Who was Jezebel? Aside from the trope of the evil, seductive woman or even an evil spirit, a slanderous name tossed about for centuries when someone, usually female, considered to be of lesser value tries to overcome her downtrodden role, or rather a 'get out of a jail free card' for a wandering man who blames the victim, 'That Jezebel made me do it", but historically...who was she?
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The woman Jezebel is introduced in the Biblical book, 1st Kings, as a Phoenician princess who marries the Israeli King Ahab. Or rather, she is sold into the slavery of marriage for the position of political power wrangling between her father's sea-faring successful country to that of the land of Israel, a simple dowry object passed from one patriarchal control to another. How dare she speak up, forge her own path? Doesn't she know her place?
A young woman traveling to a distant land from the comforts of her home, Jezebel brought much from the place of her birth, including that of the artifacts of her country's religion, so that she could continue to worship as she had always done. Once there, she inquired of Ahab, her new betrothed, if she could display such artifacts of her faith and he gave her his permission. Ahab, an ancient king, had many a wife and concubine, of which Jezebel was the newest, as many ancient kings did. Women of the time passed back and forth, land to land, bed to bed, as a form of currency and an object of social status. How dare Jezebel seek out and desire more?
It is said in the Biblical accounts of her life that her new husband, King Ahab, willingly began worshiping Ba'al, committing idolatry, he gave up the God of Israel. However, when reading a historical, religious text such as the Bible, one has to recognize that all material and literature is of its time (or of any time), is written with bias based on the life of the one writing and what audience they intend to persuade. Now, I am not anti-bible, even though a deconstructed Fundie Christian, I hold beautiful memories pouring through and still find value with such as a spiritual text among many, one rich with figurative stories to help make meaning and understanding unto one's life's journey and evolution. All that to say, in the interest of this study of Jezebel, let's do our best to set aside the religious teachings of the Bible, specifically that of 'literal', and any bias that teaching has created within and take another look at Jezebel.
Jezebel's arrival in her new husband's land took some getting accustomed for both her and those around her. Furthermore, her bringing artifacts of her faith along with her and not conforming to the religion of the land angered many, including that of the Jewish Prophets, Elijah, then Elisha. Additionally, Jezebel was not acting appropriately in the traditional sense of the submissive woman and wife, she was curious, had a voice she wanted heard, and was hungry for interaction. In short, she sought to align herself in equality with her husband. How dare she?
It is important to note that Jezebel was not innocent in her strong woman status. She was a bit conniving in wrangling a piece of land Ahab wanted from the poor owner, Naboth, whom she wrongfully accused of blasphemy to God and country, bringing about his stoning. So, yeah, definitely a 'dick move' if I ever heard one? Again, she vowed to have Elijah killed, but only after finding out that the prophet had caused the slaughter of hundreds of Ba'al worshipers and prophets in the name of the God of Israel. An eye for an eye, am I right?
Examining the life and character of Jezebel through the lens of the Biblical bias, one that wants to esteem the Judeo-Christian God above all others, she is vilified as a pagan seductress as a warning for what occurs when one disobeys the most high. Yet, within the confines of history and political striving through all time including present day, this back and forth one-uppance and vying to overpower is a factor of human nature. Perhaps, the striving of such coming from a woman, who already did not conform to the standards of society, was the true sticking point. If Jezebel had be a man, would we have the slanderous insult? Yes, Jezebel ain't an angel, but I don't necessarily see her as this Satanic Spirt come to tempt and to destroy all her victims. I am reminded more of current women of political power of our day, more than a sexual deviant.
So, the warning of the spirit of Jezebel is not one of sexual seductress, nor should Jezebel be held up as reason for husbands to insist their wives submit, but rather that of the political striving of over-powering another for one's gain. A reality of human nature, of all genders, striving to better oneself can swiftly swing to a competitive drive to dominate. For example, if feminism becomes more about matriarchal rule, where men are dominated and subjugated, as seen in the Barbie movie, than the female gender is no better than the male.
Yet, there is a positive spirit of Jezebel worthy of reclaiming, standing true to oneself amongst the unfamiliar, surrounded by the prejudices of others, and speaking up to be heard when others would wish to silence. For a woman who voluntarily agreed to be a Fundie Christian in her twenties, who always had a busty Barbie Doll figure, surrounded by a culture encroached within the Purity Culture mindset, I felt often that my body, the 'God-given' figure, was a Jezebel like attribute that could cause the stumbling of my male brethren. Adding to the experience wherein a pastor who was counseling me in the throes of my depression remarked, "lots of women that I have counseled have developed feelings for me", which caused me to question, then spiral deeper into body dysmorphia and shame, to anorexia with the hopes of de-sexualizing myself so as not to be a 'Jezebel'.
It is said that when those intent to murder her were approaching, Jezebel put on her finest attire, painted her face, and stood proudly looking out her window. Was she waiting for her approaching 'paying customers' as a harlot? My feeling is she was continuing her bravery of standing fast in her own power and strength in the face of great adversity.
You can be amazing
You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug
You can be the outcast
Or be the backlash of somebody's lack of love
Or you can start speaking up
Nothing's gonna hurt you the way that words do
When they settle 'neath your skin
Kept on the inside and no sunlight
Sometimes a shadow wins
But I wonder what would happen if you
Say what you wanna say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave
With what you want to say
And let the words fall out
Honestly, I wanna see you be brave
Research materials used for this article:
Blaming Jezebel | Belief It Or Not
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