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Jehu: The Kingslayer · The Chosen People

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Previously on The Chosen People.
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: Children burned on their altars. Women were taken, broken, and discarded.
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: Kings carved their glory from the marrow of their subjects.
• 0:14
  Speaker 1: Beneath all its beauty, the land groaned beneath the weight
• 0:18
  Speaker 1: of its own corruption.
• 0:20
  Speaker 3: I gave you this house, this kingdom, this crown!
• 0:26
  Speaker 4: Had that not been enough, I would have given you more.
• 0:31
  Speaker 4: Yet you have despised my word. You have done what
• 0:36
  Speaker 4: is evil in my sight. Blood shall answer blood.
• 0:41
  Speaker 5: Because you have dealt in violence, so too shall violence
• 0:46
  Speaker 5: rise in your own walls.
• 0:49
  Speaker 6: But if you or your descendants turn away from me
• 0:53
  Speaker 6: and do not observe my commands... If you serve other
• 0:57
  Speaker 6: gods and worship them, Israel will become an object of
• 1:02
  Speaker 6: scorn and ridicule among all the peoples.
• 1:11
  Speaker 1: Kisha trudged along the dusty road, the flask of oil
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: clutched tightly in his hands. He was not entirely sure
• 1:20
  Speaker 1: why Elisha had chosen him for this errand. It felt,
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: if he was being honest with himself, less like an
• 1:27
  Speaker 1: honor and more like a test of how much he
• 1:30
  Speaker 1: trusted his master or how much his master trusted him.
• 1:36
  Speaker 1: Probably both. Elisha's instructions had been precise and yet maddeningly
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: vague in the way only prophets and poets ever managed
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: to be.
• 1:48
  Speaker 5: Go to jail, son of Jehoshaphat. Anoint him king over Israel.
• 1:53
  Speaker 5: Speak the word of the Lord to him, and then,
• 1:56
  Speaker 5: this is important, Keisha, leave, quickly. Don't linger to see
• 2:02
  Speaker 5: what happens next.
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: Keisha had wondered what it meant, although Keisha often found
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: it fruitless to wander long. Life following Elisha was full
• 2:13
  Speaker 1: of surprises, and so here he was, miles from the
• 2:18
  Speaker 1: school of prophets, stepping cautiously into the fringes of a
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: military camp These soldiers were technically King Joram's men, but
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: their hearts and true allegiance were to their commander, Jehu.
• 2:33
  Speaker 1: Keisha stopped just beyond the edge of the firelight, crouching
• 2:38
  Speaker 1: low behind a tangle of thorn bushes. Jehu was easy
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: to spot, even from a distance. He sat in the
• 2:47
  Speaker 1: center of his men, his massive frame outlined by the
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: orange glow of the fire. His voice boomed like a
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: battle shofar as he regaled his soldiers with a story
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: Keisha had heard a dozen times before.
• 3:03
  Speaker 7: And Samson, oh, Samson! My father told me about him
• 3:08
  Speaker 7: when I was just a boy. Picture it. A thousand,
• 3:14
  Speaker 7: thousand Philistines sneering, jeering, and all Samson had was the
• 3:22
  Speaker 7: jawbone of a donkey.
• 3:25
  Speaker 3: A jawbone! And do you know what he did?
• 3:29
  Speaker 5: He killed them all, didn't he, Lord Commander?
• 3:34
  Speaker 3: Every last one of them!
• 3:37
  Speaker 8: Ha ha!
• 3:38
  Speaker 3: Can you imagine it?
• 3:40
  Speaker 7: Swinging that jawbone like a farmer threshing wheat!
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: The men roared their approval, their admiration for their commander
• 3:48
  Speaker 1: as clear as the stars overhead.
• 3:52
  Speaker 3: A thousand Philistines with a donkey's jawbone. What I wouldn't
• 3:58
  Speaker 3: give to see that. See it? If I'd been there,
• 4:04
  Speaker 3: I would have helped him stack the bodies.
• 4:06
  Speaker 1: The man roared with laughter, and even Keisha, hidden in
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: the shadows, couldn't help but crack a smile. Jehu was magnetic,
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: larger than life. It was no wonder his men idolized him.
