Jezebel: Difference between revisions

==Historicity==

[[File:Andrea Celesti - Queen Jezabel Being Punished by Jehu - WGA4622.jpg|alt=painting of Jezebel's dead body being consumed by dogs as Jehu gestures at her body in triumph|thumb|''Queen Jezebel Being Punished by Jehu'', by [[Andrea Celesti]]]]

 

According to Dr J. Bimson, of [[Trinity College, Bristol]] 1 and 2 Kings are not "a straightforward history but a history which contains its own theological commentary". He points to verses like {{bibleverse|1 Kings|14:19}} that show the author of Kings was drawing on other earlier sources.<ref>''IVP New Bible Commentary'' (21st Century Edition), p. 335</ref> The book mixes the annals of history with legends, folktales, miracle stories and "fictional constructions",<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RCgUvQOIvD0C&q=%22fictional+constructions%22&pg=PA1 |page=1 |title=Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching: First and Second Kings |author=Richard D. Nelson |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |year=1987 |isbn=978-0-664-22084-6}}</ref> and presentation of earlier sources is heavily edited to fit the Deuteronomist agenda.<ref>{{cite book|last=Fretheim|first=Terence E|title=First and Second Kings|publisher=[[Westminster John Knox Press]] |year=1997|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7ODLAo9QouEC |isbn=978-0-664-25565-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last= Van Seters |first=John |author-link=John Van Seters |title=In search of history: historiography in the ancient world and the origins of biblical history |publisher= Eisenbrauns |year=1997 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0-skPdXtewwC&pg=PA406 |isbn= 978-1-57506-013-2 |page=307}}</ref> Janet Howe Gaines likewise finds the narratives implausible, especially the narrative of Naboth being betrayed by an entire Israelite town. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Gaines |first=Janet Howe |date=2023 |title=How Bad Was Jezebel? |url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/how-bad-was-jezebel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211025417/https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/how-bad-was-jezebel/ |archive-date=February 11, 2024 |website=Biblical Archaeology Society}}</ref> But Christian Frevel argues that the biblical narrative subtly alludes to the Omrides' historical role in introducing Yahwism to Judah, which was obfuscated by anti-Omride Judeans. For example, Ahab gave his children theophoric names during his years of expansion in the northern territories and Judah.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Frevel |first=Christian |date=2021 |title=When and from Where did YHWH Emerge? Some Reflections on Early Yahwism in Israel and Judah |url=https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/8776 |journal=Entangled Religions |volume=12 |issue=2 |doi=10.46586/er.12.2021.8776 |via=RUB|hdl=2263/84039 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Stahl |first=Michael J. |date=2023 |title=Yahweh or Baal- Who Was the God of Northern Israel? |url=https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/yahweh-or-baal-who-was-the-god-of-northern-israel/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418044706/https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/yahweh-or-baal-who-was-the-god-of-northern-israel/ |archive-date=April 18, 2024 |website=Biblical Archaeology Review}}</ref> Other scholars propose that the Baal worshipped by Ahab and Jezebel was the "[[Kuntillet Ajrud inscriptions|YHWH of Samaria]]", which was opposed as Yahwist heresy by the Judean priests,<ref name="lipinski">Edward Lipiński "Studia z dziejów i kultury starożytnego Bliskiego Wschodu" Nomos Press, 2013, {{ISBN|978-83-7688-156-0}}</ref> but some disagree based on archaeological evidence and extrabiblical records on Jezebel's upbringing.<ref name=":4" /><ref>Merrill F. Unger, ''Unger’s Bible Dictionary'' (Chicago: Moody Press, 1977) 327.</ref> Brian R. Doak believes the narratives are historically plausible because of the historicity of Omri and Ahab, evidence for widespread paganism among Israelites, international marriages for political purposes and competition between religious professionals during periods of "political unrest or social change". In addition, other contemporary sources, including sources written by Phoenicians, face similar issues in terms of being unverified by third-party sources.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Doak |first=Brian R. |url=https://academic.oup.com/book/33589/chapter/288065678 |title=Ancient Israel's Neighbors |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780190690632}}</ref>