Then the two of them went indoors, and the young prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu’s head and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, proclaims: ‘I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king, that son of Ahab, so that I may punish Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. All of Ahab’s family and descendants are to die; I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam of Israel and of King Baasha of Israel. Jezebel will not be buried; her body will be eaten by dogs in the territory of Jezreel.’” After saying this, the young prophet left the room and fled.
A mini version of what Israel did to the people of the land (Joshua 11:20).
Jehu went back to his fellow officers, who asked him, “Is everything all right? What did that crazy fellow want with you?”
“You know what he wanted,” Jehu answered.
“No we don’t!” they replied. “Tell us what he said!”
“He told me that the Lord proclaims: ‘I anoint you king of Israel.’”
At once Jehu’s fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on, blew trumpets, and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
I can easily visualize this scene. It’s clear that these were true believers waiting for the Lord’s intervention.
…Jehu said to his fellow officers, “If you are with me, make sure that no one slips out of Ramoth to go and warn the people in Jezreel.”
When did this city pass back into the hands of Israel (1 Kings 22:3)?
“It’s treason, Ahaziah!” Joram cried out, as he turned his chariot around and fled. Jehu drew his bow, and with all his strength shot an arrow that struck Joram in the back and pierced his heart. Joram fell dead in his chariot, and Jehu said to his aide Bidkar, “Get his body and throw it in the field that belonged to Naboth. Remember that when you and I were riding together behind King Joram’s father Ahab, the Lord spoke these words against Ahab: ‘I saw the murder of Naboth and his sons yesterday. And I promise that I will punish you here in this same field.’ So take Joram’s body,” Jehu ordered his aide, “and throw it in the field that belonged to Naboth, so as to fulfill the Lord’s promise.”
Poetic justice (1 Kings 21:11-24).
Jehu arrived in Jezreel. Jezebel, having heard what had happened, put on eye shadow, arranged her hair, and stood looking down at the street from a window in the palace. As Jehu came through the gate, she called out, “You Zimri! You assassin! Why are you here?”
Jehu looked up and shouted, “Who is on my side?” Two or three palace officials looked down at him from a window, and Jehu said to them, “Throw her down!” They threw her down, and her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses. Jehu drove his horses and chariot over her body,
Jehu was expressing his displeasure with Jezebel…😒 End of a painful chapter in Israel. Unrooting evil is most often a painful process – and Judah’s pain had just begun (2 Kings 11:1).