וַתִּשְׁלַ֤ח אִיזֶ֙בֶל֙ מַלְאָ֔ךְ אֶל־אֵלִיָּ֖הוּ לֵאמֹ֑ר כֹּֽה־יַעֲשׂ֤וּן אֱלֹהִים֙ וְכֹ֣ה יוֹסִפ֔וּן כִּֽי־כָעֵ֤ת מָחָר֙ אָשִׂ֣ים אֶֽת־נַפְשְׁךָ֔ כְּנֶ֖פֶשׁ אַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם׃
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying: ‘So let the gods do [to me], and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to-morrow about this time.’
From David to Destruction
Izevel certainly fits the bill of a Booldozerit. In Melachim I 19:2, she, in full Booldozerit form, issues a death threat to Eliyahu HaNavi, without so much as even consulting Achav. Nor does she issue the proclamation in his name. She assumes full control and meets no resistance at any level of the government and populace.89Binyamin Jachter adds that the Bnei Yisrael comply with Izevel, likely because they recognize that she will murder anyone who tries to seize her power, including any government officials, let alone general civilians, by preventing her threat to Eliyahu HaNavi from being carried out.
From David to Destruction
Curiously, Izevel warns (Melachim I 19:2) Eliyahu HaNavi that “tomorrow he will be dead.” The Malbim poses the obvious question – why does she not kill Eliyahu Hanavi immediately? TABC students suggested that perhaps Izevel wishes to give Eliyahu HaNavi lead time to escape. Her goal, on the one hand, is for Eliyahu HaNavi to leave the kingdom so she can restore her influence. On the other hand, she does not want to turn Eliyahu HaNavi into a martyr by killing him. Izevel attains her goal by warning Eliyahu HaNavi that she will kill him the following day.