What does the Bible tell us about Jehu?
[A] He was “the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi” (2 Kings 9:2). His father was not the Jehoshaphat who was the king of Judah.

[B] He was a captain in the army of Israel (2 Kings 9:5).

[C] Elijah was instructed by God to anoint Jehu king over Israel (1 Kings 19:16).

[D] He had a reputation as a furious chariot-driver (2 Kings 9:20).

Who anointed Jehu king over Israel?
Although Elijah had been instructed to anoint Jehu king over Israel, the task was left to his successor Elisha. Elisha did not personally anoint Jehu but rather sent one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-gilead to anoint him (2 Kings 9:1). The servant of Elisha did as he was instructed. He found Jehu sitting among his brothers and privately anointed him king over Israel in a house. Afterwards the servant “opened the door and fled” (2 Kings 9:10).

What instructions/commission did Jehu receive at his anointing?
Jehu was commissioned to be God’s instrument of judgment on the evil house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:7-10 and 2 Chronicles 22:7). Ahab’s whole house was to be completely destroyed because of all the evil Ahab and Jezebel inflicted upon God’s prophets and servants. God does not forget the sufferings and wrongs inflicted upon His people. In addition, the servant proclaimed that Jezebel would be killed, eaten by dogs, and left unburied (2 Kings 9:10). Payday was coming.

Practical Consideration: Wrong cannot triumph forever.
Someone has noted that while the wheels of God’s justice move slowly, when they come they grind finely. God gave the house of Ahab every opportunity to repent. The refusal of the house of Ahab to repent and its determination to walk contrary to God’s law invited God’s judgment. The Apostle Paul reminds us that God is not mocked and that we cannot break the law of the harvest (see Galatians 6:7). Wrong cannot triumph forever nor can it escape the awful judgment of God.

Who publicly proclaimed Jehu king?
The captains of the army who were sitting with Jehu when the servant of Elisha came publicly proclaimed him king, after Jehu shared with them what had happened in the house (2 Kings 9:11-13). With the support of the army, Jehu had the means for fulfilling his commission.

How did Jehu fulfill his commission against the house of Ahab?
[A] 2 Kings 9:14-16 amplify 1 Kings 8:29. After being wounded in battle, Jehoram (Joram) “returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds” (2 Kings 9:14). While recovering from his wounds, he received a visit from Ahaziah (2 Kings 8:29 and 9:16). Jehu issued an order that no one be allowed to leave Ramoth-gilead lest his plan to destroy the house of Ahab be revealed in Jezreel (2 Kings 9:15).

[B] Jehu led a company of men to Jezreel where Jehoram (Joram) was recovering from his battle wounds. The watchman on the tower saw the approaching band and reported it to Jehoram (Joram). The king sent a messenger to meet the approaching band to in an effort to determine their intentions. The messenger joined Jehu’s band as did a second messenger sent out by the king (2 Kings 9:17-20). As the band neared the city the watchman determined Jehu was leading them (2 Kings 9:20).

[C] King Jehoram (Joram) decided to go out and meet Jehu. Jehoram and Ahaziah (king of Judah) then drove their chariots to meet Jehu “and found him in the property of Naboth the Jezreelite” (2 Kings 9:21). Jehoram asked Jehu, “Is it peace?” to which Jehu replied that there could be no peace as long as Jezebel’s evil influence remained (2 Kings 9:22). Jehoram, sensing immediately that things were not right, turned and fled on his chariot. Jehu however, drew his bow and slew him with an arrow through the heart (2 Kings 9:23-24). He then ordered an officer named Bidkar to deposit the body of Jehoram on the field of Naboth in fulfillment of the word of the Lord (2 Kings 9:25-26 and 1 Kings 9:21:19).

What happened to King Ahaziah?
Ahaziah fled from the presence of Jehu. Jehu ordered his men to shoot Ahaziah in his chariot. Jehu’s men shot Ahaziah “but he fled to Megiddo and died there” (2 Kings 9:27). His servants then buried him in Jerusalem (2 Kings 9:28). Jehu ordered his men to kill Ahaziah because he was related to Ahab and “walked in the way of the house of Ahab” (see 2 Kings 8:26-27).

What did Jezebel do when she heard that Jehu was in Jezreel leading a coup d’ état?
Jezebel put on her cosmetics and adorned herself (2 Kings 9:30). Some suggest that she may have done so because of the belief that her appearance in the next world would be a continuation of the way she looked at death. When Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel looked out the window and referred to Jehu as Zimri (2 Kings 9:31) who assassinated Elah (destroying the evil house of Baasha) and usurped the throne of Israel (see 1 Kings 16:8-20). Zimri reigned only seven days and then committed suicide when Omri was made king over Israel. Perhaps Jezebel was trying to intimidate Jehu and suggest that his fate would be similar to Zimri’s.

Practical Consideration: Pride goes before destruction.
The writer of Proverbs (16:18) declared, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” When Jezebel learned of Jehu’s coup d’ ‚tat she did not repent or humble herself in any way, but rather adorned herself and behaved as arrogantly and defiantly as she always had. She tenaciously held on to her pride to the moment of death. Jezebel certainly illustrates the fact that pride goes before a fall!

How was Jezebel slain?
Jehu looked up to Jezebel’s window and asked who among those present with her were on his side. Two or three officials indicated their loyalty to Jehu and threw Jezebel from the window at his command. Jezebel fell to the ground where Jehu “trampled her under foot” (2 Kings 9:33) with his chariot.

Later, while dining, Jehu remembered that Jezebel was still lying dead on the ground and ordered that she be buried. When those assigned to bury her found her body the dogs, with the exception of her skull, hands, and feet, had already eaten it. Someone has suggested that not even the dogs would eat a mind that had conceived such evil, hands that had acted so wickedly against God, and feet that had not walked in His path. Jezebel’s death fulfilled the word of the Lord spoken through Elijah (see 1 Kings 21:23).