Jezebel Spirit and diminishing women, 2 Kings 9:30-37, Esther 1:10-20

Send us Fan MailThere is no more painful label for women than being called a Jezebel. It contains all the condemning, cursing, and slut shaming you can imagine. "Jezebel Spirit" is a frequently used racial slur in some churches. Jezebel was a foreign woman, likely forced into a royal marriage with a weak husband, which was bad enough. Still, she became the scapegoat for a whole nation; everything bad has been laid on her for millennia. Does she deserve it? Queen Vashti has a marginally better reputation, and her legacy didn't turn into a curse of all Israel like Jezebel's, but she was also a strong woman condemned for taking charge. Does she deserve what happened to her? I compare these two women and what it says about weak men looking for a scapegoat. While Jezebel did many evil things, her real sins seem to have been being a foreigner, a strong woman, and being the Queen of Israel instead of Judah. I talk about how these women are a touchstone for Womanist Theology. Reference:"Womanist Midrash, Vols 1 & 2" by Wilda C. Gafney, Professor of Hebrew Bible at Brite Divinity SchoolOther womanist authors include: Dr. Angela Parker, Dr. Renita Weems, Dr. Mitzi Smith#jezebel #jezebelspirit #vashti #womanist #theology #edmonds #edmondspres #pcusa