Athaliah, Daughter Of Jezebel

By Mordechai Landsberg

A whole ancient historical era is depicted in this novel. Religious or not –anyone who dislikes any kind of dictatorship - will like to read my book.
Plot: Athaliah, who is Jezebel’s daughter, marries the king of Judea, (North Israel neighbor from the south). She hates her husband, the king, who is king David’s offspring, because that king was faithful to God, - and she hates God, who “caused the killing of my family”...One day Athaliah receives a message that her son, who has become Judea’s king, is killed in a battle. Three Judean officers, among them Army Chief Abner- who have been rescued from the battle, tell her that the rebel Jehu was the man who killed her son, (as well as her brother and mother Jezebel)- and now this rebel intends to conquer the small kingdom of Judea... The officers suggest to crown immediately a new king in Judea, in order to unite the people to stand against killer Jehu, now king of Northern Israel. Athaliah refuses to listen, having a selfish wish to be herself the ruler. To her help comes an Ex-Priest of God –Mathan- who reveals to the officers that their comrade, the claimant to the crown, is a bastard, not fit for being a king!.. Athaliah & Mathan make a deal: He will kill for her almost all the remaining offspring-s of king David, (Judean dynasty’s forefather). As a reward - she will nominate Mathan to be high Priest of Baal Idol, as Athaliah herself is a pagan. However, the high Priest of God in Jerusalem’s Temple- Yehoyada, and his wife Yehosheva-( she is Athaliah’s daughter), struggle against the new ruler, Athaliah. The high priest of God soon hides the son of the late king, putting him and his milk-nurse, Nefertita, in a cave. After Athaliah succeeds to deter Jehu- she becomes a tyrant, who fight against God Belivers in her 'Queendom'.
In the sixth year of Athaliah’s regime - the public sacrifices in God’s Temple are stopped by her wicked decrees; though she still allows the high priest to teach there Torah- the holy Scriptures- to God Believers. Among his pupils are: his seven years old son, Zakharia, and his friend- a boy named Elyakim, who is said to be a foundling orphan...One day Athaliah comes to visit the Holy Temple, to beg the priests’ help: She suffers from insomnia and nightmares. As she is looking around- she sees the boy Elyakim, who is really her grandson, now aged seven. Answering her questions, he becomes very afraid of her. She “falls in Love” with him, and would like to adopt and educate him. Yehoyada and his wife oppose that idea, of course: The boy is their last hope for renewing king David’s Dynasty rule in Judea! Athaliah threatens Yehoyada to burn the Temple, if he does not hand her the boy. (she is prevented from knowing his true identity). Mathan is filled with fears, understanding that the Queen’s madness will bring the end of her regime. And that really happens: Commander Abner - an ardent God Believer, organizes the rebellion against the mad woman ruler, and succeeds... Athaliah comes into the Temple, and admits before many celebrating people: “King David, you have won.” She is killed, and Elyakim- her only grandson, the rescued baby - is crowned to be the new king of Judea.
There are other interesting characters in that novel, like Prophet Joseph- Nefertita’s sweetheart, prophet Elisha - and his leper young servant Gehazi, and his amazing lover and wife Bat Gad, who escapes from him and becomes Athaliah’s whore-spy— against her internal enemies, the priests and prophets of God....

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mordechai Landsberg
• Release date: Nov 22, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301965748

Mordechai Landsberg

Mordechai Landsberg (pen name: Ben Shmuel)is an Israeli Novelist. He has published two novels in Hebrew, that deal with Israeli and Jewish topics: ’The Gentle Ones’ and ‘The disconnections’- telling about simple soldiers before and after Six Days War and Yom Kipur War (they have been awarded the President’s Incentive - and Public Libraries prize). Mordechai Landsberg studied literature and philosophy in the Tel Aviv university, and has worked many years as an Administrative & Finance Officer for U.S. Contracts with the Israeli Arms Industry - an experience that has contributed a lot to his writing in English.

Book preview

Athaliah, daughter of Jezebel

novel by

Mordechai Landsberg

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 Mordechai Landsberg

All Rights Reserved.

PART ONE

CHAPTER 1

Ahab, the greatest king of northern ten tribes of Israel, was seated in his chariot, leading a small royal caravan of four vehicles and ten horseriders. The galloping horses caused the chariots to dangle on the mountenous Royal Way, leading from Samaria toward Jerusalem. It was a colorful spring in the country. The fields blossomed by dotted red anemones and poppys and stains of yellow grounsel flowers. In each chariot there was at least one armed guard, and the escorting horseriders had swords in their scabbards, as well as bows and arrows loaded on their horsebacks. Though it was a peaceful time, the king was suspicious and cautious along the way.

The eyes of his daughter, Athaliah, a daring seventeen teenager, were searching for some action. She hoped that first time in her life she would see sideways’ robbers, that she had heard about. But those villains had seemingly disappeared. Her mother Jezebel, sitting beside her in the carriage, argued that they all were having now better businesses.

Your father Ahab had enriched the people, she told her, So all the past outlaws have found less dangerous jobs. Attacking armed guards of honorable traders – may have brought their death …

Athaliah was dressed in a white wedding dress. A garland of white narcissus scented the air and ornamented her black smooth long hair. She was sitting with her mother in the rear seat of the second chariot - drawn by two brown Egyptian born horses. She was now maditating how her new life in Jerusalem would look like. She was going to be married to the crown prince of Judea, Jehoram, who was about twenty at that time. ‘How could I have a feeling of love for him?’ she asked herself, ‘having seen him only once... Nor did I have a sense of enjoyment to imagine the soon coming rich wedding ceremony. I just feel that my duty is to marry prince Jehoram, the future king of Jerusalem. Well, Mom tells me I am lucky...’

Her father Ahab had planned all that. He had called her to his room, and ordered her to accept the marriage. It had happened about half a year before. Of course, her mother Jezebel was present in that meeting. She had her own experience in such deals. Her father, Phoenician king Eth-Baal of Tsydon, had brought a similar message to her years before. She became to love her husband, and had never complained of that deal.

King Ahab would use the opportunity of attending the wedding in Jerusalem – for political talks with king Jehoshafat, the bridegroom’s father. They had agreed to sign a contract about ‘strengthening Alliance by a wedding deal.’ It was quite a common phenomenon in the ancient royal world of the middle east at that time:

Judea had existed like a hidden territory in the southern part of Israel. Ahab had one clear purpose in bringing his only daughter there: That King David’s offspring would be under his control, as a ruler of Norhtern Israel bigger kingdom. The Judean little king and his dynasty should not dream about bringing back king David’s era - of Grand Israel. They should not try to conquer any of Ahab’s northern Israeli territories, and by that extend Judea’s kingdom. Both kings will vow in that marriage deal – not to collborate with the Egyptians nor the Adomites nor the Arameans against each other. They should come to each other’s help when one is endangered by vicious enemies...

Athaliah’s future husband was called Jehoram. That name was quite similar to her youngr brother’s name: Joram. Both names had the Hebrew meaning of: God is the super power, highest over all, the sublime… (But God hurt both at the end, as their ‘belief in Him had not been full hearted’ - according to the Bible).

Jehoram was in bed with Athaliah - late at night after the wedding ceremony, which was led by God’s priests. Jehoram soon discerned that she had not been a virgin. He was an experienced male, and restrained his fury. He tried to seem like talking nonchallantly, in a mature manner:

I really don’t mind who had been your first lover, he said, but then added rudely: or your monkey face fucker. I only hope you’ve not told somebody about that. If people know that I’ve married an experienced lady - it would smirch mud on my name and fame. It would bring a shame on my dignified family! So, I’ll stab you - if a tail of the tale leaks to the public. Understand? My dignity is the core of my life!

You are mistaken - being so angry, Athaliah answered meekly, My dear husband, You are right to think I’ve conducted a mischief to you…But - my mother Jezebel should be blamed. She has caused that …

What? What d’you mean by these words: she has caused? roared the future king of Judea.

