Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · 2 Kings · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
THen Elishah sent one of the sonnes of the Prophets to anoint Iehu king of Israel at Ramoth Gilead, which sheweth it to be true, that was noted out of V. 1.Iosephus before, viz. that Iehu was left as Generall or chief captain over Iorams forces at Ramoth Gilead against the Syrians. And this Iehu is further said to be the son of Iehoshaphat the sonne of Nimshi, and because the Prophet is bidden to go into Ramoth Gilead, v. 2. and bring Iehu not into a tent, but into an inner chamber, Martyr conjectureth, that Ramoth Gilead was taken by the Israelites, and that P. Martyr.Ioram left his army there, thinking, when he should be whole of his wounds, to return and pursue the Syrians further, which is not improbable. Yea, Iosephus plainly affirmeth it, and the words v. 15. do further confirm the same. The Prophet sent to anoint Iehu is thought by some to be Ionah, whom Elijah raised from the dead, Chron. Hebr. c. 18. Epiphan. Hieronym.viz. the widows son of Sareptah, who afterwards prophesied against Niniveh: but the holy Scripture saith onelyonly in generall, one of the sonnes of the Propsiets, therefore to passe over mens conjectures, not determining who he was by name, we reade that he is bidden to gird up his loyns, that he might make the more haste, because now there was such an opportunity for Iehu to execute Gods judgements, as he should hardly have another time, Iorams forces being abroad and he disabled by his wounds, and Ahaziah, who was now one of Ahabs family by marriage, and as wicked as he, in the same city together with Ioram, and that the city Iezreel appointed for the place, where this execution should be done. And he is bidden take a cruse of oyl for the anointing of Iehu, which was a thing given in charge before to Elijah, but he onelyonly took order with Elishah, that it should be done, whereby we may gather, that the Lord enjoyned him not to do it in person, but to provide to have it done. And whereas Elishah did it not himself neither, but sent another to do it, some think, that because he was old and could not travell with such speed, he P. Martyr. Theodoret.sent a younger man; others, that he sent one unknown, that the thing might be the more secretly done, which could not have been by so famous a Prophet as Elishah. And I think, that not one, but both of these considerations might move him thus to do, or haply the spirit of God directed him to send and not to go. For his taking of a cruse of oyl with him, it was done, that the intended businesse might be kept the more secret; wherefore it is generally held, that he took common oyl, and none of the holy oyl kept in the Sanctuary, for this neither the haste would permit him to fetch, nor could he doe it without diminishing the matter: and a cruse not an horne, as to annoint David and Solomon, was taken to intimate, that the kingdome should not alwayes continue in his family, as in Davids; and the like vessel was used for Saul before for the same mysticall end. But seeing no King of Israel, but Davids posterity onelyonly was annointed King, since Saul, why was Iehu annointed? Answ. Because he had an harder taske by God imposed upon him, then any of his predecessours, who were appointed by God to reigne over Israel, viz. to execute his judgements upon Ahabs posterity, as is expressed, vers. 7, 8. that he might be the more encouraged unto it and not feare any thing, when he had received authority, as it were, from God by this meanes so to doe, and a signe of assurance, that he should be enabled from above. And Elishah telleth him, that he should finde Jehu in the midst of his brethren, that is, sitting amongst other Captains in counsell, and biddeth him call him forth and carry him into an inner chamber, and there annoint him King and then flee away, all which he did accordingly; and this was so done, that none might know of it, till afterwards, lest if it had been rumoured abroad, some means should have been used to make the execution the more difficult. And because it was dangerous for any man to doe this, whilest Ioram lived, he immediately opened the doore and fled, not tarrying to heare, what Iehu would say.
