References (20)
And it came to pass, as if it were a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, that he took as his wife Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel), the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians, and went and served Baal and worshipped him.
for when [Ahab's wife] Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) exterminated (cut off) the prophets of the Lord (Yahweh), Obadiah had taken 100 prophets and hidden them, 50 in each cave, and given them bread and water.
Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord (Yahweh), how I hid 100 men of the prophets of the Lord (Yahweh), 50 in every cave, and gave them bread and water?
Now send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah [] who eat at Jezebel's table."
Ahab (Hebr. Achav) told [his wife] Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) in detail about everything Elijah had done. [How the prophets of Baal had failed to light the sacrificial fire, while Elijah had called down fire from heaven; how Elijah had prayed and it had begun to rain after three and a half years of drought.] Ahab also recounted the details of how Elijah had killed all the prophets with the sword [given the command that the 450 prophets of Baal should be executed].
Then Jezebel sent a messenger with the following warning to Elijah: "May the gods [Baal and the Astarte goddesses whom Jezebel served] punish me severely if by this time tomorrow I have not taken your life in the same way that you took theirs."
[Ahab was the most wicked king of Israel throughout history, because he allowed himself to be controlled by others, see . After the triumph over the prophets of Baal, the people cried out, "The Lord is God," see . What Elijah had longed for and prayed for was now beginning to happen. The people repented, and it looked as if Ahab would finally deal with Jezebel. Elijah accompanied Ahab to the city of Jezreel and waited at the gate while Ahab told Jezebel what had happened. She became furious and threatened to kill Elijah within 24 hours. Jezebel is a master at manipulating people. Since the people have seen God's power, she cannot openly kill Elijah, so she sends the message secretly in an attempt to control and intimidate the prophet into silence.]
But Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel), his wife, came to him and said, "Why are you so sullen (literally: why is your spirit bitter/angry) that you will not eat bread (food)?"
And Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel), his wife, said to him, "You, now you rule the kingdom of Israel! [Now you show who's boss!] Get up and eat bread and let your heart be glad [drink wine, same phrase as in ]. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
[In Jezebel's words to her husband Ahab, "you" (Hebr. atah) comes first in the sentence, which gives it emphasis. The Greek translation Septuagint interprets it as an ironic question: "Are you really the ruler of Israel?" Similarly, "I" (Hebr. ani) is emphasized in the last phrase.]
And the men of the city, the elders and nobles who lived in the city, did as Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) had sent them, according to what was written in the letter she had sent them.
Then they sent word to Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) and said, "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."
And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for silver, for Naboth is not alive, but dead."
And even though Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) has spoken, the Lord (Yahweh) has said: The dogs shall eat Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) in the moats of Jezreel.
There was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord (Yahweh), as his wife Jezebel (Hebr. Izevel) encouraged him.
And you shall strike down the house of your master Ahab (Hebr. Achav), that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord (Yahweh) from the hand of Jezebel.
And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel [the area that had previously been Naboth's vineyard], and no one shall bury her." And he opened the door and fled.
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Shalom (all is well), Jehu?" And he said, "What shalom (how can all be well), as long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?"
And Jehu came to Jezreel, and Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes and dressed her head and looked out the window.
And they came back and told him, and he said, "This is the word of the Lord (Yahweh) that he spoke through his servant Elijah, the Tishbite, saying, 'In the portion of Jezreel [the area that had previously been Naboth's vineyard], the dogs shall eat Jezebel's flesh,
and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel [area], so that no one will be able to say, 'This is Jezebel.
But I have this against you
[singular – the congregation/leadership as a whole, or the pastor]: You tolerate
(do nothing about) the woman
Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet and teaches and seduces my servants to commit sexual immorality
(illicit sex – Gk. porneia) and eat sacrificial meat.
[This woman, who probably had a different name, refers to Ahab's infamous wife Jezebel, who cunningly and actively led the Israelites away from God and introduced the worship of Baal, see ; ; . Here in Thyatira there was a woman (the wife of an influential man) who was allowed to run rampant in the church and led them to believe that it was not wrong to visit temple prostitutes and eat sacrificial meat, which was contrary to what was taught, see .]
