Jezebel
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ShareJezebel as another example of foreign women as villainesses in Tanach
אמר רבי יצחק בשעה שנשא שלמה את בת פרעה ירד גבריאל ונעץ קנה בים והעלה שירטון ועליו נבנה כרך גדול שברומי
Rabbi Yitzḥak says: When Solomon married Pharaoh’s daughter, the angel Gabriel descended from Heaven and implanted a pole in the sea. And it gradually raised up a sandbar [sirton] around it, creating new, dry land, and on it the great city of Rome was built.
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ אַחְאָ֧ב בֶּן־עָמְרִ֛י הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י ה' מִכֹּ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְפָנָֽיו׃ וַיְהִי֙ הֲנָקֵ֣ל לֶכְתּ֔וֹ בְּחַטֹּ֖אות יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֑ט וַיִּקַּ֨ח אִשָּׁ֜ה אֶת־אִיזֶ֗בֶל בַּת־אֶתְבַּ֙עַל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ צִידֹנִ֔ים וַיֵּ֙לֶךְ֙ וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֣ד אֶת־הַבַּ֔עַל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ לֽוֹ׃
Ahab son of Omri did what was displeasing to the LORD, more than all who preceded him. Not content to follow the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, he took as wife Jezebel daughter of King Ethbaal of the Phoenicians, and he went and served Baal and worshiped him.
וַיְהִי֙ בְּהַכְרִ֣ית אִיזֶ֔בֶל אֵ֖ת נְבִיאֵ֣י ה' וַיִּקַּ֨ח עֹבַדְיָ֜הוּ מֵאָ֣ה נְבִאִ֗ים וַֽיַּחְבִּיאֵ֞ם חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אִישׁ֙ בַּמְּעָרָ֔ה וְכִלְכְּלָ֖ם לֶ֥חֶם וָמָֽיִם׃
When Jezebel was killing off the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and provided them with food and drink.)
(מג) וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל עַל־בֵּית֖וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֑ף וַיָּבֹ֖א שֹׁמְרֽוֹנָה׃ (פ)
(43) Dispirited and sullen, the king left for home and came to Samaria.
(א) וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה כֶּ֧רֶם הָיָ֛ה לְנָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּיִזְרְעֶ֑אל אֵ֚צֶל הֵיכַ֣ל אַחְאָ֔ב מֶ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ (ב) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אַחְאָ֣ב אֶל־נָב֣וֹת ׀ לֵאמֹר֩ ׀ תְּנָה־לִּ֨י אֶֽת־כַּרְמְךָ֜ וִֽיהִי־לִ֣י לְגַן־יָרָ֗ק כִּ֣י ה֤וּא קָרוֹב֙ אֵ֣צֶל בֵּיתִ֔י וְאֶתְּנָ֤ה לְךָ֙ תַּחְתָּ֔יו כֶּ֖רֶם ט֣וֹב מִמֶּ֑נּוּ אִ֚ם ט֣וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אֶתְּנָה־לְךָ֥ כֶ֖סֶף מְחִ֥יר זֶֽה׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר נָב֖וֹת אֶל־אַחְאָ֑ב חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵֽה' מִתִּתִּ֛י אֶת־נַחֲלַ֥ת אֲבֹתַ֖י לָֽךְ׃ (ד) וַיָּבֹא֩ אַחְאָ֨ב אֶל־בֵּית֜וֹ סַ֣ר וְזָעֵ֗ף עַל־הַדָּבָר֙ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֣ר אֵלָ֗יו נָבוֹת֙ הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֔י וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֥ן לְךָ֖ אֶת־נַחֲלַ֣ת אֲבוֹתָ֑י וַיִּשְׁכַּב֙ עַל־מִטָּת֔וֹ וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו וְלֹֽא־אָ֥כַל לָֽחֶם׃ (ה) וַתָּבֹ֥א אֵלָ֖יו אִיזֶ֣בֶל אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֗יו מַה־זֶּה֙ רוּחֲךָ֣ סָרָ֔ה וְאֵינְךָ֖ אֹכֵ֥ל לָֽחֶם׃ (ו) וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלֶ֗יהָ כִּֽי־אֲ֠דַבֵּר אֶל־נָב֨וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֜י וָאֹ֣מַר ל֗וֹ תְּנָה־לִּ֤י אֶֽת־כַּרְמְךָ֙ בְּכֶ֔סֶף א֚וֹ אִם־חָפֵ֣ץ אַתָּ֔ה אֶתְּנָה־לְךָ֥ כֶ֖רֶם תַּחְתָּ֑יו וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־אֶתֵּ֥ן לְךָ֖ אֶת־כַּרְמִֽי׃ (ז) וַתֹּ֤אמֶר אֵלָיו֙ אִיזֶ֣בֶל אִשְׁתּ֔וֹ אַתָּ֕ה עַתָּ֛ה תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה מְלוּכָ֖ה עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ק֤וּם אֱכָל־לֶ֙חֶם֙ וְיִטַ֣ב לִבֶּ֔ךָ אֲנִי֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לְךָ֔ אֶת־כֶּ֖רֶם נָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃ (ח) וַתִּכְתֹּ֤ב סְפָרִים֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם אַחְאָ֔ב וַתַּחְתֹּ֖ם בְּחֹתָמ֑וֹ וַתִּשְׁלַ֣ח הספרים [סְפָרִ֗ים] אֶל־הַזְקֵנִ֤ים וְאֶל־הַֽחֹרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּעִיר֔וֹ הַיֹּשְׁבִ֖ים אֶת־נָבֽוֹת׃ (ט) וַתִּכְתֹּ֥ב בַּסְּפָרִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר קִֽרְאוּ־צ֔וֹם וְהוֹשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־נָב֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃ (י) וְ֠הוֹשִׁיבוּ שְׁנַ֨יִם אֲנָשִׁ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּעַל֮ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ וִיעִדֻ֣הוּ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֵּרַ֥כְתָּ אֱלֹקִ֖ים וָמֶ֑לֶךְ וְהוֹצִיאֻ֥הוּ וְסִקְלֻ֖הוּ וְיָמֹֽת׃ (יא) וַיַּעֲשׂוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י עִיר֜וֹ הַזְּקֵנִ֣ים וְהַחֹרִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר הַיֹּֽשְׁבִים֙ בְּעִיר֔וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר שָׁלְחָ֥ה אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם אִיזָ֑בֶל כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר כָּתוּב֙ בַּסְּפָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלְחָ֖ה אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (יב) קָרְא֖וּ צ֑וֹם וְהֹשִׁ֥יבוּ אֶת־נָב֖וֹת בְּרֹ֥אשׁ הָעָֽם׃ (יג) וַ֠יָּבֹאוּ שְׁנֵ֨י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים בְּנֵֽי־בְלִיַּעַל֮ וַיֵּשְׁב֣וּ נֶגְדּוֹ֒ וַיְעִדֻהוּ֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַבְּלִיַּ֜עַל אֶת־נָב֗וֹת נֶ֤גֶד הָעָם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בֵּרַ֥ךְ נָב֛וֹת אֱלֹקִ֖ים וָמֶ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּצִאֻ֙הוּ֙ מִח֣וּץ לָעִ֔יר וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (יד) וַֽיִּשְׁלְח֖וּ אֶל־אִיזֶ֣בֶל לֵאמֹ֑ר סֻקַּ֥ל נָב֖וֹת וַיָּמֹֽת׃ (טו) וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּשְׁמֹ֣עַ אִיזֶ֔בֶל כִּֽי־סֻקַּ֥ל נָב֖וֹת וַיָּמֹ֑ת וַתֹּ֨אמֶר אִיזֶ֜בֶל אֶל־אַחְאָ֗ב ק֣וּם רֵ֞שׁ אֶת־כֶּ֣רֶם ׀ נָב֣וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר מֵאֵן֙ לָתֶת־לְךָ֣ בְכֶ֔סֶף כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין נָב֛וֹת חַ֖י כִּי־מֵֽת׃ (טז) וַיְהִ֛י כִּשְׁמֹ֥עַ אַחְאָ֖ב כִּ֣י מֵ֣ת נָב֑וֹת וַיָּ֣קָם אַחְאָ֗ב לָרֶ֛דֶת אֶל־כֶּ֛רֶם נָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֖י לְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (ס) (יז) וַיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ה' אֶל־אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י לֵאמֹֽר׃ (יח) ק֣וּם רֵ֗ד לִקְרַ֛את אַחְאָ֥ב מֶֽלֶךְ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן הִנֵּה֙ בְּכֶ֣רֶם נָב֔וֹת אֲשֶׁר־יָ֥רַד שָׁ֖ם לְרִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (יט) וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' הֲרָצַ֖חְתָּ וְגַם־יָרָ֑שְׁתָּ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֵלָ֜יו לֵאמֹ֗ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' בִּמְק֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר לָקְק֤וּ הַכְּלָבִים֙ אֶת־דַּ֣ם נָב֔וֹת יָלֹ֧קּוּ הַכְּלָבִ֛ים אֶת־דָּמְךָ֖ גַּם־אָֽתָּה׃ (כ) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אַחְאָב֙ אֶל־אֵ֣לִיָּ֔הוּ הַֽמְצָאתַ֖נִי אֹיְבִ֑י וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מָצָ֔אתִי יַ֚עַן הִתְמַכֶּרְךָ֔ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י ה'׃ (כא) הִנְנִ֨י מבי [מֵבִ֤יא] אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ רָעָ֔ה וּבִעַרְתִּ֖י אַחֲרֶ֑יךָ וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י לְאַחְאָב֙ מַשְׁתִּ֣ין בְּקִ֔יר וְעָצ֥וּר וְעָז֖וּב בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כב) וְנָתַתִּ֣י אֶת־בֵּיתְךָ֗ כְּבֵית֙ יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֔ט וּכְבֵ֖ית בַּעְשָׁ֣א בֶן־אֲחִיָּ֑ה אֶל־הַכַּ֙עַס֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִכְעַ֔סְתָּ וַֽתַּחֲטִ֖א אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כג) וְגַ֨ם־לְאִיזֶ֔בֶל דִּבֶּ֥ר ה' לֵאמֹ֑ר הַכְּלָבִ֛ים יֹאכְל֥וּ אֶת־אִיזֶ֖בֶל בְּחֵ֥ל יִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ (כד) הַמֵּ֤ת לְאַחְאָב֙ בָּעִ֔יר יֹאכְל֖וּ הַכְּלָבִ֑ים וְהַמֵּת֙ בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה יֹאכְל֖וּ ע֥וֹף הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃ (כה) רַ֚ק לֹֽא־הָיָ֣ה כְאַחְאָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִתְמַכֵּ֔ר לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֣י ה' אֲשֶׁר־הֵסַ֥תָּה אֹת֖וֹ אִיזֶ֥בֶל אִשְׁתּֽוֹ׃ (כו) וַיַּתְעֵ֣ב מְאֹ֔ד לָלֶ֖כֶת אַחֲרֵ֣י הַגִּלֻּלִ֑ים כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשׂ֣וּ הָאֱמֹרִ֔י אֲשֶׁר֙ הוֹרִ֣ישׁ ה' מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ס) (כז) וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ אַחְאָ֜ב אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ וַיִּקְרַ֣ע בְּגָדָ֔יו וַיָּֽשֶׂם־שַׂ֥ק עַל־בְּשָׂר֖וֹ וַיָּצ֑וֹם וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב בַּשָּׂ֔ק וַיְהַלֵּ֖ךְ אַֽט׃ (ס) (כח) וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־ה' אֶל־אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י לֵאמֹֽר׃ (כט) הֲֽרָאִ֔יתָ כִּֽי־נִכְנַ֥ע אַחְאָ֖ב מִלְּפָנָ֑י יַ֜עַן כִּֽי־נִכְנַ֣ע מִפָּנַ֗י לֹֽא־אבי [אָבִ֤יא] הָֽרָעָה֙ בְּיָמָ֔יו בִּימֵ֣י בְנ֔וֹ אָבִ֥יא הָרָעָ֖ה עַל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃
(1) [The following events] occurred sometime afterward: Naboth the Jezreelite owned a vineyard in Jezreel, adjoining the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. (2) Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it as a vegetable garden, since it is right next to my palace. I will give you a better vineyard in exchange; or, if you prefer, I will pay you the price in money.” (3) But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give up to you what I have inherited from my fathers!” (4) Ahab went home dispirited and sullen because of the answer that Naboth the Jezreelite had given him: “I will not give up to you what I have inherited from my fathers!” He lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and he would not eat. (5) His wife Jezebel came to him and asked him, “Why are you so dispirited that you won’t eat?” (6) So he told her, “I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and proposed to him, ‘Sell me your vineyard for money, or if you prefer, I’ll give you another vineyard in exchange’; but he answered, ‘I will not give my vineyard to you.’” (7) His wife Jezebel said to him, “Now is the time to show yourself king over Israel. Rise and eat something, and be cheerful; I will get the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite for you.” (8) So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived in the same town with Naboth. (9) In the letters she wrote as follows: “Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth at the front of the assembly. (10) And seat two scoundrels opposite him, and let them testify against him: ‘You have reviled God and king!’ Then take him out and stone him to death.” (11) His townsmen—the elders and nobles who lived in his town—did as Jezebel had instructed them, just as was written in the letters she had sent them: (12) They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the front of the assembly. (13) Then the two scoundrels came and sat down opposite him; and the scoundrels testified against Naboth publicly as follows: “Naboth has reviled God and king.” Then they took him outside the town and stoned him to death. (14) Word was sent to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.” (15) As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Go and take possession of the vineyard which Naboth the Jezreelite refused to sell you for money; for Naboth is no longer alive, he is dead.” (16) When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out for the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite to take possession of it. (17) Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: (18) “Go down and confront King Ahab of Israel who [resides] in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard; he has gone down there to take possession of it. (19) Say to him, ‘Thus said the LORD: Would you murder and take possession? Thus said the LORD: In the very place where the dogs lapped up Naboth’s blood, the dogs will lap up your blood too.’” (20) Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy?” “Yes, I have found you,” he replied. “Because you have committed yourself to doing what is evil in the sight of the LORD, (21) I will bring disaster upon you. I will make a clean sweep of you, I will cut off from Israel every male belonging to Ahab,bond and free. (22) And I will make your house like the House of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the House of Baasha son of Ahijah, because of the provocation you have caused by leading Israel to sin. (23) And the LORD has also spoken concerning Jezebel: ‘The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the field of Jezreel. (24) All of Ahab’s line who die in the town shall be devoured by dogs, and all who die in the open country shall be devoured by the birds of the sky.’” ( (25) Indeed, there never was anyone like Ahab, who committed himself to doing what was displeasing to the LORD, at the instigation of his wife Jezebel. (26) He acted most abominably, straying after the fetishes just like the Amorites, whom the LORD had dispossessed before the Israelites.) (27) When Ahab heard these words, he rent his clothes and put sackcloth on his body. He fasted and lay in sackcloth and walked about subdued. (28) Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: (29) “Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the disaster in his lifetime; I will bring the disaster upon his house in his son’s time.”
(א) וֶאֱלִישָׁע֙ הַנָּבִ֔יא קָרָ֕א לְאַחַ֖ד מִבְּנֵ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֑ים וַיֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ חֲגֹ֣ר מָתְנֶ֗יךָ וְ֠קַח פַּ֣ךְ הַשֶּׁ֤מֶן הַזֶּה֙ בְּיָדֶ֔ךָ וְלֵ֖ךְ רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃ (ב) וּבָ֖אתָ שָׁ֑מָּה וּרְאֵֽה־שָׁ֠ם יֵה֨וּא בֶן־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֜ט בֶּן־נִמְשִׁ֗י וּבָ֙אתָ֙ וַהֲקֵֽמֹתוֹ֙ מִתּ֣וֹך אֶחָ֔יו וְהֵבֵיאתָ֥ אֹת֖וֹ חֶ֥דֶר בְּחָֽדֶר׃ (ג) וְלָקַחְתָּ֤ פַךְ־הַשֶּׁ֙מֶן֙ וְיָצַקְתָּ֣ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ וְאָֽמַרְתָּ֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֣ר ה' מְשַׁחְתִּ֥יךָֽ לְמֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּפָתַחְתָּ֥ הַדֶּ֛לֶת וְנַ֖סְתָּה וְלֹ֥א תְחַכֶּֽה׃ (ד) וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ הַנַּ֛עַר הַנַּ֥עַר הַנָּבִ֖יא רָמֹ֥ת גִּלְעָֽד׃ (ה) וַיָּבֹ֗א וְהִנֵּ֨ה שָׂרֵ֤י הַחַ֙יִל֙ יֹֽשְׁבִ֔ים וַיֹּ֕אמֶר דָּבָ֥ר לִ֛י אֵלֶ֖יךָ הַשָּׂ֑ר וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יֵהוּא֙ אֶל־מִ֣י מִכֻּלָּ֔נוּ וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֵלֶ֥יךָ הַשָּֽׂר׃ (ו) וַיָּ֙קָם֙ וַיָּבֹ֣א הַבַּ֔יְתָה וַיִּצֹ֥ק הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן אֶל־רֹאשׁ֑וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר ה' אֱלֹקֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מְשַׁחְתִּ֧יךָֽ לְמֶ֛לֶךְ אֶל־עַ֥ם ה' אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ז) וְהִ֨כִּיתָ֔ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית אַחְאָ֖ב אֲדֹנֶ֑יךָ וְנִקַּמְתִּ֞י דְּמֵ֣י ׀ עֲבָדַ֣י הַנְּבִיאִ֗ים וּדְמֵ֛י כָּל־עַבְדֵ֥י ה' מִיַּ֥ד אִיזָֽבֶל׃ (ח) וְאָבַ֖ד כָּל־בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֑ב וְהִכְרַתִּ֤י לְאַחְאָב֙ מַשְׁתִּ֣ין בְּקִ֔יר וְעָצ֥וּר וְעָז֖וּב בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ט) וְנָֽתַתִּי֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֔ב כְּבֵ֖ית יָרָבְעָ֣ם בֶּן־נְבָ֑ט וּכְבֵ֖ית בַּעְשָׁ֥א בֶן־אֲחִיָּֽה׃ (י) וְאֶת־אִיזֶ֜בֶל יֹאכְל֧וּ הַכְּלָבִ֛ים בְּחֵ֥לֶק יִזְרְעֶ֖אל וְאֵ֣ין קֹבֵ֑ר וַיִּפְתַּ֥ח הַדֶּ֖לֶת וַיָּנֹֽס׃ (יא) וְיֵה֗וּא יָצָא֙ אֶל־עַבְדֵ֣י אֲדֹנָ֔יו וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ הֲשָׁל֔וֹם מַדּ֛וּעַ בָּֽא־הַמְשֻׁגָּ֥ע הַזֶּ֖ה אֵלֶ֑יךָ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֛ם יְדַעְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־הָאִ֖ישׁ וְאֶת־שִׂיחֽוֹ׃ (יב) וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ שֶׁ֔קֶר הַגֶּד־נָ֖א לָ֑נוּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כָּזֹ֤את וְכָזֹאת֙ אָמַ֤ר אֵלַי֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר ה' מְשַׁחְתִּ֥יךָֽ לְמֶ֖לֶךְ אֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (יג) וַֽיְמַהֲר֗וּ וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ בִּגְד֔וֹ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ תַחְתָּ֖יו אֶל־גֶּ֣רֶם הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת וַֽיִּתְקְעוּ֙ בַּשּׁוֹפָ֔ר וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ מָלַ֥ךְ יֵהֽוּא׃ (יד) וַיִּתְקַשֵּׁ֗ר יֵה֛וּא בֶּן־יְהוֹשָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־נִמְשִׁ֖י אֶל־יוֹרָ֑ם וְיוֹרָם֩ הָיָ֨ה שֹׁמֵ֜ר בְּרָמֹ֣ת גִּלְעָ֗ד ה֚וּא וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִפְּנֵ֥י חֲזָאֵ֖ל מֶֽלֶךְ־אֲרָֽם׃ (טו) וַיָּשָׁב֩ יְהוֹרָ֨ם הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ לְהִתְרַפֵּ֣א בִיְזְרְעֶ֗אל מִן־הַמַּכִּים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַכֻּ֣הוּ אֲרַמִּ֔ים בְּהִלָּ֣חֲמ֔וֹ אֶת־חֲזָאֵ֖ל מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יֵהוּא֙ אִם־יֵ֣שׁ נַפְשְׁכֶ֔ם אַל־יֵצֵ֤א פָלִיט֙ מִן־הָעִ֔יר לָלֶ֖כֶת לגיד [לְהַגִּ֥יד] בְּיִזְרְעֶֽאל׃ (טז) וַיִּרְכַּ֤ב יֵהוּא֙ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ יִזְרְעֶ֔אלָה כִּ֥י יוֹרָ֖ם שֹׁכֵ֣ב שָׁ֑מָּה וַֽאֲחַזְיָה֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יְהוּדָ֔ה יָרַ֖ד לִרְא֥וֹת אֶת־יוֹרָֽם׃ (יז) וְהַצֹּפֶה֩ עֹמֵ֨ד עַֽל־הַמִּגְדָּ֜ל בְּיִזְרְעֶ֗אל וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־שִׁפְעַ֤ת יֵהוּא֙ בְּבֹא֔וֹ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר שִׁפְעַ֖ת אֲנִ֣י רֹאֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוֹרָ֗ם קַ֥ח רַכָּ֛ב וּֽשְׁלַ֥ח לִקְרָאתָ֖ם וְיֹאמַ֥ר הֲשָׁלֽוֹם׃ (יח) וַיֵּלֶךְ֩ רֹכֵ֨ב הַסּ֜וּס לִקְרָאת֗וֹ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֲשָׁל֔וֹם וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יֵה֛וּא מַה־לְּךָ֥ וּלְשָׁל֖וֹם סֹ֣ב אֶֽל־אַחֲרָ֑י וַיַּגֵּ֤ד הַצֹּפֶה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּֽא־הַמַּלְאָ֥ךְ עַד־הֵ֖ם וְלֹֽא־שָֽׁב׃ (יט) וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח רֹכֵ֣ב סוּס֮ שֵׁנִי֒ וַיָּבֹ֣א אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֛אמֶר כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ שָׁל֑וֹם וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יֵה֛וּא מַה־לְּךָ֥ וּלְשָׁל֖וֹם סֹ֥ב אֶֽל־אַחֲרָֽי׃ (כ) וַיַּגֵּ֤ד הַצֹּפֶה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר בָּ֥א עַד־אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וְלֹֽא־שָׁ֑ב וְהַמִּנְהָ֗ג כְּמִנְהַג֙ יֵה֣וּא בֶן־נִמְשִׁ֔י כִּ֥י בְשִׁגָּע֖וֹן יִנְהָֽג׃ (כא) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוֹרָם֙ אֱסֹ֔ר וַיֶּאְסֹ֖ר רִכְבּ֑וֹ וַיֵּצֵ֣א יְהוֹרָ֣ם מֶֽלֶךְ־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל וַאֲחַזְיָ֨הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֜ה אִ֣ישׁ בְּרִכְבּ֗וֹ וַיֵּֽצְאוּ֙ לִקְרַ֣את יֵה֔וּא וַיִּמְצָאֻ֔הוּ בְּחֶלְקַ֖ת נָב֥וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִֽי׃ (כב) וַיְהִ֗י כִּרְא֤וֹת יְהוֹרָם֙ אֶת־יֵה֔וּא וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הֲשָׁל֣וֹם יֵה֑וּא וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ מָ֣ה הַשָּׁל֔וֹם עַד־זְנוּנֵ֞י אִיזֶ֧בֶל אִמְּךָ֛ וּכְשָׁפֶ֖יהָ הָרַבִּֽים׃ (כג) וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ יְהוֹרָ֛ם יָדָ֖יו וַיָּנֹ֑ס וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֶל־אֲחַזְיָ֖הוּ מִרְמָ֥ה אֲחַזְיָֽה׃ (כד) וְיֵה֞וּא מִלֵּ֧א יָד֣וֹ בַקֶּ֗שֶׁת וַיַּ֤ךְ אֶת־יְהוֹרָם֙ בֵּ֣ין זְרֹעָ֔יו וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֵ֖צִי מִלִּבּ֑וֹ וַיִּכְרַ֖ע בְּרִכְבּֽוֹ׃ (כה) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֶל־בִּדְקַר֙ שלשה [שָֽׁלִשׁ֔וֹ] שָׂ֚א הַשְׁלִכֵ֔הוּ בְּחֶלְקַ֕ת שְׂדֵ֖ה נָב֣וֹת הַיִּזְרְעֵאלִ֑י כִּֽי־זְכֹ֞ר אֲנִ֣י וָאַ֗תָּה אֵ֣ת רֹכְבִ֤ים צְמָדִים֙ אַֽחֲרֵי֙ אַחְאָ֣ב אָבִ֔יו וַֽה' נָשָׂ֣א עָלָ֔יו אֶת־הַמַּשָּׂ֖א הַזֶּֽה׃ (כו) אִם־לֹ֡א אֶת־דְּמֵ֣י נָבוֹת֩ וְאֶת־דְּמֵ֨י בָנָ֜יו רָאִ֤יתִי אֶ֙מֶשׁ֙ נְאֻם־ה' וְשִׁלַּמְתִּ֥י לְךָ֛ בַּחֶלְקָ֥ה הַזֹּ֖את נְאֻם־ה' וְעַתָּ֗ה שָׂ֧א הַשְׁלִכֵ֛הוּ בַּחֶלְקָ֖ה כִּדְבַ֥ר ה'׃ (כז) וַאֲחַזְיָ֤ה מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה֙ רָאָ֔ה וַיָּ֕נָס דֶּ֖רֶךְ בֵּ֣ית הַגָּ֑ן וַיִּרְדֹּ֨ף אַחֲרָ֜יו יֵה֗וּא וַ֠יֹּאמֶר גַּם־אֹת֞וֹ הַכֻּ֣הוּ אֶל־הַמֶּרְכָּבָ֗ה בְּמַֽעֲלֵה־גוּר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽת־יִבְלְעָ֔ם וַיָּ֥נָס מְגִדּ֖וֹ וַיָּ֥מָת שָֽׁם׃ (כח) וַיַּרְכִּ֧בוּ אֹת֛וֹ עֲבָדָ֖יו יְרוּשָׁלְָ֑מָה וַיִּקְבְּר֨וּ אֹת֧וֹ בִקְבֻרָת֛וֹ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֖יו בְּעִ֥יר דָּוִֽד׃ (פ) (כט) וּבִשְׁנַת֙ אַחַ֣ת עֶשְׂרֵ֣ה שָׁנָ֔ה לְיוֹרָ֖ם בֶּן־אַחְאָ֑ב מָלַ֥ךְ אֲחַזְיָ֖ה עַל־יְהוּדָֽה׃ (ל) וַיָּב֥וֹא יֵה֖וּא יִזְרְעֶ֑אלָה וְאִיזֶ֣בֶל שָׁמְעָ֗ה