Self-Indulgence Women: Forbidden to Wear Men's Costume Women: Gomer, the Adulterous Wife of Hosea Women: had Separate Apartments in Dwellings Women: Haman's Wife, in Advising Him to Hang Mordecai Women: Hannah, the Mother of Samuel Women: Help in Defensive Operations Women: Herodias, in Her Incestuous Marriage With Herod Antipas Women: Herodius, by Indirectly Causing John the Baptist to be Decapitated Women: Jezebel, in Her Conspiracy Against Naboth, to Cheat Him out of his Vineyard Women: Jezebel, in Her Evil Counsels To, and Influence Over, Ahab Women: Jezebel, in Her Persecution and Destruction of the Prophets of the Lord Women: Jezebel, in Her Persecution of Elijah Women: Job's Wife, in Suggesting to Him That he Curse God and Die Women: Leah, in Her Imitation of Rachel in the Matter of Children Women: Lot's Wife, in Her Rebellion Against Her Situation, and Against the Destruction of Sodom Women: Michal, in Her Derision of David's Religious Zeal Women: Miriam, in Her Sedition With Aaron Against Moses Women: Not to be Given in Marriage Was Considered a Calamity Women: Patriotic: The Women of Israel Women: Patriotic: The Women of the Philistines Women: Peninnah, the Wife of Elkanah, in Her Jealous Taunting of Hannah Women: Potiphar's Wife, in Her Lascivious Lust and Slander Against Joseph Women: Property Rights of in Inheritance Women: Property Rights of To Sell Real Estate Women: Punishment for Seducing, when not Betrothed Women: Punishment to be Inflicted Upon Men for Seducing, when Betrothed Women: Purifications of After Childbirth Women: Purifications of After Menstruation Women: Rachel, in Her Jealousy of Leah Women: Rachel, in Stealing Images Women: Religious Privileges of, Among Early Christians Women: Required to Attend to the Reading of the Law of Moses Women: Rules for Dress of Christian Women: Sapphira, in Her Blasphemous Falsehood Women: Sarah, in Her Jealousy and Malice Toward Hagar Women: Silly, and Easily Led Into Error Women: Social Status of in Persia Women: Social Status of in Roman Customs Women: Sold for Husband's Debts Women: Solomon's Wives, in Their Idolatrous and Wicked Influence Over Solomon Women: Symbolical of Wickedness Women: Tended Flocks and Herds Women: The Cannibalistic Mothers of Samaria Women: The Daughters of Lot, in Their Incestuous Lust Women: The Midianite Woman in the Camp of Israel, Taken in Adultery Women: The Philippian Christians Women: The Shunammite Woman, Who Gave Hospitality to Elisha Women: The Sodomites of the Southern Kingdom (Judah) Women: The Widow Who Put Her Two Mite (Small Coins, Greek: Leptas) Into the Treasury Women: The Woman Caught in the Act of Adultery and Brought to Jesus in the Temple Women: Took Part in Ancient Worship Women: Treated With Cruelty in War Women: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To Women: Virtuous, Held in High Estimation Women: Wicked: Commits Forgery Women: Wicked: Full of Deceit and Licentiousness Women: Wicked: Silly and Wayward Women: Wicked: Zeal of, in Licentious Practices of Idolatry Women: Widow of Zarephath, Who Fed Elijah During the Famine Women: Worshiped in Separate Compartments Women: Zealous in Promoting Superstition and Idolatry Women: Zipporah, in Her Persecution of Moses on Account of his Religious Obligations Related Terms Women-servants (21 Occurrences) |
    |