Jezebel & The Place of the Skull

The Triumpal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isaiah 46:10 & 11).

Time and time again, I find myself studying something in the New Testament that leads me straight back to the Old Testament in ways that I could have never imaged possible. Take the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, for example. . .I never thought I would find a parallel of this in the Old Testament, yet it’s there! If you will bear with me here, I promise you will be glad that you did!

Starting in Matthew (chapters 20 & 21), Luke (chapter 19), and John (chapter 12) we read that in the last days of Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, He left Galilee, traveling into the wilderness of Judea where he passed through Jericho and Bethany on His way up the Mount of Olives to Bethphage. Now, if we follow the trail of the names of these places, a wonderful word picture appears!

The name “Galilee” (גָּלִיל) is found at Strong’s Concordance number [H1551], and its meaning is: CIRCUIT (as in a route that begins and ends at the same place). Galilee, as we know, is where Jesus began His ministry following His baptism and temptation in the wilderness. We read in Matthew 4:11-17, “. . .when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast. . .from that time Jesus began to preach, and say, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” The place that Jesus began His ministry, is the same place from whence the end of His ministry commenced - that is, in the region of the Sea of Galilee.

Now, when Jesus leaves Galilee, He enters the wilderness of Judea through “Jericho” (יְרִיחוֹ) [H3405] meaning: CITY OF THE MOON - the usage of which signifies “a fragrant place”. The root word of H3405 is yareah (יָרֵחַ) [H3394] , which the Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon renders: BEFORE THE MOON (as in a sense of time), i.e., “as long as the moon shall shine”. We know that the “moon” represents the carnal man, or carnal “church” sysem which the Woman clothed with the Sun in Revelation 12:1 is seen having put “under her feet”. This speaks to the goal of restoration that Jesus’ ministry centers around.
“Bethany” (Βηθανία) [G963] is derived from an unknown Aramaic origin meaning: HOUSE OF DATES, or HOUSE OF MISERY, and. . .
“Bethphage” (Βηθφαγή) [G967] (also of an unknown Aramaic origin) means: HOUSE OF UNRIPE FIGS. Speaking from experience, unripe dates and figs are very tough, very dry, and very bitter (much like an unripe banana), it’s what they call in the Arabic language moor, or “sour” fruit. We don’t have to go very far to interpret the meaning intended here: Jesus meets man in the bitterness of his heart - the soul, which is the source of mans thinking. . .the place of the skull. “In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.” (see Jeremiah 31:29 and Ezekiel 18:2). . .”And he [Jesus] shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:6).

It is during His ascent up the Mount of Olives to Bethphage that Jesus exchanges our bitter heart for one that is alive and responsive, so that He may sit upon His Throne in the heights of our “heaven” - that is, the renewed mind. Matthew 21:1 & 2, “And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the Mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.” And again in John 12:14-15, “And Jesus, when he had found a young ass [the colt of the ass], He sat thereon; as it is written, Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt.”

First of all, the Hebrew word for “olive” is zayit (זַיִת) [H2132] which is akin to ziv (זִו) [H2099] meaning: BRIGHTNESS, SLENDOUR. Thus, the Mount of Olives is a place of transfiguration!
While Matthew’s account uses the word onos (ὄνος) [G3688] for the word “ass”, meaning (simply): A DONKEY, but John choses to use the word onarion (ὀνάριον) [G3678] which, if you look in the Hebrew section under this same number [H3678] you will find the word kisse (כִּסֵּא) meaning: THRONE! In the eyes of the people, Jesus rode into physical Jerusalem in a low and humble state, but in the eyes of the Father - Jesus was the King of Glory riding into a Spiritual Jerusalem upon a Most Majestic Throne!

Now, in order for Jesus to enter the Temple in Jerusalem, He had to descend the Mount of Olives, passing through both the Garden of Gethsemane and the Kidron Valley, before reaching the Sheep Gate at the northern tip of the city wall. [It is worth noting here that when Jesus did enter into the Temple the day following His triumphal entry - He overturned the tables for a second time. . .driving out those who were buying and selling - the first mention being at the ONSET of His ministry (see John 2:15), proving to us once again that what He did at the beginning, He also did in the end!]

