JEHOZADAIC (je-tv5z'a-dalc), yeh ho-tsaw-dawk.,Jebovah makes just), son of Sera iali, a high-priest during the reign of Zedekiah (1 Citron. vi:14, 15).
He succeeded his father in the office of high priest (1 Chron. vi :14, 15) ; but suffered captiv ity under Nebuchadnezzar. Elsewhere the name is JozAnAK. (B. C. 588.) He probably died in exile, as his son Joshua (Jeshua) was the first high-priest who officiated after the return from captivity (Hag. i :1, 12, 14 ; 11:2, 4 ; Zech. vi JEHU (je'hu), (Heb.?`17r.,yay-hoo', God is).
/. The eleventh king of Israel, and founder of its fourth dynasty, who began to reign B. C. 884. and reigned twenty-eight years.
(1) Commander in the Army. Jelm held a command in the Israelite army posted at Ramoth Gilead to hold in check the Syrians, who of late years had made strenuous efforts to extend their frontier to the Jordan, and had possessed them, selves of much of the territory of the Israelites east of that river (2 Kings ix :5). The contest was in fact still carried on which had begun many years before in the reign of Ahab, the present king's father, who had lost his life in battle be fore this very Ramoth-Gilead. Ahaziali, king of Judah, had taken part with Joram, king of Israel, in this war (2 Kings viii :28), and as the latter had been severely wounded in a re cent action, and had gone to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds, Ahaziah had also gone thither on a visit of sympathy to him (ver. 29).
In this state of affairs a council of war was held among the tnilitary commanders in camp, when very unexpectedly one of the disciples of the prophets, known for such by his garb, appeared at the door of the tent, and called forth Jehu, de daring that he had a message to deliver to him (2 Kings ix :1-5). He had been sent by Elisha the prophet, in discharge of a duty which long before had been confided by the Lord to Elijah (1 Kings xix :i6), and from him had devolved on his successor.
(2) Anointed King. When they were alone the young man drew forth a horn of oil and poured it upon Jehu's head, with the words, 'Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.
And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy mas ter, 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' (2 Kings Jehu returned to the couneil, prob ably with an altered air, for he was asked what had been the communication of the young prophet to him. Ile told them plainly; and they were obviously ripe for defection from the house of Ahab, for they were all delighted at the news, and taking him in triumph to 'the top of the stairs,' they spread their mantles beneath his feet, and proclaimed him king by sound of trumpet in the presence of all the troops (2 Kings ix: t, 12).
Jehu was not a man to lose any advantage through remissness. He immediately entered his chariot, in order that his presence at Jezreel should be the first announcement which Joram could receive of this revolution.
(3) Stays the Two Kings. As soon as the advance of Jeltu and his party was seen in the distance by the watchmen upon the palace-tower in Jezreel, two messengers were successively sent forth to meet him, and were commanded by Jehu to follow in his rear. But when the watchman reported that he could now recognize the furious driving of Jehu, Joram went forth himself to nicet hint. 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 '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 Jo ram, who exclaimed to the king of Judah, 'There is treachery, 0 Ahaziah !' and turned to flee. But Jehu felt no infirmity of purpose, and knew that the slightest wavering might be fatal to hiin. He therefore drew a bow with his full strength and sent forth an arrow which passed through the king's heart. Jehu caused the body- to be thrown back into the field of Naboth, out of which he had passed in his attempt at fligljt (2 Kings ix:16-25).