Page:JPS-1917-Universal.djvu/476

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9.23
SECOND KINGS

his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah: 'There is treachery, O Ahaziah.' 24And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. 25Then said [Jehu] to Bidkar his captain: 'Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the Lord pronounced this burden against him: 26Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the Lord; and I will requite thee in this plot, saith the Lord. Now therefore take and cast him into the plot of ground, according to the word of the Lord.'

27But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden-house. And Jehu followed after him, and said: 'Smite him also in the chariot'; [and they smote him] at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there. 28And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.

29And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.

30And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window. 31And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said: 'Is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master's murderer?' 32And 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 officers. 33And 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 she was trodden under foot. 34And when he was come in, he did eat and drink; and he said: 'Look now after this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter.' 35And they went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36Wherefore 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: In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel; 37and the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say: This is Jezebel.'

10Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and unto them that brought up [the sons of]Ahab, saying: 2'And now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and armour; 3look ye out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.' 4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: 'Behold, the two kings stood not before him; how then shall we stand?' 5And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying: 'We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king; do thou that which is good in thine eyes.' 6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying: 'If ye be on my side, and if ye

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