Jezebel was a Sidonian princess, the daughter of King Ithobaal I of Sidon, who married Ahab, King of Israel. Often depicted as a beautiful, strong-willed, cunning, and ambitious woman, Jezebel is said to have persuaded her husband to abandon the worship of Yahweh, the Hebrew God, in favor of the Phoenician deity Baal. She is also described as committing atrocities against the prophets of Yahweh and participating in politics, as seen in the episode involving Naboth's vineyard. Beginning with 1 Kings 16:31 in the Hebrew Bible, her story is recounted in the Books of Kings, which are part of the Deuteronomistic history—a narrative that emphasizes purging Israel of polytheism. As a foreign princess with different beliefs, Jezebel is portrayed as one of the most notorious sinful women in the Bible and is labeled a dangerous apostate and harlot. However, some modern feminist scholars view her as a courageous, outspoken woman loyal to her ancestral deities and question inconsistencies in her portrayal. For example, while she is condemned for persecuting Yahweh's prophets, Elijah is rewarded for acts of violence committed in Yahweh's name, and no evidence supports the claims of promiscuity often attributed to her.
