Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot QueenThere is no woman with a worse reputation than Jezebel, the ancient queen who corrupted a nation and met one of the most gruesome fates in the Bible. Her name alone speaks of sexual decadence and promiscuity. But what if this version of her story, handed down to us through the ages, is merely the one her enemies wanted us to believe? What if Jezebel, far from being a conniving harlot, was, in fact, framed? In this remarkable new biography, Lesley Hazleton shows exactly how the proud and courageous queen of Israel was vilified and made into the very embodiment of wanton wickedness by her political and religious enemies. Jezebel brings readers back to the source of the biblical story, a rich and dramatic saga featuring evil schemes and underhanded plots, war and treason, false gods and falser humans, and all with the fate of entire nations at stake. At its center are just one woman and one man—the sophisticated Queen Jezebel and the stark prophet Elijah. Their epic and ultimately tragic confrontation pits tolerance against righteousness, pragmatism against divine dictates, and liberalism against conservatism. It is, in other words, the original story of the unholy marriage of sex, politics, and religion, and it ends in one of the most chillingly brutal scenes in the entire Bible. Here at last is the real story of the rise and fall of this legendary woman—a radically different portrait with startling contemporary resonance in a world mired once again in religious wars. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 17 | |
Samaria | 33 |
Gilead | 54 |
Carmel | 77 |
The Vineyard | 104 |
Sinai | 125 |
Damascus | 144 |
Jezreel | 170 |
Carthage | 207 |
Bibliography | 233 |
Index | 247 |
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Common terms and phrases
Ahab Ahab's Ahaziah Anat Ancient Israel anointed Asherah Assyrian Astarte Baal Cycle Baal Shamem Baalite priests battle become Ben-Hadad biblical blood called Carmel century B.C. chariot Chemosh covenant curse Damascus death divine dogs drought dung Elijah Elisha enemy evil exile eyes Ezekiel fact foreign Gilead goddess gods Greek harlot harlotry Hazael Hebrew bible human idea imagine Islam Israeli Israelite Jehu Jehu's Jerusalem Jezebel Jezreel Jezreel Valley Joram Jordan Judean killed king of Israel Kingdom of Israel Kings account Kings authors land legend literally Megiddo Middle East Moab modern monotheism Mount Muhraka murder myth of orgy Naboth never Omri Omride palace Phoenician prophet Elijah queen mother rain Ramot Gilead Religion ritual sacred prostitution Samaria says scribes seems sexual Sheffield Academic Press Sinai stone story temple throne tion Tyre Ugarit vineyard warrior whole woman women word Yahweh Yahwist