[187] A.V., "_Tired_ her head." Comp. _tiara_. Lit., "made good"; LXX., [Greek: êgathune].
[188] Josephus gives the sense very well: [Greek: Kalos doulos ho apokteinas ton despotên] (_Antt._, IX. vi. 4). The same question might have been addressed to Baasha, Shallum, Menahem, Pekah, and Hoshea; but at least Jehu might plead a prophet's call.
[189] "Two or three." Lit., "two three," like the old English "two three" for "several."
[190] Ver. 33. Heb., "He trod her underfoot." LXX., [Greek: Synepatêsan autên]; Vulg., _Conculcaverunt eam_.
[192] Prov. xi. 10. Compare the remark of Voltaire, who saw "le peuple ivré de vin et de joie de la mort de Louis XIV."
[193] 1 Kings xvi. 31. At this time Ethbaal was dead. He reigned probably from B.C. 940-908, and died at the age of sixty-eight (Jos., _Antt._, VIII. xiii. 1, IX. vi. 6; _c. Ap._, i. 18).
[195] Comp. Psalm lxxxiii. 10. Her name remained a by-word till the latest days (Rev. ii. 20), and the Spanish Jews called their persecutress Isabella the Catholic "Jezebel."
"The devil can quote Scripture for his purpose." SHAKESPEARE.
But the work of Jehu was not yet over. He was established at Jezreel; he was lord of the palace and seraglio of his master; the army of Israel was with him. But who could be sure that no civil war would arise, as between the partisans of Zimri and Omri, as between Omri and Tibni? Ahab, first of the kings of Israel, had left many sons. There were no less than seventy of these princes at Samaria. Might there not be among them some youth of greater courage and capacity than the murdered Jehoram? And could it be anticipated that the late dynasty was so utterly unfortunate and execrated as to have none left to do them reverence, or to strike one blow on their behalf, after more than half a century of undisputed sway?[196] Jehu's _coup de main_ had been brilliantly successful. In one day he had leapt into the throne. But Samaria was strong upon its watch-tower hill. It was full of Ahab's sons, and had not yet declared on Jehu's side. It might be expected to feel some gratitude to the dynasty which Jehu had supplanted, seeing that it owed to the grandfather of the king whom he had just slain its very existence as the capital of Israel.