וַתָּ֨שֶׂם בַּפּ֤וּךְ עֵינֶ֙יהָ֙ וַתֵּ֣יטֶב אֶת־רֹאשָׁ֔הּ וַתַּשְׁקֵ֖ף בְּעַ֥ד הַחַלּֽוֹן׃ (לא) וְיֵה֖וּא בָּ֣א בַשָּׁ֑עַר וַתֹּ֣אמֶר הֲשָׁל֔וֹם זִמְרִ֖י הֹרֵ֥ג אֲדֹנָֽיו׃ (לב) וַיִּשָּׂ֤א פָנָיו֙ אֶל־הַ֣חַלּ֔וֹן וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מִ֥י אִתִּ֖י מִ֑י וַיַּשְׁקִ֣יפוּ אֵלָ֔יו שְׁנַ֥יִם שְׁלֹשָׁ֖ה סָרִיסִֽים׃ (לג) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר שמטהו [שִׁמְט֖וּהָ] וַֽיִּשְׁמְט֑וּהָ וַיִּ֨ז מִדָּמָ֧הּ אֶל־הַקִּ֛יר וְאֶל־הַסּוּסִ֖ים וַֽיִּרְמְסֶֽנָּה׃ (לד) וַיָּבֹ֖א וַיֹּ֣אכַל וַיֵּ֑שְׁתְּ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר פִּקְדוּ־נָ֞א אֶת־הָאֲרוּרָ֤ה הַזֹּאת֙ וְקִבְר֔וּהָ כִּ֥י בַת־מֶ֖לֶךְ הִֽיא׃ (לה) וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ לְקָבְרָ֑הּ וְלֹא־מָ֣צְאוּ בָ֗הּ כִּ֧י אִם־הַגֻּלְגֹּ֛לֶת וְהָרַגְלַ֖יִם וְכַפּ֥וֹת הַיָּדָֽיִם׃ (לו) וַיָּשֻׁבוּ֮ וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ לוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ דְּבַר־ה' ה֔וּא אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֗ר בְּיַד־עַבְדּ֛וֹ אֵלִיָּ֥הוּ הַתִּשְׁבִּ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר בְּחֵ֣לֶק יִזְרְעֶ֔אל יֹאכְל֥וּ הַכְּלָבִ֖ים אֶת־בְּשַׂ֥ר אִיזָֽבֶל׃ (לז) והית [וְֽהָיְתָ֞ה] נִבְלַ֣ת אִיזֶ֗בֶל כְּדֹ֛מֶן עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הַשָּׂדֶ֖ה בְּחֵ֣לֶק יִזְרְעֶ֑אל אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יֹאמְר֖וּ זֹ֥את אִיזָֽבֶל׃ (פ)
(1) Then the prophet Elisha summoned one of the disciples of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your skirts, and take along this flask of oil, and go to Ramoth-gilead. (2) When you arrive there, go and see Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi; get him to leave his comrades, and take him into an inner room. (3) Then take the flask of oil and pour some on his head, and say, ‘Thus said the LORD: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee without delay.” (4) The young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. (5) When he arrived, the army commanders were sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.” “For which one of us?” Jehu asked. He answered, “For you, commander.” (6) So [Jehu] arose and went inside; and [the disciple] poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel: I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. (7) You shall strike down the House of Ahab your master; thus will I avenge on Jezebel the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of the other servants of the LORD. (8) The whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off every male belonging to Ahab, bond and free in Israel. (9) I will make the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the House of Baasha son of Ahijah. (10) The dogs shall devour Jezebel in the field of Jezreel, with none to bury her.” Then he opened the door and fled. (11) Jehu went out to the other officers of his master, and they asked him, “Is all well? What did that madman come to you for?” He said to them, “You know the man and his ranting!” (12) “You’re lying,” they said. “Tell us [the truth].” Then he replied, “Thus and thus he said: Thus said the LORD: I anoint you king over Israel!” (13) Quickly each man took his cloak and placed it under him, on the top step. They sounded the horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!” (14) Thus Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against King Hazael of Aram, (15) but King Joram had gone back to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him in his battle with King Hazael of Aram. Jehu said, “If such is your wish, allow no