The Bible includes some gruesome details.
My pastor once asked me how people could watch gross horror movies with all the violence. I grinned and said, “Have you read the Bible?”
Between the battles and the tortures and evil done to others, the Bible is honest about the broken and violent lives people have lived throughout history. Sometimes, violence and death are consequences of sin and rebellion.
The Bible may include these details, but this doesn’t justify participating in violence and evil ourselves, of course. The Scripture shares how God’s redemptive plan of love can survive even a world of evil and destruction.
One of the examples of a graphic depiction in the Bible is when Queen Jezebel is eaten by dogs. God brought this as a judgment against Jezebel.
Elijah prophesied this to King Ahab, her husband (1 Kings 21:23). Dogs are unclean animals since they’ll eat anything, and this judgment symbolizes her unclean life and absolute fall from grace.
However, no other queen of Israel or Judah was eaten by dogs. Why was Jezebel the only queen in the Bible to be eaten by dogs?
Jezebel being eaten by dogs is recorded in 2 Kings chapter 9. Jezebel, a prominent figure in the Old Testament, was the daughter of Ethbaal, the king of the Sidonians, and she became the wife of Ahab, the king of Israel.
The story unfolds when Jehu, anointed as king by the prophet Elisha, sets out to execute God’s judgment on the house of Ahab.
Jezebel, known for her idolatrous practices and persecution of the prophets of the Lord, plays a significant role in the narrative. As Jehu approaches Jezreel, Jezebel adorns herself and stands at a window, seemingly indifferent to the impending judgment.
Jehu, filled with zeal for the Lord, challenges those around Jezebel to throw her down from the window. Responding to Jehu’s command, some eunuchs throw her down, and she meets a gruesome end.
The specific passage narrates, “And he said, ‘Throw her down.’ So, they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her. Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, ‘See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter’” (2 Kings 9:33-34, ESV).
After Jezebel's fall, Jehu orders that her body be properly buried. However, when they go to bury her, they find only her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands, as the dogs have devoured the rest of her body, fulfilling the prophetic words pronounced earlier by Elijah.
This account serves as a sobering illustration of divine judgment upon those who turn away from the worship of the true God and engage in idolatry and wickedness.
The story of Jezebel being eaten by dogs is a poignant reminder of the biblical principle that the wages of sin is death. It also highlights the importance of heeding God's warnings and turning away from practices that lead to spiritual destruction.
The narrative stands as a cautionary tale within the biblical narrative, emphasizing the severity of divine judgment for those who persist in rebellion against God.
What were those sins? Jezebel was known for idolatry, persecuting prophets of God, and murdering for profit.
Jezebel’s influence on the nation of Israel during her time as queen was marked by a zealous promotion of idolatry and the introduction of foreign religious practices. Her marriage to Ahab, the king of Israel, marked a significant turning point in the spiritual climate of the nation.
One of the key episodes illustrating Jezebel’s impact on Israel's faith is her role in promoting the worship of Baal. Baal was a pagan deity associated with fertility, rain, and prosperity.
Jezebel, who was a Phoenician princess, brought with her the worship of Baal and Asherah, a Canaanite goddess, into the heart of Israel.
She actively encouraged the construction of temples and altars dedicated to these foreign gods, effectively undermining the exclusive worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
Jezebel used her influence to manipulate the policies of the kingdom in favor of idolatry. Her promotion of idolatry also extended to the promotion of immoral practices associated with pagan worship.
The worship of Baal often involved ritual prostitution and other morally reprehensible activities. Jezebel, in her determination to establish Baal as the predominant deity, encouraged these practices, contributing to a moral decline in Israel.
Jezebel’s influence on Israel's spiritual life was profound and damaging. The introduction of foreign gods, the persecution of the true prophets, and the promotion of immoral practices led the nation away from the worship of the true God.
Her legacy is one of spiritual apostasy and moral compromise, illustrating the profound impact that leadership can have on the spiritual direction of a nation.
Jezebel’s reign as queen in ancient Israel was marked by a ruthless campaign against the prophets of God, reflecting her determination to eradicate any opposition to her idolatrous agenda.
The biblical narrative, particularly in the books of Kings, vividly portrays Jezebel’s threats, persecution, and, ultimately, the killing of these prophets.
The Queen’s zealous promotion of the worship of Baal and Asherah included a systematic effort to eliminate those who stood in opposition to her false gods. The prophets of God, who faithfully upheld the worship of Yahweh, became targets of Jezebel’s wrath.
One prominent episode unfolds in 1 Kings 18. Elijah, a bold and faithful prophet of God, confronts the prophets of Baal in a dramatic showdown on Mount Carmel. Following Elijah’s triumphant demonstration of God’s power, he receives a death threat from Jezebel.
In 1 Kings 19:2, Jezebel sends a message to Elijah, saying, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely if by this time tomorrow, I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
This explicit threat reveals Jezebel’s uncompromising stance against those who challenged her religious agenda. Fueled by her devotion to Baal, she sought to silence the prophets of Yahweh, viewing them as obstacles to the establishment of her pagan worship.