Thus the Prophets of God sometimes put their lives in hazard in doing their office to which they were appointed, and some suffered death therefore: but no Note. servant of God must passe for that, but couragiously doe the duty commanded him, yet when there is danger, and it may be, we learne by this example to be secret and wary in the performance of it. And here we see what authority the Prophets of God had even in disposing of kingdomes, for which the Lord sometime said to such, I have set thee over kingdomes and nations to plant and root up. For this Prophet as Gods instrument, now pulld downe Ioram and set up Iehu, and Ahijah before, Ieroboam; and Samuel, David; yet none pretending himselfe to be the man of God, and his vicar may now of the motion of his owne minde presume to doe the like, as the Pope hath done, because every soule is subject to the higher powers, and the greatest Prophet, that ever was, never did this, but by the expresse command of God: when this Prophet came where Jehu was, he found him sitting amongst the Captaines and contrary to the manner of inferiour persons, when V. 5.they are to speake to Princes, he awaited not his rising, but called him forth, being haply in serious consultation about the warre, and Iehu came forth unto him, knowing him doubtlesse to be a Prophet, and supposing him to be sent by Elishah, whom even the greatest reverenced for his great power. He told him that he had a message to doe unto him, which he could not, but presently conceive to be from the Lord, and therefore leaving the businesse in hand, of what great weight soever, he came forth to heare it, which shewed some piety towards God to have beene in him, although it was soone overthrowne, by his vaine glory.
When the Prophet had annointed him in secret as he was appointed, he told him, V. 6. V. 7. V. 8.that he should smite the house of Ahab his Master, because it was the will of God, who made him King, that he should thus doe: for that he had shed the bloud of his Prophets and other servants by his wife Iezabel, upon whom it should now be revenged, and he added more according to that, 1 King. 21. 21, 22, 23. where the words are already expounded. These words indeed are not mentioned in this chap. before, when Elishah gave him his charge, but it is to be thought that they were spoken being onelyonly for brevities sake there passed over in silence. And when he had said thus, he opened the doore and fled, for he had before shut in, when he brought Iehu into the chamber, that none might see, what he did, and now he flyeth, lest any neare unto Ahabs family or of his friends should know of it, and finding him slay him.
Then Iehu went in to the servants of his Lord, and they said, Is is peace? Wherefore V. 11.came this mad fellow to thee? &c.] They called him mad fellow, because the Prophets sometimes, when they were moved by the Spirit of God, did as if they were besides themselves: in imitation whereof it was common with those that spake by an evil spirit at the time of their prophesies uttering, to be cast into a fury. so Kimhi. But Martyr denieth this, and saith, that was proper to such as spake by D. Kimhi. P. Martyr.an evil spirit; but they which spake by the Spirit of God understood well, what they said. OnelyOnly idolaters, such as these were, who loved them not, counted and called them fooles and mad men, because they declaimed against their wickednesse, and contemned the profits, pleasures and honours of this world, which they so much esteemed. So the kinsmen of our Lord sometime thought him to be besides himselfe, and Festus said to Paul, that much learning had made him mad.
Thus also Pellican and Hugo Card. and Lyra, and because they oft times spake Pellican. Lyra. Scholast. hist.things that seemed strange to other men. Comestor, they called him so, because they counted the sonnes of the prophets mad men, or because he ranne away like a mad man, so soon as he had spoken. I think with Kimhi, that because the prophets when they spake by the spirit were sometimes in shew like men distracted through the spirit coming upon them, the prophane called them mad fellowes, when as indeed they were not distracted, but well understood what they prophesied, as appeareth by their writing out of their prophesies sometimes, and because it is said, 1 Cor. 14. the spirit of the prophets, is subject to the prophets. But that there was a shew of distraction appeareth by that which was said of Saul, 1 Sam. 19. 22, 23. Hee cast off his clothes when the spirit came upon him, and did after the manner of the prophets being naked all that day, and night v. 24. so that the prophets sometimes were as in an extasie, when they prophesied, and so behaved themselves.
