THE KINGS OF ISRAEL AND JUDAH SESSION 9: 7-22-20

When we left our last study Ahab King of Israel had died in battle and his son Ahaziah had become King. In Judah Jehoshaphat had died and his son Jehoram had taken his place as King of Judah (remember Jehoram had married Athaliah, Ahab and Jezebel’s daughter as part of an alliance between the king of Israel and the King of Judah.) The most prominent Prophet in the land was Elijah the Tishbite but we have been introduced to Elisha who will soon succeed Elijah as the primary prophet in Israel and Judah.

This becomes a little difficult to follow because some of the reigns of the next kings are very short and to make matters worse several of them have the same name so please refer to the chart from lesson #2 to determine who we are talking about. In this study we will examine the reigns of Ahaziah, Ahab’s son the King of Israel, Joram his brother who takes the throne after his death and Jehu who Kills Joram and takes the thorne of Israel. We will also examine the story of the transition between the primary prophets in the land, Elijah and Elisha. Then on the Judah side of the Kings we will study the reigns of Jehoram, and Ahaziah (Jehoram’s son). We will end the study with the death of Jezebel and the destruction of the prophets of Baal by Jehu.

Ahaziah King of Israel

We will begin in the last chapter of 1 Kings. Ahab the evil King of Israel has just been killed in battle and his son Ahaziah became King. He reigned only two years and we are told that he was evil like his father and mother (Jezebel). He worshipped Baal and did other evil and he caused the nation of Israel to sin in the same way. Because of all of this God was angry with him and that is not a good position to be in.

1 Kings 22:51-53

51 Ahaziah​ son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of 52 Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned over Israel two years. He​ did evil in the eyes of ​ the Lord, because he followed the ways of his father and mother and of Jeroboam son of 53 Nebat, who caused Israel to sin. He​ served and worshiped Baal and aroused the anger of ​ the Lord, the God of Israel, just as his father had done.

So right after Ahab’s death seeing a weakness and taking advantage of the transition between the rulership of Ahab and his son, Moab – a nation that had been dominated by Israel and who paid tribute (or taxes) to Israel rebelled. During this national threat Ahaziah had a serious accident that threatened his life. He immediately decided to consult the prophets of Baal to see if he would live and God – the true God, took offense at his dependence on an idol instead of the true God and told Elijah meet the messengers of Ahaziah who were on their way to the prophets of Baal and pronounce God’s judgment on the King. When the messengers came back to the King they repeated the judgment of God spoken through Elijah to Ahaziah.

2 Kings 1:5-8

5 ​When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, “Why have you come back?” 6 ​“A man came to meet us,” they replied. “And he said to us, ‘Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!”’” 7 ​The king asked them, “What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?” 8 [a] ​They replied, “He had a garment of hair ​ ​ ​ and had a leather belt around his waist.” ​ The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.”

The king not liking what he has heard sends out a company of soldiers to either take Elijah captive against his will or to do harm to Elijah. There seem to be two questions on the table at this point.

1) Is God who he says he is? Is he more powerful than the King and more powerful than Baal ? 2) Is Elijah truly a prophet of this most powerful God.

God through Elijah answers both of those questions.

1 Kings 1:9-12

9 ​Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’” 10 Elijah​ answered the captain, “If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. 11 At​ this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says, ‘Come down at once!’” 12 “If​ I am a man of God,” Elijah replied, “may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!” Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

The first two Captains approach Elijah by the authority of the King and make demands of Elijah. God shows that the King is not the one in authority here. The third Captain of 50 has a much different attitude.

1 Kings 1:13-15

13 So​ the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. “Man of God,” he begged, “please have respect for my life and the lives 14 of these fifty men, your servants! See,​ fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first ​ two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!” 15 The​ angel of the Lord said to Elijah, “Go down with him; do not be afraid of him.” So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king.

In the end Elijah delivers his message of God’s judgment face to face. Ahaziah dies and because he has no sons, Joram his brother succeeds him as King.