Jezebel's campaign against the prophets reached a devastating climax when she orchestrated a massacre.
In 1 Kings 18:13, Obadiah, a devout servant of God who feared Jezebel’s wrath, explains to Elijah how he had hidden a hundred prophets in caves to protect them from Jezebel’s murderous campaign.
The queen’s ruthless determination extended to hunting down and executing these prophets, sparing no effort to eradicate any opposition to her idolatrous reign.
This brutal persecution of the prophets reflects Jezebel’s uncompromising commitment to her false gods and her ruthless suppression of any dissenting voices.
Her actions set a dark and oppressive tone during her time as queen, illustrating the severe consequences faced by those who dared to defy her religious agenda.
Jezebel's threat and subsequent killing of the prophets serve as a cautionary tale in biblical history, highlighting the dangers of spiritual compromise and the lengths to which misguided zeal can lead.
At one point, Jezebel manipulates Ahab into committing murder for personal gain. This narrative, found in 1 Kings 21, centers around the tragic events involving Naboth’s vineyard.
Naboth, a Jezreelite, owned a vineyard adjacent to the palace of Ahab in Jezreel. Desiring this vineyard for its strategic location and fertile soil, Ahab approached Naboth with an offer to buy or exchange it.
However, Naboth, following the principles of inheritance and familial heritage, refused to sell or trade his ancestral property.
Jezebel, upon learning of Ahab’s disappointment, hatches a nefarious plan to acquire the coveted vineyard. Seizing the opportunity to exploit her husband’s weakness and manipulate the circumstances, she concocts a scheme to frame Naboth and orchestrate his demise.
Jezebel employs deceit by arranging a false accusation against Naboth, accusing him of blaspheming God and the king. The accusation of blasphemy against God was tragically ironic, given her own idolatry and persecution of the prophets.
Using her authority and influence as queen, she fabricates witnesses to support the charges. This malicious plot sets the stage for Naboth’s unjust condemnation, leading to his stoning to death as a result of the false accusations.
Following Naboth’s death, Jezebel informs Ahab and encourages him to take possession of the vineyard. Ahab, perhaps blinded by his desire and manipulated by Jezebel, willingly accepts the ill-gotten gain.
The king’s involvement in this scheme reveals the extent to which Jezebel's influence led him down a morally compromised path.
This episode serves as a stark illustration of the corrosive effects of power, greed, and moral compromise. Jezebel’s cunning manipulation of Ahab exploits his weaknesses and bends him to her will, ultimately leading to the shedding of innocent blood for personal gain.
Jezebel used her position and influence to lead the nation and people of God to idolatry. When prophets stood up for truth, she persecuted and killed them.
Despite visual and clear evidence, God was a greater force than the idol of Baal or her prophets, and she reacted with threat and violence, not repentance. She was even willing to lie and murder to get a valuable vineyard.
Guarding against the sins associated with Jezebel, such as idolatry, resistance to the word of God, and greed, is crucial for Christians today to maintain a steadfast and faithful walk with God.
1. Cultivate a heart of worship. We must cultivate a heart of worship focused solely on God. This involves recognizing and resisting the temptation to prioritize worldly desires or material pursuits over a genuine, exclusive devotion to the Lord.
Regular prayer, meditation on Scripture, and participation in communal worship help maintain a centered and undivided allegiance to God.
2. Embrace obedience to God's Word. Jezebel’s resistance to the word of God led to disastrous consequences. We should actively embrace obedience to God’s Word.
Regular and intentional study of the Bible, coupled with a humble and teachable spirit, helps believers align their lives with God’s commands. Since Christ is the Word, an active relationship with the Spirit is key to obedience.
3. Cultivate contentment and generosity. Guarding against greed involves cultivating contentment and practicing generosity. We are called to find their satisfaction in God rather than in the pursuit of worldly wealth.
By recognizing and resisting the temptation to accumulate possessions for selfish gain, we can foster a spirit of contentment and prioritize generosity toward others.
4. Accountability and community. By fostering an environment where we can openly share struggles, seek guidance, and receive prayer support, the potential for succumbing to idolatry, resisting God’s Word, and embracing greed and idolatry is diminished. Accountability encourages transparency and provides a safeguard against spiritual compromise.
5. Regular self-examination. The Bible teaches us to practice honest and regular self-examination. Taking time for introspection, guided by the Holy Spirit, allows believers to identify and address any areas of compromise or disobedience in their lives.
This self-awareness is vital in maintaining a healthy spiritual walk and resisting the subtle infiltration of Jezebel-like sins.
Guarding against the sins exemplified by Jezebel requires a proactive and intentional approach to spiritual growth.
By fostering a heart of worship, embracing obedience to God's Word, cultivating contentment, fostering accountability, engaging in self-examination, and relying on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, Christians can fortify themselves against the allure of idolatry, resistance to God's word, and greed in their journey of faith.
For further reading:
Who Was Jezebel in the Bible, and How Bad Was She?
What Should Christians Know about the Absalom Spirit?
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