Tyre
by Robert I Bradshaw

Ethbaal, Priest King of Tyre. We know from records preserved by Josephus that Hiram’s grandson was killed in a palace coup led by the four sons of his nurse in about 919 BC (Against Apion, 1.22). After him came Astartus, son of Deleastartus, from another family. He in turn was succeeded by his brother Asermymus, who is murdered by his brother Pheles. Pheles only survived eight months before he fell victim to Ethbaal, the priest of Astarte. By this time the kingdom of Tyre had grown to include Sidon and the text of 1 Kings calls him Ethbaal of the Sidonians (Josephus (Antiquities, 8.317). The rule of Ethbaal marked a return to the "golden age" of Hiram I. Tyre’s international power and trade increased, demanding an expansion in her harbour. Ezekiel records that Tyre was renowned for her trade, which included:

...slaves, cypress, cedar, oak, ebony, ivory, embroidered linen, purple and scarlet cloth, gold, silver, iron, tin, lead, bronze, horses, mules and other livestock, coral, rubies, corn, wax, honey, tallow, balm, wine, wool and spices. The word cinnamon is Phoenician, as are probably the words cumin, coriander, crocus, myrrh, aloe, balsam, jasper, diamond and sapphire (Bikai, 1992: 48).

Seeking to make an alliance with his powerful neighbour as David had done, Omri of Israel arranged for a marriage of state to take place between his son Ahab and Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal (1 Kings 16:31). It was common practice in the ancient world to allow foreign wives facilities for worshipping their native god(s) in their new homes (Bruce: 1987, 43-44), but Jezebel had different ideas about religious tolerance - and set about exterminating the Lord’s prophets (18:4). The ensuing crisis had dramatic repercussions in the royal lines of both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, because Jehoshaphat had cemented his alliance with Ahab with another royal marriage of their children, Jehoram and Athaliah (see 2 Kings 11:1-3)

According to the Excel Higher School Certificate (Australia's) current Ancient History Book 1 [2600]:

"Jezebel's father was Ethbaal, 'man of (the god) Baal', King of Tyre and Sidon, known biblically as Ethbaal of the Sidonians (1 Kings). He was a priest of the goddess Asherah, and Jezebel's mother was a priestess. Ethbaal usurped the throne from his brother, Phelles [?], by a religious coup during a period of political upheaval, and is reported by some to be a grandson of Hiram I."

More likely, Hiram's g/grandson-in-law.

HSC continues:

"Tyre was also the principal seat of Ba'al (Melqart) worship. Ba'al was the great cosmic nature god, his wife or mother was Asherah, the mother goddess of fertility, love and sex.

… Members of the Phoenician royalty served and honoured Asherah as priests and priestesses - as did Jezebel's mother and father. In the Bible, Asherah was considered 'the abomination of the Sidonians' and her worship was officially forbidden.

The problem with her belief was the cultic practices it entailed, such as fertility rites or open group sex, temple prostitution, and child sacrifice (very rare). The worship of the male patriarch [sic] Yahweh considered such practices anathema.

…Jezebel, as daughter of the king of Tyre [sic?], would have come to Israel as a very important person. The relationship of Tyre was a lynchpin of the foreign policy of the Omrides - for the prosperity and power of Israel. Phoenicia itself was a very influential and powerful area at that time, dominating trade, expanding western boundaries, controlling eastern desert trade."