2 Kings 4:15

4:15 Elisha told him, “Ask her to come here.” ¹  So he did so ²  and she came and stood in the doorway. ³ 

2 Kings 4:37

4:37 She came in, fell at his feet, and bowed down. Then she picked up her son and left.

2 Kings 5:9

5:9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood in the doorway of Elisha’s house.

2 Kings 9:31

9:31 When Jehu came through the gate, she said, “Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?” ⁴ 

2 Kings 19:33

19:33 He will go back the way he came.

He will not enter this city,” says the Lord.

2 Kings 25:10

25:10 The whole Babylonian army that came with the captain of the royal guard tore down the walls that surrounded Jerusalem.

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¹ tn Heb “Call for her.”

² tn Heb “and he called her.”

³ tn Heb “and he called for her and she stood in the door.”

⁴ sn Jezebel associates Jehu with another assassin, Zimri, who approximately 44 years before had murdered King Elah, only to meet a violent death just a few days later (1 Kgs 16:9-20). On the surface Jezebel’s actions seem contradictory. On the one hand, she beautifies herself as if to seduce Jehu, but on the other hand, she insults and indirectly threatens him with this comparison to Zimri. Upon further reflection, however, her actions reveal a clear underlying motive. She wants to retain her power, not to mention her life. By beautifying herself, she appeals to Jehu’s sexual impulses; by threatening him, she reminds him that he is in the same precarious position as Zimri. But, if he makes Jezebel his queen, he can consolidate his power. In other words through her actions and words Jezebel is saying to Jehu, “You desire me, don’t you? And you need me!”