“395. JEZEBEL’S END—2 KINGS 9:30-37”

Jezebel’s End—2Ki_9:30-37

What would be the thing that Jezebel would be likely to do, when tidings of these doings reached her—when she saw that her son was slain—that her power was gone—that the hour of doom was come—and the destroyer was at the palace gates? Did she hide herself in the sacred recesses of the harem, which scarcely he would violate? Did she, like some pagan heroine, strike the dagger into her own bosom? Broke she forth into bitter wailings at the desolation of her house? None of these things did Jezebel; but what she did became her character. The Jezebel she had been, that Jezebel she was to the last.

She saw that her doom was sealed; but she determined to let it be seen that she feared not, mourned not, and to cast one bitter and burning word upon the head of the destroyer, such as should haunt and scorch him all his life. As, for this purpose, it was necessary to show herself, if but for a moment, instead of casting herself upon the floor and tearing her garments and her hair, she applied herself to her toilet, and arrayed herself carefully, even to the painting of her eyes, to let it be seen that she appeared as a queen, and not as a suppliant or a mourner, as the neglect of her person would have implied. This was her motive, and not, as some in ignorance of eastern manners have supposed, from any idea of making an impression by the charms of her still splendid person upon the stern heart of the avenger. This painting of the eyes, still a general custom of the female toilet in Western Asia, amounted to putting the face in dress, just as laying on patches, or applying color to the cheeks, did formerly in this country. This custom, which the translators of the current version of the Bible did not understand, and which they therefore rendered into “painting the face,” consists in tinging the eyelids with a black color, from a black metallic powder. In performing this operation the eye is closed, and a small ebony rod, smeared with the composition, is squeezed between the lids, so as to tinge their edges with the color. This is considered to add greatly to the brilliancy and power of the eye, and to deepen the effect of the long black eyelashes of which the Easterns are excusably proud. The ancient Egyptians practised this long before the date of the present transaction. Figures of painted eyes appear in the monuments, and the implements used in the operation have been actually found in the tombs, with some of the composition remaining in the vessels. To a European the effect is at first unpleasant; and it used for a time to remind us of a chimney-sweeper who had cleansed his face as well as he could, but had not succeeded in clearing the soot from his eyelids. But one soon comes round to Asiatic notions in such matters.

Painted Eyes

Thus set forth, Jezebel presented herself at the window or kiosk over the palace gate, when the noise of the chariot-wheels announced the arrival of the new master. When he looked up, she returned his glance with a stare of defiance, and cried out—“Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?” Jehu made no reply, but called out to the eunuchs, who appeared behind in attendance on her, to throw her out of the window. The slaves saw in him their future master; and the words had scarce passed his lips before she was hurled down in front of him, as he was entering the gates. He passed over her, and entered the palace, the hoofs of his horses and his chariot-wheels red with her blood, without pausing to see whether she lived or died. He took possession, and after a while sat down to refresh himself with meat and drink, after that morning’s bloody work. The coolness of this iron-hearted man is astonishing, but not without parallel. He probably ate with zest, and with as little saddened thought as a hunter who has spent the morning in hunting unto death the fatted deer. And why not? he would have asked. He had done a meritorious duty that day, and who had more right to eat and drink in the gladness of an easy conscience? It may be so. We had rather that he had accepted his task with reluctance, and had performed it with a leaning to mercy’s side, than that he should have performed it with the tiger-like instincts and atrocious circumstances of one delighting in blood. But Jehu was perhaps the best man for the dreadful work in hand. Human sympathy and tender-heartedness are not the qualities one looks for in a public executioner, or such as fit him for his dreadful task; and Jehu was an executioner.

In the midst of his good cheer, the new king chose to remember Jezebel, and said to those about him—“Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter.” Presently they returned with horror to inform him, that they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of the hands. The street-dogs had eaten the rest; and this was at the palace gates. Were there none at hand, even there, to fray off the vile brutes from the corpse of the woman before whom, yesterday, the nation trembled? We can hardly think but that there were some who looked on, and saw it all, but forbore to interfere—whether from the brutal joy which low minds take in the abasement of the great—or, as likely, because they feared to do aught which might bear the aspect of an interference between the savage king and his prey. That king heard the account, and declared that in this also a part of his task as doom-worker had been accomplished. “This,” said he, “is the word of the Lord, which He spake by the mouth of his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: and the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.”

Syrian Street Dog

In illustration of this shocking end, even of the corpse of Jezebel, it remains to remark, that the more than half-wild street-dogs of the East, living upon their own resources, and without owners, soon make a rapid clearance of the flesh of dead bodies left exposed, whether of human creatures or beasts. Among other instances it is recorded, that a number of Indian pilgrims were drowned by the sinking of a ferryboat in which they were crossing a river. Two days after a spectator relates—“On my approaching several of these sad vestiges of mortality, I perceived that the flesh had been completely devoured from the bones by the Pariah dogs, vultures, and other obscene animals. The only portion of the several corpses I noticed that remained entire and untouched, were the bottoms of the feet and insides of the bands; and this extraordinary circumstance immediately brought to my mind the remarkable passage recorded in the second book of Kings, relating to the death and ultimate fate of Jezebel, who was, as to her body, eaten of dogs, and nothing remained of her but the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet. The former narration may afford a corroborative proof of the rooted antipathy the dog has to prey upon the human hands and feet. Why such should be the case, remains a mystery.”

Autor: JOHN KITTO