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in the houses of the principal men of the city (2 Kings 10:1) led him to expect that he
might be able to hide for a time among the adherents of his grandfather. We know
how little the loyalty of the nobles of Samaria was to be depended upon (2 Kings
10:1-7), and we do not wonder to read that Ahaziah was "caught" in Samaria,
brought back to Megiddo, and there slain by order of Jehu. Nor does it seem strange
that his body was given up to his servants to be taken to Jerusalem and buried there,
as being a descendant of that Jehoshaphat "who sought Jehovah with all his heart."
For the whole movement of Jehu was ostensibly for the purpose of abolishing the
worship of Baal, and restoring that of Jehovah, the God of Israel.
We return to sketch, as briefly as we may, the closing hours of that day in Jezreel.
Tidings of all that was passing had rapidly reached Jezebel. Her course was soon
chosen. She knew she must die; and she would die as a princess of her race, and a
queen. After the Oriental fashion, she put paint on her eyes,^279 "and tired her head."
Thus arrayed as a queen,^280 she took her place at the window, awaiting the arrival of
Jehu.
As he appeared, she called to him from above - taking up and adapting the word with
which the messengers of Joram, and then the unfortunate king himself, had
unsuspectingly greeted Jehu: "Is it peace? Zimri, murderer of his master!" The words
were intended to remind Jehu of the fate of Zimri, whose reign lasted only seven
days (1 Kings 16:9-19), perhaps to stir up feelings which would lead to a similar
counter-revolution. Even if no other motive had been actuating him, self-preservation
dictated quick and decisive action on the part of Jehu. Looking up, he exclaimed in
his impatient way: "Who is on my side? Who?" and when some of the eunuchs
immediately responded, Jezebel was, at his command, thrown from the window. Her
blood bespattered the wall and the horses, and the chariot of Jehu, as he passed
through the gate, crushed her mangled body.
And now King Jehu is at his royal banquet within the palace of the murdered princes.
Was it statecraft, dictating regard for the Tyrian princess; or some pity for the fallen
greatness of one who had died a proud queen; or a rising feeling that, for his own
sake, a descendant of royalty should not be exposed to the extreme of popular
contempt, which prompted him to give orders for the burial of Jezebel? But whatever
his motives, the command came too late. Only the skull, the hands, and the feet of
Jezebel were found; the rest had been food for those wild dogs which prowled about
Jezreel. And if Jehu did not in his heart recognize the meaning and lessons of the
terrible judgment which had fallen with such literality on the wretched queen, he at
least declared and owned: "This is the word of Jehovah, which He spake by His
servant Elijah the Tishbite." And so there was testimony in Israel for Jehovah and
His Word in the judgments upon Ahab and his house - even as many centuries
(^)