ALOGY.
H. A. White.
JEHD (for form and meaning of the name see next article). — 1. A prophet of the Northern Kingdom who predicted tlie downfall and destruc- tion of the dynasty of Baasha (1 K IC'"'- "). The Chronicler introduces him as denouncing Jehosha- phat for his alliance with Ahab {'2 Ch 19- ; cf. the way in which Jehu's father Hanani reproves Asa, 2 Ch 16'). ' The words of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are taken up into the Book of the Kings of Israel ' is cited by the Chronicler (2 Ch 20"') as an authority for the reign of Jehoshaphat. See art. Chronicles, vol. i. p. 394* f. 2. The king of Israel who destroyed the dynasty of Oniri. See ne.\t article. 3. A Judahite, the son of Obed (1 Ch 2*'). i. A Simeonite prince (1 Ch 4**). While A of the LXX and Luc. have 'Iijoi, B mnst have [mis ?] read K\n instead of kit, for it has ofros. 5. (Jne of David's heroes (1 Ch 12').
JEHU (Heb. k'.t, Assyr. Ja-u-a, Syriac 0(7Lt,
Arab. JAhd, LXX B Elou, A often 'Iijoii, Luc. 'lou. The derivation is very uncertain. Some would regard it as an abbreviation of Ki.ivi; ' Jah- weh is he,' just as yw; = s;;a'in;. As a parallel, conip. [n]:.t^k).— Jehu was son of Jehoshaphat, son of Isimslii, but he is not infrecjuently designated simply ben-Nimshi. From his own testimony (2 Iv 9^- ^) we learn that he witnessed, in company with Bidkar, the judicial murder of Nabotli. He evidently held, in conjunction with Bidkar, an important position in Aliab's bodyguard,* and the sentence of doom pronounced by Elijah on the house of Ahab must on that memorable occasion have been carefully treasured in his memory. This raises an interesting question. Was Jehu personally known to Elijah ? This seems to be suggested by 1 K 19'". But it is quite evident that the Elijah narrative in this chapter proceeds from a ditlerent hand from that whicli recorded the episodes in 2 K 8. 9, and the redactor has omitted from the Elijah section the fulfilment of the divine commands (1 K 19"""), though tlie injunctions themselves still remain. On this subject see Thenius' remarks at the end of his commentary on 1 K 19 ; Stade, Gesch. p. 540, foot- note ; and Kittel, Gesch. der Heb. ii. 184 [Eng. tr. u. 214].
It is not, however, our purpose to enter into the complex features of the narrative dealing with the reign of Jehu (2 K 9. 10), since this department belongs to the literary features of 1 K and 2 K (see art. Kings (Books of)). Tliis subject has been ably investigated by Stade in ZATW, 1885, p. 275 ff. It is acknowledged by critics that the section 2 K 9'-10" descriptive of Jeliu's revolution comes from the same hand as 1 K 20. 22, 2 K 3 (Cornill), to which may be added 6^-7^" (Driver, LOT^ p. 195 ; Kittel, Gesch. ii. p. 186 [Eng. tr. ii. 216]). Kittel also agrees with Stade in attributing 10""" to a later source, a view wliich appears to the present writer well founded. Wellhausen further endeavours to disintegrate 10'*"" on the ground of inconsistencies (Isr. u. Jiid.
* Bidkar and Jehu rode In a chariot along with others in pairs. So the Hebrew (D'~2i' C'^r^) should be interpreted. There was something exceptional in this. Usually thre/^ rofie in a Hebrew chariot, as we find amonj,' the Hittites. See article Ohaaiot by the preaeDt writer in Black's Bible Encyclopaedia.
Gesch'. p. 77, footnote), but his arguments are nui convincing.
Jehu ben-Nimshi rose to power on the crest of a wave of insurrectionary feeling fomented in the prophetic circles by the great personal influence of Elisha. Indeed it may even lie true that he had already been designated as the earthly instrument of divine vengeance on tlie house of t )mri by Elijah, and tliat Elisha had been commissioned by hia illustrious predecessor to carry out the divine behest of 1 K 19". The vivid and dramatic narra- tive in chs. 9. 10 makes it clear that the causes which led to the popular discontent against the house of Omri were not so much connected witli the introduction of tlie Pljttnician Baal and Ashtoreth worsliip, but rather with the liigli- handed judicial murder of Nalioth (see AllAU, Jezeiiel, and N AnoTH). Towards I'lucnicia Israel had for centuries felt a traditional friendsliip. It liegan with the days of David ami Solomon. In language the two were closely akin. They ex- changed their oomiiiodities, and tlie bond wliich linked them was called by the 8th cent, prophet Amos 'a covenant of brethren' (Am 1", out see Driver's note, ad loc), a fact well illustrated by the beautiful episode of Elijah and the widow of the Phoenician town of Zarephath (1 K W''").
Jehu was the commanding officer in the army of Jehor.'im, w hicli was conducting operations against the Sj'rian army under Hazael at the important fortress of Kanioth-gilead, a bone of contention since the days of Aliab, and now held by Israel. The severe wounds .sustained by king Jehoram necessitated his retirement to Jezreel. This was the opportunity of which Elisha and the partj' of insurrection availed themselves. One of tlie ' sons of the prophets ' was despatched by Elisha to Kaiuotli-gilead with a flask of oil and a commission to take Jeliu from the group of officers which surrounded him into an inner cliamber, anoint him there, and instantly withdraw in flight. These instructions were faithfully carried out. On Jehu's return to the officers' quarters, he was eagerly interrogated as to the meaning of this mysterious visit from the frenzied * prophetic messenger. On learning the ti'utli, his fellow-officers tore their mantles from their slioulders and spread them as a carpet for their commander on the bare steps, t and proclaimed hiiu as king with a loud tiourish of trumpets. The lightning rapidity of the following movements of .Jehu, and llie murderous energy wit h which he crushed every ojiposition, overwhelm the reader. He immediately proceeded to Jezreel at the head of a picked cAvalcade, riding witli Bidk.ar in his chariot. The invalided king Jehoram was at that time receiving a visit from his kinsniao Ahaziah king of Judah, at his royal residence. The cavalcade is descried at a distance by the watchman near the palace gates, who informs the king (cf. 2 S 18-^). At the command of Jehoram, wlio feels uneasy at the news, a horseman is sent to make the inquiry, ' Is it peace ?' The question was purposely ambiguous, and might be regarded as an inquiry respecting the progress of the cam- paign at the seat of war. But Jehu, with brutal frankness, at once makes his purpose cleai, and compels the king's emissary to join his retinue. This strange proceeding is observed in Jezreel, and arouses suspicion. Both the kings at once pro- ceed in their chariots, accompanied by tiieir