one to slip out of the town to go and report this in Jezreel.” (16) Then Jehu mounted his chariot and drove to Jezreel; for Joram was lying ill there, and King Ahaziah of Judah had gone down to visit Joram. (17) The lookout was stationed on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the troop of Jehu as he approached. He called out, “I see a troop!” Joram said, “Dispatch a horseman to meet them and let him ask: Is all well?” (18) The horseman went to meet him, and he said, “The king inquires: Is all well?” Jehu replied, “What concern of yours is it whether all is well? Fall in behind me.” The lookout reported: “The messenger has reached them, but has not turned back.” (19) So he sent out a second horseman. He came to them and said, “Thus says the king: Is all well?” Jehu answered, “What concern of yours is it whether all is well? Fall in behind me.” (20) And the lookout reported, “The messenger has reached them, but has not turned back. And it looks like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi, who drives wildly.” (21) Joram ordered, “Hitch up [the chariot]!” They hitched up his chariot; and King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. (22) When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is all well, Jehu?” But Jehu replied, “How can all be well as long as your mother Jezebel carries on her countless harlotries and sorceries?” (23) Thereupon Joram turned his horses around and fled, crying out to Ahaziah, “Treason, Ahaziah!” (24) But Jehu drew his bow and hit Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart; and he collapsed in his chariot. (25) Jehu thereupon ordered his officer Bidkar, “Pick him up and throw him into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding side by side behind his father Ahab, when the LORD made this pronouncement about him: (26) ‘I swear, I have taken note of the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday—declares the LORD. And I will requite you in this plot—declares the LORD.’ So pick him up and throw him unto the plot in accordance with the word of the LORD.” (27) On seeing this, King Ahaziah of Judah fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him down too!” [And they shot him] in his chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there. (28) His servants conveyed him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and they buried him in his grave with his fathers, in the City of David. ( (29) Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab.) (30) Jehu went on to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard of it, she painted her eyes with kohl and dressed her hair, and she looked out of the window. (31) As Jehu entered the gate, she called out, “Is all well, Zimri, murderer of your master?” (32) He looked up toward the window and said, “Who is on my side, who?” And two or three eunuchs leaned out toward him. (33) “Throw her down,” he said. They threw her down; and her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her. (34) Then he went inside and ate and drank. And he said, “Attend to that cursed woman and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” (35) So they went to bury her; but all they found of her were the skull, the feet, and the hands. (36) They came back and reported to him; and he said, “It is just as the LORD spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: The dogs shall devour the flesh of Jezebel in the field of Jezreel; (37) and the carcass of Jezebel shall be like dung on the ground, in the field of Jezreel, so that none will be able to say: ‘This was Jezebel.’”
