Jehu
Jehu was a significant figure in the history of ancient Israel, known for his role as a king of the northern kingdom after its split from Judah. He emerged as a military commander who seized the throne by assassinating Joram, the last king of the Omride Dynasty, which had prominently engaged in the worship of the pagan fertility god Baal, particularly during the reign of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehu was anointed king by prophets dedicated to Yahweh, aiming to restore monotheism in Israel and eliminate Baal worship. His reign is characterized by a series of violent actions, including the extermination of the Omride family and the killing of Jezebel, as well as the massacre of Baal worshipers. Although the biblical text does not provide extensive details about his reign, his presence is acknowledged in historical artifacts, such as the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, which depicts him paying tribute to the Assyrian king. Jehu's actions and the subsequent evaluation of his reign have garnered mixed interpretations, with later prophets, like Hosea, expressing condemnation for the bloodshed associated with his rise to power. Overall, Jehu's legacy reflects the complex interplay of politics, religion, and violence in ancient Israelite history.
Jehu
Related civilizations: Israel, Assyria
Major role/position: King of Israel
Life
Jehu (JEE-hyew) was one of the kings of the northern kingdom of Israel after it had separated from the southern kingdom of Judah. According to 2 Kings 9-10 in the Bible, he was a military commander who acquired the throne by overthrowing Joram, the last king of the Omride Dynasty, known for its acceptance of the pagan fertility god Baal, especially during the rule of Ahab and his queen Jezebel. When Joram was wounded in battle, he retired to Jezreel. Prophets of the Israelite god Yahweh seized this opportunity to anoint the military commander Jehu as king to restore Yahwism and rid the country of Baal worship. Driving to Jezreel with proverbial speed, Jehu assassinated Joram, exterminated the surviving members of the Omride family, killed the despised Jezebel, and slaughtered the Baal worshipers of the kingdom. The Bible is silent about Jehu’s reign, but he is depicted on the famous Assyrian monument known as the Black Obelisk paying tribute to Shalmaneser III.
Influence
The prophet Hosea (fl. eighth century b.c.e.) looked back on Jehu’s revolt as shameful, proclaiming that Yahweh would punish his dynasty for the bloody event.
Bibliography
Miller, J. M., and J. H. Hayes. A History of Ancient Israel and Judah. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1986.
Shanks, Hershel, ed. Ancient Israel. Rev. and enlarged ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall and the Biblical Archaeology Society, 1999.