You wouldn’t think of the most infamous couple in God’s Word; Ahab and Jezebel in terms of a love story. But in their own way they were one of the most loving couples in the Word.
The marriage between Ahab and Jezebel, like all marriages during this time, was arranged (primarily by fathers). Love was not part of the equation. Instead marriages were based on the mutual benefit of two families coming together to grow spiritually and economically by the anticipated birth of many sons.
The success, the blessedness of a marriage hinged on the woman birthing hips.
However, there isn’t a scripture which outright names Jezebel as the mother of any of Ahab’s children. But Jezebel’s womb with a view didn’t matter to Ahab. What mattered most was that in the notorious Jezebel, he had a woman he could trust and who understood him. And the feeling was mutual.
Here are two examples.
After Elijah defeated and humiliated Jezebel’s preachers to Ahab’s face, Ahab went home and told her everything. Jezebel then threatens Elijah but leaves Ahab’s name out of it, maybe to give him cover.
Next, when his neighbor, Naboth, declined his generous offer for his property, Ahab told Jezebel about that failure as well.
Seeing how upset he was, Jezebel assured him she’d get it for him which she did by having Naboth killed. Problem solved.
Ahab, king of the wealthy, prominent Northern kingdom, shared his defeats, fears, and vulnerabilities with his wife, trusting she would never use them against him. And she never did.
Intimidating, would kill you as soon as look at you, but Jezebel loved her some Ahab. He never tried to change her but accepted her as she was. And for that Jezebel became his forever ride or die.
Though Ahab had other wives, only Jezebel had his heart and her name on the insurance policy. Neither could do no wrong in each other’s eyes, and when they did, to them, it was still alright.
We don’t have to like it nor understand it, but it ain’t for us to like or understand. As a song says – No one knows what goes on behind closed doors.
And let it be so.
Reference: 1 Kings 16:29-31, 18:20-40, 19:1-2, 21
