Jezebel

JEZEBEL, the daughter of Ethbaal King of the Zidonians, and wife to Ahab 1 Kings xvi. 31.King of Israel. This Princess introduced into the Kingdom of Samaria the publick worship of Baal, Astarte, and other Phœnician or Canaanitish Deities, which the Lord had forbidden his people in so express a manner; and with this impious worship there was a general prevalency of all those abominations which had formerly so much incensed God against the Canaanites, and procured their utter extirpation. Jezebel was so zealous for the honour of this false Religion, that she fed at her own table four hundred Prophets belonging to the Groves consecrated to the Goddess Astarte; and her husband Ahab had in like manner four hundred of Baal’s Prophets, whom he kept as 1 Kings xviii. 19.the Ministers of his false Gods.

Jezebel seemed to have undertaken the utter abolition of the worship of the Lord in Israel, by persecuting and massacring his Prophets: and she had destroyed them all, if part of them had not been saved by some good men. Obadiah, one of Ahab’s Officers, for his share preserved an hundred. Elijah, 1 Kings xviii. 13. In the year of the World 3096, before J. C. 904, before the Vulgar Æra 908.who appeared at this time, having caused fire to descend from heaven upon his Burnt-offering in the sight of Ahab and of all Israel, assembled at Mount Carmel, and the people having killed four hundred and fifty of Baal’s Prophets, who were then present, Jezebel sent a message to Elijah, declaring, that the next day she would take care he should be dispatched: whereupon he fled, and escaped the fury of this impious Queen.

Some time after, Ahab being desirous to buy Naboth’s vineyard, and this honest Israelite believing that he ought not to sell it, Jezebel wrote in the King’s name to the principal men of Jezreel, where he dwelt, 1 Kings xix. 1, &c. In the year of the World 3096, before J. C. 904, before the Vulgar Æra 908.requiring them to kill him, and suborn witnesses who should accuse him of blaspheming God, and vilifying the King. These orders were but too punctually executed, and Naboth having been condemn’d and put to death, Ahab took possession of his vineyard as an estate forfeited to him. When Ahab was upon his return from Jezreel, the place where this vineyard lay, Elijah met him, and threatned him in God’s name with the destruction of himself and family; and as to Jezebel, who had been the first cause of all this evil, he told her, that her body should be eaten by dogs in the field of Jezreel, or, according to the Hebrew, by the outward wall of Jezreel. These predictions were literally 1 Kings xxi. 23. & 2 Kings ix. 10. 1 Kings xxx. 31, 32.verified, when Jehu the son of Nimshi rebelling against Ahab¹, and coming to Jezreel, Jezebel painted her eyes with antimony, to make them appear larger and blacker, decked her head with all her ornaments, and looking out of the window, which was in the apartment over the city-gate, and seeing Jehu as he entred riding in his chariot, she cried out, Had Zimri peace who slew his master? Jehu lifting up his head, asked who she was? whereupon two or three Eunuchs immediately made him a very low reverence; and Jehu said to them, Throw her down. At which words, they that instant threw her out of window: and as she fell into the inclosure of the outward wall, she was eaten up by dogs. Jehu coming in to refresh himself, said to his people, Go, see what is become of this unhappy woman, and bury her; for she is a King’s daughter. They went, and found only her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands: they returned therefore, and gave Jehu an account of what they had seen; who said, this is the accomplishment of what the Lord declared by Elijah, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung in the field of Jezreel, and all who pass, shall say, as they observe her, is this Jezebel?

The name of Jezebel is used proverbially, to denote an impious and cruel woman. St. John in the Revelations ii. 20. reproaches the Bishop of Thyatira in Asia Minor, with suffering Jezebel, that woman who calleth herself a Prophetess, to teach and to seduce the servants of Jesus Christ to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. He says, that he had given her opportunity to repent, but she would not; wherefore God threatens to overwhelm her with diseases and afflictions, together with those who had been corrupted with her; to kill her children, that all the Churches might know, that the Lord searcheth the heart and the reins, and will give to every one according to his works. Jezebel is without doubt in this place a figurative name, and signifies some woman who amused herself with dogmatizing in the Church. See the Commentators upon the Revelations ii. 20.

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