uncovered a vial of the sacred oil (Josephus, A nt. ix, 6, 1) which he had brought with him, poured it over Jehu's head, and after announcing to him the message from Elisha, that he was appointed to be king of Israel and destroyer of the house of Ahab, rushed out of the house and disappeared (2 Kings ix, 7, 8). Surprising as this message must have been, and awful the duty which it imposed, Jehu was fully equal to the task and the occasion. He returned to the council, probably with an altered air, for he was asked what had been the com- munication of the young prophet to him. He tried at first to evade their questions, but then revealed the sit- uation in which he had found himself placed by the prophetic call. In a moment the enthusiasm of the army took fire. They threw their garments — the large square beged, similar to a wrapper or plaid — under his feet, so as to form a rough carpet of state, placed him on the top of the stairs (q. v.), as on an extempore throne, blew the royal salute on their trumpets, and thus ordained him king (2 Kings ix, 11-14). Jehu was not a man to lose any advantage through remissness. He immediately cut off all communication between Ea- moth-gilead and Jezreel, and then set off at full speed with his ancient comrade Bidkar, whom he made captain of the host in his place, and a Ijand of horsemen. From the tower of Jezreel a watchman saw the cloud of dust raised by the advancing party, and announced his com- ing (2 Kings ix, 17). The messengers that were sent out to him he detained, on the same principle of secrecy which had guided all his movements. It was not till he had almost reached the city, and was identified by the watchman, that apprehension was felt. But even then it seems as if the two kings in Jezreel anticipated news from the Syrian war rather than a rev^ohition at home. Jehoram went forth himself to meet him, and was accompanied by the king of Judah. They met in the field of Naboth, so fatal to the house of Ahab. The king saluted him with the question, "Is it peace, Jehu?" and received the answer, " What peace, so long as the whoredoms (idolatries) of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" This completely opened the eyes of Jehoram, who exclaimed to the king of Judah, " There is treachery, O Ahaziah !" and turned to flee. But Jehu felt no infirmity of purpose, and knew that the slightest wavering might be fatal to him. He therefore seized his opportunity, and taking full aim at Jehoram, with the bow which, as captain of the host, was always with him, shot him through the heart (2 Kings ix, 24). Jehu caused the body to be thrown back into the field of Nalxith, out of which he had pass- ed in his attempt at flight, and grimly remarked to Bidkar, his captain, " Remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord laid this burden upon him." The king of Judah endeavored to escape, but Jehu's soldiers pursued and inflicted upon him at Beth-gan (A. V. " the garden-house"), probably Engannim, a wound of which he afterwards died at Megiddo. See Ahaziak. Jehu himself entered the city, whither the news of this transaction had already preceded him. As he passed under the walls of the pal- ace, Jezebel herself, studiously arrayed for effect, appear- ed at one of the windows, and saluted him with a ques- tion such as might have shaken a man of weaker nerves, "Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?" But Jehu was unmoved, and, instead of answering her, called out, "Who is on my side — who?" when several eunuchs made their appearance at the window, to whom he cried, " Throw her down !" and immediately this proud and guilty woman lay a blood-stained corpse in the road, and was trodden under foot by the horses. See Jezebel. Jehu then went in and took possession of the ])alace (2 Kings ix, 16-37). He was now master of Jezreel, which was, next to Samaria, the chief town of the kingdom; but he could not feel secure wliile the capital itself was in the hands of the royal family, and of those who might be supposed to feel strong attach- ment to the house of Ahab. The force of the blow
JEIIU
813
JEHU