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the messengers returned, and told the king. And the people went out, and spoiled the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Jehovah. And the king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate; and the people trampled him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

CHAPTER IV.

II. KINGS, viii.-x., xiii., xiv.

JEHU AND HIS SUCCESSORS.

Siege of Ramoth-Jehu and the Prophet-Military Conspiracy-The Ride to Jezreel-Like the Driving of Jehu-Is All Well-Murder of the Two Kings-Jezebel and Jehu-The Seventy Royal Princes―The Princes of Judah—Jehu and Jehonadab—The Worshippers of Baal-Jehu's Sacrifice-Loss of Gilead-King Jehoahaz-Syria Oppresses Israel-Joash Defeats the Syrians—Amaziah's Challenge-The Thistle of Lebanon-Jerusalem Captured.

Now it came to pass, that Ahaziah king of Judah went with Joram son of Ahab to war against Hazael king of Syria. And they besieged Ramoth of Gilead; and the Syrians wounded Joram. And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him at Ramoth, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him: Gird up thy loins, and take this vial of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth of Gilead. And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu son of Jehoshaphat (Jah Judgeth) son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and bring him into an inner chamber; and take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith Jeho

A MILITARY CONSPIRACY.

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And

vah I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not. So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth of Gilead. when he came, behold, the captains of the host sitting together; and he said: I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said: Unto which of all of us? And he said To thee, O captain. And Jehu arose, and went into the house; and the prophet poured the oil on his head, and said to him: Thus saith Jehovah the God of Israel: I have anointed thee king over the people of Jehovah, over Israel. And thou shalt cut off the house of Ahab thy lord from before me, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of Jehovah, at the hand of Jezebel. And the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab every male, both young and old. And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the field of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. Then he opened the door, and fled.

And Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord; and one said to him: Is all well? Wherefore came this mad man unto thee? And he said to them: Ye know the man and his prating. And they said: It is false; tell us now. And he said: Thus and thus spake he unto me, saying, Thus saith Jehovah : I have anointed thee king over Israael. Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, and said: Jehu is king.

Then Jehu said: If this be your mind, then let none escape and go forth out of the city, to go tell it in Jezreel, And Jehu mounted his chariot, and went to Jez

reel. And the watchman standing on the tower in Jezreel spied the troop of Jehu as he came, and said: I see a troop. And Joram said: Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say: Is all well? So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said: Thus saith the king, Is all well? And Jehu said: What hast thou to do with well or ill? Turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying: The messenger came unto them, but he cometh not again. Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said: Thus saith the king, Is all well? And Jehu answered: What hast thou to do with well or ill? Turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying: He also came unto them, and cometh not again; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.

Then Joram said: Yoke the chariot. And they yoked his chariot. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said: Is all well, Jehu? But Jehu answered: What is well, so long as the idolatry of thy mother Jezebel and her many witchcrafts continue? Then Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah Treason, Ahaziah! And Jehu drew his bow, and smote Joram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain: Take up, and cast him into the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, Jehovah uttered this oracle against him: Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith Jehovah ; and I will requite

JEZEBEL AND JEHU.

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thee in this portion, saith Jehovah. Now therefore take and cast him into the portion of Naboth, according to the word of Jehovah.

And

And

And when Ahaziah king of Judah saw that Joram was smitten, he fled by the road of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, saying: Smite him also. they smote him in his chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.

And Jehu came to Jezreel, and Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes with antimony, and tired her head, and looked out at the window. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said: Is all well with thee, thou Zimri, murderer of thy master? And he lifted up his face to the window, and said: Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs. And he said: Throw her down. So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses; and they trode her under foot. And he came in, and ate and drank; then he said: See to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter. And they went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. And they returned, and told him. And he said: This is the word of Jehovah, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying In the field of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh. of Jezebel; and the carcase of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the field of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

Now there were in Samaria seventy young princes of the house of Ahab. And Jehu wrote a letter, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of the city, and unto the