Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 9
Jezebel shouted at Jehu, but Jehu refused to give any attention whatever to her. Jehu looked towards the window where she was. However, he was not looking at her; he was looking for the male slaves who served her.
These slaves were eunuchs. There was an ancient custom to cut away some of the sex parts from a male who worked in the women’s part of a palace; the man was then called a ‘eunuch’. Israel’s people did not follow that cruel custom (compare Deuteronomy 23:1), but Jezebel did. She made her male slaves into eunuchs; she controlled their lives with her great cruelty. Until now, Jezebel had made them much too afraid to oppose her. However, Jehu’s bold actions gave them hope. If he could kill his master, then they too could be free from the cruelty of this wicked woman.
Jehu asked which of the eunuchs would support him. Two eunuchs, and then a third eunuch, appeared at the window. Ancient windows had no glass; they were just an opening in the wall. Three men were easily strong enough to deal with Jezebel, who was an old woman. So, Jehu simply told them to throw her down from the window. It was a high window.
We do not know whether Jezebel died from that fall. Immediately afterwards, Jehu drove his horses over her, and the soldiers with him did the same. Her blood covered the wall and the horses – but Jehu seemed not to care. He went into the palace to eat and to drink, and still he gave no attention to Jezebel. He did not even direct his men to take away the body and to bury it. He did not say anything about Jezebel until after his meal.
Next part: Jehu orders his men to bury Jezebel (2 Kings 9:34)
Please use the links at the top of the page to find our other articles in this series. You can download all our articles if you go to the download page for our free 1000+ page course book.
© 2025, Keith Simons.