Iehu answered, yee know the man and his speech.] Some take this as spoken interrogatively, Doe yee know the man and the truth of his speech, and whether he may bee Pellican.believed? so Pellican taking it, as spoken doubtingly by Iehu, and likewise Hugo Card. but Martyr, and Lyra, and Iunius, without an interrogation expound it, ye P. Martyr. Lyra. Junius. V. 12.know by his habit that he is a prophet, and therefore what he said, to be by way of prophesying, or doing me a message from the Lord. Then they answering, it is false, and urging him to tell them what he said, he told them all, and they immediately, their hearts being moved by the highest, hastened and set him up for king. For it must needs be acknowledged the wonderfull work of God, when as they but even now prejudged what he had said, as false, and yet presently believed it, and did accordingly. Iosephus and some that follow him, expound it thus; I see yee know the man and what talke he had with me, for he spake madly unto me indeed, then they Josephus. Comestor.urging him to tell more particularly what he said, as if they would make no other account of it, then as of words coming from a distempered brain, he declared the whole matter unto them, and God immediately wrought herewith so, that they hasted to confirm it. And this seemeth to come nearest to the true meaning, but the reader may without errour follow this, or that of Lyra. Whereas they replyed, it is false, when Iehu said, yee know the man, &c. some understand it as meant, that they knew him not, nor his talke, and therefore desired to have it related unto them; but I rest in the former, as more agreeable to their calling him mad fellow, and making most for the glory of God in changing their minds so suddenly.
Then they hastened and put every man his garment under his feet, and sounded the trumpet, and said, Iehu is king.] The vulgar Latin, they packt every one his garment under V. 13.his feet in the likenesse of a Tribunall, and Iosephus saith, that they made of them a Josephus.throne, and set Iehu thereon. Hebr. it is, on the height of degrees] that is, upon a place, unto which, as unto a throne it is ascended by degrees, to declare him to bee Eng. tr. On the top of the stairsking, as God had appointed; they set him upon a place some what elevated for want of a throne, and covered it with their garments, as with carpets for the greater state. The word used, saith Martyr, signifieth either a stone, or a bone, whereupon P. Martyr.some understand it meant of a diall of stone, in which degrees are to note the hours of the day, as the Chald. paraphrast; others, as of ivory made of the Elephants tooth, imagining a seat of such matter to have been there, upon which the judge was wont to sit; for putting their garments under him, it seemeth to have been done amongst the Iewes in way of most highly honouring, Math. 21. 7.
So Iehu conspired against Joram.] That is, he with the other Captains, and the V. 14. Coniuratio est multorum simul jurantium & pactum aliquod jureiurand. roborantium. Tostatus.army at Ramoth Gilead agreed together, binding themselves most probably by oath against Ioram to root out him and all his race, that Iehu might reign in his stead, which is not properly called a conspiring, because God had expressely appointed it so to bee done. Hazael, who was likewise anointed king of Syria, cannot bee counted for the manner of his aspiring to the kingdom better then a traytour, because he was not bidden to destroy Benhadad, but did it out of his ambition putting him on with hast to get that crown, but Iehu was willed to doe thus against Ahabs race. But Ioram had kept Ramoth Gilead with all Israel from Asahel, &c. Iunius [had set a custody at Ramoth, &c. the vulgar Latin had besieged] the word foreign here used, may be taken either for keeping or besieging, saith Sallianus, for so it is used, 2 Sam. 11. but untruly, for the word there used is, foreign, neither is foreign put for any thing else, but keeping. But how can he be said to have kept it, when as it was in the hands of the Syrians. Ans. Iosephus saith, that Iehu with the army had Josephus.taken it, and so by him he kept it, untill himselfe should come thither again. And of the cities being in the possession of Iorams men, it hath been spoken a litle before. And a repetition is here made, saith Martyr, of Iorams going from hence to V. 15. P. Martyr.Iezreel to be healed of his wounds, that it might be understood, what an opportunity Iehu and the captains at Ramoth now had to set up a new king, which they could not have done, if he had been there, unlesse he had been first killed, and this was needfull to be remembred, that it might appeare, what was the ground of Iehu his speech here following. If it be your will, let none escape out to tell it in Iezreel.] If yee mean that I shall be king, provide that it be kept from Iorams knowledge in Iezreel, least he save himselfe by flying