When I was twelve, ‘confessed’ Athaliah, My Mom hit me in my hidden crack… By…by a bare branch. It’s a well known habit in our family. Its purpose - to prevent a shame from those girls who get willingly lied in teenage.

It’s a transparent bluff, you sinful girl! shouted the crown prince.

Believe me, I have not lied with any male before you, My king. I swear it.... In the name of God and Baal together.

A variety of gods was the common belief of the high society in Ahab’s days. Later on it was called ‘syncretistic type of worshipping supernatural powers.’. Athaliah inherited that infusion of religion and belief systems from her powerful parents: The ancient God of Israel, and the overwhelmingly strong Knaanite Baal, god of Nature – were both worthy to be worshipped…

I’ll investigate the matter with your Mom, said crown prince Jehoram to Athaliah... He had not believed his new wife’s queer tale, and immediately sent to call a virgin girl from his ‘maids’ collection’- to their room. He lied with his new mistress in Athaliah’s presence. She turned her face from the couple, hiding a cynical smile.

All my friends and acqaintances, Jehoram then told Athaliah, who pretended shyness, all must see tomorrow morning, that our white cotton sheet had been bloodstained. We hang it on the balcony, outside.

Next morning Jehoram really investigated the matter with Athaliah’s mother, Jezebel. She had been still in the Judean palace, after the wedding celebration. Jezebel had known the truth, of course, about her naughty, free sexed daughter. But she confirmed - as agreed upon by two long before, that Athaliah’s tale had been true. She added her vow regarding that, by raising her right hand and saying: Baal will cut it, if I lie to you, dear step-son.

The crown prince of Judea had been sure, that both Athaliah and Jezebel had conspired her purity.‘However, nobility commits me to pretend, that I believe them,’ he said to himself irritatingly.

Jehoram soon seemed to forget the adolescence sins of Athaliah. He just wanted a male heir from her, as his father had promised his neighboring vigorous king Ahab. At first he was disappointed, when Athaliah had born a daughter. She was called Yehosheva (in Hebrew: God’s oath) - or Josabeth. But Athaliah’s second born, a year after, happened to be a son. He would become one day the prince crown, as both royal families had fervently wished that.

Jehoram agreed to Athaliah’s proposal to call this second baby: Ahaziah, which meant: God’s gift or help…

Soon after his son was born - Jehoram began to gather women to his bed, as a pigeons’ raiser would gather eggs from a nest. (There were not yet hens in the country at that time, according to archeologists, so we have to use piegeons as a symbol). He had taken five permanent mistresses-concubines to his princely palace. When he was crowned ten years later, he had taken also three new official wives into his bed. It was according to the well known tradition of the Judean kings - since Victorious King David and Wise King Solomon.

So it came about, that in her private marriage life Athaliah felt quite miserable and deserted. She had devoted her time to deal with her children., though she had gotten good maides who took care of them. The crown king was nominated by his ailing father – king Jehoshafat- as deputy commander of the army. So, his new military jobs had left him less time than before for his women and family.

Really, Jehoram should be praised, that despite his busy royal daily matters, he had found some time for Athaliah and her two little children. He used to come and see them one full night in a week. That was according to an ancient tradition: The first wife should be respected and dignified more than the others, and her first born son gets the privilege of birth. Taking into account that the Alliance agreement with Northern Israel was still valid, it committed Jehoram to raise his son Ahaziah as the successor –or ‘Crown-Prince’, when he himself would become king.

The once-a-week meeting arrangement had not satisfied Athaliah. She had her own ideas about how should a ‘would-be-king’s senior-wife’ dignity look like. She had known what a different attitude her father Ahab had had to her mother. Jezebel was a real Queen and collaborator in the rule of the Northern Israeli Kingdom. Athaliah wanted that the father of her children would dedicate more time to them, at least, if not to her. Only in that way, she had known, Jehoram would become to love them, if at all…She spoke with Jehoram about that, but in vain. So, already in early time of her marriage life - Athaliah refused lying any more with Jehoram, even when he had tried to break her obstinacy. But even she felt so insulted and sexually frustrated, she had refrained from a loud protest against her husband’s rough behavior. She had known, that either in pretiness or in wisdom – she had been well above all his other women. But he had persisted in his quite scornful attitude to her. She suffered from that behavior, felt humiliated, and began to get drunk. But her children were demanding her presence, and she had then enough will of power to stop pouring all types of wines into her stomach.

