Jezebel

1. Introduction

This lesson on Jezebel is the third in the series on the prophet. The first lesson is Ministry of the Prophet, and the second is entitled Lifestyle of the Prophet. The other series in the prophetic looks at New Testament Prophecy and the Gift of Prophecy.
The prophet has a specific grace from God to pull down Jezebel’s stronghold. For this reason, Jezebel is the primary demonic assignment against the prophet’s office. Any person called to be a prophet will encounter many Jezebel spirits in preparation for being chosen by God as a prophet.

A good understanding of Jezebel will enable the prophet to know how to destroy her works.

Christine and I spent six years working with the Yolngu people of Northern Australia. We lived amongst powerful witch doctors and saw God bring revival to the whole people group until every village had accepted Jesus. Our experience with these people taught me a lot about this spirit. I will use some examples of how to defeat Jezebel during this lesson.

2. Meaning of the Name

A. Hebrew Meaning

The Hebrew word for Jezebel is אִיזֶבֶל’ îyzeḇel, which means Baal is husband to, or unchaste.

In other words, when someone called the woman Jezebel, they said Baal is your husband! The word’s second meaning is no less deplorable when the parents call the girl unchaste! Unfortunately for her, she fulfilled the prophetic aspect of her name.

3. History of Jezebel

A. Married to Israelite King

The first mention in the Bible is when King Ahab takes Jezebel as his wife.

Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.

1 Kings 16:30-31

Jezebel’s father was called Ethbaal, interpreted as “With Baal”! It was an idiotic thing for Ahab to marry a worshiper of Baal. Paul refers to such intermarriage in his letter to the Corinthians:

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?

2 Corinthians 6:14-15

Ahab’s action in marrying Jezebel caused Ahab to follow Baal. As a result, he was the evilest king Israel had ever had.

Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD, more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.

1 Kings 16:30-31

B. Jezebel Massacred the Prophets of God.

Next, we find that Jezebel is killing prophets, resulting in fear among the prophets.

For so it was, while Jezebel massacred the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.

1 Kings 18:4

C. Jezebel Supported False Prophets.

Jezebel provided for 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah:

Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

1 Kings 18:19

D. Jezebel Causes Prophets to Hide

We have already seen that Jezebel, through Obadiah, forced 150 prophets into hiding. Elijah called fire down from heaven.

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.

1 Kings 18:38

Elijah brought a mighty revival that turned the nation from the worship of Baal back to God.

Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

1 Kings 18:39

He then killed all the false prophets:

And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.

1 Kings 18:40

And broke a three-year drought brought on by Ahab’s sin:

So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.

1 Kings 18:42,45

E. Jezebel Causes Elijah to Flee

Yet, with a single command from Jezebel, Elijah ran for his life.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

1 Kings 19:2

She was able to discourage Elijah to the point he wanted to die.

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

1 Kings 19:4

F. Jezebel Took Naboth’s Inheritance

King Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard for his vegetable garden.

So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near, next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.”

1 Kings 21:2

The vineyard was Naboth’s inheritance,

But Naboth said to Ahab, “The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”

1 Kings 21:3

So Jezebel said she would get it for Ahab:

Then Jezebel his wife said to him, “You now exercise authority over Israel! Arise, eat food, and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

1 Kings 21:7

G. Jezebel Manipulated False Accusations

She managed this by arranging false accusations to be laid against Naboth.

She wrote in the letters, saying,
Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.”

1 Kings 21:9-10

H. Jezebel Arranged Naboth’s Death

She succeeded in arranging Naboth’s death:

And two men, scoundrels, came in and sat before him; and the scoundrels witnessed against him, against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth has blasphemed God and the king!” Then they took him outside the city and stoned him with stones, so that he died.

1 Kings 21:13

I. Jezebel’s Death Prophesied

As a direct result of the murder Jezebel orchestrated, Elijah prophesied a peculiar death for Jezebel:

And concerning Jezebel, the LORD also spoke, saying, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’ The dogs shall eat whoever belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, and the birds of the air shall eat whoever dies in the field.

1 Kings 21:23-24

J. Death of Jezebel

Some years later, after Elijah’s death, King Jehu came to Jezreel. Jezebel, sensing danger, tried to seduce the king, just as she had tempted King Ahab.

Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.

2 Kings 9:30

And [Jehu] looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.

2 Kings 9:32-33

4. Is Jezebel a Spirit?

A. Nephilim

The Hebrew meaning of the name Jezebel, being a wife to Baal, strongly suggests that there was a spirit in Jezebel. The name, also meaning unchaste, would bring to the minds of the Hebrew listeners the history of the Nephilim when demons had sex with women.

The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them: the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.

