King Ithobaal I (887-856) of Tyre is best known as the father of Jezebel whom he gave as a wife to king Ahab (874-853) in order to secure stronger trading ties with the Israelite kingdom based now in Samaria. As mother of Ahab's successor, Ahaziah, Jezebel would prove to be an important cultural influence in the Israelite court. Jezebel is portrayed as having introduced Phoenician cultural and religious practices which infuriated traditionalists who did not accept any deviations from Hebrew monotheism. In particular, she is castigated by Elijah for bringing worship of Tyre's god Baal.
It likely, though, that Phoenician and Canaanite religious practices had already spread through the common people and thus Jezebel did little more than make the practices more respectable. When Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal, we read this:
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And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. [1 Kings 18:17-22]
Not only are there an awful lot of prophets of Baal, but the people aren't very enthusiastic about Elijah. This suggests that worship of Baal and Phoenician religious practices had become relatively popular - a situation that must have been developing for quite some time before Jezebel arrived on the scene.