Jezebel

July 23, 2007
Like other villains of the Bible, Jezebel, it turns out, may have been gravely mischaracterized throughout history. Unlike Judas, of whom there are alternative, rehabilitative stories, the only historical account of Jezebel's life exists in the Books of Kings. What Hazleton argues, however, is that this account is self-subverting and has been misconstrued throughout history. Interlacing fictional narrative with engaging commentary, Hazleton points out that Jezebel was never sexually promiscuous or even accused of being so; the word “harlot” only ever referred to her unfaithfulness to Yahweh. And while Elijah is a universally loved biblical figure (Hazleton gives examples of Jewish, Christian and Muslim reverence for him), her reading of Kings reveals him to be the worst sort of fundamentalist—the kind who thinks that all who oppose the true faith should be killed. Hazleton draws from a deep, impressive well of scholarship and includes a fascinating travelogue of her journeys to the places described in Kings. In addition, she provides her own rich, nuanced translation and uses it to highlight the wordplay in which the biblical authors frequently engage. Replete with apt comparisons to modern Middle Eastern conflicts, this revisionist portrait is equal parts fun and sobering—a colorful history lesson that's sorely needed.

October 1, 2007
Hazleton's journalistic experience led her to develop a lively and engaging prose style, which provides an only surreptitiously dense serving of information and reflection. Her treatment of Jezebel is similar to her take on Jesus's mother in "Mary: A Flesh-and-Blood Biography of the Virgin Mother". Alternating among modes of history, historical imagination, and cultural studies, this book unfolds not only stories of its title character but also, more interestingly, stories of the stories about the "harlot queen" that detail and speculate on the influences, prejudices, and politics that have impacted their telling throughout the centuries. Several offerings in recent years have sought to revise the popular image of this foreign-born queen by marriage of ancient Israel, but this is certainly the most entertaining. Suitable for public library patrons; academic collections will prefer Janet Howe Gaines's "Music in the Old Bones: Jezebel Through the Ages".Darby Orcutt, North Carolina State Univ. Libs., Raleigh

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