The Bible has a record of some of the most outrageous and evil women who were queens in the Bible. We will look at three of them. Jezebel, Athaliah and Herodias.
Jezebel, Queen of Israel
Jezebel did so much evil in her time no one would ever consider to name their daughter after her. She was infamous, evil and ruthless. She was especially known for her hatred of the prophets of God. Jezebel was a daughter to Ethbaal who was a priest of Baal. Jezebel married king Ahab and followed in the traditions and culture of her fathers. Here are some of her evil doings while she was queen in Israel.
- She brought all the idols of Baal to the land of Israel.
- She ordered the killing of the prophets of God 1 Kings 18:4-19
- She set up alter of Baal in Israel
- She was after Elijah so much so Elijah the prophet had to run for his life 1 Kings 19:2-3
- She framed up Naboth a righteous man and caused his death so she could take over his vineyard.
It’s not surprising Jezebel life did not end well. She was thrown out of the window and trampled upon by horses. Jezebel was defiant till the time of her death.
So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.”
2 Kings 9:35-37
Athaliah Queen of Judah
Story of Athaliah can be found in 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 22-23. Athaliah was Ahab’s daughter, same Ahab who was king in Isarel and married to Jezebel. So its no surprise that she took after her mother in being evil in all her dealings. She married Jehoroam, king of Judah son of Jehoshaphat. Together with her husband they turned against the Lord. Jehoroam killed all his brothers. Athaliah was a bad inlfuence on her husband. 2 Kings 8:18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, just as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife; and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.
King Jehoroam died and her son Ahaziah became king but she was also a bad influence on her son. This what the Bible have to say about Athaliah’s influence on her son, King Ahaziah. 2 Chronicles 22:3-4 He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother advised him to do wickedly. Therefore he did evil in the sight of the Lord, like the house of Ahab; for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction.
After King Ahaziah, Athaliah’s son died, she killed all the royal heirs to the throne and reigned over Judah for six years. God will always keep His covenant. Athaliah taught she had killed all the sons but one was able to escape. Joash was hid in the temple of God while Athaliah reigned until the appointed time. Joash became king and Athaliah was killed.
Athaliah’s was so evil she was a party to the killing of two kings in Judah, her husband and her son. She also killed other possible heirs to the throne. What she did not know which we must also understand us that God will always save a remnant for Himself because His word will never return to Him void. God promised there would always be the heir of David to reign over the land and neither Jezebel or Athaliah were evil enough to change God’s promise.
Herodias Queen of Judea
While Herod reign as king in Judea, he married Herodias his brother’s wife which was unlawful. John the Baptist voiced his opinion and condemned the king’s action. This upset Herodias and looked for ways to execute vengeance on him. Mark 6:19-20 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Herodias made her daughter asked for the head of John the Baptist. The king had been impressed by her daughter’s performance and made a blanket promise to give her anything she asked for. Herodias took advantage of this opportunity and counseled her daughter to ask for John’s head. The king could nit refuse so John was beheaded and his head put on a platter. Mark 6:26-29 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb.
Herodias celebrated killing one of God’s prophet. She was bad influence to the reign of King Herod and her daughter. She killed John the Baptist.
