Notorious in biblical history as a wicked queen,
Jezebel was both inspired and ultimately doomed
by her religion—but few understand this woman’s
destructive journey.
Ginger Garrett’s Reign: The Chronicles of Queen
Jezebel (David C Cook) covers Jezebel’s life as
a young Phoenician princess, her betrothal to
Prince Ahab of Israel, and their reign together.
“Modern feminists love Jezebel for her strength,
courage and political vision. She fought for power
in a male-dominated world,” shares Ginger.
“Her story could have been so different. She
was born into a corrupt religion and surrounded
by darkness all her young life. When she married,
her prince was not a Jew, but the son of a
famous mercenary. Neither was prepared to
lead a people dedicated to the Lord.”
Ginger found herself wishing that Jezebel had
made different choices during her life. “Wealth,
beauty and power profited her nothing. She made
all the wrong decisions—but at every downward
turning point, redemption was still possible.”
In contrast, Obadiah is the unsung hero of the
biblical tale. “As the palace administrator, he
oversaw all the activities of Jezebel’s palace,”
Ginger explains. “He alone
knew how her story would end,
and he alone fought to save the
prophets. He must have been a
terribly lonely man, but one of
great courage.”
Ginger hopes readers will
come away with a new respect
for Jezebel’s story. “When we
consider the importance of her
reign and her influence on Ahab,
we begin to realize that she
was a complex, flesh and blood
woman. We can’t dismiss her
story so easily. She makes us
question what we really believe
about power and revenge—and
why some of us refuse redemption
over and over.”