Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

Character Study of Jezebela character study by Jeff S. SmithIntroductionThe name of Jezebel is not one that needs much introduction. There is a reason that such a prominentBible name has never been imposed on any modern baby girl. Jezebel was wicked from the top of herhead to the ends of her toes. She was guilty of making a bad country and a bad husband even worse, and itis hard to imagine that she possessed any redeeming qualities at all.Jezebel’s name even appears once in the New Testament as a caution against following in her footstepswithin the church of Christ.DiscussionI. Her CharacterA. Background1. the name Jezebel means “unexalted” or “unhusbanded” in its original tongue, and clearly Israelwould have been better off had Jezebel remained both unexalted and unhusbanded, but she married upand took an entire nation down2. Jezebel was born the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, an idolatrous race of peopledevoted to Baal3. it is unusual for one to throw off completely his or her religious upbringing, but it will becomeevident that Jezebel was very devout in hers, unwilling to adapt to the change in scenery that life wouldbring to herB. Ahab’s Queen1. Ahab had a policy of creating international political alliances through marriage, and undertooka treaty with the Sidonians by marrying Ethbaal’s lovely daughter, Jezebel (First Kings 16:29-33)2. as if it had been a trivial thing simply to do wickedness, Ahab went even further and broughtJezebel into Israel, where her religion was accommodated and even celebrated, provoking a jealousJehovah to great anger3. Jezebel would never be a silent, passive queen, eating fruit somewhere in the background whileslaves fanned her in the shade; she would become the driving force behind Ahab–sometimes even in frontof him–pushing Israel into idolatry and the administration into corruption (First Kings 21:25-26)4. the character of Jezebel is witnessed again in her daughter, Athaliah, who married into the royalfamily of Judah and killed her grandchildren so that she might reign for six years as the only queen inIsrael’s historyC. Prophet Persecutor1. her career as a persecutor of true prophets began without much notice from the historian (FirstKings 18:4)2. while God’s people hunkered down in caves, Jezebel feted 450 prophets of Asherah at her ownroyal table (see verse 19)a. God’s most vocal prophet, Elijah, however responded in kind after a contest on MountCarmel, encouraging the Israelites to slaughter Jezebel’s 450 prophets after they proved unable tosummon their gods to burn up a sacrifice, which Jehovah had no problem devouring (First Kings 18:40)b. Jezebel’s reaction was hardly that of a good loser (First Kings 19:1-3)3. Jezebel persecuted and tormented Elijah so badly that he lost all confidence and wished to bedead (First Kings 19:14, 18)a. where Ahab wanted a policy of religious tolerance, leaving enough room for the baals andfor Jehovah to share Israelite worship, both God and Jezebel were jealous and unwilling to share,although on opposite sidesb. Jezebel hoped to stamp out Judaism in one generation and was only too happy to resort tothe sword to get what she wantedD. Vineyard Broker1. what Ahab wanted was vegetables, or better yet, a whole garden (First Kings 21:1-5, 7)2. and she did, sending letters in Ahab’s name to the elders and nobles of Jezreel, imploring them187