Jezebel’s Violent Death

Jezebel prepares herself and calls down to Jehu with scorn as he enters Jezreel. Jehu answers not with words to her but by summoning allies above and ordering them to throw her down.

N³⁰ow when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window. ³¹And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?” ³²He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” ³³“Throw her down!” yelled Jehu.

After eating and drinking, Jehu orders Jezebel buried, yet her body is found mostly consumed. He then names the scene as the fulfillment of the word spoken through Elijah: Jezebel is left unrecognizable on Jezreel’s ground.

³⁴Then Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of this cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was the daughter of a king.” ³⁵But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. ³⁶So they went back and told Jehu, who replied, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel the dogs will devour the flesh of Jezebel. ³⁷And Jezebel’s body will lie like dung in the field on the plot of ground at Jezreel, so that no one can say: This is Jezebel.’ ”