Jezebel: Portraits of a Queen (Interfaces)

Powerful. Assertive. Evil. What we know of Jezebel, queen of Israel, seems pure malevolence. What we know is what ancient writers, in their attempt to shape a theological history, considered important. More than just an intriguing story, Jezebel: Portraits of a Queen provides insight into a character used (and portrayed) by biblical writers as a negative example. Two portraits of Jezebel are created: that of Jezebel the story character, taken from narrative criticism, and Jezebel the queen, drawn from a sociological study. Combining these two portraits, the reader can begin to understand the ancient writers' worldviews, theologies, values, and loyalties. Jezebel's story gives readers a new perspective with which they may approach all biblical texts. The focuses on social organization and monarchy will help students study the text within a framework of biblical society.