Now, the name “Gethsemane” (Γεθσημανί) [G1068] means: AN OIL PRESS which comes from two Aramaic words gath (גַּת) [H1660] meaning: WINEPRESS, and shemen (שֶׁמֶן) [H8081] meaning: FAT (as an ointment), or FAT (as the fruit of the land, or valley’s), hence it is also used to describe the ANOINTING OIL, or a SPIKED OINTMENT (i.e., “the dew of heaven”) of which the words “precious ointment” should immediately come to mind! Psalm 23:5 speaks to this saying, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
From Gethsemane, Jesus descends into the Kidron Valley. The name “Kidron” (קִדְרוֹן) [H6939] means: DARK, DUSKY - whose root word kedar (קָדַר) [H6937] is the exact word the Shulmite uses to describe herself in the Song of Solomon, chapter 1 verse 5, saying, “I am black but comely [in the eyes of her Lord]. . .as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon.” The name Kedar (a son of Ishamel) means: TO MOURN, BE DARK, TO BE FOUL, TURBID, by extension - TO GO FORTH IN FILTHY GARMENTS. I am reminded here of Zechariah, chapter 3 verses 1-5, “And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.”
As Jesus began His descent from the Mount of Olives, the people heard of His coming from afar off. . .“And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matthew 21:8-9). The Christian mind thinks of this word as a name or title of Jesus, but that is not the case at all! “Hosanna” [G5614] is from the Hebrew words yasa (יָשַׁע) [H3467] meaning: TO SAVE, TO BE SAVED, DELIVERED and na (נָא) [H4994] meaning: I (WE) PRAY (as an exhortation). In a very profound statement, the people were pleading to be saved TO THE UTTERMOST!
Which brings us to the Sheep Gate - that blessed Sheep Gate! Here, Jesus enters the sheep fold - BECOMING one of US - wherefore they beat Him, and mocked Him and - pushing a crown of thorns into His skull they then nailed Him to a Cross by His hands and His feet. Forsaken of the Father, He cried out in anguish of heart as one whose soul is separated from the Spirit of God, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?!”

Enter Golgotha -The Place of the Skull

Here is where this imagery takes a most unexpected turn! In doing a search for the word “skull” on Blue Letter Bible’s search page, I came across a most interesting verse regarding Jezebel that I could not let go of - 2 Kings 9:33. . .”And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.”

This one verse made me want to read of the events leading up to her demise, and I found myself utterly (but pleasantly!) amazed by what my eyes were seeing ! Let us read together. . .

And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:
And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu [meaning: JEHOVAH IS HE] the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not. [In other words, “make haste!”, “do not linger!”, “do not stay behind!]
So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.
And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain. [Hebrews 2:10, “For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.”]
And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.
And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master [the CARNAL MAN, i.e., SELF, with all his lustful thoughts and actions], that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel. [Jezebel is the wife of Ahab and daughter of Ethbaal. Jezebel is H348 meaning: BAAL EXHALTS, BALL IS A HUSBAND TO, UNCHASTE - while Ethbaal is H856 meaning: WITH BAAL, i.e. JOINED TO BAAL]
For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall [the young, viabrant men who could produce offspring], and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:
And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel.
Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.
Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.
And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously. [“the son of Nimshi”, meaning: THE SON OF THE RESCUED, or REDEEMED. . .is this not like Jesus coming with ten thousands of His saints?!]
And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.
And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain [Bidkar means: WITH A STAB], Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden upon him;
Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the Lord; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the Lord. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the Lord.
But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur [H1483, meaning: SOJOURNING], which is by Ibleam [H2991, meaning: DEVOURING OF THE PEOPLE]. And he fled to Megiddo [H4023, meaning: PLACE OF CROWDS], and died there. [Megiddo is “Har Megiddo” or ARMAGEDDON where the battle of the Lord takes place within man - piercing mans heart and bringing and end to self!]
And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.
And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window. [. . .meaning that she put on her make-up and adorned her hair in a dramatic show of her pride and power!]
And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master? ["Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34-36). . .and again, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12)]
And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot. [“And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” - Revelation 18:2]
And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter. [When Jesus comes in to the secret chamber of our hearts and mind, He sups with us there - eating and drinking while the dead body of our Jezebel lay on the ground outside the wall of the city. . .the dogs eating of her carcass! Yet, it’s interesting to note here that Jezebel, even in all her wickedeness, is still referred to as a “King’s daughter” which is a type of the carnal church that Jesus is in the midst of (the seven candelsticks) from whence He bids us, “Come out of her My people” - yet it is not merely a matter of coming out, is it? No! It is a matter of “going to”. . .”COME UP HITHER!”]
And they went to bury her : but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. [. . .that is, the parts of her that controlled her thoughts and actions!! . . .the very places where the crown of thorns and the nails were driven into Christ Jesus’ body!!! Can we not see by this analogy the TRUE nature of what Jesus had to suffer in order to set us free from our own Jezebelic soul?!]
Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel [meaning: GOD SOWS] shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
And the carcase [FLESH] of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

What can we now say of these renowned men of old, except they be “more than prophets”!! Yea, much more!!

Grace and peace!

Julie Hogan

10/19/2025

“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail. Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind. As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah. We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness. Let mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” Psalms 48:1-14

Beautiful for Situation, Rebuked to Overcome by Kenneth B. Visscher.

The articles on this website are made available at no cost. God’s way is, “. . .Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:8). As members of Christ’s Body, we do not have anything to sell, nor do we rely on donations. We trust God to lay it upon the hearts of those He chooses to provide the means for publishing these studies. God bless!