1 Kings 1:16-17

16 He​ (Elijah) told the king, “This is what the Lord says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly 17 die!” So​ he died, according to the word of the Lord that Elijah had spoken. ​ [a] Because Ahaziah had no son, Joram ​ ​ ​ succeeded him as king in the second year of Jehoram ​ son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah.

Elijah Translated; Elisha Becomes Primary Prophet

We turn now to the story of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Remember after Elijah had called down fire at Mt. Caramel and killed the prophets of Baal he travelled into the desert where he struggled with the trauma that had occurred in his life and ministry and a serious bout of depression that led down a path where he was asking God to just kill him. As God dealt with him and helped him in his struggle he gave Elijah the assignment to mentor another man – Elisha to take his place as prophet.

1 Kings 19:15-17

15 The​ Lord said to him (Elijah), “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of 16 Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also,​ anoint Jehu son of ​ Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you 17 as prophet. Jehu​ will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to ​ death any who escape the sword of Jehu.

In the Lord’s instructions to Elijah there were two other men also mentioned and it will be important to remember their names and the prophecy tied to them that God gave Elijah. One man’s name was Hazael and he would be anointed to be the King of Aram. The other man’s name was Jehu Son of Nimshi and he would be anointed the king of Israel. Between Hazael, Jehu and Elisha those leaders that had promoted the worship of Baal – including the house of Ahab and Jezebel - would be killed.

In our last study we read in 1 Kings 19 how Elisha was called by God and became a servant to Elijah while he was mentored by him. In 2 Kings chapter 2 we have the amazing story about how Elijah was taken up to heaven by God and Elisha took his place as the primary prophet in Israel and Judah.

2 Kings 2:1-3

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were 2 on their way from Gilgal. Elijah​ said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” ​ But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 ​The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”

One of the interesting things that we see in this verse is that there is a “company of prophets” spoken of here. Remember under Jehoshaphat teachers were sent throughout the land to teach the common people the word of God and then judges were set up to administer the law. It seems that in parallel with this that there was also a school for those with prophetic gifts that was set up by Elijah. It is these prophets that form the company of prophets that Elisha is talking with. All of them seem to be aware that something big is about to happen and that Elijah was about to depart. Elisha is determined to be with Elijah right up until God takes him and refuses to leave his side.

2 Kings 2:4-6

4 ​Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho. 5 ​The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.” 6 ​Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.”And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.

At Jericho 50 prophets from “the company of prophets” gather and they are witnesses to what happens next. It is important that this transition of power is witnessed because it confirms to all of Israel that Elisha is chosen by God to take Elijah’s place. In this next passage we see a series of miracles that include most spectacularly Elijah being taken into heaven in a whirlwind.

As Elijah gets ready to leave Elisha he asks him if there is anything that he can do for him before he goes. Elisha requests a double portion of the spirit that God had given Elijah. Elijah replies that Elisha has asked a difficult thing – not that it is a difficult thing for God to do but it will be difficult for Elisha. It is difficult because along with the gift that God gives comes the weight of responsibility, a level of persecution, and the burden of caring for the nation that God would give him authority over. Elisha was asking for great power and with great power comes great responsibility. Elijah tells Elisha that if God allows him to witness him being taken from the earth then that will be the sign that his request had been granted.

2 Kings 2:7-10

7 ​Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place 8 where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah​ took his cloak, rolled it up and ​ struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. 9 ​When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. 10 “You​ have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise, it will not.”

In the next passage we see that Elisha witnesses the actual miracle of Elijah being taken up in the whirlwind. Elisha tears his own garment as a sign of mourning because his mentor and teacher has left the earth, but he picks up the cloak that Elijah has dropped (The outer garment that was a symbol of authority) and strikes the water of the Jordan with it. Immediately the waters of the Jordan part showing that Elijah’s authority had been transferred to Elisha. This transfer of power is witnessed and accepted by the company of prophets from Jericho and from this point until Elisha’s death he becomes the primary prophet in the land.