Athaliah was twenty three - when she heard that her father was killed in a battle against the Arameans. She had participated in the funeral - together with King Jehoshafat, her husband’s father. Jehoram himself remained in the small kingdom of Judea, in case that some unexpected events would rise…

Young Jerusalemite princess Athaliah was received very warmly by the people of her native town, Samaria. Most of them had not met her since her wedding. Jeaebel, her broken heart mother– requested her to stay a month with her, more than she had planned. Athaliah was really glad in trying to help her mother in her deep bereavemnet, and also renew acquaintances from her happy past. She sent a message to Judean King’s palace, that she must extend her stay in Samaria. So, despite the morbid atmosphere in Ahab’s palace - it was good for Athaliah’s spirit to revive her past views, noises and colors.

Athaliah’s both children became pupils at that time, and got teachers for writing, reading and arithmetics. On her way back home, Athaliah was thinking how in other circumstances she could have more spare time – for entertainment. Even gloomy bereaved Samaria had not caused her to forget how open and fresh and healthy her past had been there. Being so much sexually frustrated, she began to dream about developing a love affair with a young man. ‘But not here, in Judea’ –she reflected. She was afraid to have a lover from her husband’s kingdom: The tradition in Judea had always been, that only males of the royal family had the right and actually allowed to be profane.

For the time being Athaliah restrained herself. She refrained from being exposed to slander and gossip. However, she decided that once a year, preferably in springtime and summer beginning season, she should visit her family in Samaria. The vacation-like stay thre would take a month or two, and she would enjoy herself as much as possible. She expected that her sexual life would renewe in Goddess Ashera Days: The celebrations of these Idols worship- in spring and summer nights, were based on an ancient tradition: It had ecstasy dancing and music, that would bring people, quite strange to each other- to become close friends and lovers, and consume their desires together, in couples or groups. Athaliah remembered her sweet free teenage, celebrating with hundreds of other youths in the woods festivities. In one of these events - her first full intercourse had taken place. It was with a handsome fellow called Gera . She had known him before, as one of her mothers’ personal guards. His good manners, nice muscled shape and smart eyes - had enflamed her since the day she had become to know him. Their desires united under a cedar thick tree. They were standing naked, leaning on the wide trunk, and ‘mixing each other’s natural juices’, as Gera whispered to Athaliah. Both laughed while carressing each other with enormous tenderness. What a real joy it was. Her mother Jezebel had sent her there, to behave like the local common youths. Experience is a must, she said, for everyone, including the royal children…

‘A good dream is sometime better than a mere monotonous crossing of time through your life’- such thought passed in Athaliah’s mind not only once, ‘But you should know to store your patience, till some unexpected good opportunity would be brought by the Idols.’ She really felt responsibility for the continuation of the regime’s tight connections in the ‘two sisters kingdoms’. In that way of thinking she has been educated since younghood.

But now– her father was no longer living. She reflected that she should - at least partly- release herself from the cables of a severe and indifferent husband, who dislikes her.

CHAPTER 2

Ahab’s death was disastrous to the kingdom. Soon the Aramean enemies captured border areas in the north and east of Israel. They began to penetrate even to Sea of Galilee surroundings. But soon the situation seemed to be stabilized. Ahazia, Ahab’s son and Athaliah’s brother, (he had the same name as her son’s) had been crowned and became the successor. He was forced to pay high amounts of ransom pledged by the enemy Aram. By that - the bleeding country earned stillness, if not full peace for a few years.

