2 Kings 9:35

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.

And they went {H3212} to bury {H6912} her: but they found {H4672} no more of her than {H518} the skull {H1538}, and the feet {H7272}, and the palms {H3709} of her hands {H3027}.

They went to bury her but found no more of her than her skull, feet and hands.

But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands.

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.

2 Kings 9:35 (KJV) provides a stark and gruesome detail regarding the immediate aftermath of Queen Jezebel's death, highlighting the precise fulfillment of prophecy.

Context

This verse concludes the dramatic account of Jezebel's demise at the hands of Jehu. Having been anointed king by a prophet of God to execute judgment upon the wicked house of Ahab and Jezebel, Jehu arrives in Jezreel. Jezebel, notorious for her idolatry and persecution of God's prophets, defiantly confronts him. Jehu commands her eunuchs to throw her down from a window (2 Kings 9:33). Immediately following her fall, she is trampled by horses, and then her body is left exposed. When attendants are later sent to bury her, they find only remnants, as described in this verse.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Judgment Fulfilled: The primary theme is the undeniable fulfillment of Elijah's prophecy against Jezebel. Years earlier, the prophet Elijah declared that "the dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel" (1 Kings 21:23). This verse shows the gruesome and exact completion of that prophetic word, leaving no doubt that God's word is true and powerful.
  • Consequences of Persistent Wickedness: Jezebel's life was marked by extreme wickedness, including promoting Baal worship, persecuting God's prophets, and orchestrating the murder of Naboth (1 Kings 21:13). Her ignominious end serves as a powerful testament to the severe consequences of defying God and His righteousness.
  • God's Sovereignty: This event underscores God's ultimate control over history and human affairs, bringing justice to even the most powerful figures.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's phrasing, "they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of [her] hands," is stark and visceral. The specificity of the remaining body parts emphasizes the completeness of the dogs' consumption, leaving only the hardest or least desirable parts. This detail reinforces the horrifying nature of the judgment and the absolute fulfillment of the prophecy, leaving no room for a proper burial, which was a significant dishonor in ancient cultures.

Practical Application

For a contemporary audience, the account of Jezebel's end in 2 Kings 9:35 serves as a powerful reminder:

  • The Certainty of God's Word: Just as God's prophecy concerning Jezebel was fulfilled to the letter, so too will all of God's promises and warnings come to pass. This provides both comfort for believers in His faithfulness and a solemn warning for those who disregard Him.
  • Justice Will Prevail: While evil may seem to triumph for a time, this narrative affirms that God is a God of justice. Ultimately, all will face the consequences of their actions, whether in this life or in the final judgment.
  • Repentance is Key: The story implicitly calls for repentance and turning from wicked ways, as God is merciful to those who humble themselves before Him, but resolute against persistent rebellion.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Jeremiah 22:19

    He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

  • Isaiah 14:18

    All the kings of the nations, [even] all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house.

  • Isaiah 14:20

    Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, [and] slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

  • Acts 12:23

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

  • Job 31:3

    [Is] not destruction to the wicked? and a strange [punishment] to the workers of iniquity?

  • Ecclesiastes 6:3

    If a man beget an hundred [children], and live many years, so that the days of his years be many, and his soul be not filled with good, and also [that] he have no burial; I say, [that] an untimely birth [is] better than he.

  • Jeremiah 36:30

    Therefore thus saith the LORD of Jehoiakim king of Judah; He shall have none to sit upon the throne of David: and his dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat, and in the night to the frost.
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