Jezebel Eaten by Dogs

    In executing predicted punishment on the family of the king of Israel, Jehu did many things by express command. Here, contrary to his design, contrary to his orders, Jezebel is devoured by dogs. This was a providential fulfilment of prediction. By the command of Jehu, Jezebel is cast down from a window. But instead of designing to give full accomplishment to the Divine prediction with respect to this woman, Jehu " said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king's daughter." But buried she cannot be. God's word has denounced her doom. She is to be eaten by dogs in the portion of Jezreel. " And they went to bury her; but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands." These fragments were a proof that she was devoured, and not removed for burial by some friend. Here is the hand of Providence. Though Jehu gave orders for the burying of Jezebel, yet, providentially, these orders are not given immediately after her death. A space intervened for the dogs to do their part of the work. And why were the dogs so voracious in the streets of Jezreel? Surely this is not usual. It is strange that Jehu knew the prediction about Jezebel, and did not fulfil it. He either neglected this part of the business, or it did not at first occur to him. But when he was told what had happened, he immediately recollected the word of the Lord. "Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel: and the carcase 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." —2 Kings ix. 36, 37.