Strong Women

And what we do to them

Your reputation precedes you

Jezebel is an infamous character featured in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament). Jezebel is the bad girl of the Bible, the wickedest of women, married to the weak King Ahab.

But does Jezabel deserve her reputation as a villain?

The “W” words

“How can all be well as long as your mother Jezebel carries on her countless harlotries and sorceries?” (2 Kings 9:22).

According to the speaker Jehu, Jezebel was a “whore” and a “witch.” There is no evidence in the narratives to support these labels, but we assume it is so because the Bible says so. Jehu served as the military commander under Jezebel’s son, Joram, who ascended to the throne upon his father Ahab’s death. Jehu, feeling a call from God to destroy the line of Ahab, murdered Joram. He then rode into Jezreel and did the same to Jezebel.

Jezebel’s exit from this world is striking. She put on lavish make-up, her best gown, and sat at the window waiting for her executioner. As Jehu approached, Jezebel taunted him, knowing that these words would be her final testament. In other words, the feisty Jezebel did not go quietly into that good, good night!

Bottomline, the ancient queen has been denounced as a murderer, prostitute and enemy of God.

But just how depraved was Jezebel?

Who are you really?

Jezebel was a Semite, so her ancestors were Canaanites. We also know that she was born a princess. Her father was Ethbaal, King of Tyre and Sidon in Phoenicia. Jezebel was raised in the faith tradition of Baal, god of nature, and Baal’s concubine Astarte, the fertility goddess.

I, on the other hand, was baptized as an infant in the small Iowa community of Boyden and raised as a Christian. So, being a Jesus person is a large part of my identity.

But unlike me, Jezebel did not choose her spouse. She was wed to Ahab, King of Israel. Undoubtedly, this marriage was for political alliance, an arrangement benefiting both countries. But unlike Ruth (the Moabite woman who gave up her religion to follow her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi), Jezebel remained loyal to her deities.

At Jezebel’s request, a temple to Baal and Astarte was built in Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel even though Ahab seemed to remain loyal to Yahweh, Israel’s national deity. The king obviously allowed his wife the freedom to worship her gods. It also appears as if Ahab turned a blind eye to Jezebel’s murder of the prophets of Yahweh.

The story writer’s agenda

The stories of Ahab, Jezebel, and Elijah were written 200 years after they happened. The authors of the narratives were probably priests, and likely the same men who wrote the biblical book of Deuteronomy. It’s safe to say that these writers had an agenda. Israel’s national deity was Yahweh, and during the reigns of Ahab and Joram, the people had been blatantly disloyal to their Lord. Therefore, someone had to be blamed:

“[T]here never was anyone like Ahab, who committed himself to doing what was displeasing to the Lord, at the instigation of his wife Jezebel” (1 Kings 21:25).

It is interesting that Ahab is not held responsible for his own actions. He goes astray because of a wicked woman. Someone has to bear the writer’s bitter disappointment concerning Israel’s abandonment of Yahweh, and Jezebel is chosen for the job.

In an article for Biblical Archaeology Society,  Janet Howe Gaines puts the demonization of Jezebel in its cultural context: “Every Biblical word condemns her: Jezebel is an outspoken woman in a time when females have little status and few rights; a foreigner in a xenophobic land; an idol worshiper in a place with a Yahweh-based, state-sponsored religion; a murderer and meddler in political affairs in a nation of strong patriarchs; a traitor in a country where no ruler is above the law; and a whore in the territory where the Ten Commandments originate.”

Can we be fair?

So if we back up to earlier in the story when Jezebel was alive and well, a prophet named Elijah was sent to call Israel back to the Lord. He set up a tournament on Mt Carmel between Baal and Yahweh. Eight-hundred-and-fifty prophets to Baal and Astarte were invited to participate.

When the smoke clears, four-hundred-and-fifty of those prophets are slaughtered by Elijah on the banks of Kishon River. The prophet is said to be “zealous for the Lord.” Murder seems to be accepted, even venerated, as long as it is done in the name of the right deity.

Following Yahweh’s victory over Baal, Elijah runs the seventeen miles to the gates of Jezreel, the summer palace of Ahab and Jezebel.

Ahab reports the stunning defeat to Jezebel. Despite hearing the news of her gods’ defeat and her prophets’ demise, Jezebel sends out this startling message to Elijah. “If you are Elijah, so I am Jezebel” (1 Kings 19:2). Remarkable! Basically this woman said, “I am your equal, and I am not afraid of you.”

A second opinion

In a kinder analysis of Jezebel, she could be described as a fiery and determined person, with an intensity matched only by Elijah’s. She is true to her native religion and customs. She is even more loyal to her husband. Throughout her reign, she boldly exercises what power she has. And in the end, having lived her life on her own terms, Jezebel faces certain death with dignity.

What’s the point?

Strong women elicit strong reactions, especially from those with different goals. I don’t know Rep. Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez. But I can say that she is a strong woman who appears to evoke strong reactions. I could have chosen any number of women from all stations in life because the point to be made is not about one woman.

However, the reason I chose Ocasio-Cortez is because of a recent event that occurred on the steps of the Capital, her workplace. Two male representatives approached her. There was an intense back and forth between the three, overheard by at least one other person, a reporter. According to the reporter, one man called her ”disgusting,” and “out of her mind.” Again, according to the eye-witness, Ocasio-Cortez told the men they were being “rude.”

Walking away, one of the men mutters (but later denies saying) “f***ing b*tch.”

Strong women elicit strong reactions.