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: Jehu was a legend in the making. He was the
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: kind of man who made you feel like you were
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: part of something greater than yourself. A man who could
• 4:30
  Speaker 1: turn a campfire into a throne room with nothing but
• 4:33
  Speaker 1: his presence.
• 4:35
  Speaker 7: What happened to the great judges of old? Men and
• 4:39
  Speaker 7: women of strength and conviction. That's what Israel needs, isn't it?
• 4:45
  Speaker 7: Not some whimpering king hiding behind his palace walls, afraid
• 4:51
  Speaker 7: of breaking a nail. Israel needs a judge, a leader
• 4:56
  Speaker 7: who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty for the
• 4:58
  Speaker 7: sake of righteousness.
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: The soldiers cheered, banging their fists.
• 5:04
  Speaker 3: On the ground.
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: It was now or never. Keisha tightened his grip on
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: the flask and stepped out from the bushes. his heart
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: pounding so loudly he was sure they would hear it
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: over the fire. The soldiers noticed him immediately. Their laughter
• 5:21
  Speaker 1: faded into wary silence, hands drifting toward their weapons. Jehu turned,
• 5:28
  Speaker 1: his expression shifting from amusement to curiosity as he rose
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: to his full, imposing height. Jehu's sharp eyes caught the
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: flicker of an insignia, a flame sewn into the shoulder
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: of Keisha's garment. Recognition dawned on Jehu's face, the symbol
• 5:47
  Speaker 1: of the school of prophets.
• 5:49
  Speaker 7: Well, wow, what have we here? You're a bit out
• 5:52
  Speaker 7: of your element here, young prophet. Have you come to
• 5:56
  Speaker 7: bless us with some riddles, maybe?
• 6:01
  Speaker 1: The man chuckled uneasily, but Jehu meant no harm. He
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: respected prophets who supported the judges. Kisha straightened his shoulders.
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: and forced himself to meet the commander's gaze.
• 6:16
  Speaker 8: I have a message for Jehu, a message from the Lord,
• 6:19
  Speaker 8: but it's for your ears only.
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: Jehu tilted his head, intrigued, then shrugged and gestured for
• 6:27
  Speaker 1: Keisha to follow him a short distance away from the fire.
• 6:31
  Speaker 3: All right, little prophet, let's hear it.
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: Keisha uncorked the flask, the smell of oil sharp and
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: immediate in the cool night air.
• 6:41
  Speaker 8: Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anoint
• 6:45
  Speaker 8: you king over Israel.
• 6:48
  Speaker 1: Jehu blinked, clearly taken aback. Keisha swallowed hard and pressed on.
• 6:54
  Speaker 8: You are to destroy the house of Ahab, your master.
• 6:59
  Speaker 8: You will bring vengeance for the blood of the prophets
• 7:02
  Speaker 8: and the servants of the Lord shed by Jezebel's hand.
• 7:05
  Speaker 8: The whole house of Ahab will perish by your hands,
• 7:10
  Speaker 8: and Jezebel... Jezebel, shall be devoured by dogs in the
• 7:15
  Speaker 8: field of Jezreel as Master Elijah once foretold.
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: Keisha's voice trembled slightly as he spoke, but he held
• 7:23
  Speaker 1: his ground. When he finished, Jehu said nothing. He simply
• 7:29
  Speaker 1: stared at the young prophet, his expression unreadable. Jehu didn't
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: move at first. His eyes, sharp and calculating, softened into
• 7:39
  Speaker 1: something far away.
• 7:41
  Speaker 2: Unfocused.
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: Then his body stiffened and Jehu's eyes were locked on Keisha,
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: wide and glassy like a man staring into eternity. His
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: breathing quickened, shallow and erratic, and then, slowly, his lips
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: curled into a smile. Not a grin of triumph or joy,
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: but a strange, crooked thing, too wide, too toothy, It
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: was the smile of a man who had seen something
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: no mortal was meant to see and found it delightful.
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: Keisha's blood ran cold. The air in the camp felt thinner,
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: harder to breathe. Jehu didn't move, didn't blink. He just smiled,
• 8:30
  Speaker 1: staring straight into Keisha's soul like he knew something Keisha
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: couldn't bear to know.
• 8:37
  Speaker 6: That was it.
