SIN IS THE WAY TO ETERNAL CAPTIVATION The first book of the kings presented to us a joyful portrait of the soul: how Solomon the son of David, enjoyed the heavenly wisdom, together with exalted glories and talents; to become an example of the soul that unite with the incarnate Wisdom of God, our Lord Jesus; how he built, not a temple in the earthly Jerusalem, but let the Spirit of God set His kingdom in his depths, as the deposit of heaven… How the life of the prophet Elijah came in the same book, and in the beginning of the second book of the kings, to ignite our depths, to long to the fiery holy zeal, to be qualified, not for ascending to heaven, together with Elijah, but to encounter the Lord of glory on the clouds. And how the life of the prophet Elisha also came to exhort in us the spirit of love toward God and men, and the perpetual work to the account of the kingdom of God; so that our insight would be opened, not to see chariots and horses of fire surrounding us, but to see the bosoms of God wide open to receive us, and the Lord of glory Jesus preoccupied with preparing a place for us on an eternal level. Now, having enjoyed such an exultant portraits, the rest of the second book of the kings warns us against the danger of stubbornness and sticking to the sin, hated by the law. This section (2 kings 9-17) stirs up in the soul; a strong bitterness, revealing the corruption in Israel that reached an extent surpassing that of Judah; how all the kings of Israel were wicked, none of them was good; … how God suffered long on them as well as on Judah. … And how He ultimately allowed for chastising them through Assyria that captivated them on stages. … Why? 1- The captivation happened in stages, to give Israel, on the different levels of the leaderships and the people, the chance reconsider all the events since Jeroboam rebelled, and set a dissented independent kingdom of ten tribes, that rejected having on them any king of David’s household; and banned going to Jerusalem to worship in the temple of God; etc.; and to give them, as well, the chance to remember the chastisement brought up by the Lord over their fathers, to return to God with repentance 2- Bringing the captivation in stages refers to God’s longsuffering; He does not desire their humiliation and perdition; but, together with every stage, it would be befitting of all to return to God; As though God does not desire to bring on them the whole captivation. 3- Bringing the captivation in stages might give the chance to the kingdom of Judah, as well, to perceive the danger of sin, and to benefit from the bitter lesson of Israel; but unfortunately, instead of repentance, Judah wrongly assumed that God would never allow for Judah to fall into captivity, nor to deliver His city Jerusalem and His temple; nor to take away the kingdom from David’s household. Judah, accordingly went so far in evil to surpass that done by the Kingdom of Israel; and God allowed for it to fall under the Babylonian captivity, also in stages. Sin, indeed is very sinful; It is the way that leads the human soul to captivity, to lose her liberty in the Lord; and to have her hope in the eternal glory taken away from her. + Sin, being very heavy; needs great mercies. (St. Jerome) + We are committed to perceive that, concerning the human issues, there is no true goodness, except for the virtue of the spirit alone, that by true faith, leads us to the heavenly issues, and make us perpetually holdfast to the enduring issues. On another aspect, we should never call something evil except sin alone, that separates us from God, and binds us to the evil Satan. (Father Theodor (Tadros) + In case you stay in what concerns dust, you will ultimately turn into dust. It is befitting of you to change, to turn, and to become heavenly. (The scholar Origen) + In case man falls into sin, he would lose the joy of his heart, and would walk distressed and sorrowful, because of the continuous rebuke of his conscience. But, once he is saved from sin through repentance, he will restore the joy of salvation…. So will be the salvation of the nations – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Hence the prophet seeks from God the Father to exult the world by the coming of His Son incarnate, and by the Holy Spirit who prevails on and rules the whole creation. + The prophet seeks wiping away all the iniquities, for, if a single sin remains, it will deny us the entrance into the kingdom of God; the same way, just a little defilement in our attire, will deny us the entrance into the Sanctuary. That conforms with the words said by the apostle Paul: “Do not be deceived, Neither fornicators, nor Idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10). (Father Onesimus of Jerusalem) CHAPTER 9 THE DOGS WILL DEVOUR JEZEBEL’S FLESH The events mentioned in this chapter are bitter and cruel; for it was time to destroy those leaders who corrupted the people, and made them pervert from the worship of the living God, and provoked them to idol worship and to practice their abominations. Nothing God hates more than sin, which closes the doors of heaven, sets the foundations of Hades, corrupts the image of God in us; and brought the incarnate Word of God to the cross to save us