sent the arrow with such strength between the shoulders of Joram that it passed out at his heart, and t he king fell dead in

his chariot. Then reminding his "adjutant" Bidkar of the burden or punitive sentence which Jehovah had in their

presence laid upon Ahab, on the day they two had ridden behind the king as his attendants, when he had gone to take

possess ion of the property of murdered Naboth, he commanded the body of Joram to be cast into that very plat of

ground, "according to the word of Jehovah."

Meanwhile Ahaziah, perceiving the turn of matters, sought safety in flight. Leaving Jezreel aside, he turned sharp

round the shoulder of Gilboa, and struck the direct road southwards: "fled the way of the Beth-Gan," which we regard

as another name for En -gannim, the modern Jenin, at the southern end of the plain of Jezreel.275 Unwilling to allow his

escape, Jehu, while himself preparing to enter Jezreel, gave rapid directions to pursue Ahaziah. "Him also smite - in the

going up to Gur! which is by Ibleam."  276 We can at least thus far identify "the going up to Gur," that the neighboring

town of Ibleam has been localized in the modern Bir el Belemeh, south of En -gannim. It is here then that we must place

the "ascent to Gur," where Jehu had expected, although mistakenly, that the pursuers might overtake the chariot of

As we infer, the object of Ahaziah was to reach Megiddo in safety. That place has generally been located, but, as

recently shown, erroneously, at the western edge of the plain of Jezreel, under Mount Carmel. In truth Megiddo lay in

the opposite direction - south and east from Jezreel - being "the large ruin between Jezreel and Beth-shean, which still

bears the name Mujedd'a."  277 This location of Megiddo greatly helps the understanding of our narrative. As already

stated, Ahaziah's hope was that in reaching Megiddo he would have not only out-distan ced, but out-wearied his

pursuers. And his purpose may have been to make his way to the Jordan,278 and along its eastern banks till he could

cross into Judaea.

But in this hope, as we imagine, he was disappointed. Pursued to Megiddo, he fled to Samaria (2 Chronicles 22:9). The

knowledge that the sons of Ahab were brought up 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