away. Hereupon saith Iosephus, all the wayes were beset, that none might goe out. Then Iehu going up into his chariot, hastened V. 16.towards Iezreel; not alone, for a company is said by and by to have gone with him, being doubtlesse a band of souldiers from Ramoth. And here again it is repeated, that Ieram lay sick there, and Ahaziah was come thither to him, that the over-ruling power of God might be marked, which brought them both together to one place to be with the more facility joyned together in destruction, as they had been joyned together in sinne. Then the watchman stood upon the tower in Iezreel, &c. of a V. 17.wathman set upon on high also in Davids time to espye and give notice of such, as came towards the city in time of warre, see 2 Sam. 18. 24. This telleth to some of the kings house that he saw a company coming, which the king hearing, biddeth as horseman to goe out and meet them, and aske whether it were peace, which he did, and was answered, what hast thou to doe with peace, get thee behind me, and so he returned not. Then a second horseman was sent out in like manner, who returning V. 19. V. 20.not neither, the watchman told that his march that was the leader, was like the marching of Iehu, for he marched furiously. Hereupon Ioram commands to bring forth his chariot, and went out to meet him, and Ahaziah with him, and V. 21.found him in the field of Naboth the Iezreelite, and asking him, is it peace Iehu? V. 22.he answered, what peace? the whordomes of thy mother Iezabel, &c. Iehoram then V. 23.perceiving, that he sought his destruction, turned and fled back again, but Jehu shor an arrow through his body and slew him, &c. Thus it was verified which is said, Ps. 127. Except the Lord watch the city, the watchman watcheth in vain. King Ioram Note. was by this means brought the sooner to his death, neither shall any watching or warding, profit the wicked, when the time is come of Gods judgements for their sinnes. Iosephus differing somewhat from the Scripture, relates it thus; Ioram bad, that an horse man should be sent out and aske who it was that came, then hee Josephus.approaching, asked what was done in the army? for the king desired to know; but Iehu bad him not to be sollicitous about that, but turn and come behind him with the rest of the company. Hee would not suffer him to return, that the king might know nothing, till he came at him, but bee suddenly surprised. The Chald. paraph. rendreth these words, he marcheth furiously, he leadeth quietly, Iosephus he marcheth slowly, and with a well ordered troop] but the same word foreign is here used, which was used before by the Captaines when they asked, wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? It is best therefore rendred furiously or madly. The king understanding, that it was Iehu, hastened with the other king to meet him for honours sake, as some suppose, he being his chiefe captain; and now thought by him to come with good newes from the army, which because he would tell himselfe, and would not be prevented by any other, hee thought that hee would not suffer any of the messengers to returne, but would have them follow after him.
And it is to be noted, how the divine providence carried him to the very place, where execution was to be done, to the field of Naboth the Iezreelite. Touching Iehu his answer, when he asked, whether it were peace, The whoredoms and witch. crafts of thy mother Iezabel, &c. By both these Lyra understandeth her idolatries, Lyra.for idolatry is spirituall fornication, and commonly called whoredom and adultery; because the Church is unto God, as his Spouse, and therefore as when a mans wife goeth after another man, she is an whore and adulteresse; so when any, that should worship the true God onelyonly, follow after idols, they are adulterers and adulteresses. And witchcraft spitituall it is, because it intoxicateth as witchcraft, so that idolaters are hereby carried headlong as by an evill spirit to their destruction.
Iosephus understandeth whoredoms properly, Martyr both spirituall and corporall Josephus. P. Martyr.whoredome, because they commonly goe together. But why is not Iorams owne wickednesse objected to him, but his mothers? Answ. She was the head thereof, and the first bringer of the worship of Baal into Israel, and now, by her and her daughter Athaliahs meanes, Iudah was corrupted therewith. Moreover it was his part being King, not to have suffered her to goe on in her idolatry, as Asa suffered not his Mother Maachah. For by thus doing he made it his owne, and was worthy with her to be destroyed: which was Iehu his meaning, when he objected these things unto him, and asked, What hast thou to doe with peace? Note Note. then, that where idolatry and whoredoms are common, the State cannot be quiet, but the sword and slaughter must needs follow; therefore the way to have peace is to purge the land from these evils, as all good Kings have done.