from it. The prophet Elijah had previously prophesied the killing of a multitude of wicked leaders, once Jehu becomes a king (1 Kings 19: 16-18). That was realized on the hand of his disciple the prophet Elisha, who commanded one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu the leader of the army a king over Israel, then hasten to flee out of the whole region, once he consummates his mission, before the slaughter starts. The cruel actions of Jehu was apparent in destroying all relatives and friends of Ahab (2 Chronicles 22: 8-9). King Jehu, the main personality in the ninth chapter; was one of three, Elijah was commanded to anoint, while being on Mount Horeb, for the mission of destroying idol-worship in Israel (1 Kings 19: 15-18). Jehu was the last one of the three to execute that mission. We have already seen the other two – Elisha and Hazael -- who worked against the Baal in Israel: hazael through making war against Israel (2 Kings 8: 28-29); and Elisha through reproaching the idol-worshippers, and revealing the miraculous might of God in the whole book. 1- Jehu Is anointed to strike Ahab’s house 1 - 10 2- Jehoram, king of Israel killed 11 - 26 3- Ahaziah king of Judah killed 27 - 29 4- Jezebel’s violent death 30 - 37 1- JEHU ANOINTED TO STRIKE AHAB’S HOUSE: The prophet Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth Gilead, where Jehu the Leader of the army of Joram camped to confront the Aramites. He commanded him to anoint him a king in secret, then hasten to flee away, after telling him that God has anointed him a king to take away all who remain of the household of Ahab, the most evil of the kings of Israel; in fulfillment of the prophecy of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 21: 21-25) “And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead” (1) According to the Jews, that son of the prophets was Junah the son of Amittai.. He commanded him to get himself ready to depart on a serious mission; for the time has come to bring down the household of Ahab, and to set a new king of another household. … We know of no other king of Israel, after their dissention and rebellion against the household of David, who has been anointed except for Jehu. The flask of oil; a marble or glass flask, that contained a holy oil for anointment, which God told the prophet Moses its composition, and by which to anoint the tabernacle of meeting and its furniture; Aaron and his sons to become priests of the Lord; and later on to anoint the kings. It was forbidden to make any other like it (Exodus 30: 22-23). Ramoth Gilead; a city of great importance for the Jews, East of the Jordan, has been a stronghold of defense against the attacks of the Aramites (the Syrians), restored by Joram (2 kings 8: 29); and in it the Israeli army camped under the leadership of Jehu. King Joram has already left Ramoth Gilead to Jezreel to recover of his wounds; which were not that serious, as he later on came out from Jezreel in his chariots to meet Jehu. . “ Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his associates, and take him to an inner room” (2). Jehu was the leader of the army during the days of Ahab and his son Jehoram; zealous, brave, and active; yet he did not fear God nor any man; was known to drive his chariot with an intense speed; and nobody dared to oppose him. The son of Jehoshaphat; other than Hehoshaphat king of Judah Take him to an inner room, to talk to him freely, away from the ears of those around him; and for the security of the messenger during fulfilling his mission “ Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee, and do not delay” (3) Elisha commanded the young man to open the door and hasten to flee; for there was danger on him in that mission from king Jehoram, and probably from Jehu himself in case he was loyal to Jehoram; or from any of the officers of the court, loyal to the king and the queen. By hastening to flee, he would give Jehu or his associates no chance to debate a command that was issued by the Lord Himself; and, on another aspect to give Jehu a chance to take a quick decision before the king moves to oppose him. + The prophet Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him: Get yourself ready and take the flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead (2 Kings 9: 1). Here, the Holy Book presents a just judgment to dwell upon Ahab’s household. It has chosen the judge, and chooses the executioner – Jehu the son of Nimshi … After the messenger consummated his mission and hastened to flee away, it so happened that there was an amazing unanimous choice of Jehu a king of Israel.: (St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syeian) 4 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead” (4) That young prophet no doubt perceived the extent of apostasy that dwelt upon the kingdom on the hands of Ahab, his wife, and their sons, hence, as that mission found an echo in his heart, he hastened to move quickly in obedience to the command of the prophet Elisha, with a spirit of godliness. Some believe that that young man was the servant who replaced Gehazi after he was inflicted with leprosy as a punishment for his greed and lies., “ And when he arrived, there were the captains of the army