אחאב אח לשמים אב לעבודת כוכבים אח לשמים דכתיב (משלי יז, יז) אח לצרה יולד אב לעבודת כוכבים דכתיב (תהלים קג, יג) כרחם אב על בנים
Aḥav, although he was a brother [aḥ] to Heaven, he was a father [av] for idol worship. He was a brother to Heaven, as it is written: “And a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17). He was a father for idolatry. This is the highest level of attachment, as it is written: “As a father has compassion for his children”
(מלכים א טז, לא) ויהי הנקל לכתו בחטאת ירבעם בן נבט אמר ר' יוחנן קלות שעשה אחאב כחמורות שעשה ירבעם ומפני מה תלה הכתוב בירבעם מפני שהוא היה תחילה לקלקלה (הושע יב, יב) גם מזבחותם כגלים על תלמי שדי א"ר יוחנן אין לך כל תלם ותלם בא"י שלא העמיד עליו אחאב עבודת כוכבים והשתחוה לו
With regard to Ahab, it is written: “And it came to pass, the most minor of his transgressions was his walking in the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat” (I Kings 16:31). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The minor sins that Ahab performed were on par with the major sins that Jeroboam performed. And for what reason did the verse attribute the sins of all the kings of Israel to Jeroboaml? It is due to the fact that he was first to engage in iniquity. With regard to the verse: “Their altars shall also be like droppings in the furrows of the field” (Hosea 12:12), Rabbi Yoḥanan says: You do not have even one furrow in Eretz Yisrael upon which Ahab did not place an object of idol worship and bow to it.
אמר ר"נ אחאב שקול היה שנאמר (מלכים א כב, כ) ויאמר ה' מי יפתה את אחאב ויעל ויפול ברמות גלעד ויאמר זה בכה וזה אומר בכה מתקיף לה רב יוסף מאן דכתב ביה (מלכים א כא, כה) רק לא היה כאחאב אשר התמכר לעשות הרע בעיני ה' אשר הסתה אותו איזבל אשתו ותנינא בכל יום היתה שוקלת שקלי זהב לעבודת כוכבים ואת אמרת שקול היה אלא אחאב וותרן בממונו היה ומתוך שההנה תלמידי חכמים מנכסיו כיפרו לו מחצה
Rav Naḥman says: Ahab was balanced in terms of the mitzvot and transgressions that he performed, as it is stated: “And the Lord said, who shall entice Ahab that he may ascend and fall at Ramoth Gilead? And this one said in this manner, and that one said in that manner” (I Kings 22:20). Rav Yosef objects to this statement: This is the person about whom the prophet wrote: “But there was none like Ahab who devoted himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, whom Jezebel his wife had incited” (I Kings 21:25). And we learn in a baraita: Every day she would weigh gold shekels equal to Ahab’s weight for idol worship. And you say he was balanced? Rather, Ahab was generous with his money and did not scrimp, and since he also benefited Torah scholars with his property, the heavenly court expiated half his sins for him.
ומנא לן דלא אתי לעלמא דאתי דכתיב (מלכים א כא, כא) והכרתי לאחאב משתין בקיר ועצור ועזוב בישראל עצור בעוה"ז ועזוב לעוה"ב
The Gemara asks: And from where do we derive that Ahab does not enter into the World-to-Come? The Gemara answers: It is derived as it is written: “And I will excise from Ahab every man, and him that is shut up and him that is abandoned in Israel” (I Kings 21:21). “Him that is shut up” indicates he will be excised in this world, while “and him that is abandoned” indicates he will be excised in the World-to-Come.