Biblical Story of Jezebel Does Not Undermine Women’s Rule

Cancel culture has come for the Bible. In a recent article in Time magazine, Shelley Puhak accuses the text of creating “a Blueprint for Vilifying Powerful Women Leaders.” The Bible does so, she argues, through the story of Queen Jezebel (wife to King Ahab, who ruled over Israel in the 9th century b.c.). Jezebel plots and executes the murder of a man in order to take his vineyard, supports pagan worship contrary to God’s law, and routinely persecutes the prophet Elijah.

Puhak gives a more positive spin on Jezebel, noting that some of those who wish to demean or sideline women rulers have gone so far as to make female rule illegitimate. Anyone may twist a text for their own, at times nefarious, purposes. Puhak, however, seems to think this connection between the Bible’s description of Jezebel in particular — and women’s political power in general — is an accurate rendering of the text.

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Adam M. Carrington

Adam M. Carrington is an associate professor of politics at Hillsdale College.

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Cancel Culture

Cancel culture has come for the Bible. In a recent article in Time magazine, Shelley Puhak accuses the text of creating “a Blueprint for Vilifying Powerful Women Leaders.” The Bible does so, she argues, through the story of Queen Jezebel (wife to King Ahab, who ruled over Israel in the 9th century b.c.). Jezebel plots and executes the murder of a man in order to take his vineyard, supports pagan worship contrary to God’s law, and routinely persecutes the prophet Elijah.

Puhak gives a more positive spin on Jezebel, noting that some of those who wish to demean or sideline women rulers have gone so far as to make female rule illegitimate. Anyone may twist a text for their own, at times nefarious, purposes. Puhak, however, seems to think this connection between the Bible’s description of Jezebel in particular — and women’s political power in general — is an accurate rendering of the text.