sitting; and he said, ‘I have a message for you, Commander’; Jehu said, “For which one of us? ”And he said, “For you, Commander.” (4) Not knowing who Jehu was, the young man said : “You commander” without saying his name; but when Jehu, being the leader of the army, answered the call, the young man knew his identity. Perceiving that the messenger must have carried a serious message, Jehu left the assembly of leaders under his command, who were at the time probably discussing some military plans, and followed the young man away from the hearing of all. “ Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, Israel” (6) The Northern kingdom (Israe) forsook the worship of the living God, and walked in the way of Jeroboam. But God kept sending prophets to them, and caring for them, hoping that they will eventually return to Him…. Saying: “Over the people of the Lord”, the prophet confirms to Jehu that the call to make him a king is not for his personal worthiness, nor for his human efforts, but it is a call from the Lord to him to govern the people according to the divine law, to cleanse the kingdom from the foreign worships, and to take away the spirit of apostasy.. “You shall strike down the house of Ahab your 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 Jezebel” (7) The words of the prophet Elisha came to fulfill the prophecy of his master the prophet Elijah, twenty years ago (1 kings 21: 17-23). As Jehu was serving the king, he was completely aware of his evil, together with his household. And as, whoever unjustly shed blood, his blood has to be shed; what Jehu will do is a fulfillment of the divine justice. Yet that was to be realized with the purity of heart, and not for the sake of personal benefits. 8 For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free” (8) Although it was God who commanded Jehu to strike down the house of Ahab; yet the prophet Hosea prophesied that God said: “I will avenge the bloodshed of Jezreel on the house of Jehu” (Hosea 1: 4). … How would God judge Jehu on the bloodshed which he did according to His command? … The answer to this refers to that, although God indeed commended Jehu for his obedience, and told him he was right to kill the house of Ahab; but having not walked according to the law of the Lord God of Israel, did not keep away from the sins of Jeroboam, and did not destroy the two golden calves (2 Kings 10: 31); God judged him on his sin of bloodshed. It is obvious that Jehu worshipped other gods, did not walk according to the law of the God of Israel from his whole heart; and did not destroy the house of Ahab out of love for the execution of the commandments of God. “So 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” (9) Sin destroys man himself, as well as his house, and extends to the nation, if the house and the nation conformed to and were slothful to the evil. The house of Ahab came to an end according to the prophecy of the prophet Elijah (1 kings 21: 17-24); So did the house of Jeroboam (1 kings 14: 1-21) on the hand of Baasha (1 kings 15: 29); Then the prophet Jehu (other than king Jehu), prophesied about the destruction of the house of Baasha (1 Kings 16: 1-12, 11, 77). + I wish no one wrongly understands the longsuffering of God; or fails to put the judgment to come into consideration. I wish no one believes that the just Judge leaves the works of evil without chastisement; I wish everyone learns from the judgments that came on Pharaoh (Exodus 14: 4); on Nebuchadnezzar (Jeremiah 5: 57); on Jezebel (2 kings 9: 7-10); on Amalek (Baruch 3: 27-28); on the sons of Korah (Numbers 16: 31), on the congregation of Dathan (Numbers 26: 9-10); on Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19: 24-25), and on all the nations. For looking at those wicked nations who despised the longsuffering of God, would make us stand a little, and fear the punishment that would dwell upon the like of them. (Father Hesichius of Jerusalem) “The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.’; And he opened the door and fled” (10) The prophecy was literally fulfilled (2 kings 9: 33), and precisely took place on the plot of ground of Jezreel, that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite, killed by Ahab and Jezebel. … People, even the poor among them, always care to prepare tombs befitting of them, and count, not being properly buried, as a great disgrace and reproach (Isaiah 14: 18-20; Jeremiah 22: 18-19). 2- JEHORAM KING OF ISRAEL KILLED: “Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you? And he said to them, “You know the man and his babble” (11) Those sitting with Jehu, recognized that young man as one of the sons of the prophets, from the way he was clothed, how he talked, and how he did not present the honors and greetings due to them as prominent leaders of the army, sitting together with their supreme leader.. They looked at him as a madman, for he came and went in a strange way, for the signs of disturbance on his face, for how he took their leader from among them, and probably on account of that, being leaders of the army, they used to despise the prophets who spend most of their time worshipping, isolated from the world, and away from the actuality of life. It is not strange that the false prophets accuse the true men of God to be selfappointed; and that they utter words of no power. At that time ‘Shemaiah the Nehelamite’, the false prophet, who was not sent by God, but came in his own name, accused the true prophets like Jeremiah, of provoking the spirit of defeat and submission among the captives, when he sought from them to build for themselves houses, and to plant gardens, as though they were well established in Babylon (Jeremiah 29: 24-29). … That Shemaiah wrote to stir up Zephaniah, counting him set by God instead of Jehoiada, to do nothing but to persecute the true men of God, like Jeremiah, whom he considered a madman, the way the wicked used to count the true prophets of God (2 kings 9: 11; Acts 26: 24; 2: 13, 15, 17, 180. … Jeremiah was a symbol of the Lord Christ who was falsely accused of being “out of His mind” (Mark 3: 21). Saying “You know the man and his babble”, Jehu probably intended to know how they were impressed by what they saw and heard; or he probably, fearing their envy and jealousy, he would lose his ability to hasten to put the matter into effect. “ And they said, “A lie! Tell us now. So he said, Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.” (12) Because of their despise for the sons of the prophets, they said: “a lie”; as though they said: ‘We know for sure that he would not say something reasonable, but would utter according to his foolishness and ignorance. But just the same, let us hear what he told you; Then Jehu, mockingly, told them the truth. And because of their hate for the house of Ahab, they would rather have it be so realized, namely to have Jehu reign instead of the house of Ahab. “Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!” (13) By each man taking his garments and putting it under Jehu, all of them declared their consent to have him as their king, and made for him a throne by their own garments; as though they say: ‘By putting our outer garments under you, we deliver everything to you to control; and we will work under your authority as your servants’. … Jehu, then was sitting on the steps to lead the assembly of the leaders of the army. And by putting their garments under him he was as though sitting on a throne. That behavior probably also referred to what the apostles of the Lord Christ did with the Gentiles; on whom they threw their garments, namely their apostolic teachings, the virtuous life in the Lord, and the interpretations of the Holy Books; to cover the nakedness of their life for such a long time; to become a throne for God to sit and to reign…. Those garments, the church keeps throwing upon every offended heart, trembling with cold, to turn them into a throne for the Lord to sit and to have rest. Throwing the garments on the road under the Lord’s feet, refers to the submission of the body to Him, after being submitted to the abominable lusts. Many have thrown their garments on the road for the sake of the Lord: The martyrs threw their bodies through having their blood shed for the sake of faith, as a way for the Lord to walk through the simple who received faith; And the spiritual monks threw their bodies through the spiritual evangelic monasticism; to turn their life into a way on which the Lord walked along the generations. So did the preachers, the Laymen, and even the children. … According to St. Ambrose, [The disciples threw their garments under the steps of the Lord as a reference to their preaching the gospel; for the garments in the divine Scripture often referred to the virtues] In the declaration of new kings, the trumpets are blown (1 kings 1: 39; 2 kings 11: 14); And all that will be consummated by the coming of “the King of kings”, accompanied by the angels in the midst of the sound of heavenly trumpets, declaring an eternal heavenly kingdom. Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat became a king over Israel for a duration of 28 years (841- 814 or 813 BC; 2 Kings 9: 14; 10: 36). So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria” (14) Although Israel has already restored Ramoth Gilead from Aram; yet, because the king of Aram threatened to take it back; the army of Israel was camping in it; and Joram, despite his illness, all the time anticipated the news of Ramoth Gilead; entrusting the whole authority of moving the army in the hand of Jehu. … In such atmosphere, Jehu hastened to sit on the throne before Joram leaves Jezreel and come to Ramoth Gilead, for in Jezreel he had no army to protect him. It was Jehu’s chance to kill the king in Jezreel, and to sit on the throne before the news reach the region of Ramoth Gilead. “ But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria) And Jehu said, “If you are so minded, let no one leave or escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel” (15) Jehu talked as though asking their counsel; for he was then, not yet enthroned as the king. “ So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was laid up there; and Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram” (16) Jehu hastened to go to Jezreel to kill Joram before he hears the news of anointing him a king, and would attempt to oppose him. At the same time, Ahaziah king of Judah came down to see Joram for he was his ally in war, and because he was his nephew. It is obvious from this text that, because Joram was wounded in the battle against Aram in Ramoth Gilead, he had to go to Jezreel to recover and to rest; and there, his nephew, king of Judah, came down to inquire about his health. Both of them did not perceive the plot done in Ramoth Gilead against Joram; on account of that the leaders, assembled there with Jehu, having consented to support him to take the throne by force, took care of keeping the matter secret, even from the army camped in Ramoth Gilead. “Now a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, “I see a company of men. And Joram said, “Get a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, ‘Is it peace?’ ” (17) The region was characterized by its high altitude that makes it expose a great distance toward the East almost as far as the River Jordan; Besides it is on a hill and contains royal palaces and watch towers. But all that did not stand against the fulfillment of God’s plan to destroy the house of Ahab.. Beth-Shan, on the other hand, six or seven miles away, is of low altitude; hence as Jehu and his company reached between Geba and Beth-Shan, they were spotted by the watchmen on the towers, who reported their arrival to the king while in his palace. The king therefore hastened to send a horseman to inquire about the reason of Jehu’s unexpected coming. The presence of the majority of the army in Ramoth Gilead made the king and his entourage in a continuous anticipation of the news of the army there. But no one could imagine that Jehu would ever leave his men and come to kill the king. “ So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace? And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.”(18) Inquiring about peace was a custom followed before entering into a negotiation or debate. Jehu’s response came to reject anything of the sort, as though he says: ’Why are preoccupied with the situation in Ramoth Gilead, whether war or peace; turn around and follow me’. By telling him to follow him, he kept him from returning to tell the king. “So the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger went to them, but is not coming back.. Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace? And Jehu answered, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.” (19) Jehu so answered him, for whoever pervers from the fellowship with God, has no right to inquire about peace, which is a gift from God. Jehu ordered the two horsemen to follow him, to keep them from returning to report to the king to warn him of the eminent danger against his life. “ So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!” (20) Jehu was reputed for his daring and swift military movements. Yet he was not driving the chariot by himself, but he had a driver whom he ordered to drive furiously. The word ‘Furiously’ might refer to his ill temper; yet, according to the Historian Josephus, he led his army with reason, although firm and serious….. Here the watchman referred Jehu to his grandfather and not to his father; for Nimshi was more famous than his son Jehoshaphat. “Then Joram said, “Make ready.” And his chariot was made ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot; and they went out to meet Jehu, and met him on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite” (21) Joram and his nephew Ahaziah king of Judah set forth, each in his chariot, to meet Jehu, assuming that he so urgently came to report important news concerning the situation in Ramoth Gilead. The two kings, not doubting Jehu’s intentions; to save time, they did not wait for him to arrive, but went to encounter him on the way, to discuss the issue, then to let him go back to his army in Ramoth Gilead. They foolishly set forth to encounter Jehu, when it was better for them to stay back in the city. “Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, “Is it peace, Jehu? So he answered, “What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?” (22) The word “harlotries” here, had a wider meaning; namely: idol-worship, vain religion, sorcery, and rebellion against God; referring to Jezebel, as the one responsible for all those abominations. “ Then Joram turned around and fled, and said to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” (23) .”Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot” (23, 24) Jehu shot Joram between his arms, namely in the middle of his back; and the arrow came out of his heart, to kill him instantly. He fell down in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, according to the prophecy of the prophet Elijah (1 kings 21: 19). … If his fall on the ground by the hand of his leader of the army, looked horrible, his hidden fall toward the eternal perdition through the sins he committed by his own free will, was far more horrible + Although sins do more harm to the soul than that done by the maggots to the body, yet we do not perceive their corruption, and do not feel the urgency to get rid of them. Like the drunkard who cannot recognize how repulsive the taste of wine is; contrary to the reasonable man who can do that with ease, so it is with sin. Whoever reverently lives can easily recognize the mire and the corruption; whereas