2 Kings 9
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2 Kings 9:6-10, He then got up and went into the house, and the prophet’s servant poured the oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so 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. For the entire house of Ahab shall perish, and I will eliminate from Ahab every male person both [c]slave and free in Israel. 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. The dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.
When Elijah died, there were a few things that God asked him to do that were left unfinished. Thus, it fell to Elisha to complete these tasks. In 1 Kings 19, the word of the Lord came to Elijah, telling him to anoint Elisha to take his place as prophet of Israel (this occurs later 1 Kings 19), anoint Hazael king over Aram (Elisha ends up completing this in 2 Kings 8), and anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi king over Israel. Elijah also prophecies that Ahab and Jezebel will both be killed and that the lineage of Ahab will be obliterated.
In today’s chapter, Elisha finishes up the given tasks. Jehu was a commander in King Ahab’s army. Elisha instructs a younger prophet to head to Jehu’s camp in Ramoth Gilead (not sure why Elisha doesn’t do this himself except that he may have been noticed too easily). Once there, the prophet was to inform Jehu that he would indeed become the next king of Israel and that this would happen in order to put an end Ahab’s line. The prophet announces this to the commander and then exits, leaving Jehu to figure out how this might occur.
It appears he doesn’t think too long about it because he actively seeks out King Joram (in the line of Ahab) and assassinates him. Both Israel and Judah were at war with Aram. When Jehu finds King Joram of Israel, King Ahaziah of Judah was with him. With no hesitation, Jehu kills them both with his bow. This means that both nations are stripped of their leaders, creating a dangerous power vacuum.
At the end of the chapter, Jezebel is also killed and her body is eaten by the wild dogs, so badly marred that she could not receive a proper burial.
And it is done, the prophecy is fulfilled.
Let’s pray…Lord, It’s easy to read about these sinful kings from long ago and think we are so much better. Forgive us, Lord, for I know we are kidding ourselves. Help us not indulge in such arrogant assumptions. Search our hearts, Lord, and cleanse us. Reveal to us how to live our lives in ways that honor you. Help us seek holiness in all we do. In Your Name, Amen.