intensely opposed to the anti-Israelitish and foreign policy and ways in State and Church of the house of Ahab. And

both from his antecedents (comp. 2 Kings 9:25, 26), and his subsequent conduct, we infer that Jehu was a leader -

perhaps the leader - of this national party, which naturally would have many adherents throughout the country.

Quite consistent with this view is the deep interest taken by the captains in the mission of the young prophet to Jehu,

and their readiness to take up his cause, even while at the same time the messenger was slightingly spoken of - just as

men of the world might characterize such an one as a "mad" enthusiast. It is difficult to decide the reason of what seems

the evasive answer first made by Jehu. But when perceiving by their interest the likelihood of their joining the national

cause, he told them at least that part of the message which appointed him king over Israel.  270

If Jehu possessed the ferocity, he evidently had also the cunning of an Eastern. Perhaps he could scarcely have been

prepared for the rapidity with which the military revolution was accomplished. The assembled captains took off t heir

upper garments, and spread them, in token of homage, as a carpet "on the platform of the steps,"271 that is, the steps

which led up to a platform or balcony, and then, amidst the blast of trumpets, the usual signal at a coronation (1 Kings

1:39; 2 Kings 11:14), Jehu was proclaimed king.

The formal conspiracy against Joram, now hastily made, was immediately carried out. At the proposal of Jehu, the city

gates were watched, lest any fugitive might bring tidings to Jezreel. Jehu himself, with Bidkar as h is chief captain, in

his chariot (ver. 25), and attended by a "multitude" (ver. 17) - no doubt, of horsemen - rapidly made his way to Jezreel.

From incidental notices in the account (vers. 17, 30, 31) we gather that the royal palace formed part of the fort ifications

of the town, - perhaps, as in other places, that the palace was the only fortified part of Jezreel,  272 the town straggling

beyond, and lying, as it were, in the shelter of the palace fort, which would occupy the height. Thus the "watchman on

the t ower of Jezreel" would really hold that place of observation in the palace, and when "Jehu came to Jezreel,"

Jezebel could address him from a window above, as he "entered in at the gate."

From the knoll - about 500 feet high, forming a low spur of Mount Gilboa - on which Jezreel stands, two roads diverge,

keeping close to Mount Gilboa. The one turns east and south, and then sharply round the corner at Beth-Shean; the

other crosses the plain of Esdraelon, almost straight south to En -gannim ("the fount of t he gardens," the modern Jenin),

where the direct road leads to Samaria, but whence also we might turn off eastwards to Beth-Shean and the Jordan. It is

almost needless to say that it was along the former of these roads that the watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu

and his company advancing at "mad" haste. For miles they must have been visible on the road that led up to Beth-

Shean. When the watchman announced their approach to the king, Joram, in his false security, directed that a single

horseman should be sent to inquire what tidings they brought. As he reached Jehu, the rebel general imperiously bade

him join his troop. This movement also the watchman observed and reported to Joram. If the dispatch of the first

horseman may be understood, that of a second one seems in the circumstances little short of fatuity.

By the time the second messenger from Jezreel had obeyed the orders of Jehu and joined his companion, the troop was

sufficiently near for the experienced eye of the watchman to recognize, not indeed the face of Jehu, but that the driving

of the foremost chariot was like none other's than that of the bold, reckless chief captain of Israel's host. When the

watchman reported it to the king, this would probably coincide with what had been his own id ea from the first. A troop

advancing from that direction could only have come from the army in Ramoth-Gilead - probably to bring tidings of

some victory, or of the final retreat of the Syrians, or of proposals of peace. The announcement that it was Jehu himself

would tend to confirm such anticipations. Accordingly Joram had his war chariot and that of Ahaziah hastily made

ready, and the two kings went to meet Jehu.

As we descend from Jezreel on the road to Beth-Shean there are on the east and south-east o f the city "rock-cut wine-

presses on the rugged hills," marking no doubt where "the portion of Naboth" and his vineyard had been. It was here

that the royal party encountered Jehu and his troop. To the light-hearted question of Joram, "Is it peace, Jehu?"273 such

answer came as must at once and rudely have dispelled any illusions. "What! 'is it peace?' (until) so long as the

whoredoms of Jezebel thy mother, and her witchcrafts, the many?" the former expression referring, as frequently, to

idolatry (comp. Jere miah 3:2, 3; Ezekiel 23:27); the latter to the enchantments and heathen rites practiced in connection

with it.274 From which words we also learn that in popular opinion Jezebel exercised paramount influence over her son,

and that the un-Israelitish rites pre valent were attributed to her.