whoever lives in evil would be like the drunkard, who does not perceive that he is sick; while lying in mire, he thinks that he enjoys the sweet fragrance of spices;. And as the maggots works in him. he boasts as though he has precious jewels, and has no desire to kill them, but rather to feed and revive them, until they ultimately bring him forth to the maggots in the life to come. + If man is rich and honorable; but captivated by a sin, he would be more corrupt than all corruptions…. The way a king, captivated by barbarians, would be the most miserable of men, so it is with sin; it is like a barbarian, from whose captivity, the soul is not able to rid herself. The sin takes therefore the role of a tyrant to destroy all who get attached to it. (St. John Chrysostom) “Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, “Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the LORD laid this burden upon him” (25) Bidkar, short for ‘ben deqar’, meaning (the son of the stab). Jehu justified his act by bringing to remembrance the curse under which Ahab and Jezebel fell because of unjustly killing Naboth the Jezreelite to inherit his field. Jehu counted himself God’s tool to fulfill His wrath upon Ahab and his household (1 kings 21: 21-24). The pillars of Ahab’s household so came to an end by the death of Jehoram, and throwing him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite, taken by force by Ahab, after his wife Jezebel plotted to have him killed through falsely accusing him of blasphemy against God and against the king (1 Kings 21: 17-24). “‘Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ says the LORD, ‘and I will repay you in this plot,’ says the LORD. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the LORD” (26) He probably means here, what the messenger of Elisha, who anointed him, told him, and sought from him to let the house of Ahab repay for the blood of Naboth the Jezreelite and his sons; and God probably confirmed that in a night vision, after the son of the prophet departed. Ahab killed Naboth to inherit his field, according to the counsel of his evil wife Jezebel; and to make the field a garden that brings pleasure to his life; not knowing that it will be a place for burying his equally evil son. It was not written that Naboth’s sons were also killed; but Jezebel most probably planned their death in an attempt to wipe out every memory of their father Naboth, nor of her crime killing him. 3- AHAZIA KING OF JUDAH KILLED:: “But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan.[a] So Jehu pursued him, and said, “Shoot him also in the chariot.” And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died thee” (27) Ahaziah reaped the fruit of being bound to the wicked, and entering into a familial relationships with them; not for the sake of their salvation, but rather for political and material benefits, a bond that made him lose the purity of heart, and turned his life into a cheap price for it. According to some, Jehu did not plan to kill Ahaziah king of Judah; and did not know beforehand that he came to Jezreel to visit the wounded Joram. But that was allowed by God to reveal his alliance with his uncle Joram, and to be accordingly killed by Jehu. By that all the descendants of Ahab were wiped out, not only in Israel, but in Judah as well. And his servants carried him in the chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the City of David” 28) “ In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king over Judah” (29) In the twelfth year according to 2 Kings 8: 25; for Ahaziah was a partner in reign with his father for a year at least (2 Chronicles 21: 19) 4- JEZEBEL’S VIOLENT DEATH: “Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window” (30) Jezebel, 55 years old or may be more; for Ahaziah, her grandson from her daughter was 23 years old when he was killed, having known about the death of the two kings, and perceiving that her turn will soon follow, she preferred to die as is befitting of a queen, or assumed that by her beauty she might be able to captivate Jehu’s heart not aware of the words written: “Though you clothe yourself with crimson; though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold; though you enlarge your eyes with paint; In vain you will make yourself fair; your lovers will despise you; they will seek your life” (Jeremiah 4: 30). Women in the old used to put paint on their eyes to enlarge them, as a sign of beauty. And according to Jofinal, the custom of painting the eyes was commonly followed both by men and by women in Rome. And according to Barnes’ notes, painting the eyes is still common among the women in the East, to make the eyes look wider and more shining. Miserable is he who, in his spiritual strife, trust in his self-righteousness; he would lose all inner beauty, would even become his own killer, and would hear the divine reproach, saying: “Because you say ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked – I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments , that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3: 17-18) Having perceived that Jehu was going to kill her, and intended to confirm to herself and to those around her, that she is brave, and never