Biblical Hebrew Forum

["L.M. Barre" <barre AT c-zone.net>]

Dear List,

It is my considered opinion that the encounter between Jehu ben Nimshi and 
Jezebel of Sidon constitutes the most dramatic confrontation portrayed in the 
Hebrew Bible.  I regard it as a supreme type of the confrontation of the 
cosmic male and female principles in violent manifestation as here incarnated 
in these two nefarious characters.  The scene is provided for us in 2 Kings 
9:30-37.  Following Jehu's clever assassination of King Jehoram, we read:

When Jezebel heard about it, she painted here eyes, arranged her hair and 
waited for Jehu at her window.  When Jehu entered the city she asked and 
called out, "Is all well, my champion, slayer of his lord?"  The he looked up 
and Jehu said, "Who supports me? Who?"  Some eunuchs looked down and Jehu 
said, "Throw her down!"  So they threw her down and some of her blood 
splattered on the wall and on the horses. then Jehu trampled here body, 
entered the palace and dined.

The Jehu said, "Take care of the accursed woman and bury her, for she was of 
royal blood."  But when they went out to bury here, they found except her 
skull, her feet and her hands.  And they went back and told Jehu who said,  . 
. . Jezebel's body will be like sh_t on the field so that no one will be able 
to say, 'This is Jezebel's corpse.'"

Our women list members are especially invited to offer their comments on this 
passage.

Thank you.

Regards,

L. M. Barre, Ph.D.

barre AT c-zone.net
www.angelfire.com/ca2/AncientIsrael