2 Kings 2:11-15

11 As​ they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a 12 whirlwind. Elisha​ saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and ​ horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two. 13 Elisha​ then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on 14 the bank of the Jordan. He​ took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water ​ with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over. 15 The​ company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, “The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha.” And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Jehoram King of Judah

We move now to the Judah side of the line of Kings. In our last study Jehoshaphat had just died and Jehoram his son became King in his place. Jehoram was married to Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and an incredibly evil woman in her own right.

Jehoram was the son of one of the best Kings in Judah – Jehoshaphat, and yet he ends up being an evil King. It is said that he follows the way of Ahab king of Israel. His only connection to Ahab is his wife Athaliah and we are told in vs. 6 of II Chronicles 21 that the reason for his turn towards evil was because of his marriage to this daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Just like we see in the reign of Ahab and Jezebel we see a willingness to shed blood without even a twinge of conscience if it serves the immediate purpose of the King. One of the first acts of Jehoram is to murder all of his brothers and any officials within the government that were seen as a threat to his throne.

2 Chronicles 21:4-6

4 ​When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father’s kingdom, he put all his 5 brothers to the sword along with some of the officials of Israel. Jehoram​ was thirty-two years ​ 6 old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He​ followed the ways of ​ the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

In the next passage we learn something about God that is important. We are told that because of the covenant made with David promising not to destroy his house – his lineage he does not destroy Jehoram. This covenant was a covenant made with David 180 years earlier but God is a covenant keeping God. Multiple generations were given mercy and were blessed because of the relationship and covenant between God and King David – Jehoram received mercy he did not deserve. God dealt with him according to grace because of David. Understand that there are implications of this lesson for us today. Our relationship with God - our participation in the New Covenant can impact our family for generations down the line from us. If you want to leave your children and grandchildren and great grandchildren etc. a lasting legacy that will be a blessing for them the best thing you can do is establish a strong relationship with God.

2 Chronicles 21:7

7 ​Nevertheless, because of the covenant the Lord had made with David, the Lord was not willing to destroy the house of David. He had promised to maintain a lamp for him and his descendants forever.

Although God did not destroy Jehoram he also did not bless the evil he did. The first thing we see as we examine his reign is that the surrounding nations that had been under Judah’s control when Jehoram’s father reigned, rebelled and broke away under Jehoram. Much of the rebellion was directly connected to the Baal worship and the sin of idol worship that Jehoram brought into Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 21:8-11

8 9 ​In the time of Jehoram, Edom rebelled against Judah and set up its own king. So​ Jehoram ​ went there with his officers and all his chariots. The Edomites surrounded him and his chariot 10 commanders, but he rose up and broke through by night. To​ this day Edom has been in ​ rebellion against Judah. Libnah revolted at the same time, because Jehoram had forsaken the Lord, the God of his 11 ancestors. He​ had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of ​ Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray.

The second thing we see in relationship to Jehoram’s rebellion against God the violence against his own family is horrible illness that would end with his bowels actually coming out of his body before his death. The prophet Elijah writes a letter to Jehoram telling him exactly what will happen and why. In the letter Elijah tells him about the illness God will send upon him and he tells him that he will also strike his family and all he owns.

2 Chronicles 21:12-15

12 Jehoram​ received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: “This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: ‘You have not followed the ways of 13 your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. But​ you have followed the ways of the ​ kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your 14 own family, men who were better than you. ​So now the Lord is about to strike your people, ​ 15 your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. ​You yourself will be ​ very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.’”

Medical experts theorize that Jehoram may have suffered from some sort of colon or rectal cancer. At any rate he suffered for almost 2 years before he died a very painful death. However, before Jehoram got sick God stirred up the Philistines and the Arabs that lived on the borders of Judah. They attacked the kings palace and killed all of Jehoram’s son except his youngest son Ahazaiah (Remember God’s promise not to cut off the line of David). After this invasion and the execution of his family Jehoram’s illness happens and he dies two years later. The scripture passage tells us that when he died no one mourned or honored him. He was not buried as was tradition in the tombs of the kings but rather just somewhere in the City of David.

