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to a secluded place, and the young prophet drawing a vial of sacred oil from his girdle, poured it over the head of the warrior, proclaiming him in the name of the Lord king over Israel, and commanding him to smite the entire house of Ahab, in order to avenge the prophets of the Lord who had been so cruelly murdered.

Having said these words, the messenger hastened away as mysteriously as he had come. But Jehu, re-entering the assembly of the captains, told them that he had been anointed king over Israel. The announcement was joyously received; the generals took off their mantles, and placing them under the feet of Jehu, in token of submission, proclaimed by the blast of the trumpet the accession of the new king. Jehu was a crafty as well as a bold man; he knew that he could hold the army in subjection, but that it might be more difficult to assure himself of the loyalty of the cities; so he bade no one leave Ramoth Gilead to carry the news to Jezreel. But he himself sprang into his chariot, and drove off at a wild pace towards the royal residence, whither Ahaziah the king of Judah had just gone to see the sick king. A watchman on the tower saw from afar the fleet horses approaching and gave the alarm. A messenger was despatched to meet the charioteer; as he approached, he said, 'Thus says the king, Is it peace?' But Jehu never paused on his way, and cried out, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thou behind me!' Soon afterwards a second messenger was sent with the same question, and he received the same answer, Jehu advancing all the while upon Jezreel. As he came near the walls of the

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city, the watchman recognised him, and exclaimed, ‘The driving is like the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.' The two kings of Israel and Judah, mounting their chariots, went out of the city, to oppose the audacious Jehu; they met in the notorious vineyard of Naboth. Is it peace, Jehu?' asked Jehoram.

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Jehu answered, 'What peace, so long as the iniquities of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?' Jehoram fled alarmed, exclaiming, 'There is treachery, O Ahaziah!' But Jehu, quick and resolute, drew his mighty bow, and as he saw the king turn to flee, he shot an arrow that pierced his heart, so that Jehoram sank down dead in his chariot. Take him up, and cast him into the field of Naboth!' Jehu sternly commanded, and then started off in pursuit of Ahaziah. This unfortunate monarch was also slain in his flight, but his body was carried to Jerusalem by his servants and there buried.

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Then Jehu entered the city of Jezreel, and his chariot drove under the windows of queen Jezebel's palace. She had heard of his approach, and in her own manner had made preparations to receive him. With painted face and gaily decked head she looked forth from the window and called out to Jehu, Had Zimri peace who slew his master?' Then he lifted up his face and saw the aged queen, and he exclaimed, Who is on my side, who?' Three of her servants, anxious to gain the conqueror's favour, appeared at the window. Throw her down!' cried Jehu. The order was instantly obeyed, Jezebel was dashed out of the window, and her blood was spilt upon the wall, and upon the horses as they trampled her under their hoofs. There Jehu left her, as he went triumphantly into the city to a banquet which had been prepared for him by the citizens to inaugurate his new rank. In the midst of this feast, he bethought himself of Jezebel, and sent out some men to bury her, 'for she was a king's daughter.' But it was too late; the hungry dogs had devoured the body of the queen, and there was nothing left of her but her skull and her feet and the palms of her hands. When the men returned and reported to Jehu what they had seen, he said, 'This is the word of the Lord which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saving, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh

of Jezebel, and the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel, so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.'

123. JEHU (884-856).

[2 KINGS X.]

Jehu was determined to keep the throne by cunning, and to prevent all open rebellion. Acting in this spirit, he sent a message to all the chiefs and elders of Samaria, and invited them to choose the best and ablest of Ahab's sons to succeed his father as king over Israel. But the rulers feared the astute and audacious usurper. Behold,'

they said, 'two kings did not stand before him, how then shall we stand?' So they gave their complete allegiance to Jehu. The latter demanded a terrible proof of their sincerity: he bade them slay at once Ahab's seventy sons, and bring their heads to him to Jezreel. The command was obeyed, and the bleeding heads were placed in two ghastly heaps before the gate of the city. In the morning, Jehu went to the gate, and exclaimed before all the people, 'You are righteous; behold, I conspired against my master and slew him, but who slew all these?' This was a signal for a general massacre of the house of Ahab, and of all his officers and friends.

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After this scene of bloodshed, Jehu left Jezreel and went to Samaria. At the shearing house on the way he met the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and he asked them, "Who are you?' upon which they replied, We are the brothers of Ahaziah, and we go down to salute the children of the king and queen.' Jehu exclaimed, 'Take them alive!' and with unsparing cruelty he ordered them all, forty-two men, to be slain at the pit of the shearing house. As he approached the city, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab, whom he knew to be friendly, and he called out to him from his chariot, 'Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart?' And Jehonadab

answered, 'It is.' Then Jehu gave him his hand and let him come up beside him into his chariot, and said, 'Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.' Burning with this zeal, the new king slew every one of the family of Ahab that was left in Samaria.

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Now the ancient dynasty was destroyed, but the priests of Baal were still ministering and holding their sway in the land, and Jehu considered that his power was not secure until he had subdued those powerful enemies. Resolving upon their complete destruction, he had again recourse to a stratagem. He called an assembly of the people and said to them, Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu shall serve him much.' Then he proclaimed a solemn and general festival to be held in honour of Baal, and commanded all the prophets and priests of the god to appear, until the vast temple was completely filled. He bade all of them array themselves in their costliest garments, as if he wished to show singular reverence to their god. Only idolaters were admitted; all who acknowledged the one true God of Israel were carefully excluded. The sacrifices were offered up with unwonted solemnity, and the priests were pouring forth their prayers, when suddenly they beheld eighty armed men enter, who burst in upon the terrified assembly. Priests and worshippers fell by the swords of the fierce warriors. All were slain, the images of the idol were broken, and the temple burnt and razed to the ground.

Jehu was now securely placed upon the throne of Israel, the founder of a new dynasty. But he did not preserve purity of worship; for, though implacable against the followers of Baal, he permitted the idolatry of the golden calves to continue in Dan and Beth-el, and thus followed in the footsteps of the wicked Jeroboam.

In his reign, moreover, the empire of Israel began to be considerably weakened. Hazael, king of Syria, made successful invasions into the eastern districts of Gilead,

and subjected to his dominion the territories of Gad, Reuben, and half Manasseh, fine pasture lands, rich in far-famed cattle. Jehu was unable to recover these valuable possessions; luxury and despotism seem to have destroyed his energy and vigour. He died after a reign of twenty-eight years, and was buried in Samaria. He was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz.

124. JEHOAHAZ (856-840).

[2 KINGS XIII. 1—9.]

During this unfortunate reign, the Israelites suffered severely from the perpetual attacks of the Syrians. Hazael and his son Benhadad marched victoriously into the northern provinces, made raids upon the country, oppressed the people, and levied heavy imposts. By these constant wars the splendid army of the Israelites melted down to ten thousand footmen, fifty horsemen, and ten chariots. In the midst of their misery and oppression, the Lord sent them help through a hero whose name is, however, not mentioned in the Bible, and they enjoyed a short respite of peace.

But king and subjects were sunk in idolatry, their moral strength was waning, and they could barely maintain their independence.

When Jehoahaz died, he was buried in Samaria, and was succeeded by his son Joash.

125. JOASH (840—825).

[2 KINGS XIII. 10-25.]

The Moabites and the Syrians recommenced their attacks upon the kingdom of Israel; but Joash, more courageous than his father, determined upon a valiant resistance. It was during this reign that the aged prophet

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