In those days Athaliah was like a blooming tulip- in her tall, dark haired, green-brown eyes, and pretty face, that was beaming cleverness and pride. She had a special voice, that indicated her womanish tenderness. There were rumors in Samaria, as well as in Jerusalem, that since her childhood she could compete with most brave and smart males - in sports, games of memory and knowledge in history, religion and witchcraft. She had made an outstanding impression on whoever had met her. The people who had known her were filled with adore, mixed with a wonder and fear about the source of her mysterious power.

Athaliah planned her next visit to Samaria (Shomron, in Hebrew)- a year after her father’s death. She liked that capital of North Israel, which had been built by her grandpa Omri, and rennovated by her father Ahab. She wanted this time to bring her children with her, and her husband had not opposed that idea. However, her expected vacation was hindered by king Jehoshafat, her husband’s father. He was afraid from her decision to take the kids with her.

A first visit in their mother’s native land is blessed, he said, but not in the dense atmosphere still existing in Samaria. The cloud of dust of the enemy’s horseriders is hanging on Northern Israel.

His order that she would stay at home, was also based on a message sent to him by a God’s priest (his name had not been mentioned in the Bible). He informed the king of Judea about the hard conflict that exists in the life of the couple Athaliah and Jehoram. King Jehoshafat took care to keeping the political alliance agreement between him and the late king Ahab. He had not imagined how dim and breakable is Northern Israel kingdom. He suspected now, that if Athaliah would intend to rescue herself from Judea’s grip and run away, that may entail an un-necessary quarrel between the two kingdoms. He ordered to his plicemen to look after Athaliah’s moves. Also the men on the ‘Royal way’ cheking points had been requested to lead her back to Jerusalem’s track, if she tries to break his order.

But next summer – Athaliah’s husband Jehoram persuaded his father to allow his wife’s travel; though without her children. Athaliah decided to obey the elderly king, after a protrest. She went to meet him in his palace, but could not convince him to permit also the children join her to Samaria. He showed her a worrisome letter, that he had just received from Jezebel, her influential mother. The old widow of Ahab had begged the king of Jerusalem to permit her daughter get out to Samaria, because: Athaliah’s brother, Ahaziahu – Israel’s king- has become very sick in his stomach. Nobody knows what the coming days would bring…

This time Athaliah took her personal girl servant with her. Jezebel met them while they arrived in the palace in an early evening hour. She told Athaliah that there was no change in her son’s health situation. However, in the following morning Jezebel sent her maid urgently to Athaliah. She was called to arrive immediately at her mother’s apartment in the upper floor.

Has something happened to my brother, the King ? asked Athaliah.

Jezebel’s maid shrugged her shoulders. She did not know anything, she said - and ran out.

Athaliah was wearing her blue velvet long dress very quickly. It exposed her nice legs while strolling around or climbing high stairs, and she liked that. She indicated her maidservant not to join her, closed her room’s door and went to a small corridor leading to the upper surface of the palace, over her room. She was bending her head while reaching a low corridor, and moved forward on to a hallway, then climbed a staircase. From it she turned left and heard a small waterfall that trinkled down on a marble wall. It was draining into a small pool framed with red flowering plants. Beneath the water were discerned some water-snakes. Athaliah was terrified for a second from that sight, but soon recovered and moved on. She had arrived to the square paved courtyard of the palace. Not so far, on its northern edge, she saw her mother in black.

Jezebel was sitting on the stone pavement, her hands rising like bare branches of a cut out tree, shouting something. Athaliah’s elder brother, prince Joram, was standing at his mother’s side. Jezebel’s main personal guard - and head of secret police, Gera – (to whom Athaliah had dedicatd her virginity years before), was staying there too. He was as handsome as he had been before, but Athaliah, who approached Jezebel, could not enjoy looking at his figure now. She had heard her mother’s terrible sob, and arrived to her place in a rush. She discerned a stain of blood not far from that place. Athaliah understood immediately, that a terrible event had happened. Her mother had been stricken again by bereavement.

