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Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him...he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him.
1 Kings 16:30 - 31
I find it interesting that many people do not recognize names like Rahab, Ruth, and Esther. But they usually know Delilah and Jezebel. Maybe not their story, but they know they were evil.
Jezebel was the daughter of a king-priest. She was a Phoenician princess who worshiped Baal - the Canaanite young storm god and Ashtoreth - the goddess of love and fertility.
She married Ahab who became the king of Israel who came with a strong foundation in evil. His father, Omri, "sinned more than all those before him," and Ahab "did more evil than any of those before him" (1 Kings 16:25 and 16:30).
But Jezebel possessed her own special kind of evil.
I'm guessing it did not take too much of Jezebel's influence to convince her husband to erect a temple of Baal and an altar for worship and sacrifice, as well as an Asherah Pole for pagan rituals. Ahab seemed to have all but one toe-nail in with his sin and evil ways.
And Jezebel had him wrapped around her little finger. I'm not even sure Ahab was thinking for himself sometimes. Although he had a "devout believer" (1 Kings 18:3) in charge of his palace, "Jezebel was killing off the Lord's prophets" (1 Kings 18:4) for speaking up against Baal worship and other pagan worship rituals - including "detestable
practices such as prostitution, homosexual
prostitution, and human
sacrifice of children" (source).
Jezebel even goes behind her husband's back, using and abusing his name and power as well as her own evil ways to have an innocent man killed, just to make her husband happy (1 Kings 21:1 - 16) - I mean, that's totally normal, right?!?!?!?!?
Jezebel infiltrated an already weakened Israel and nearly destroyed it with her evil. Although her husband repented and mourned over his sins and the Lord had mercy on him, delaying his judgement on Ahab, Jezebel NEVER turned from her wicked ways. She was eventually thrown out of her window, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs.
Whether we know it or not...whether we like it or not...we all have influence over those around us - especially our families. Jezebel was a mother and a wife, and her influence affected her husband and her son. She chose the gods her family would worship. And her wickedness reached out beyond her family, killing many innocent lives.
Who is watching you? Who do you have influence over? What are you teaching those around you?
You can read more about Jezebel's story at She Reads Truth. Also read 1 Kings 16:29 - 33; 18:1 - 6; 19:1 - 5; 21:1 - 18; 2 Kings 9:30 - 37.
Jezebel even goes behind her husband's back, using and abusing his name and power as well as her own evil ways to have an innocent man killed, just to make her husband happy (1 Kings 21:1 - 16) - I mean, that's totally normal, right?!?!?!?!?
Jezebel infiltrated an already weakened Israel and nearly destroyed it with her evil. Although her husband repented and mourned over his sins and the Lord had mercy on him, delaying his judgement on Ahab, Jezebel NEVER turned from her wicked ways. She was eventually thrown out of her window, trampled by horses, and eaten by dogs.
Whether we know it or not...whether we like it or not...we all have influence over those around us - especially our families. Jezebel was a mother and a wife, and her influence affected her husband and her son. She chose the gods her family would worship. And her wickedness reached out beyond her family, killing many innocent lives.
Who is watching you? Who do you have influence over? What are you teaching those around you?
You can read more about Jezebel's story at She Reads Truth. Also read 1 Kings 16:29 - 33; 18:1 - 6; 19:1 - 5; 21:1 - 18; 2 Kings 9:30 - 37.
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