2 Kings 9-10

* Chapters 9-10 cover approximately 28 years

The prophet Elisha, more and more, is taking a secondary role in these chapters. Here, he sends a fellow prophet on the dangerous mission of annointing Jehu as future King of Israel.

1. He tucks his cloak in order to run, showing the urgency of this mission
2. He brings a flask of oil for the annointing, fulfilling Elijah's obligation (1 Kings 19:16)
3. He goes to Jehu in Ramoth Gilead, a strategic 'border' town east of the Jordan
4. He was to leave quickly after delivering the message (because it was, technically, treason)

DOOM COMING

1. Jehu is annointed and commanded to destroy the entire house of Ahab
2. Jezebel, specifically, will be eaten by dogs
3. Jehu seems initially reluctant to believe the annointing, but is encouraged by his friends response
4. Jehu sets out almost immediately to complete the task at hand

DOOM NECESSARY

The destruction of Ahab's household is necessary because of the idolatry and witchcraft

DOOM FULFILLED

1. Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram and throws him into the field of Naboth (an ironic ending 1 Kings 21:19)
2. Jehu's fleet wounded Ahaziah enough that he later died and was buried in the city of David. It was 'negative providence' that Ahaziah was even there (visiting his sick relative).
3. Jehu commands that Jezebel's servants throw her down from a window, killing her immediately. She is then eaten by dogs before she can even be buried, fulfilling 1 Kings 21:23
4. Jehu has the officials of Jezreel kill the remaining 70 children of Ahab
5. In another example of negative providence, relatives of Ahaziah come to visit and are subsequently killed at Jeh's command.
6. He has all the remaining Baal worshippers killed at once by tricking them to come to a 'great sacrifice'

Jehu's Wise Strategy
1. He challenges them to a fight they know they can't win
2. He challenges them to do his dirty work for them
3. Once they've killed the 70, he shows them that they are all in this together now
4. He gainst he confidence of the highly respected moral leader Jehonadab (Jeremiah 35)
5. He deceives the remaining Baal worshippers into gathering together

* This was the end of Baal worship in Israel, but Jehu failed to eliminate other forms of idolatry and so "the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel."