Jezebel and Ahab (1863)

Jezebel and Ahab (painted about 1863) by Frederic Leighton (1830-1896) is an oil on canvas and hangs at Scarborough Art Gallery. I have recently been preaching about the pair, and Jezebel came to her sticky end on Sunday morning.

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel ruled what was then the northern Kingdom of Israel in the 9th century BC. Jezebel, originally from Phoenicia (modern-day Lebanon), worshipped Baal, the fertility god of the Phoenician people. Ahab converted to Baalism and essentially made it the official religion of Israel. The Living God was rather angry and sent one of His representatives, Elijah, to confront them, which is what we see in the painting.

The name Jezebel has become associated with sin and calling a woman a 'Jezebel' is considered an insult. It implied she was immoral, controlling or promiscuous. Indeed, the Lord Jesus uses it of a certain woman in the early chapters of Revelation.

Leighton modelled the head of the prophet Elijah (on the right) on a famous actress of the period, called Fanny Kemble, who was a friend of the artist. The height and dignity of the prophet contrasts with the wicked rulers. Ahab appears to have shrunk and has his head bowed down, while Jezebel stands upright and taller than him, demonstrating her power over him. She is frowning and has turned away from Elijah, symbolic of her rejecting God. In the Bible, Jezebel is presented as the bad influence that has brought 'evil' into the kingdom and manipulated her weak husband into turning his back on true religion. Those who walk faithfully walk uprightly; those who walk deceitfully will always cower and cringe. 

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly. Proverbs 2:7, NKJV