DAWN
Daily Arts Web Nucleus
Discover the Arts! Each day a different image from the Literary, Performing, or Visual Arts representing a portion of Scripture plus an explanation with links 2014 August 29
Image 1: Jehu Son of Nimshi on his Way to Jezreel (1879)
Edward Henry Corbould (1815-1905)
Romanticism Style; History Painting Genre
Private Collection
Image Source: 19th Century British Painting Blogspot
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Image 2: The Death of Jezebel (17th Century)
Circle of Giovanni Coli (1636-1691) and Filippo Gherardi (1643-1704)
Baroque Style (Both Artists)
Private Collection
Image Source: Bible Library
Explanation: 2 Kings 9 continues the narrative at the end of chapter 8. In chapter 9 the focus is on the rise of Jehu to the throne of Israel. As part of that rise he attacks and kills Ahaziah king of Judah and Joram/Jehoram king of Israel. He also executes Jezebel and others. The paintings above depict these two main parts of the narrative. [Kings of Judah and Israel Chart]. [Chronologically and Thematically Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 8:29; 2 Chronicles 22:6-7, 9; 2 Kings 8:24-26; 2 Chronicles 22:1-2].
Elisha sent one of the prophets to privately anoint Jehu as king over Israel and told him to flee after doing so (1-3). The prophet found Jehu in Ramothgilead and took him aside privately. He anointed Jehu and commissioned him to kill all who remained of the household of Ahab, including Jezebel. He then fled (4-10). When Jehu told his men what the prophet said, they spread their garments before him and sounded the trumpets proclaiming Jehu as the king (11-13). Ahaziah, king of Judah, was visiting Joram/Jehoram, king of Israel, in Jezreel while Joram/Jehoram was recovering from battle wounds. Jehu had his soldiers stop anyone from leaving Ramothgilead to spread the news to Jezreel; and Jehu took his chariot and went toward Jezreel (14-16). As Jehu and his soldiers approached the city the watchman told the king. So Joram/Jehoram sent two messengers, one after the other, to ask if the company came in peace; but Jehu detained each one and continued his charge. Eventually, the watchman recognized that it was Jehu who approached, because, as he said, "the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously" (17-20). And Joram/Jehoram went out against Jehu accompanied by Ahaziah; and they met him in the field which had formerly belonged to Naboth, which Jezebel and Ahab had stolen from him after they had him murdered. Joram/Jehoram asked Jehu if he came in peace; and Jehu answered, "What peace, so long as the whoredoms of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" Joram/Jehoram fled and told Ahaziah that treachery was afoot. And Jehu shot Joram/Jehoram between the shoulder blades and out through his heart, killing him instantly. He then had Bidkar cast him into Naboth's field to fulfill the LORD's prophecy that Naboth's blood would be avenged in Naboth's vineyard (21-26). Ahaziah fled. But Jehu followed him and had his men shoot him in his chariot. Ahaziah was wounded but made it to Megiddo where he died. And he was buried in the city of David, which was the southern part of Jerusalem (27-28). Ahaziah had begun his reign over Judah during Joram/Jehoram's eleventh year as king of Judah (29). When Jehu entered Jezreel, Jezebel painted her face, tied her hair, and presented herself at a window. She challenged Jehu when he entered the gate, describing him as a usurper like Zimri. And Jehu asked who was on his side. Three eunuch came to the window; and Jehu told them to throw her down. They did so; and her blood was sprinkled on the wall and the horses trod upon her. Jehu went aside to eat and drink and then told his men to go bury Jezebel. But nothing was left of her except her skull, her feet, and the palms of he hands. And Jehu said that this fulfilled Elijah's prophecy that dogs would eat Jezebel; and she would become dung upon the ground, so that no one could say, "this is Jezebel" (30-37).
2 Kings 9
1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:
2 And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
3 Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
4 So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.
5 And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.
6 And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.
7 And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
9 And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:
10 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
12 And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.
13 Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
15 But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
17 And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.
19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.
20 And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
21 And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
22 And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
23 And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.
24 And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
25 Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;
26 Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.
27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
28 And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.
29 And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
30 And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
31 And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?
32 And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
33 And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
34 And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
35 And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
36 Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
37 And the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.
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