JEHU (VAT, h ova h s ; Sept. 'Io0; Cod. Alex.
Dna), tenth king of Israel, and founder of its fourth dynasty, who began to reign in B. C. 884, and reigned twenty-eight years.
Jehu 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 themselves of much of the territory of the Israelites east of that river. 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 before this very Ramoth Gilead. Ahaziah, king of Judah, had taken part with Joram, king of Israel, in this war; and as the latter had been severely wounded in a recent action, and had gone to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds, Ahaziah had also gone thither on a visit of sym pathy to him.
In this state of affairs a council of war was held among the military 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 claring that he had a message to deliver to him. He had been sent by Elisha the prophet, in dis charge of a duty which long before had been confided by the Lord to Elijah (i Kings xix. 16), and from him had devolved on his successor. 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 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 Jezeiael' (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 communication of the young prophet to him. He 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 triurnph to the top of the stairs,' they spread their mantles beneath his feet, and proclaimed him king by sound of trumpet in the presence ot' all the troops.
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.
As soon as the advance of Jehu 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 recognise the furious driving of Jehu, Joram went forth himself to meet him, and was accom panied 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 com pletely opened the eyes of Joram, 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 him. He therefore drew a bow with his full strength and sent forth an arrow which passed through the king's heart. Jchu caused the body to be thrown back into the field of Naboth, out of which he had passed 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 contrived to escape, but not without a wound, of which he afterwards died at Megiddo [AitaztAti]. jam then entered the city, whither the news of this transaction had already preceded him. As he passed under the walls of the palace Jezebel herself, studiously arrayed for effect, appeared at one of the windows, and saluted him with a question 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 appear ance 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 [JEZEBEL]. Jehu then went in and took posses sion of the palace.