Heroes of Israel - Lawton Evans |
Elisha called one of the children of the prophets and gave him a box of oil and told him to go to Ramoth-Gilead and when he had reached there, he was to find Jehu, the son of Jehosaphat. He told him he would find Jehu sitting among his brethren but he was to make him rise and follow the messenger into an inner chamber and there the messenger was to take the box of oil and pour it on Jehu's head and say to him: "The Lord has anointed you king over Israel." Then the messenger was to open the door and flee.
The young man did as the prophet told him. When he came to the place where Jehu was, he found him sitting and said to him: "I have a message for you, captain." Jehu was a captain of the host and he turned to the messenger and said: "Is your message for me or for some of these others?" The messenger told him that the message was for him and Jehu arose and followed him into the inner chamber.
Then the young man poured the oil on the head of Jehu, and said to him: "The Lord God anoints you king over Israel. You shall smite the house of Ahab that the Lord may be avenged of the blood of his servants, the prophets. The dogs shall eat Jezebel, his wife, and there shall be none to bury her." When the young man had said this he opened the door and fled.
Jehu came out and told his companions what the young man had said to him and that he had poured oil upon his head and anointed him king of Israel. Then the companions of Jehu blew their trumpets and cried aloud: "Jehu is king!"
Now King Joram was in Jezreel, where he lay sick of the wounds which the Syrians had given him when he fought against Hazael, king of Syria. Jehu told his companions not to let anyone leave the city or tell King Joram that he had been anointed king.
Then Jehu mounted his chariot and rode towards Jezreel where King Joram was. Ahaziah, king of Judah, was also at Jezreel to see Joram. A watchman stood on a tower in Jezreel and saw the company of Jehu coming. He said to Joram: "I see a company." Joram said: "Take a horseman and send to meet the company and let him ask them, Is it peace?"
One horseman was sent out to meet Jehu and said to him: "King Joram wishes to know if you come in peace?" But Jehu told the horseman to get behind him.
Then a second horseman was sent out and came to Jehu and said: "King Joram asks, do you come in peace?" Again Jehu told the horseman to get behind him.
The watchman on the tower told Joram that the horsemen did not return and that the company was driving furiously and it seemed as if the leader was Jehu.
Joram arose from his bed of sickness and mounted his chariot. Ahaziah also mounted his chariot and went out to meet Jehu and his company. When they came near to the place where Jehu was, King Joram cried out: "Jehu, do you come in peace?" But Jehu answered him that he had come to avenge the blood of the prophets in the name of the Lord and that it was death to the house of Jezebel. When Joram heard these words he turned to flee. As he fled Jehu pursued him and drew his bow with all his strength and shot an arrow that smote the king in the back so that he sank down dead in his chariot. Then Jehu told his captain to take up the body of Joram and cast it in the field of Naboth.
Ahaziah, the king of Judah, had also fled before the hosts of Joram. Jehu followed him and smote him also in his chariot. But the servants of Ahaziah brought his body to Jerusalem, where they buried him in the sepulchre of the kings.
When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it and painted her face and put on her ornaments and looked out of the window. When Jehu reached the gate Jezebel called to him and he lifted up his eyes to the window and said: "Who is on my side?" Then there looked out of the window two or three officers. Jehu called out to the officers: "Throw her down." The officers took the queen and threw her down out of the window and against the wall of the city. Some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and as she fell the horses of Jehu trod her under foot.
"Go find this cursed woman, for she is a king's daughter, and bury her," commanded Jehu, of his company after they had entered the city. When they went back to find her they found no more than a skull and her feet and the palms of her hands, because the dogs had fallen upon her and devoured her. And thus also was fulfilled the prophecy of Elisha.