care to Baal, besides four hundred prophets of the groves [R.V., ‘prophets
of the Asherah’], which ate at her table (1 Kings 18:19). The idolatry, too,
was of the most debased and sensual kind.” Her conduct was in many
respects very disastrous to the kingdom both of Israel and Judah
(21:1-29). At length she came to an untimely end. As Jehu rode into the
gates of Jezreel, she looked out at the window of the palace, and said,
“Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” He looked up and called to her
chamberlains, who instantly threw her from the window, so that she was
dashed in pieces on the street, and his horses trod her under their feet. She
was immediately consumed by the dogs of the street (2 Kings 9:7-37),
according to the word of Elijah the Tishbite (1 Kings 21:19).
Her name afterwards came to be used as the synonym for a wicked woman
(Revelation 2: 20).
It may be noted that she is said to have been the grand-aunt of Dido, the
founder of Carthage.
- JEZIEL assembled by God, a son of Azmaveth. He was one of the
Benjamite archers who joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:3). - JEZREEL God scatters. (1.) A town of Issachar (Joshua 19:18), where the
kings of Israel often resided (1 Kings 18:45; 21:1; 2 Kings 9:30). Here
Elijah met Ahab, Jehu, and Bidkar; and here Jehu executed his dreadful
commission against the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:14-37; 10:1-11). It has
been identified with the modern Zerin, on the most western point of the
range of Gilboa, reaching down into the great and fertile valley of Jezreel,
to which it gave its name.
(2.) A town in Judah (Joshua 15:56), to the south-east of Hebron.
Ahinoam, one of David’s wives, probably belonged to this place (1 Samuel
27:3).
(3.) A symbolical name given by Hosea to his oldest son (Hos. 1:4), in
token of a great slaughter predicted by him, like that which had formerly
taken place in the plain of Esdraelon (comp. Hos. 1:4, 5).