And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. (1 Kings 16:31)
Literally, “lord.” The name refers to the great storm god, and to the many local fertility gods who were worshiped as the productive principle in nature. Ahab now promoted a corrupt religion.
King of the Zidonians.
Tyre was at this time the leading city of Phoenicia (see on Gen. 10:15), but the historic reputation of Sidon led the kings of Tyre to adopt the title “king of the Sidonians.” A dedication bowl found on the island of Cyprus bears this very inscription.
Jezebel.
The name of Jezebel was to become proverbial for wickedness. Ethbaal, her father, was high priest of Baal (PK 114). Josephus calls him the priest of Astarte, who slew Pheles, king of Tyre, and founded a new dynasty and reigned over Tyre for 32 years (Against Apion. 1. 18). Jezebel’s priestly origin may account for the queen’s fanatical devotion to spreading false religion in Israel.