pointed to be the instrument of inflicting the chastisements of God upon the people of Israel for their idolatry. He knew also, that the disease of Benhadad was not mortal, but yet that he would die, murdered by Hazael. When therefore Hazael said to Elisha, “Thy son, Benhadad king of Syria, hath sent me to thee, saying, shall I recover of this disease?" He replied, "Go, say unto the king, Thou mayst certainly recover:" but, he added, "howbeit the LORD hath showed me that he shall surely die." While thus speaking, Elisha looked steadfastly in the face of Hazael, until conscience-stricken, and probably feeling that the prophet read his secret intentions, he was ashamed: And the man of God wept. And Hazael said, "Why weepest my lord?" Elisha answered," Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword." Nor would he even spare the women and children in his vindictive warfare. Hazael, not yet hardened in cruelty, but only first listening to the temptations of an unscrupulous ambition, could not believe that he should ever become so vile. "But what," he exclaimed, "is thy servant a dog that he should do this great thing?" Elisha could only answer, "The LORD hath showed me that thou shalt be king over Syria."

With this announcement of his future greatness, it might be expected that Hazael would

have been satisfied, and that he would have waited until the promised throne was vacant. But when did unprincipled ambition stop at any means by which it can more shortly attain its ends? Hazael returned to his master, and repeated to him a part only of Elisha's words, saying, "He told me that thou shouldst surely recover," and the following day murdered him : "And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in water, and spread it on the king's face, so that he died."*

A warning to all who allow ambitious thoughts, and wishes for what is not lawfully their's, to possess their minds unchecked: many such, if told in the beginning of their career, of the deeds they would hereafter do, would exclaim with the terrified Syrian, "Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this great wickedness."

On hearing of the death of Benhadad, the king of Israel thought it a favourable opportunity to renew the war against Syria: and accordingly, having obtained the assistance of Ahaziah, king of Judah, he marched to the attack of Ramoth, a city of Gilead, which he besieged and took. But whilst conducting the attack, he was wounded by an arrow shot from the walls: leav

*It appears probable that Benhadad was generally believed to have died of his disease, as Josephus relates that both he and Hazael were highly regarded by their own subjects, and after their death, were both worshipped as gods, which is scarcely possible, even in that age, if one was known to be the murderer of the other. See Note on the Passage in Whiston's Josephus.

ing therefore his army under the command of Jehu, one of his chief captains, Jehoram returned to Jezreel, to be healed of his wounds, purposing afterwards to renew the war and hither Ahaziah, king of Judah, came to see him. But the sins of both these idolatrous kings had now reached their height, and Elisha was commanded to anoint another king over Israel, who should execute the predicted punishment upon the house of Ahab.

"And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead: and when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber: Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and sayThus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not."

The young man did as Elisha commanded; and when he came to Ramoth, he found all the captains of the host sitting together. Addressing Jehu, he said, "I have an errand to thee, O Captain;" upon which Jehu arose and went with him into the house, when the messenger poured the oil upon his head, and anointed him king over Israel, in the name of the LORD: this was all that the words of Elisha commanded, as they are recorded in the beginning of the 9th chapter

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of the II. Kings; but the young prophet added, that Jehu should smite the whole house of Ahab, to avenge the blood of the prophets slain by Jezebel, and he also repeated the fearful judgment pronounced by Elijah against that queen, dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her :" either this was a part of the prophet's message, or Jehu afterwards related it as such, to vindicate his cruel policy, as if he only acted under the divine authority of Elisha, and to fulfil Elijah's prediction. If the family of Ahab were all idolatrous, they would no doubt be included in the punishment of that sin; but as the Mosaic law expressly declared that children should not be judicially punished for the sins of their fathers, it seems more probable that Jehu put them to death, to serve a suspicious and vindictive policy, and then artfully referred his conduct to the duty and necessity he was under of fulfilling the commands of the prophet. When the messenger had anointed Jehu, he opened the door and fled.

No sooner was it known that Elisha had anointed Jehu, than he was instantly proclaimed king by the army, then encamped in Gilead. Taking prompt measures to prevent the news of what had passed from reaching Jehoram, Jehu mounted his chariot, and accompanied by a body of troops, he marched in haste to Jezreel, to surprise the king before he could prepare for his defence. When the watchman on the tower

of Jezreel descried him coming, and his company, he told the king, who ordered a horseman to go forth and meet him, and ask, "Is it peace." But when the horseman met Jehu, he replied, "What hast thou to do with peace: get thou behind me;" thus preventing the man from returning with intelligence of his designs. Then Jehoram sent a second horseman with the same enquiry. "Is it peace:" and to him Jehu gave the same reply, and detained him also.

When the watchman saw that this second messenger did not return, while the troop of horsemen continued to approach, he cried out in alarm to the king," He came even unto them, and cometh not again:" and looking upon the advancing company, he recognised Jehu by a sign well known in those times; "the driving is like the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously."

The king now ordered his chariot to be made ready, and mounting it in haste, he went forth himself, and met Jehu in the portion of Naboth. To his question, "Is it peace, Jehu?"-he was answered by reproaches, for all the wickedness of himself and his mother Jezebel; on which he hastily turned back his chariot, and called to the king of Judah, who had come forth with him, "there is treachery, Oh, Ahaziah :" he sought to save himself by flight, but in vain. Jehu drew his bow, and pierced him through the heart.