terrified; she called Jehu “Zimri: the murderer of his master to take the throne by force” (1 kings 16: 11-12) + Anoint your eyes, not by the salve of the devil, but by the ointment of Christ for the eyes. (St. Cyprian) + It was expected that she will mourn her dead son – king Jehoram --, but, the same moment she heard that the new king Jehu arrived, she put paint on her eyes, adorned her head, and looked through a window; assuming that Jehu would probably be deceived by her looks and take her among hid wives. She probably heard about the episode of Adoniah, the son of David (1 kings 2: 17) who asked for ‘Abishag the Shunammite’ to be his wife in the days of king Solomon, so that through her he would take the throne, and thought that Jehu might do the same by marrying her, to establish his position as a king. That was how Jezebel thought, until she saw Jehu come through the door, for then, remembering that he is the murderer of her son; she could not control her temper, she reviled and insulted him before everyone by saying: “Is it peace Zemri, murderer of your master?”. Nothing could destroy the violence of that arrogant woman, not even her hope for marriage, nor her fear of the eminent death by the hand of her opponent with his threatening sword. She, who tortured others, could not control herself, but like a mad woman, reviled the new king with harsh words, and stirred up his wrath against her.. She adorned her head with the royal crown, to die like a queen, not aware that Jehu will not only take away her crown, but will let the horses trample her on the ground, and the dogs eat her flesh and bones. So, the wicked often deceive himself by the temporal honor, not perceiving that it may bring him down to dust. + Every sin is a sign of lie, harmful to him who commits it more than him who suffer from it. + While grace is accompanied by joy, peace, love, and truth … Sin is accompanied by disturbance, and hate toward God. + How denying and wicked is this generation!, that sets itself for destruction for the sake of its stubbornness. If a Physician is coming to you from afar, to give you medication to heal your disease, Will you not hasten to receive him? “ Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?” (31) ‘Zimri’, the leader of the army 40 years ago, took the throne by killing his master, but did not last on it longer than seven days (1 Kings 16: 8-19).. By saying that , Jezebel intended to give Jehu a lesson, and to warn him that his destiny as a traitor will be like that of Zimri; he will be killed in no time. It is amazing how her pride endured even while perceiving that her perdition is close at hand. + Notice, brethren, the boasting of the wicked; Man should be mighty, yet in goodness, and not in malice … “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1: 31); He who glories, let him glory in goodness. That is how the good Christians boast in goodness and not in malice: a- They boast in the Lord and not in themselves b- They zealously practice the works of edification, holding fast to it; But the works that seem for destruction, they practice for the sake of chastisement, and not as pressure on the innocent. (St. Augustine) “ And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him” (32) By saying: “Who is on my side?”, he calls on those with the queen to defect; as it so often happens that men usually join the new king, and hasten to obey his orders, fearing his wrath, and hoping for his favor. Jezebel died , mourned by none, and remembered by none. . “ Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot” (33) Her death was disgraceful, her own eunuchs threw her down from the window, to be torn down before she reached the ground, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. Jehu drove his chariot on her corpse as a sign of despise; then left it to be devoured by dogs. For so long, Jezebel thought of herself as a successful woman, of a strong personality, who knew how to move her husband king Ahab and her own sons like slaves; and to ordain all the affairs of the kingdom to the account of Baal. She gave orders to be obeyed; and before her all the officers of the court and the leaders of the army all over the kingdom were terrified. She assumed that no power on the face of the earth could stand against her. She did not perceive that the sins she committed, bear corruption and horrible destruction hidden within them, to appear in due time. Now, she lost her son the king with a treason by his own men, and lost her authority, as well as her life, and died a disgraceful death; all through the sin that had authority over her. + When Ahab was struck and fell in battle, his servants came to mourn him, and honorably buried him in the tomb of the kings (1 kings 21: 27-290. Whereas Jezebel, who on the contrary, distorted justice, and provoked anger by her defiled behavior, never showed remorse; and never forsook her vanity; Even in the moments before her death she raged like a mad woman, and there were many reasons for her to be treated with violence. Notice and perceive, how Jezebel, who terrified prophets, and enslaved kings, was thrown from a window by her own servants in disgrace and reproach; and how she was torn apart by dogs. This happened