He turned his hand and fled:] That is, he bade him, that guided his chariot horses to turne them and flee away. When Iehu tooke his bowe to shoot, it is said, [That he filled his hand with his bowe] by an Hebraisme: Then Iehu bad Bidchar his Captain take and cast him into a part of Naboths field: recounting the prophesie, whereby V. 25.by it was thus appointed. Bidchar in Hebrew is called foreign which cometh of a word signifying three, because, as also Iosephus hath it, the third part of his army was committed unto him, he was then Captaine of the third part. But how did the prophesie touch Iehoram, when as Naboth was not put to death by him, but by his father, and it was Ahab his father, that was threatened, that the dogs should lick his bloud there, 1 King. 21. 19. For the meaning of those words see my exposition there. But the Lord then threatened not Ahab alone but his sonnes, v. 21. and upon his humiliation said, that he would not bring this evill in his but in his sonnes dayes, v. 29. wherefore Iehu taking all the prophesie together maketh this V. 26.construction of it, I will reward thee in this field, for the bloud of Naboth and the bloud of his sonnes: in which words he intimated that, which was no where before expressed, that Naboths sonnes were slaine also, that Ahab might obteine his vineyard; unlesse with some we shall understand their bloud to be spoken of, because D. Kimhi.when their meanes were taken away, their bloud was, as it were, shed; but I rather think, that they were slaine also, as I partly touched before upon 2 King. 21. because many, that have no lands or goods, live upon their hands. In that place then this heinous wickednesse was revenged now, Ahab being here punisht in his wicked sonne. And in that he bad cast his body there, it is intimated, that another part of the prophesie was now fulfilled also, viz. by his bodys lying unburied to be eaten up of birds, 1 King. 21. 24. And in speaking of the prophesie against Ahab he called it a burden laid upon him, because it is to beare an heavy burden to suffer such punishments. And in uttering the prophesie he saith, I see, saith the Lord, the bloud of Naboth yesterday, &c. To note, that bloud unjustly shed is alwayes before the Pellican.eyes of the Lord, how long soever before, as if it had beene but yesterday, till it be Note. throughly revenged, so Pellican. But indeed these words uttered by the Prophet then, serve rather to set forth the time of Elijah his threatening of him to have beene the day after that murder committed.
When Joram was slaine, Ahaziah the King of Iudah fled by the way of the V. 27.garden house and Iehu pursued him, and said, Smite him also in his chariot in the going up to Gur which is by Ibleam, then he fled to Megiddo and died there, 2 Chron. 22. 9. it is said, That Iehu seeking for Ahazia found him lurking in Samaria, and when he was brought unto him, slew him. Here seemeth to be a contradiction, but it is by Lyra thus expounded, Ahaziah fled by the way of the garden Lyra.house; and although Iehu bade kill him in the going up to Gur, he came first to Samaria, and there sought to hide himselfe, but by those of Iehu his company being found out, he was brought unto him to the place before named and being deadly wounded haply with an arrow, as Ioram had been, he fled to Megiddo and there died of this wound. Thus, but more briefly Lyra, but more largely set forth, for the more full clearing of the doubt. Another more improbably saith, that H. B. Patriarkes travels.he caused his wounds to be dressed at Megiddo according to Iosephus, and then fled to Samaria being fourteene miles off, from whence being found, he was brought back to Megiddo againe and there slaine by the command of Iehu. For the Sacred history speaketh not of his being slaine at Megiddo, but dying there of the wounds formerly received; nor of his fleeing any whither after that he came to Megiddo. Martyr followeth Lyra, but onelyonly he saith, that Ahaziah was wounded at the P. Martyr.commandment of Iehu in Iezreel, and then fleeing to Megiddo he died there. Sallianus most unreasonably saith, that he lay hid in Megiddo, seeking to make this exposition good by taking Samaria the chiefe city of the Kingdome