THE HISTORICAL JEZEBEL

I. Daughter of Ethbaal, King of the Zidonians: I Kg. 16:31

Ethbaal - Meaning: with Baal; a king of Sidon (B.C. 940-908), He is said to have been also a priest of Astarte, whose worship was closely allied to that of Baal, and this may account for his daughter's zeal in promoting idolatry in Israel. This marriage of Ahab was most fatal to both Israel and Judah. Dido, the founder of Carthage, was his granddaughter.

Zidon - a fishery, a town on the Mediterranean coast, about 25 miles north of Tyre. It received its name from the "first-born" of Canaan, the grandson of Noah (Gen. 10:15, 19). It was the first home of the Phoenicians on the coast of Palestine, and from its extensive commercial relations became a "great" city (Josh. 11:8; 19:28). It was the mother city of Tyre. It lay within the lot of the tribe of Asher, but was never subdued (Judg. 1:31). The Zidonians long oppressed Israel (Judg. 10:12). From the time of David its glory began to wane, and Tyre, its "virgin daughter" (Isa. 23:12), rose to its place of pre-eminence. Solomon entered into a matrimonial alliance with the Zidonians, and thus their form of idolatrous worship found a place in the land of Israel (1 Kings 11:1, 33). This city was famous for its manufactures and arts, as well as for its commerce (1 Kings 5:6; 1 Chr. 22:4; Ezek. 27:8). It is frequently referred to by the prophets (Isa. 23:2, 4, 12; Jer. 25:22; 27:3; 47:4; Ezek. 27:8; 28:21, 22; 32:30; Joel 3:4). Our Lord visited the "coasts" of Tyre and Zidon = Sidon (q.v.), Matt. 15:21; Mark 7:24; Luke 4:26; and from this region many came forth to hear him preaching (Mark 3:8; Luke 6:17). From Sidon, at which the ship put in after leaving Caesarea, Paul finally sailed for Rome (Acts 27:3, 4). This city is now a town of 10,000 inhabitants, with remains of walls built in the twelfth century A.D. In 1855, the sarcophagus of Eshmanezer was discovered. From a Phoenician inscription on its lid, it appears that he was a "king of the Sidonians," probably in the third century B.C., and that his mother was a priestess of Ashtoreth, "the goddess of the Sidonians." In this inscription Baal is mentioned as the chief god of the Sidonians.

II. Wife Of Ahab, King of Israel: I Kg. 16:31

Ahab - He reigned twenty-three years. king of Israel (c.874-c.853 BC), Because of his idolatry, lust, and covetousness, Ahab is referred to as an excellent example of a wicked king (2 Kings 8:18; 2 Chr. 22:3; Micah 6:16). The son of Omri, whom he succeeded as the seventh king of Israel. His history is recorded in 1 Kings 16-22.

III. Murdered the prophets of God: I Kg. 18:4, 13

IV. Had 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah under her care: I Kg. 18:19

Baal: lord. ( 1.) The name appropriated to the principal male god of the Phoenicians. It is found in several places in the plural BAALIM ( Jdg 2:11; 10:10; 1Ki 18:18; Jer 2:23; Hsa 2:17). Baal is identified with Molech ( Jer 19:5). It was known to the Israelites as Baal-peor ( Num 25:3; Deu 4:3), was worshipped till the time of Samuel ( 1Sa 7:4), and was afterwards the religion of the ten tribes in the time of Ahab ( 1Ki 16:31-33; 18:19,22). It prevailed also for a time in the kingdom of Judah ( 2Ki 8:27; 2Ki 11:18; 16:3; 2Ch 28:2), till finally put an end to by the severe discipline of the Captivity ( Zep 1:4-6). The priests of Baal were in great numbers ( 1Ki 18:19), and of various classes ( 2Ki 10:19). Their mode of offering sacrifices is described in 1 Kings 18:25-29. The sun-god, under the general title of Baal, or "lord," was the chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each locality had its special Baal, and the various local Baals were summed up under the name of Baalim, or "lords." Each Baal had a wife, who was a colourless reflection of himself.

Asherah: and pl. Asherim in Revised Version, instead of "grove" and "groves" of the Authorized Version. This was the name of a sensual Canaanitish goddess Astarte, the feminine of the Assyrian Ishtar. Its symbol was the stem of a tree deprived of its boughs, and rudely shaped into an image, and planted in the ground. Such religious symbols ( "groves") are frequently alluded to in Scripture ( Exd 34:13; Jdg 6:25; 2Ki 23:6; 1Ki 16:33, etc.). These images were also sometimes made of silver or of carved stone ( 2Ki 21:7; "the graven image of Asherah," R.V.).

V. Sought to kill Elijah, the prophet: I Kg. 19:1,2

VI. A manipulator and schemer: I Kg. 21:5-15

VII. Constantly encouraging her husband to do evil: I Kg. 21:25

VIII. Practiced witchcrafts: 2 Kg. 9:22

IX. A prostitute: 2 Kg. 9:22

X. Was prophesied and died a terrible death because of her evil: I Kg. 21:23; 2 Kg. 9:10; 2 Kg. 9:30-37

XI. Calls herself a prophetess: Rev. 2:20

XII. Teaches and seduces Gods servants to sin: Rev. 2:20