2 Chronicles 21:16-20

16 The​ Lord aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived 17 near the Cushites. ​They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the ​ [a] king’s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, ​ ​ ​ the ​ youngest. 18 19 After​ all this, the Lord afflicted Jehoram with an incurable disease of the bowels. ​In the ​ course of time, at the end of the second year, his bowels came out because of the disease, and he died in great pain. His people made no funeral fire in his honor, as they had for his predecessors. 20 Jehoram​ was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one’s regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

So just to get our bearings now: In Israel Joram the son of Ahab is king. In Judah Ahaziah the grandson of Ahab is King and Elisha has now taken over the role of primary prophet from Elijah.

Ahaziah King of Judah

After Jehoram’s death Ahaziah Jehoram’s youngest son (the only one left) takes over the throne of Judah. This is also Athalia’s son (The daughter of Ahab and Jezabel) and she is at this point the power behind the throne.

2 Chronicles 22:2-4

2 [a] ​Ahaziah was twenty-two ​ ​ ​ years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one ​ year. His mother’s name was Athaliah, a granddaughter of Omri. 3 ​He too followed the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him to act 4 wickedly. He​ did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for after his ​ father’s death they (Athaliah and the advisors influenced by the house of Ahab) became his advisers, to his undoing.

At the advice of these counselors Ahaziah allies himself with the King of Israel in a war against Hazael the king of Aram (Syria). During a battle with Hazael, Joram the King of Israel is wounded and Ahaziah travels to Jezreel to visit him.

2 Chronicles 22:5-6

5 [a] ​He also followed their counsel when he went with Joram ​ ​ ​ son of Ahab king of Israel to wage ​ 6 war against Hazael king of Aram at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram; ​so he [b] ​ returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds they had inflicted on him at Ramoth ​ ​ ​ in his ​ battle with Hazael king of Aram. [c] Then Ahaziah ​ ​ ​ son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab ​ because he had been wounded.

While Joram and Ahaziah were at war with Hazael. Elisha is busy fulfilling the word of the lord by having Jehu anointed King over Israel. Joram is still officially King of Israel, but God’s plan is for Jehu to kill him. Remember it is Hazael, Jehu and Elisha that are prophesied to destroy the house of Ahab and those worshipping Baal. We read here about the secret anointing of Jehu. In this passage there is a repeat of the prophetic calling of Jehu.

2 Kings 9:1-13

The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth 2 Gilead. When​ you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, ​ 3 get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. Then​ take the flask and ​ pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!” 4 5 ​So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. When​ he arrived, he found the army officers ​ sitting together. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said. “For which of us?” asked Jehu. “For you, commander,” he replied. 6 ​Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu’s head and declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s 7 people Israel. ​You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood ​ 8 of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel. The​ ​ whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or [a] 9 free. ​ ​ ​ I​ will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the ​ ​ 10 house of Baasha son of Ahijah. As​ for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at ​ Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and ran. 11 When​ Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?” “You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied. 12 “That’s​ not true!” they said. “Tell us.” Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’” 13 They​ quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”

The Death of Joram and Ahaziah

Hazael has just wounded Joram Ahab’s son in battle. Ahaziah Ahab’s grandson has come to visit Joram in Jezreel. And now Jehu the one who is prophesied to help kill off all of Ahab’s descendants comes unto the scene.

Jehu having just being secretly anointed King of Israel now travels to Jezreel with assassination on his mind. It seems that Jehu has a reputation for being a little crazy. He is recognized by his erratic driving of his chariot – perhaps made even more crazy by his determination to kill Joram and Ahaziah.

2 Kings 9:20

20 The​ lookout reported, “He (a messenger sent by Joram to see if Jehu has come in peace) has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.”

