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Iezabel devoured by Dogs.
Jezabel being thrown out of a Window by Jehu's Order, is devoured of Dogs.
ELisha being come to Damascus, Benhadad King of Syria sent Hazael to him, to know whether he should recover of his Sickness, with which he was then afflicted. Hazael having deliver'd his Message to Elisha, he told him at first, that the King his Master might recover; but presently added, that withal the LORD had shewed him he should certainly die; and at the same time fixing his Eyes upon Hazael, he fell a weeping. And Hazael having asked him why he wept? The Prophet reply'd, it was because of the Evils he foresaw that he would bring upon Israel, when he should possess the Crown of Syria.
Hazael returning to his Master, told him, That Elisha said, he should certainly recover; but the next Morning he took occasion to sti∣fle him, and (upon his death) was proclaim'd King of Syria in his stead. This hapned when Joram the second Son of Ahab was King of Israel, and Jehoshaphat King of Judah. Jeho∣shaphat being grown old and crazy, placed his Son Jehoram in his Throne, who had nothing of his good Father's Piety, but followed the steps of the Kings of Israel, and imitated the wickedness of Ahab, whose Daughter he had married.
After Jehoram's Death, his Son Ahaziah succeeded in the Throne of Judah, and was Contemporary with Joram the Son of Ahab King of Israel, whom he assisted in the War he waged against Hazael King of Syria, and Joram being wounded in the Fight, he went to Jezreel to be cured, whither Ahaziah King of Judah repaired to give him a Visit. Now whilst the King of Israel was ill of his Wounds, Jehu (one of the high Officers of his Army) ha∣ving been anointed King of Israel by one of Elisha's Disciples, with an express charge to exterminate the Family of Ahab, taking some Forces with him, immediately repair'd to Jez∣reel, where both the Kings then were. King Joram being acquainted by a Sentinel, that a great Party were drawing nigh to the City, he sent out Messengers on Horseback to enquire who they were; but Jehu suffering none of them to return, Joram began to suspect some Trea∣chery in the case, and notwithstanding his Sickness, commanded his Chariot to be made ready; and he and Ahaziah went to meet Je∣hu, whom they found in the Plot of Ground that belonged to Naboth, and Jehu having shot Joram through the Heart with a Dart, exposed his dead body there to be devoured by Dogs, to fulfil the Prophecy of Elijah against the House of Ahab; and Ahaziah endeavouring to make his escape in his Chariot, was pursued by com∣mand from Jehu, and killed also, and his dead Body carried to Jerusalem to be inter'd with his Fathers.
Jezabel strangely alarm'd with these Ti∣dings, had recourse to the Artifices of her Sex, and having painted her Face and dress'd her Head, plac'd her self at a Window to be seen by Jehu; who was so far from being taken with her Beauty, that he commanded some Eunuchs that waited upon her, to throw her out of the Window; which being done, Jehu and his Officers made their Horses to go over her Body. Jehu having refresh'd himself af∣ter this Action, commanded some of his Ser∣vants, to go and take up Jezabel's Body and bury it; but when he came to look for it, they found nothing left, except her Skull, her Feet, and the Palms of her Hands, the Dogs ha∣ving devoured the rest, according to the Pre∣diction of Elijah.
That was the End of this unhappy and mise∣rable Princess, who was a great Instrument of GOD's Severity, to purifie and refine his Ser∣vants by her barbarous Cruelty and Violence. She knew the Truth (saith St. Ambrose) and yet she persecuted it; and having taken a resolution, at any rate to support the Interest of false Pro∣phets, who flatter'd and indulg'd her wicked and Idolatrous Humour, she declared open War, and became a sworn Enemy to the true Prophets of GOD. Her Presumption engag'd her to be too busie and medling with Matters concerning GOD and Religion; and her bitter hatred a∣gainst the pure Worship of GOD, having put her upon endeavours wholly to extirpate the same, so that no Footsteps of it might be left. GOD in his just Judgment suffered her not only to come to a most shameful and tragical End, but that e∣ven after Death, scarce any remainder of her Body should be left, for a Terror to all that might hereafter be inclined to follow her steps.