Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 9
It seemed hardly to matter to Jehu if his actions seem often cruel and nasty. God had given him particularly fierce enemies to oppose. So, he considered it his sacred duty to oppose them with all his strength. If they were cruel, then Jehu wanted to show himself to be even more cruel. If they were powerful, Jehu would be even more powerful. That was Jehu’s attitude.
When Jehu arrived back at Jezreel, he only wanted to eat and to drink. His activities that day had taken a lot of energy; it would not surprise us if he was tired.
His men were waiting for his command about what to do with Jezebel’s dead body. Jehu had not allowed them to bury Joram because of God’s judgment against Joram (9:25-26). They did not dare to bury Jezebel’s body unless Jehu permitted it; they did not want Jehu to be angry with them.
However, everyone in Israel knew that it was important to bury a dead body quickly. In every town and city, wild dogs were constantly looking for meat. The smell of Jezebel’s blood would soon attract them.
Jehu first finished his meal. Then, at last, he gave his command about Jezebel’s body. God’s anger was against Jezebel, he said. However, Jehu would allow his soldiers to bury her, because she was the daughter of the king of Sidon (1 Kings 16:31). In other words, Jezebel herself did not deserve a proper grave in his opinion. However, he was willing to give some honour to the king of a foreign nation – even to a king who did not know the true God.
Next part: God acts so that it is impossible to bury Jezebel (2 Kings 9:35-37)
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