for the Kingdome of Israel, within which Megiddo was. Thus also Iunius, in Samaria, that is, in the Kingdome of Israel for which the Metropolis is put Synechdochically. But seeing Samaria is no where thus taken, I passe this over, as a groundlesse invention, and conclude, that he fled by the Kings garden in Iezreel near Naboths field, where Iehu bade smite him, but the pursuers could not then reach him, he having gotten so much ground, whilest Ioram was taken out of his chariot and cast into the field of Naboth, that he got into Samaria seeking to be hidden there, but they coming soone after, found him out and brought him to Iehu about Iezreel, and then he shot him also, and not doubting, but that his wound was deadly suffered him to flee to Megiddo foure miles off, and there he died. Megiddo was a towne in Manasseh, Iosh. 17. 11. Iosephus saith, That having received this wound he left his Chariot Josephus.and fled on horseback. Now for the justifying of this exposition it is to be noted, that he saith, 2 King. 9. 27. Iehu bade smite him; but these words, and they smote him, are not in the Hebrew, but onelyonly supplyed by the Vulg. Lat. and Iunius, and in some Septuagint; and so to say with the Chronologer, that after this bidding he went and hid himselfe in Samaria, is not contradictory to the Kings, but onelyonly a declaring by way of supplement of that which is here wanting, that he was not smitten so soone as he bade smite him, but some time after being brought back from Samaria to which place he had first escaped, to Iehu to be slaine. Then he gave him a deadly wound with an arrow, as Iosephus also saith expresly, whereof he died at Megiddo, whither he fled thus wounded, and therefore it is said there, that not they, but he slew him.
If it be demanded, whether did not Iehu goe beyond his commission, which was onelyonly to smite the house of Ahab, in smiting Ahaziah, who was none of his linage also? It is generally answered by expositours, that Iehu did herein no more, then God willed: for to shew this, 2 Chron. 22. 7. it is said, It was the will of God, that Ahaziah came to visite Ioram, and went out with him against Iehu, that he might destroy the house of Ahab. God brought them both together into Iehu his hands, the one as a naturall member of his house, and the other being made so by marriage, 2 King. 8. 27. and because he came of Athaliah his daughter, and therefore in slaying him also he did no more, then was required, viz. destroy Ahabs house.
Ahaziah being slain had more honour done to him, then Ioram, for he was carried V. 28.to Ierusalem and buried there in the sepulchres of his fathers, but 2 Chron. 22. 9. this was onelyonly for Iehosaphats sake, of whom he descended. For that which followeth, vers. 29. Ahaziah reigned the eleventh year of Iordus, &c. It hath beene already expounded upon 2 King. 8. 26. the seeming contradiction being reconciled. And the Spirit of God in repeating the same thing twice, viz. that he reigned Note. but one yeare, would have us note, what a short time he reigned for his wickednesse, wherein he exceeded even his wicked father Ioram, as Iosephus saith, and we may easily gather, if we compare their histories, Righteousnesse prolongeth a Kings life in glory, but wickednesse cutteth it off betimes.
And Iehu came to Iezreel, then Iezabel painted her face and tyred her head, &c.] V. 30. Josephus. Tostatus. Vatablus.To what end she thus did, Iosephus setteth forth, saying, that she stood in the tower in her royall attire, that appearing in the Majesty of a Queen, she might the more move Iehu, as Tostatus and Vatablus, and haply she thought that whatsoever she should say, Iehu would not dishonour himself so much, as to embrew his hands in the bloud of a woman. Wherefore she cast out this reproach against him, had Zimri peace that slew his master? for he himself indeed perished, within seven days 1 King. 16. 10.after that he had thus gotten the crown, so she hoped, that Iehu should do, she having many more sonnes, of which she made account, that some one would be presently set up, and be revenged upon Iehu, for the death of her sonne Ioram. Thus she made a treacherous Zimri of Iehu, who was anointed of the Lord to do this execution.
