The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Kings — Section 165

truth in such representations lies rather in seizing 11nd bringing to light actual laws ln the moral government of the world. There is a singular tendency in events in history to fold be.ck on each other--even d&tes and places presenting a series of marvellous coincidences. 3. A partner in doom. The King of Judah had, the moment the alarm WRR given, sought his own safety. He fled "by the way of the garden house "-'-was it the "gar<leu of herbs," into which Naboth's vineyard had been converted (1 Kings xxi. 2)? But in vain. The peremptory Jehu allows nothing to escape his vigilance, and immediately he is on Ah11ziah's track. His command was, " Smite him also in the chariot," and this was done, "at the going up to Gur, which is by lbleam." Abaziah continued his flight to Megiddo, where be died. A slightly different account of the manner of his death is given in 2 Chron. xxii. 9. Whatever the precise circumstances of the death, we cannot but sec in it (1) a righteous retribution for his own sins; and (2) an example of the end of evil association. Through his mother Athaliah, daughter nf Jezebel, be was brought into close and friendly relations with the court of Samaria, and, sharing in the crimes of Ahab's house, shared also in their fate. It was his visit to King Jehoram which immediately brought down this doom upon him. III. THE FATE OF JEZEBEL. 1. Her daring defianoe. When Jehoram had been slain, the end of J ezebd, the prime mover and presiding spirit in all the wickedness that had been wrought in Israel, could not be far distant. Jezebel perfectly apprehended this herself, for, on hearing that Jehu bad come to Jezreel, she prepa.red to give him a defiant reception. While one loathes the character of the woman, it is impossible not to admire the boldness and spirit with which she faces the inevitable. Her proud, imperious nature comes out in her last actions. She paints her eyelids with antimony, tires her head, and adorns her persou, as if she was preparing for some festal celebration. Then she plants herself at the window, and, when Jehu appears, assails him with bitter taunting words. "Is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master's murderer?" she mockingly asked. What a power for evil this woman had been in Israel! What a power, with her strong intellect and will, she might have been for good ! 2. Her ghastly end. If Jezebel thought, by this show of imperioW! defiance, to produce any effect on Jehu, perhaps to disarm him by sheer admiration of her boldness, she had mistaken the man. Jehu's impetuous nature was not to be thW! shaken from its purpose. He quickly brought the scene to a conclusion. "Who is on my side? who?" he cried, lifting up his eyes to the windows. Two or three eunuchs, no friends of Jezebel, and anxious only to please the new ruler, gave the needful sign. "Throw her down," was the pitiless order; and in another instant the painted Jezebel was hurled from the palace window, and, dashed on the ground, was being trodden by the hoofs of the liorses. Pitiless herself, she now met with no compassion. One who bad shed much blood, and rejoiced in it, her own blood was now bespattered on the wall and on the horires. Jehu had no compunctions, but, fresh from the dreadful spectacle, entered the palace, and sat down to eat and drink. But the climax was yet to come. As if even be felt that, vengeance being now sated, some respect was due to one who ba.d so long held sway in Israel, he bade his servants "Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for," he said, "she is a king's daughter." The servants went, but soon returned with a shocking ta.le. Attracted by the scent of blood, the prowling city dogs had found their way into the enclosure, and, short as the time had been, all that remained of haughty Jezebel was the skull, and feet, and pa.lms of the ha.nds, strewn• about the court. 3. A prophecy fulfilled. Such was the dreadful end of this haughty, domineering, evil woman. Possibly even Jehu could not restrnin a shudder when he heard of it. He had not thought of it before, but now he recalled the close of that awful prophecy of Elijah to Ahab, "'l'he dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel" (1 Kings xxi. 23), the terms of which had been repeated to him by Elisha's messenger, (ver. 10). That word of God had been fulfilled with ghastly literai.ness. Would that men would lay to heart the lesson, and believe that all God's threatenings will be as certainly fultilled ! --J. 0. C!B, X, 1-36.] THE SECOND BOOK OF THE KINGS. 201