Defending Jezebel

In the deep pages of the Bible, no woman gets more ink than a queen named Jezebel. Not Eve. Not Mary. But Jezebel's ink is no love letter.

In the three thousand years since this Phoenician princess came south to marry a king of Israel, her name has become synonymous with wanton sexuality — the harlot queen, the scheming seductress, the shameless painted hussy.

Now, a new book reaches back to save Jezebel from what it calls a smear job, and paints her as a kind of ancient heroine in the unfinished battle of tolerance versus fundamentalism.

This hour, On Point: reconsidering Jezebel, the Bible's harlot queen.Guests:

Lesley Hazleton, author of "Jezebel: The Untold Story of the Bible's Harlot Queen."

Claudia Camp, professor of religion, Texas Christian University.