Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab

"Because King Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord’s anger was turned aside."​

2 Chronicles 12:12

 

If we could step back in history and do an interview of Jezebel, here’s how it might go.
 

WBC: Tell us a little about your husband Ahab.

Jezebel:  He’s bad to the bone.  King Jeroboam used to be the worst. He made other gods and turned his back on God.  God brought disaster on his dynasty and abandoned Israel because of Jeroboam’s sin.  (1 Kings 12:31, 14:9)

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And my husband, Ahab, well since he married me, he is more evil than Jeroboam. I encourage him to worship Baal. (1 Kings 16:30-33) We offer incense and burn sacrifices to Baal; sometimes the sacrifice is a child.  The priests dance wildly around the altar and may slash themselves with knives.  We can get down and get wild and nasty.

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WBC:  What else can you tell us about Ahab?

Jezebel:​ He is doing more to arouse the anger of the Lord than any of the kings before him.

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WBC:  And what about you Jezebel?

Jezebel:  I am the daughter of a Sidonian king.  We don’t believe in the God of Judah. One time I tried to kill all the prophets of God—I got a bunch of them! There is this prophet Elijah and do you know what he said about me.  I’ll tell you, He said that me and my family are trouble makers because we have refused to obey the commands of God.  (1 Kings 18:4-18)  I have threatened to kill him, too. (1 Kings 19)

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WBC:  Tell us the story about Naboth’s vineyard.

Jezebel:  One day Ahab came home wanting Noboth’s vineyard—you know one of those man things.  Being a very assertive, get done, get out of my way woman I told him I would handle it.  Here’s how I got that little piece of ground for my hubby.  I sent letters in Ahab’s name calling for fasting and prayer.  Then I found two scoundrels who would lie and accuse Naboth of cursing God.  Guess what, the people bought it and Naboth was stoned to death.  When I heard of his death, I told Ahab to claim his vineyard. My hubby got what he wanted, all it took was guts.

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WBC:  What else do you have to say?

Jezebel:  After that, God was really mad.  He says that disaster is coming upon our family and we will be swept away.

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WBC:  And what are you going to do?

Jezebel:  I’m going to ignore it.  I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing all my life. I have no fear of God.

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Nothing good can be said about Jezebel.  In 1 Kings 21:25 we read, “No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as did Ahab—for his wife Jezebel influenced him “

   

How did Jezebel influence her children?  First there was Ahaziah, he did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the example of his father and mother. (1 Kings 22:52) Then Joram, did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, but not as wicked as his mother and father. (2 Kings 3:2)  Jehoram, the son of Jehoshaphat, was as wicked as Ahab, for he married one of Ahab’s daughters.  (2 Kings 8:18)  And then Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, followed the evil example of Ahab, because he was related by marriage to the family of Ahab. (2 Kings 8:27)
   

God used Jehu to destroy Jezebel and her family.  Jehu was anointed the king of Israel. At that time he was told, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says:  'I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel.  You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants and prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel.  The whole house of Ahab will perish.  As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.” (2 Kings 9:7-10)

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In 2 Kings 9 we are told that the entire family of Ahab was destroyed, totally wiped out, because of their wickedness.

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In 2 Kings 9:30-37 we read of her death.  Then Jehu went to Jezreel.  When Jezebel heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.  As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?”

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He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side?  Who?”  Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. “Throw her down!”  Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.

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Let us learn from the story of Jezebel.  She had no fear of God, but did whatever she wanted to get what she wanted.  She was so bad and so encouraged her husband and children to evil that all were killed.  May we all decide that we want to be nothing like her.  May we always encourage our families to honor God, and to do what is right.  May we teach our children the fear of God, and the terrible consequences of ignoring Him.  May the lesson of her life become so entrenched in our hearts that whenever we see any of her traits in our lives that we immediately repent.