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: Keisha's nerves shattered. He stumbled back, heart racing, and bolted
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: from the tent, sandals slapping against the dirt as he
• 8:47
  Speaker 1: fled into the night. Behind him, Jehu stood motionless, still smiling,
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: his gaze lost in the holy fire now burning in
• 8:58
  Speaker 1: his mind. Jehu returned to the fire, his men watching
• 9:05
  Speaker 1: him with eager eyes.
• 9:07
  Speaker 4: What did the prophet say, my lord?
• 9:09
  Speaker 3: Was it another riddle?
• 9:12
  Speaker 7: Well, he said, I am going to be king.
• 9:20
  Speaker 3: Can you believe it? King Jehu. It sounds ridiculous, doesn't it?
• 9:26
  Speaker 1: The soldiers didn't laugh. Instead, they began to murmur amongst themselves.
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: Ridiculous, my lord. That sounds perfect.
• 9:37
  Speaker 3: King Jehu!
• 9:38
  Speaker 5: Now that's a name I'd follow into battle!
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: The murmurs grew into chants, and before Jehu knew it,
• 9:46
  Speaker 1: his men were stripping off their robes and piling them
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: on the ground, creating a makeshift throne.
• 9:52
  Speaker 3: King Jehu!
• 9:55
  Speaker 9: King Jehu!
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: Jehu stood over the pile of robes, his chest... swelling
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: with pride. The firelight danced in his eyes as he
• 10:04
  Speaker 1: looked out at his men, their loyalties shining brighter than
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: the stars above. And then came the moment that sealed
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: it all.
• 10:14
  Speaker 3: Tell me, where is King Jaram now? In Jezreel, my lord.
• 10:19
  Speaker 3: tending to his wounds from the battle. Wounds? What wounds?
• 10:26
  Speaker 3: I heard... I.
• 10:28
  Speaker 6: Heard it was a stubbed toe, our lord.
• 10:31
  Speaker 1: For a moment, the camp fell silent. Then Jehu threw
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: back his head and laughed. A deep, booming volcanic eruption
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: that roared out and seemed to crack the air itself.
• 10:44
  Speaker 1: And then, just as violently, he stopped, His face hardened
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: into something elemental, like iron cooled too fast in fire.
• 10:59
  Speaker 3: Oh, enough. Ready my chariot. It's time for judgment day.
• 11:11
  Speaker 1: Jehu's chariot tore through the night like a meteor. Dust
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: billowed up in choking clouds, the horse's hooves striking sparks
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: against the stones of the road. Jehu stood tall, his
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: chest heaving with adrenaline, his grin wide and uncontainable. His
• 11:31
  Speaker 1: eyes gleamed in the moonlight with wild, unpredictable fire. Jehu's
• 11:36
  Speaker 1: driving was a spectacle, a series of jerky, whip-like movements
• 11:41
  Speaker 1: that left his passengers clinging to the sides for dear life.
• 11:45
  Speaker 1: A man who could not be predicted was a man
• 11:48
  Speaker 1: to fear. Jehu had never felt more alive. Today was
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: the day of atonement. Today, blood would flow like the
• 11:57
  Speaker 1: Nile River. The blood of Ahab's family would soak the
• 12:02
  Speaker 1: ground and call out to Yahweh for justice. It was
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: a good day for Jehu, and the stupid grin plastered
• 12:10
  Speaker 1: across his face made him look less like a king
• 12:13
  Speaker 1: and more like a child finally handed the plaything he'd
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: always dreamed of. The guard stationed atop the palace wall
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: leaned forward, squinting into the distance. The faint glow of
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: moonlight played tricks on his eyes, but the dust cloud
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: coming up from the horizon was unmistakable. Something, or someone,
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: was barreling toward Jezreel with fury.
• 12:39
  Speaker 8: Uh, my king? There's someone approaching, fast, and they're driving
• 12:45
  Speaker 8: like they've got a death wish.
• 12:49
  Speaker 3: A death wish? What are you blathering about now? Are
• 12:53
  Speaker 3: they bandits?
• 12:54
  Speaker 7: Rebels?
• 12:55
  Speaker 9: Someone from my treasury, perhaps? Coming to tell me there's
• 12:58
  Speaker 9: no gold left? I.
• 13:01
  Speaker 8: well, you might want to see for yourself.
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: Joram hobbled into view, his foot wrapped so thoroughly in
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: linen bandages that it resembled a bloated loaf of bread.
