Jezebel

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Jezebel was the wife of King Ahab and Queen of Israel during the mid ninth century. She was a Phoenician princess who promised peace and prosperity throughout Egypt, but shunned all worshippers of the Hebrew god Yahweh. The prophets of Yahweh condemned Jezebel for her Baal worshipping and thus began a violent struggle between Jezebel and Yahweh's prophets.

Jezebel's Reign

Jezebel's marriage to King Ahab secured the alliance between Israel and Tyre, an important trade center. It was a prosperous alliance and brought wealth and prosperity to Israel. Israel was believed to be going through a time of drought. Since Baal was worshipped as the god of rainstorms who brought prosperity to the land, the marriage between Jezebel and Ahab might have been thought to relieve Israel from the hardships of their drought. Jezebel set up temples dedicated to the worship of Baal as well as enforced the worship of Baal onto the people of Israel.

Baal vs. Yahweh

Baal was believed to be the mortal enemy of Yahweh. Baal was worshipped throughout many cities, for example the cities of the Levant. Baal, the sun god, was believed to have protected the crops and livestock of the farmers. He was also believed to be responsible for droughts, plagues, and other disasters. The Phoenicians were traders and traveled far and wide and brought with them their religion, thus spreading the belief of Baal. Baal's worst enemy was Yahweh. Yahweh was a god worshipped by the Israelites. The Israelites did not believe in one god, instead they believed there were many gods, but only one was supreme, Yahweh. Eventually, prophets came along and convinced the people that there was only one almighty god and that no other gods existed. Yahweh was thought to be a righteous, loving god, god of all men. There was an ongoing feud between the supporters of Baal and the supporters of Yahweh. Baal was known to like sacrifices, especially that of children. The prophets of Yahweh condemned the followers of Baal because they believed the followers of Baal were cruel murders for sacrificing their own children. However, the supporters of Baal did not sacrifice their children, instead they made statues of their children and asked for forgiveness. The followers of Yahweh believed anyone who worshipped Baal was a vicious killer.

Jezebel vs. Elijah

Jezebel was a princess of the Phoenicians, therefore she worshipped Baal. When she marries King Ahab, she attempts to obliterate the belief of Yahweh in Israel and replace it with the worshipping of Baal. Elijah visits Ahab and Jezebel in their court and declares that the God of Israel has said that there would be no rain until he sees fit. After this declaration, a serious drought occurs that lasts for three years. Elijah blames King Ahab for the drought because King Ahab was the one to marry the Baal worshipper, Jezebel. The people of Israel were torn between the two cultures. Realizing Elijah's attempts to recruit the people of Israel to follow Yahweh and revolt against Baal, Jezebel declared that Elijah must be killed. Elijah, unable to best Jezebel, retreated to Beersheba.

Jezebel's Downfall

Jezebel lives long after King Ahab and Elijah and is able to see two of her sons take the throne. Her hold on Israel dwindles away and the worship of Yahweh starts to emerge once again. Elijah's successor, Elisha, starts to conform to the rule of King Joram, Jezebel's son and king of Israel. However, Elisha starts to fulfill Elijah's prophecy about Jezebel and her descendants. He first slays the king, Joram, and then moves to assassinate Jezebel. Jezebel is killed by being thrown out of a window by her own servants.

For more information about Jezebel, visit http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Jezebel.