to mute the mouths of those who say: “Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously? (Jeremiah 12: 1). (St. (Mar) Ephraim the Syrian) + Go back to your heart; there, to find yourself alone with Him who sees all things. Hate sin to bring pleasure to God; … Do not seek it; … Don’t think about it (During repentance); … but rather despise it and avoid it. Temptation may suggest to you that sin can make you happy; and by threatening grief, it seduces you to do evil; Yet, be sure that all that is nothing but a passing by void…. By its suggestions, evil can dwell in the mind, and can easily corrupt the upright life. … Throw them away to where they came from, out of your heart; … do not care for them, nor seek them … Let us remember what the Lord commanded us, saying: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonian 5: 17); For if you do, He will never forget His mercies. (St. Augustine) “And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “Go now, see to this accursed woman, and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” (34) If Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal king of Sidon, has taken the field of Naboth the Jezeelite by force, and added it to her palace, Now Jehu, as a new king, has taken it over, and here he eats the food that was prepared for Jehoram and his mother Jezebel.. He called her: “accursed”, for she committed her man to worship the Baal, killed the prophets, raised her children in a corrupt way, her evil extended to generations to come, and her evil influence reached the kingdom of Judah; so that her name was hated by all, “So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands” (35) All her authority, power, royal honor, family, and wealth, came to an end, and of her, nothing was left except the bones left by the dogs after devouring her flesh. She became an example before everyone who walks in evilby which he will lose everything.. … Because, by her head she plotted to shed the blood of the innocent Naboth the Jezreelite; by her hands she wrote the instructions to put her plan into effect; and by her feet she moved to execute it; the dogs refused to eat her skull, and the bones of her hands and feet. Man, as the most exalted creature on earth, is supposed to use his head including his brain to run his life with reason; but the wicked, instead, uses it together with his hands and feet to practice evil and corruption, to end up losing the holiness of his life. While the bones of the prophet Elisha raised a dead man in his tomb (2 kings 13: 23); those of Jezebel came to be trampled upon by men and beasts; and to be devoured by dogs. “Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel” (36) – (1 kings 21: 33). “and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, “Here lies Jezebel.”’” (37) Who can imagine the feeling of those who gathered what remained of the bones of Jezebel, after the dogs licked her blood, devoured her flesh, and some of her bones?! By sin, man does need to be buried in a tomb to cover his dead corpse; for his own soul is like a tomb that includes corruption in it; as according to St. Jerome: [The way a saint is the temple of God, the sinner sets a tomb out of his soul]. Some may wonder why should God allow for such cruel chastisement?! Wasn’t threats enough? … God finds no pleasure in cruel chastisement; and the believers do not gloat over what happen to the wicked; but for the sake of seeking the divine grace with faithfulness, God allows for that. + By fearing that the same things may dwell upon him, the righteous will attempt to make his life more pure. That is, therefore, a sign of God’s great care…. For if He just threatens without executing punishment, will you not be more slothful?! (St. John Chrysostom) ---------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 2 KINGS 9 GRANT ME TO ESCAPE TO YOU, AND NOT FROM YOU + The wicked Jezebel assumed that she could escape from God; She killed His prophets, and broke down His altars; She assumed that she would prevail + God was longsuffering on her; Even Elijah desired death because of her; But God’s thought are not like our thoughts + Jezebel corrupted her man and her whole household; She appointed priests for the Baal, and killed those of the living God; She destroyed the worship of God, and embraced the abominations of the idols; Her hands stretched to oppression; and planned devilish plots; She killed the innocent, and took by force what does not belong to her. + In the proper time, God set a king to destroy all her household; She lost her family and her honor; She was despised even by the beasts; She was trampled over by horses; Her flesh and some of her bones was devoured by dogs; How disgraceful and corrupt is sin! + Grant me to escape to You, to give me Your righteousness; To escape from the violence of the sin; How I savor Your encounter! How my soul feels comfort in Your bosoms! You alone is my refuge! By You I challenge sin, death, and corruption; By You, the devil flees away; All his plans will fail; By You my soul will rise as though to heaven; I shall never fall into the nets of the devil; Glory be to You, O Lover of mankind, and Savior of men.
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