Jezebel: A Hebrew Disaster

Abstract

The Phoenician princess Jezebel who married Ahab the king of the northern kingdom of Israel had a significant effect on the religious life of the nation in her day and beyond. In the world of the ancient Near East she was one of a number of women who attained such positions of power. Her promotion of the worship of the Canaanite deities Baal and Asherah was aided by the fact that Israel has shown a propensity toward these gods even before entry into Canaan. Jezebel’s goal and determination led to a confrontation with Elijah who was equally committed to the worship of Yahweh. The extent to which the worship of Baal and Asherah affected Israel’s understanding of Yahweh is seen in the inscriptions found at Kuntillet Ajrud. Jezebel was not fully responsible for the ongoing worship of Canaanite deities in Israel and Judah but her reign gave legitimacy to the long held tendency.