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Class-Book of Old Testament History

<hr class="sect_35" /> <h3> CHAPTER <abbr title="1">I.</abbr> ACCESSION OF JEHU. <abbr title="Second">2</abbr> Kings <abbr title="chapters 8 through 10">viii.–x.</abbr>   B.C. 884.</h3> AFTER this signal discomfiture Ben-hadad returned to Damascus, and before long lay prostrate with his last illness. At this time Elisha was present in the city, and the king being informed of it, sent Hazael, an officer in high position at his court, to enquire whether he should recover of his disease. With 40  camels’ burden of the choicest products of the Syrian capital, Hazael presented himself before the prophet, and preferred his request in the most humble tones. Elisha replied that his master might indeed recover, but yet that he would not. Wondering at these ambiguous words, Hazael fixed upon him a long and searching glance, and the prophet burst into tears. Why weepeth my lord? enquired the other. And Elisha, who saw in him the destined successor of Ben-hadad, replied, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel; their strongholds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child. But such a future had no sorrow for his listener, it was only too good to expect. What is thy servant, he replied, dog that he is391, that he should do this great thing? The prophet, without making any remark, simply announced the message Elijah had long ago been bidden to deliver, Jehovah hath showed me, said he, that thou shalt be king over Syria (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 8">viii.</abbr> 7<abbr title="through">–</abbr>13). With these mysterious words sounding in his ears Hazael returned to his master, and told him but the half of the prophet’s answer. That day was the last of Ben-hadad’s life. On the morrow he was found suffocated with a thick cloth dipped in water spread upon his face. Whether or no Hazael’s hand had done the deed, his path was now clear392, and he mounted the Syrian throne392a. Meanwhile there had been changes in the kingdom of Judah. After an unsuccessful attempt to quell a rebellion of his vassal, the king of Edom (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 8">viii.</abbr> 20; <abbr title="Second Chronicles">2 Chr.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 21">xxi.</abbr> 8<abbr title="through">–</abbr>10; see <abbr title="Genesis">Gen.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 27">xxvii.</abbr> 40), Jehoram died, and was succeeded by Ahaziah, B.C. 885, the issue of his father’s ill-starred marriage with the daughter of Jezebel. True to the traditions of his mother, he signalized his accession by the grossest idolatries (<abbr title="Second Chronicles">2 Chr.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 22">xxii.</abbr> 3), but soon, like his rival the king of Israel, began to feel the hand of the new monarch of Syria, who had already made an attempt to recover the stronghold of Ramoth-gilead. In intimate alliance the two kings now crossed the Jordan to defend the place, and an engagement ensuing, Jehoram was severely wounded, and forced to return to Jezreel, whither also Ahaziah followed him (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 9">ix.</abbr> 28, 29). During their absence Elisha, knowing that the time was now come for the doomed destruction of Ahab’s family, sent a young man, one of the “sons of the prophets” to Ramoth-gilead, with a horn of oil and a commission to look out and anoint Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, king over Israel. As one of Ahab’s guards, Jehu, in company with Bidkar, had ridden behind his master to the fatal plot of Naboth’s vineyard, and heard the terrible warning of Elijah against his murderer (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 9">ix.</abbr> 25). Since then, he had risen to a position of some importance, and was now well known for his vehemence and activity, as well as his rapid, furious driving. According to his instructions the young disciple of the prophets went to Ramoth-gilead, and finding Jehu seated in the midst of his officers, intimated that he had an errand for his ear alone. Together the two retired to an inner chamber, and there the youth having poured the oil on Jehu’s head, and announced the Divine Will that he should be king over Israel, and utterly exterminate the whole family of Ahab, opened the door and fled. Shortly afterwards Jehu came forth, and rejoined his comrades, who eagerly enquired the purport of the mad fellow’s visit. At first he tried to evade the question, but soon revealed all that the other had said. Instantly the enthusiasm of his hearers was kindled. Recognising the truth of the prophetic call, they threw off each man his garment, and placing Jehu on a rude throne or carpet of state, blew the trumpets, and shouted Jehu is king. Then, for everything depended on the speed of his movements, without losing a moment Jehu drove his chariot towards the fords of Jordan, and thence direct to Jezreel. From the tower393 of the latter city the watchman observed his hurrying chariot, and announced the fact to Jehoram, who straightway sent a horseman to enquire, Is it peace? The crafty conspirator detained the messenger. Then a second horseman was despatched, and he too was detained. By this time the watchman was better able to distinguish the advancing charioteer, and pronounced him to be no other than Jehu, the son of Nimshi. Thereupon the chariot of the king of Israel was made ready, and with Ahaziah, king of Judah, he set out to