Jezebel was about forty five at that time. Her red eyes discerned her daughter approach, and she soon was elbowed by her. Athaliah heard her brother, Joram, saying:

Please, help me to raise Mom up. Let us take her inside

Jezebel had a tall figure. She was slim, and her body was well shaped in the dark dress she was wearing. Her son and daughter stretched their hands to raise her, and she became standing erect on her place. Her wet eyes from sob were still straying while she was looking toward Athaliah - her beloved daughter. Then she glanced at the balcony over the yard, and pointed on it. Her body was quivering while she spoke:

From there - he had fallen…my elder son, your poor brother… Her voice was broken. Joram caressed her hand, like intending to bring by that some warmth into to her freezing heart.

The servants had taken him into the Hall, she exclaimed, but I won’t be able to look again at him…You must do that, my children. Gaze at what had come out of your father’s heir. He has left us so quickly…My son was murdered, I’m sure! Prophet Elija himself had cursed him: ‘The bed on which you lie- you would not rise from it’- so the hateful prophet had declared .

They crossed the palace entry, and she mumbled: Yes, Ahaziahu was assasinated, woe to us. Oh, I could not rescue him! I had not taken care enough of him...

Athaliah had known that her Mom had been sometimes ‘theatrical’. This time, however, she thought that Jezebel had ben right to panic. ‘But no,’ she reflected, ‘the dead could not be brought back alive. So, we must ...consult what will happen now. First of all – manage the funeral.’

Her brother Joram tried to hold his spirit strong.

I’ve called the servants to wash his poor body… he said, Let them finish that.

I will come as close as I can- to his bed, said Jezebel suddenly, quite in contrary to her previous saying, that she would prevent looking again at the corpse, I must swear there to him. Vow to revenge. In the names of Baal and Ashera, my Idols of paradize and hell.

The mourners’ small group walked slowly in the palace’s Hall. A canopy bed was set up in the its center, covered by grey sheepskins. Jezebel approached it, but turned her face aside. Athaliah thought about her Mom’s broken heart - while standing at her side. Then she removed a part of the canopy’s cover, and was looking at her dead, bloodshed brother. She covered again the canopy bed by the dark sheepskin.

At that moment three servants, headed by a capped Flower Priest of God, had arrived therby. They removed the canopy and raised the corpe from the bed, one grabbing the cracked blooded head, stretching under it a piece of cloth. They laid it on a stoned table at the side, and began to wash and purify the corpse. Jezebel and her grown ups walked to the other side of the hall. The dead king’s mother prevented gazing at their activity, but her son and daughter took a short glimpse of dread at the blooded brain liquid, oozing from the cracked skull…

I can’t understand what had happened, whispered Athaliah to her brother Joram, while Jezebel became seated on a stone chair, not far. Her eyes was turned to the direction of her son and daughter, but her look was enstranged.

It was early in the morning, Joram told Athaliah, a fearful scream, followed by a tremendous crack had been heard. I rushed outside, to the courtyard. My eyes had seen the horrible sight.

He burst in a short whimper and went to the window. From there he gazed at two slaves who had arrived in the courtyard. They poured water on its bloodstained pavement. Then they washed it over, using wet rags. They squeezed the dirty liquid into a ceramic jar.

My son, King Ahaziahu, was loved by all, burst Jezebel in a sudden fury, and rose on her feet, except by the Prophets! The prophets had poisoned him.

Joram turnded to her, and she saw his dread.

Are you sure about that ,Mom? he asked. His face became severe, while he tried to restrain a nervy tremble in his chin.

I had known it - since the day he fell sick, she said, But I had not told anybody. His health seemed to improve recently, so we all had hoped. Therefore…

Therefore the fanatic God Believers… Atahaliah interrupted her, had found another way to kill him? I see. Mother is absolutely right, she turned to Joram, The prophets of God are guilty. They rejoiced, while they heard about our father’s killing in the battle.

Their God has had always hated us, said Jezebel, and now they have succeeded …Their abominable hand had pushed my son down to his death, Jezebel stretched her right hand, like in a vow while preaching to a crowd, "Cut