Genesis 6:4

B. Her Actions

Jezebel’s history indicates she was a person of low moral standards. The effect of sin on a person means they open themselves to demonic attack and possession. Jezebel leading the people of Israel astray from Yahweh and killing the prophets would support her demon possession.

C. New Testament Reference

Jesus refers to Jezebel in his letter to the church in Thyatira:

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Revelation 2:20

The similarities between the Old and New Testament references to Jezebel support the idea that Jesus refers to a spirit being rather than the actual person. Although Jezebel may be real, the judgment that Jesus declared over Jezebel’s disciples indicates His hatred for this spiritual force.

Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts.

Revelation 2:22-23

5. Identifying Jezebel

Jesus makes it clear that we must not tolerate Jezebel in the church:

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel,

Revelation 2:20

In our spiritual warfare, standing in Jezebel’s opposite spirit is vital. However, we need to be careful not to assume that a strong leader necessarily carries a Jezebel spirit around their life. And nor should we think that it only relates to women.

A. False Gods

As her name suggests, Jezebel will try to influence people to follow other gods. The spirit will not obviously turn people away from God, preferring a subtle approach. The devil always mixes truth with lies, so Jezebel will do the same.
Christine and I saw this on the mission field. For two years, the believers born out of the revival would follow Jesus and the animistic spirits of their ancestors. Only in the third year of the revival did the youth break away, declaring they would only follow Jesus.

We see this clearly in Jesus’ message to the Thyatira church:

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Revelation 2:20

She did this by taking antinomianism to the extreme. Antinomianism releases us from the Mosaic law. Although we discover this in The Law No Longer Applies, extreme antinomianism means we can do what we like.

In the case of Jezebel, her extreme antinomianism meant that because of grace, people could offer sacrifices to idols and indulge in sexual sins!

Awakening Impact Ministry believes we fulfil the law by loving God and our neighbours. For example, we will not murder, steal, or commit sexual immorality because of our love for God and our neighbours.

B. Covetousness

Paul teaches that idolatry is rooted in covetousness.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Colossians 3:5

When Jezebel manifests itself, coveting will appear in those under the spirit’s effect. Covetousness may be especially evident when finances are involved. I have seen good people’s attitudes change over time. They start asking correctly, but then they change and start demanding or using scriptures to try and manipulate the ministry to give them money. They will say that I cannot trust other people with money and that I can trust them. I pray to the Lord for spiritual discernment when a person’s attitude towards money is suspicious. However, covetousness is not limited to finances. A person may covet the gift or anointing on another leader’s life but is not prepared to go through the suffering the anointed leader went through to produce it.

Leaders who feel they need to be provided with the same blessings as other leaders in the ministry, including finance and privileges, should never resort to demanding these from their spiritual mentor.

Jesus always saw through others’ judgemental comparisons and addressed the cause of unfair treatment. Jesus tends to strike at once at the root of the evil intent of the heart.

Then, one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Luke 12:13

C. Manipulation

Jezebel is a master manipulator, which played out in organising the death of Naboth:

She wrote in the letters, saying,
Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth with high honor among the people; and seat two men, scoundrels, before him to bear witness against him, saying, “You have blasphemed God and the king.”

1 Kings 21:9-10

Covetousness with manipulation is a powerful one-two knock-out blow. A Jezebel spirit will manipulate to get what it wants. It is not wrong to desire money or position, but when we covet something and manipulate it, we operate in the wrong spirit. We are opening ourselves up to spiritual attack. Churches and ministries that tolerate this spirit will likewise come under spiritual attack.

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have, murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask

James 4:1-2

Having worked on the mission field, we have seen people fall away from leadership because they covet something and manipulate people to get it. Manipulation is particularly evident when the person wanting something is poorer than the person they seek help from.

D. Sexual Temptations

Generally speaking, a person with a Jezebel spirit will have a sexually unclean spirit operating around their life.

Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.

Revelation 2:20

If another person has a weakness for sexual immorality, it will entice them to fall in this manner. We see this in her attempt to distract Jehu from fulfilling Elijah’s prophecy of her death by painting her eyes to seduce the king.

Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.

2 Kings 9:30

Sexual immorality is different from all other sins:

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body.

1 Corinthians 6:18

When a person sins sexually, it is against one’s own body. Sexual sin, above all other vices, will reduce the glory of God around our lives. Therefore, the man or woman of God needs to keep themselves pure in this manner. Realise that not all sexual temptation is natural but can be a spirit tempting us. A spirit was working through Jezebel in Thyatira:

Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds.

Revelation 2:22

We have the Holy Spirit inside of us to help us overcome temptation.

E. Control by Gossip

The fourth aspect of Jezebel is the spirit of control. Control manifests when somebody else is promoted ahead of themselves within the church or organisation. They will control by pushing the other person down, using patronising comments, innuendos and gossiping about another person’s unsuitability for the role the person carrying the spirit of Jezebel wishes to attain.

