parents, and children—­all, to the latest generation, were to be cut off—­to be rooted out of the earth as an abominable stock, and to rot in the sight of the heavens.  Ahab humbled himself, as he received the message of the prophet, and showed an outward reverence:  and his doom was so far softened that the destruction of the family was not immediate:  but Jezebel seems still as bold and unmoved as ever.  Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah, entered into alliance with Ahab, and visited his court to witness the splendour and share the hospitalities of Jezebel; and while both were warring against Syria, Ahab was slain in battle.

Jezebel doubtless would have scouted the folly of those who saw the fulfilment of both prophecy and sentence in the dogs licking the blood from the chariot and the armour, as they were washed in the pool, which probably was on the lands of Naboth; yet she might have foreseen thus her certain fate—­and as Ahab had died, so she should die.  Her doom was yet deferred.  She long survived her husband, and prosperity and such honours as attend the prosperous were her’s.  She was the daughter, wife, and the mother of kings.  Her sons ruled Israel.  Her daughter sat on the throne of Judah.  She dwelt in royal state at Jezreel, and enjoyed possessions which had been obtained by revolting crimes.  Ahab had died a bloody death.  Jehoshaphat was gathered to his fathers; the King of Syria perished by the hands of his servant; and Elijah was taken up to heaven—­but Jezebel still lived.

What were the occupations of her old age?  Was she still busy, restless, and intriguing?  Or did the past haunt her with dark remembrances of shame and crime, and the avenging future cast its shadow over her soul?  Did the stern decree of the prophet ring in her ears, and late remorse drive her to the dark cruelties of her bloody idolatry, in the idle hope of expiation?  Such an old age could not have been happy.  She was left to fill up the measure of her iniquity, while memory told of past sins, and conscience whispered of the coming retribution, and the avenging justice of heaven hung like a dark cloud over her guilty house.  Past the season of pleasure, deprived of the power she had so abused, without the honour and sacred reverence due to virtuous age, she may have had a foretaste of her future retribution, though surrounded by all the splendour of royalty, with trembling and abject slaves ministering to all her wants.

One son after another quietly took possession of the throne of Israel, and Jezebel may have derided the prophecy of Elijah; yet the sentence, long delayed, was fully executed.  The hour of foretold vengeance arrived.  In one day, the King of Israel was dethroned and murdered, and the race of Ahab was swept from the face of the earth.  The last act of her life was worthy of Jezebel herself,—­of the Queen of Israel in the days of her prime.  She heard of the death of Jehoram and of the insurrection of Jehu.  Neither the timidity of a woman nor the