Wednesday 8 December 2021

Jezebel

There was no one who sold himself like Ahab to do evil in the sight of the Lord, and his wife Jezebel urged him on. 1 Kings 21:25

Her name is Jezebel, worthy daughter of Ethbaal, a name which means "living with Baal", king of the Sidonians, close neighbors of the kingdom of Israel. She marries Ahab, king of Israel (the ten tribes), involves him in the worship of Baal for which a temple is built in Samaria.

By leading the king in idolatry in this way, Jezebel acquires such an ascendancy over him that it is she who makes many decisions. It destroys the prophets of the Lord (1 Kings 18:4) ; to satisfy a desire of the king, she has Naboth put to death on false charges ; It is again she who decides to kill the prophet Elijah whom the Lord will deliver. She died as the prophet had announced : defenestrated, trampled by horses and devoured by dogs (2 Kings 9:33-37).

The fact that Ahab was pushed by Jezebel in no way diminishes his responsibility. At whatever level, each will have to answer for himself in the manner in which he has assumed the authority entrusted to him : a father will not be able to exonerate himself by alleging the exaggerated influence of his wife.

Jezebel's daughter, Athaliah, marries the son of the pious king Jehoshaphat, Joram the king of Judah, whom she will drag into evil (2 Kings 8:18), as also her own son Ahazia, successor of his father (2 Kings 8:26,27). When Ahazia falls under the blows of Jehu, she destroys the entire royal line to reign unchallenged over Judah. Thus the two kingdoms, the North (the ten tribes of Israel) and the South (the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin), will find themselves infested for a long time by this idolatry of the worship of Baal.

Jezebel's name is found at the end of the Bible to denote those within the Church who teach false doctrines, and thus distract the faithful from an exclusive love for the Lord (Revelation 2:20). What a warning to believers tempted to marry an unbelieving person ! What a warning to all believers to beware of those who proclaim perverse doctrines to lead the disciples after them (Acts 20:30) !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)