Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“When they came back and told him, he said, ‘This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, “In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; the corpse of Jezebel shall be like dung on the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.” ’”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, November 13, 2021
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
Jezebel was wiped from the face of the earth. Her death was sudden, violent, and there wasn’t even enough of the body left for a proper burial befitting the queen she was. Few women in ancient history are more vilified than Jezebel, and a little part of me wonders if maybe that’s because she actually had agency, and had the audacity to be strong and decisive in a world dominated by men. Sure, she worshipped Baal and persecuted Elijah, but her story is only told from the perspective of the Israelites. I imagine there was a lot more to Jezebel. Probably a lot that was good and admirable. But we’ll never know, because her story was told by men who hated her, and who were glad to see her thrown out a window and eaten by dogs. And her legacy has been used throughout history to condemn any woman who dares to have agency and stand up to the male powers that be.
I’m not saying we ought to elevate Jezebel to some kind of role model. But sometimes it’s good to question what’s in the Bible, and listen for the voices that aren’t heard.
Do I read the Bible critically, seeking to find God’s eternal grace and mercy even in the most challenging stories?
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