Joram and Ahaziah seeing Jehu approach the city go out to meet him. They realize too late that Jehu plans to kill them both and they try to flee. Jehu assassinates both of them

2 Kings 9:22-29

22 When​ Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?” “How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?” 23 Joram​ turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” 24 Then​ Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart 25 and he slumped down in his chariot. Jehu​ said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, “Pick him up ​ and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the Lord spoke this 26 prophecy against him: ‘Yesterday​ I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, ​ declares the Lord, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares [a] the Lord.’ ​ ​ ​ Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of ​ the Lord.” 27 When​ Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth [b] Haggan. ​ ​ ​ Jehu chased him, shouting, “Kill him too!” They wounded him in his chariot on ​ 28 the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there. His​ servants took ​ him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of 29 David. (In​ the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king of Judah.) ​

After killing the two Kings, Jehu continues to fulfill the rest of the prophecy Elijah gave about him by Killing Jezebel and the rest of Ahab’s family. There is a lesson here for those that defy God. You can get away with it for a little while but if you continue to be unrepentant there will come a time when God judges you for your defiance. God is a just God and you will reap what you sow either for good or bad. In this case when judgment comes it comes quickly for the whole evil family of Ahab and Jezebel.

In verse 30 we are told that Jehu went on in to Jezreel after killing Joram and Ahaziah. He had one mission and that was to kill Jezebel and anyone who had any family connection to Ahab. Jehu had just killed Jezebel’s son and her grandson. He has dealt with some of the branches but now he is coming for one of the roots of the tree.

2 Kings 9:30-31

30 Then​ Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged 31 her hair and looked out of a window. As​ Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come ​ [a] in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?” ​ ​ ​

Jezebel refers to Jehu as “You Zimri”. Zimri remember was another army commander that killed King Elah of Israel. You can find that story in 1 Kings 16. Zimri was then attacked by Omri who was the father of Ahab and when he saw that he couldn’t win against Omri he committed suicide. It was his death that brought Omri, Ahab’s father to the throne of Israel.

At this point it was becoming obvious to everyone that a change in the guard was happening and those that had been a part of the royal household of Ahab and Jezebel began to turn on her. Three eunuchs that had been Jezebel’s servants obey the command of Jehu to throw her from a second - floor window to the ground below. Jezebel dies form the fall and dogs eat her corpse in accordance with the prophecy about her death.

2 Kings 9:32-37

32 He​ looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three 33 eunuchs looked down at him. “Throw​ her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and ​ some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot. 34 Jehu​ went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, 35 for she was a king’s daughter.” ​But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing ​ 36 except her skull, her feet and her hands. ​They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is ​ the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of [a] 37 ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. ​ ​ ​ Jezebel’s​ body will be like dung on the ​ ​ ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’”

This plot of land at Jezreel outside of the royal palace is the place where Naboth’s Vineyard had been. It is the same plot of land that Ahab and Jezebel stole from Naboth and had him killed for.

The following chapter then chronicles the destruction of the rest of Ahab’s descendants with the exception of Athaliah who is the queen mother in Judah – We will talk about here and her influence in our next study.

As for the rest of Ahab’s family you can read for yourself about their destruction by Jehu in 2 ​ Kings 10. Just in Summary Jehu kills 70 princes of Israel (Ahab’s sons) and then he slaughtered ​ ​ ​ 42 relatives of Ahaziah (Ahab’s Grandson). Then Jehu continued to Samaria and slaughtered an unknown number of Ahab’s other relatives. After slaughtering all of Ahab’s relatives, Jehu continued to slaughter all of the prophets of Baal and he destroyed the temple of Baal in Samaria. The reign of Jehu is violent and bloody but God accomplishes his purposes in dealing with Ahab’s family as prophesied. Jehu Reigns in Israel 27 years and then he dies. During his time the size of Israel’s territory and the political power of Israel in the region is greatly reduced. Mainly by the gradual advancement of the Kingdom of Aram (Syria) ruled over by Hazael into the territory of Israel.

In our next study we will go back and study the prophetic ministry of Elisha and then look at the evil impact of Athalia the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel on the nation of Judah.