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 Volume 76 › Table of Contents › Article Abstract
Dramatic narrative in the Bible offers few descriptions. The biblical narrator tends
to characterize his heroes by means of their actions and words, rather than proffering
any direct judgement of his own. There is no denying the negative portrayal
of Jezebel and Jehu in 2 Kings 9. However, verse 30 can be interpreted in two ways:
either Jezebel is interested in seducing Jehu, or perhaps she is at pains to appear
presentable, as behooves a woman about to inherit the throne. The puzzle is solved
by her words in the following verse: "Do you come in peace, Zimri, murderer of
your master"?
The biblical narrator deals kindly with Jezebel in her last moments, portraying her as an honorable, brave woman fighting for her life. Jehu, on the other hand, is revealed at the height of his cruelty, as the narrator describes Jezebel's most brutal death : "... her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her" (v. 33). Jehu, meanwhile, "went inside and ate and drank" (v. 34) – engaging in normal quotidian activities. The character of Jezebel is portrayed like such other complex biblical characters as David, Saul, Moses, and Abraham – decidedly human characters who have both positive and negative aspects. Jezebel is a most human negative character, who does have her positive qualities. In this she is similar to Ahab. |