• 13:13
  Speaker 1: He leaned heavily on the frame of the window and
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: sighed theatrically, making a grand show of lifting his foot
• 13:20
  Speaker 1: as though the effort might kill him.
• 13:23
  Speaker 9: What am I even paying you people for? If I
• 13:26
  Speaker 9: have to check on every bump in the night.
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: He stopped mid-sentence, his face paling as his gaze locked
• 13:33
  Speaker 1: onto the dust cloud in the distance.
• 13:35
  Speaker 8: No.
• 13:36
  Speaker 4: No.
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: It can't be.
• 13:41
  Speaker 8: You recognize him, my lord?
• 13:43
  Speaker 9: They call him Samson Reborn.
• 13:47
  Speaker 2: Jehu.
• 13:49
  Speaker 3: Ready my chariot! and get my cousin, Ahaziah, now!
• 13:54
  Speaker 1: The gates creaked open with painful reluctance, and Joram's chariot
• 13:59
  Speaker 1: emerged into the open field outside Jezreel, flanked by his
• 14:03
  Speaker 1: cousin Ahaziah, king of Judah. Joram fidgeted in his seat,
• 14:09
  Speaker 1: his bandaged foot propped awkwardly on a cushion, while Ahaziah
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: glanced nervously toward the horizon.
• 14:17
  Speaker 3: Are you sure about this? Riding out to meet him
• 14:19
  Speaker 3: in the dead of night?
• 14:20
  Speaker 9: Jehu's a lot of things, but subtle isn't one of them.
• 14:25
  Speaker 9: He's one of my best generals. If he's coming like this,
• 14:30
  Speaker 9: it's because he wants something. Best to meet him before
• 14:36
  Speaker 9: he reaches the palace.
• 14:37
  Speaker 3: What if it's a trap? If there's no danger, then
• 14:40
  Speaker 3: why are my men and I here?
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: As they approached, Jehu slowed his chariot just enough to
• 14:47
  Speaker 1: let the dust settle but he stood tall, his silhouette
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: cutting an imposing figure against the moonlit sky.
• 14:54
  Speaker 3: Jehu, is everything all right?
• 14:59
  Speaker 9: Have you come in peace?
• 15:01
  Speaker 1: Jehu didn't answer right away. He stepped down from his
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: chariot with deliberate slowness, his boots crunching against the dry,
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: cracked ground. When he finally spoke, his voice was low
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: and steady, but there was an edge to it that
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: made even the horses uneasy.
• 15:22
  Speaker 5: Peace?
• 15:24
  Speaker 2: How can there be peace as long as the witchcraft
• 15:28
  Speaker 2: of your mother, Jezebel, and the idolatry of your house
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: poison this land?
• 15:39
  Speaker 1: The words struck like a hammer. Joram's face twisted in anger,
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: but there was a flicker of fear in his eyes.
• 15:46
  Speaker 3: You dare speak to I'm your king!
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: Jehu took a step closer, his expression darkening.
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: You're no king. You're a disgrace. Your father was a
• 16:03
  Speaker 2: fat drunk who sold his soul for a vineyard. Your
• 16:07
  Speaker 2: mother was a filthy demon worshipping harlot.
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: He paused, a cruel smile tugging at the corner of
• 16:18
  Speaker 1: his mouth.
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: And you, you're worse than both of them. A kitten,
• 16:28
  Speaker 2: clawless and mewling, pretending to be a lion.
• 16:34
  Speaker 1: Joram's hands gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white.
• 16:39
  Speaker 3: This is treason, Jehu. Do you hear me? Treason!
• 16:43
  Speaker 1: Jehu reached behind him. his hand wrapping around the shaft
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: of a massive battleaxe. He pulled it free with a flourish,
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: the blade gleaming wickedly in the moonlight.
• 16:58
  Speaker 3: Treason? No, no, Joram. This isn't treason.
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: This is judgment.
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: He lifted the axe. Joram turned immediately in panic and
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: leapt back into his chariot. The chariot lurched forward, the
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: horses kicking up another cloud of dust as they tore
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: away from the scene. Jehu didn't move. He stood still,
• 17:29
  Speaker 1: his grin widening as he reached for his bow. With
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: the calm precision of a seasoned warrior, he notched an arrow,
• 17:38
  Speaker 1: took aim and let it fly. The arrow struck Joram
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: squarely in the back, driving through his heart. The king
• 17:48
  Speaker 1: slumped forward, lifeless, as his chariot slowed to a pathetic stop.