F. Discouragement by Bullying

Another attribute of Jezebel is that the person carrying the Jezebel spirit will bring discouragement by taunting, condescending, or intimidating a person. We see this in Jezebel’s threat to Elijah.

Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.”

1 Kings 19:2

And how the man of God wanted to give up and die:

But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

1 Kings 19:4

If you are tempted to run from your call, then rebuke the spirit of Jezebel and see what happens. You know you are facing a Jezebel spirit if the thoughts leave.

G. Flattery of Leadership

Although it is good to encourage your leaders, I get concerned when I sense flattery from someone. Flattery is what Jezebel tried with Jehu. Senior pastors must be gentle but firm when they feel people flattering them. We need to encourage pastors but not flatter them.

H. Accusation of Competitors

In this apostolic and prophetic ministry, I need to keep a very close eye on those who aspire to leadership within the ministry. I am concerned that if I see potential leaders showing evidence of jealousy or bringing false accusations against other potential leaders, I know from the revival amongst the Yolngu people that this is one of the main reasons revivals lose momentum. I remind potential leaders, stumbling in the path of jealousy, of the words of Jesus:

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:15-18

Jezebel used false witnesses to bring accusations against Naboth.

So, I tell leaders that we need to follow the scriptural guidelines to bring proof of wrongdoing. If they are unable to do that, then I remind them that this is something that God hates:

These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 6:16-19

I. Second in Command Position

Jezebel seduced Ahab because she wanted to be second in command of the nation of Israel.
This spirit likes to manipulate and control by using the leader’s authority. In this second-in-command position, the spirit can lead the people of God astray by manipulating them to sin. The spirit’s desire to be second-in-command means that the head leader of the ministry or church must train upcoming associate leaders to identify and overcome Jezebel so they do not fall under its influence. Training should ideally occur before being put into this position of leadership.

6. Defeating Jezebel

A. Personal Godliness

Your most robust protection from Jezebel is walking in personal holiness and righteousness. Walking in godliness is because Jezebel may try cursing people it feels are against it. Curses only work where they have a legal hold.

Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow,
So a curse without cause shall not alight.

Proverbs 26:2

The Yolngu witch doctors would plan to take control of a town or village by getting the teenage girls to take the young men into the bush to have sex with them. Once the witch doctors caught the young men having sex with the women, they threatened the men and could then control the young men to follow witchcraft. Controlling the teenagers was their plan, but they failed, thanks to the gospel.

Being sexually pure is essential to your victory over Jezebel.

B. Binding the Spirit

As in all spiritual warfare, firstly bind the spirit of Jezebel.

And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Matthew 16:19

If the spirit is operating, there will be an immediate change in the atmosphere or situation once we bind the spirit of Jezebel.

C. Operating in the Opposite Spirit

Spiritual warfare requires that we operate in the opposite spirit. So, if we see a spirit of fear manifesting, we use faith and love to counter it.

When it comes to control, we need to stand firm against it.

Ramingining was the centre of witchcraft in the southern hemisphere. It was the place where Australian farmers massacred many Yolngu. One man survived by hiding underwater in a water hole and breathing through a bundle of reeds.

D. Breaking the Control

The witch doctors gathered in Ramingining to perform their secret rituals every year. The place where they met for their rituals was close to the road from Ramingining to its airport. They, therefore, blocked the road between the town and the airport with guards ensuring nobody used the road. Because I was a pilot, their action meant I could not fly. I discerned that the witch doctors were operating under the influence of a controlling Jezebel spirit, so after binding the spirit, I decided to act in the opposite spirit. The opposite of control is to do the opposite of what the control is trying to achieve.

I ran the blockade, and when the guards armed with spears tried to stop me, I told them I would not bow down to their control. They immediately backed down, and nobody attacked my family or me, even though I lived in their midst. The result of standing against the controlling spirit was that the revival went to an entirely new level. The young people rose against the witch doctors through this act and said they would only worship Jesus.

7. Summary

• Jezebel was the queen of the evil King Ahab of Israel.
• Jezebel manifests as covetousness and idolatry, sexual immorality, control and manipulation.
• The spirit will steal inheritances, using false accusations as its modus operandi.
• It does not generally take the most senior position, preferring to manipulate those threatening her position and flattering the senior minister or leader.
• Jezebel will call themselves a prophet or prophetess, using intimidation to discourage the prophets.
• It can be defeated through binding the spirit, operating in the opposite spirit and practising a godly lifestyle free of covetousness.

© Use by Permission Awakening Impact Ministries/Dr Neville Westerbeek van Eerten D. Miss. 2024