But she soon paid dear for this and all other her wickednesses: for Iehu lookt V. 32.up and said, who is on my side? and immediatly two or three Eunuchs lookt out at the window, and he commanded them to cast her down, which they did, and so she died, and was troden under the horses feet. A miserable and desperate end, but such as she was well worthy of, for causing innocent Naboth to be stoned to death, and for persecuting and killing up the Prophets of God. For it is to be noted, that Note. being in apparent danger, she sought not to hide her self, neither had any remorse for her sinnes before she died, but went on in her pride and vanity, thinking to daunt and to outface the executioner of Gods judgements upon her now in presence, an example to all the wicked bloud-thirsty enemies of the truth, wherein they may see their own destiny, viz. that continuing to fill up their sinnes unto the end, they shall then suddenly be horribly destroyed by such meanes as they least feared; as she by her own attendants. But they herein shewed their false hearts to her their Lady and mistresse, for which cause such are rightly called by a certain Emperour, sorices aula. It is strange to see, what an exposition, Lyra saith, the Hebrews Lyra.make upon this place, contrary to all our Doctors, and yet by him also favoured, that Iezabel painted her face, &c. to allure Iehu to love her, and whereas her words seem to make against this, Had Zimri peace that slew his master? He wresteth them strangely, rendring them thus, can there be peace? there making an interrogation point, and then adding Amri slew his master, leaving it to be supplied, and yet reigned many years in peace, understanding her demand, can there be peace? as a wish that there might be so to him. But the text speaketh not of Amri, but of Zimri, neither did Amri slay his master, but the murtherer of his master, and Iezzabel P. Martyr.being now an old woman, it had been absurd for her to think of alloring any man to love, by thus trimming up her self, but rather to deride her, as Martyr reasoneth.
Iehu then went in to take his repast, and when he had so done, he bade some V. 34.about him to visite that cursed woman and to bury her, because she was a kings daughter. He thought haply, that he should be the more maligned by other kings about, and specially by the kings of the Sidonians, of whom she came, if he should suffer her corps to lye unburied. If it be said, by the same reason he should have taken order for the buriall of Ioram, it is answered, he caused him to be cast out to fulfill a prophesie, and although there was the like prophesie touching Iezabel, yet V. 35, 36, 37.he might for the present forget it; but when he heard, that the dogs had eaten her up, he soon called it to minde, and repeated the words thereof, that the dogges should eat her up, and that she should be as dung upon the earth, neither should any man say, this is Iezabel, meaning, when he should passe by her sepulchre, as is common to say of great persons, for she had no sepulchre or monument, whereby to be remembred, and so it was verified in her, which is said Prov. 10. 7. The memory of the wicked shall rot.
By Iezabel we may with Hugo allegorically understand this world, which being Hugo Cardin. The Allegory.most vile, sheweth yet a painted face, to allure to the love of her, but all the pomp and pride of this world will not uphold it, but when the time of judgement commeth, it shall all be ruined and consumed, and all that are drawn by the glory thereof together. Martyr by Iezabel understandeth the Pope of Rome, who painteth P. Martyr.and setteth forth himself as a vice-god upon earth, when as he is full of fornications and witchcrafts, by his idolatries and powerfull illusions bewitching mens mindes with the love of him. But when the time of his judgement cometh, all his glory shall suddenly be overthrown, he shall be cruelly destroyed, and become as base as the dung upon the earth, even to those that have honoured him, which is according to the revelation, where he is likened to a great whore, that cometh finally to destruction upon the sudden. Yea, any great seducer to things idolatrous may be understood by her, as Rev. 2. 20. those that seduced some in the Church of Thiatira to cat things offered to idols.
Touching painting of faces, Martyr here taketh occasion to inveigh against it, as being censured by Cyprian, Chrysostome, Augustine, and the rest of the fathers, and as coming from pride and fleshly lust, it being hereby sought to allure men, and a changing of the naturall face into an artificiall, but indeed not to the bettering, but marring thereof; alledging Cyprian, saying, that the devill taught the daughters of men to make themselves seem fair thus, to allure the sonnes of God to their destruction. He that desireth to read more at large of it, may look into his disputes hereupon, 2 King. 9.