Topical Bible: Homicide: Felonious: Jehu

◄ Homicide: Felonious: Jehu ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, emerges as a significant figure in the biblical narrative, particularly in the context of felonious homicide. His account is primarily found in the books of 1 and 2 Kings, where he is anointed as king of Israel and tasked with executing divine judgment against the house of Ahab.

Anointing and Divine Mandate

Jehu's rise to power is marked by a divine mandate delivered through the prophet Elisha. In 2 Kings 9:6-7 , the young prophet sent by Elisha anoints Jehu, saying, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the LORD’s people Israel. You are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and all the servants of the LORD who died at the hand of Jezebel.’" This anointing sets the stage for Jehu's actions, which, while divinely sanctioned, involve acts of homicide that are felonious in nature.

Execution of Joram and Ahaziah

Jehu's first act of violence is against King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah. In 2 Kings 9:24 , Jehu shoots Joram with an arrow, stating, "Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot." Ahaziah, witnessing this, flees but is pursued and mortally wounded by Jehu's men (2 Kings 9:27). These acts are direct fulfillments of the divine judgment pronounced against the house of Ahab.

The Death of Jezebel

Jehu's next target is Jezebel, the infamous queen and wife of Ahab. In a dramatic encounter, Jehu confronts her at the palace in Jezreel. In 2 Kings 9:33 , Jehu commands, "Throw her down!" Her eunuchs comply, and she is thrown from a window, resulting in her death. This act is particularly significant as it fulfills the prophecy concerning Jezebel's demise (2 Kings 9:36-37).

Massacre of Ahab's Descendants

Continuing his campaign, Jehu orchestrates the massacre of Ahab's seventy sons. He sends letters to the guardians of Ahab's descendants, demanding their execution. In 2 Kings 10:7 , it is recorded, "When the letter arrived, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel." This brutal act further consolidates Jehu's power and fulfills the divine judgment against Ahab's lineage.

Slaughter of the Baal Worshipers

Jehu's zeal for purging Israel of idolatry culminates in the slaughter of the worshipers of Baal. He deceitfully gathers them under the pretense of a grand sacrifice, only to have them all killed. In 2 Kings 10:25 , it is noted, "As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers, 'Go in and kill them; let no one escape.'" This act eradicates Baal worship from Israel, aligning with Jehu's divine commission.

Assessment of Jehu's Reign

Jehu's reign is marked by a complex interplay of divine mandate and violent execution. While his actions fulfill God's judgment against the house of Ahab, they also raise questions about the nature of justice and the use of violence. In 2 Kings 10:30 , the LORD acknowledges Jehu's obedience, saying, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." Despite this commendation, Jehu's legacy is marred by the excessive bloodshed and his failure to fully turn Israel back to the LORD, as he continued in the sins of Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:31).

Jehu's account serves as a sobering reminder of the complexities of divine justice and the human propensity for violence, even when acting under divine commission. His actions, while fulfilling prophecy, are characterized by a level of brutality that underscores the tension between divine sovereignty and human agency in the biblical narrative.

Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 9:24-37
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.
Nave's Topical Index

2 Kings 10:1-25
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,
Nave's Topical Index