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According to the Bible, it is alleged Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh. Elijah turns around and kills 500 prophets of the rival god, Baal. Why is one individual eternally demonized and the other hailed a hero in this war of the gods?
According to the Bible, it is alleged Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh. Elijah turns around and kills 500 prophets of the rival god, Baal. Why is one individual eternally demonized and the other hailed a hero in this war of the gods?
Jezebel was an idol worshipper and was leading the Israelites away from God. She was killing the prophets of God too.
For Elijah to bring the people back to God he had to prove to them that Baal is no god at all. So the contest on top of the mountain.
Elijah told the Baal priests to call down fire to burn up their sacrifice. The called and called our, cutting themselves thinking that would get their god's attention. Nothing.
Elijah takes 12 jugs of water (one jug for each tribe of Israel) and pours it on the wood of the altar. Then he tells God to show them who the true God is and God sends fire from heaven and devours the water soaked wood.
Now they know who is the One True God of Israel.
It was in their covenant with God that all false prophets should be killed. They agreed with God to do that and they would be blessed. Otherwise they would receive curses. As long as those Baal priests were operating Israel was going through a horrible drought. So they either kill the priests or they die of starvation.
After the contest is over Jezebel puts out a hit on Elijah. But, alas, it was prophecied that she would be trodden under and the dogs eat her and that happened.
Jezebel was an idol worshipper and was leading the Israelites away from God. She was killing the prophets of God too.
For Elijah to bring the people back to God he had to prove to them that Baal is no god at all. So the contest on top of the mountain.
Elijah told the Baal priests to call down fire to burn up their sacrifice. The called and called our, cutting themselves thinking that would get their god's attention. Nothing.
Elijah takes 12 jugs of water (one jug for each tribe of Israel) and pours it on the wood of the altar. Then he tells God to show them who the true God is and God sends fire from heaven and devours the water soaked wood.
Now they know who is the One True God of Israel.
It was in their covenant with God that all false prophets should be killed. They agreed with God to do that and they would be blessed. Otherwise they would receive curses. As long as those Baal priests were operating Israel was going through a horrible drought. So they either kill the priests or they die of starvation.
After the contest is over Jezebel puts out a hit on Elijah. But, alas, it was prophecied that she would be trodden under and the dogs eat her and that happened.
Yay God! yay Elijah! Boo Jezebel!
I'm not quite sure you answered the question. They both killed people (well, it is alleged Jezebel did) of rival gods. Why was Jezebel the bad one, but Elijah was the hero. Why isn't he considered a murderer too?
I'm not quite sure you answered the question. They both killed people (well, it is alleged Jezebel did) of rival gods. Why was Jezebel the bad one, but Elijah was the hero. Why isn't he considered a murderer too?
Because Elijah was faithful to God's command, as Eusebias said.
Because Elijah was faithful to God's command, as Eusebias said.
But that is your subjective opinion because you side with Elijah's god. Wasn't Jezebel being faithful to her people's god too?
The question still stands though...why is Jezebel made out to be the bad guy while Elijah killed 500 people in what amounts to be a religious war and be hailed as a hero? Is it okay to kill or god as long as you also serve that god?
I think it is a fair question and I just how people rationalize killing on one end and decry it on the other. Think Muslim terrorist and Christian soldier in a war.
But that is your subjective opinion because you side with Elijah's god. Wasn't Jezebel being faithful to her people's god too?
That's like saying you won't die if you fly in a busted airline. Enron had faithful workers, suicide bombers mean well - there's thousands of examples. Just because you're true to a cause doesn't mean it's right.
That's like saying you won't die if you fly in a busted airline. Enron had faithful workers, suicide bombers mean well - there's thousands of examples. Just because you're true to a cause doesn't mean it's right.
Within the paramaters by which Israel was set up by covenantal laws between God and His people, it was wrong for Jezebel to murder all of God's people. And within those parameters it was right for Elijah to have the Baalites put to death.
Within the paramaters by which Israel was set up by covenantal laws between God and His people, it was wrong for Jezebel to murder all of God's people. And within those parameters it was right for Elijah to have the Baalites put to death.
I have no problems understanding this in its strictest terms, but with that in mind, if a Christian goes to a Muslim country and is killed for spreading his faith to the local population, should observers care or do they just say what you just said?
I have no problems understanding this in its strictest terms, but with that in mind, if a Christian goes to a Muslim country and is killed for spreading his faith to the local population, should observers care or do they just say what you just said?
Your answer about will address this part.
If the laws of that land state the penalty for evangelizing is death and, obviously the evangelist would know that, then, sure, observers should shrug their shoulders and say they were warned.
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