meet him, probably expecting tidings of the Syrian war. But he was quickly and terribly undeceived. His question, Is it peace, Jehu? was met by a furious denunciation of the idolatries of his mother Jezebel, and in an instant divining his danger, he turned his chariot towards Jezreel. But at that moment Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and shot him to the heart. While he paused to charge Bidkar to take up his corpse and fling it into the portion of Naboth, Ahaziah, pursued by his soldiers, fled down the westward plain towards Beth-gan, or the village of Engannim394, but was overtaken, and wounded, and died at Megiddo, whither he managed to escape. Jehu’s next step was to make for Jezreel. Here Jezebel, the queen-mother, still retained her influence, and hearing of the approach of the conspirator, she resolved to confront him in person. After the Oriental fashion, she tired her head and painted her eyes with antimony, and, as Jehu passed beneath the palace, cried out from the latticed window, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master395? On that Jehu looked up, and called aloud, Who is on my side? who? and two or three eunuchs looking out, he bade them throw her down; and they threw her down before his chariot, and her blood was sprinkled partly on the palace-wall and partly on his horses, while with merciless severity he trode her underfoot. Then he entered the palace, and ate and drank. But remembering the fallen queen, he commanded that she should be buried. His messengers went forth to execute his commands, but when they reached the open space before the city walls, they found nothing but her skull, and feet, and the palm of her hands. The dogs, which prowl about the streets of Eastern cities, had devoured all the rest, and thus fulfilled the words of Elijah, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 9">ix.</abbr> 36). The thoughts of the conqueror now turned towards Samaria. Here resided the sons and grandsons of Ahab to the number of 70 persons. To the elders of the city, therefore, he wrote letters, bidding them select the best and meetest of their master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for their master’s house. This proposition terrified the servile elders, and they replied that they had no idea of setting up a rival king, and were perfectly ready to submit in all things to the usurper’s will. On this, Jehu wrote a second letter, proposing as a test of their fidelity, that they should send to Jezreel on the next day the heads of the 70 descendants of Ahab, and then repair thither themselves. His commands were duly executed, the 70 heads were sent to Jezreel, and by Jehu’s command placed in two heaps at the entrance of the gate, where they remained all night. In the morning the usurper went forth, and acknowledged to the awe-struck crowd that he had conspired against his master, but threw the blame of the slaughter of Ahab’s descendants on their guardians at Samaria, who had thus fulfilled the words of Elijah. He then proceeded to exterminate all the acquaintance of Ahab at Jezreel, the officers of his court, and the hierarchy of Ashtaroth, and finally set out in person for Samaria (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 10">x.</abbr> 12). On the road, he first met 42 sons or nephews of the late king of Judah, and discovering who they were, directed that they too should be put to death at the Well of the Shearing-House, between Jezreel and Samaria. A little further on he encountered Jehonadab the son of Rechab, of the race of the Kenites, who had bound his descendants396 to drink no wine, to build no houses, to sow no seed, neither to plant nor possess vineyards, but to adhere to the old nomadic life and dwell in tents (<abbr title="Jeremiah">Jer.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 35">xxxv.</abbr> 6, 7). Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? exclaimed Jehu, when he saw him. The other assured him that it was, and was bidden thereupon to ascend his chariot and come and see his zeal for Jehovah. Thus side by side the two drove into the city, where the butchery of Ahab’s relatives was renewed, till none were left remaining. But this was only preparatory to another and still greater blow. Convening an assembly of the people, Jehu announced his intention of inaugurating the worship of Baal on a scale of the greatest magnificence; Ahab, said he, served Baal a little, but Jehu shall serve him much. Then, under pain of death, he commanded the entire hierarchy of Baal and all his worshippers throughout Israel to assemble in the great temple, which Ahab had built in honour of this god (<abbr title="First Kings">1 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 16">xvi.</abbr> 32). On the appointed day they came, and the building was filled from end to end. The sacred vestments, probably of white linen, were brought forth, the worshippers arrayed in them, the temple cleared of any chance worshippers of Jehovah, and then Jehu and Jehonadab entered, and the king himself offered the burnt-offering. He had hardly ended, when eighty trusty warriors, who had secretly received their orders, rushed in, and commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of the unarmed and helpless assembly. The huge image of Baal was broken, the smaller images burnt, and the temple itself converted to the basest uses (<abbr title="Second Kings">2 K.</abbr> <abbr title="chapter 10">x.</abbr> 26, 27). <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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