• 17:54
  Speaker 1: Ahaziah froze for a moment, his wide eyes darting between
• 17:59
  Speaker 1: Jehu and the lifeless body of his cousin.
• 18:02
  Speaker 7: This.
• 18:03
  Speaker 3: this is madness.
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: Jehu turned his gaze toward him, still holding the bow.
• 18:10
  Speaker 3: I'd run.
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: If I were you.
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: Ahaziah didn't need to be told twice. He whipped the reins,
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: urging his horses into a gallop, but Jehu was already
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: reaching for another arrow. The shot was just as precise,
• 18:26
  Speaker 1: striking Ahaziah in the side. The king of Judah toppled
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: from his chariot, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
• 18:36
  Speaker 2: Now, it's time to cut the head off the snake. Jezebel.
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: The tension in Jezebel's chamber was heavy, though not with
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: grief nor even fear, which might have been expected under
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: the circumstances. No, the air buzzed with the strange and
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: grotesque energy of a woman utterly untethered from the reality
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: unfolding around her. Jezebel, Queen Mother of Israel, sat at
• 19:09
  Speaker 1: her massive bronze mirror, her fingers dancing with practiced precision
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: as she directed her eunuchs to prepare her for what
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: she believed would be a moment of triumph. Outside, the
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: thunder of hooves drew closer, each beat a harbinger of doom.
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: Jezebel dabbed at her lips with a crimson stain, smiling
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: faintly as though the sound heralded a suitor rather than
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: a bloodthirsty warlord. Jezebel rose, the weight of her finery
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: offset by the absurdity of her confidence. She strode to
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: the window, draping herself against the frame with all the
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: grace of a barnacle clinging to a sinking ship Jezebel
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: leaned further out the window her painted lips curving into
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: a grotesque approximation of a smile Jehu, perched atop his
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: chariot didn't even glance at her His eyes swept the
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: window until they landed on the eunuchs. He tilted his
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: head slightly, his grin more feral than friendly.
• 20:17
  Speaker 3: Hey, you two!
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: The eunuchs froze, their eyes darting to Jezebel, who was
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: still posing as though she were a goddess incarnate.
• 20:27
  Speaker 7: Yes, I'm talking to you two miserable fellows. Do us
• 20:32
  Speaker 7: all a favor and push her out the window.
• 20:34
  Speaker 3: Save me some time, eh?
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: Slowly, Zimri and Hadriel turned to each other, a flicker
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: of something dangerous passing between them.
• 20:46
  Speaker 8: Did he just ask us to... I've never wanted to
• 20:50
  Speaker 8: do anything more in my entire life.
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: Without another word, they stepped forward. Jezebel, realizing too late
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: what was happening, whirled on them with a shriek that
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: was equal parts indignation and terror. This is for King Joram!
• 21:06
  Speaker 3: And for all the years of madness!
• 21:09
  Speaker 1: With a final, unceremonious shove, they sent the old witch plummeting.
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: For a moment, time seemed to stop. Then, her screams
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: were cut short by the sickening thud of her body
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: meeting the stones below. Jehu dismounted, his boots crunching against
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: the gravel as he approached the broken form of the queen.
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: For a moment, he stood over her, his head tilting slightly.
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: Jezebel twitched slightly, her wide eyes darting up to him,
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: her breaths ragged.
• 21:45
  Speaker 2: That's a shame. But like Israel, your beauty means nothing
• 21:53
  Speaker 2: because of that rot in your heart. And the smell,
• 21:58
  Speaker 2: it's overwhelming.
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: Then, unceremoniously... Jehu walked away and stepped onto his chariot.
• 22:07
  Speaker 1: He gripped the reins and drove forward, directly over Jezebel's body.
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: Over and over. Back and forth he trampled her with
• 22:18
  Speaker 1: his chariot, laughing all the while, a sound that echoed
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: off the walls and sent a shiver through the eunuch
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: still watching from above.
• 22:29
  Speaker 3: Goodness, that's a bit much, isn't it?
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: They watched as Jehu dismounted again, wiping blood from his
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: boots with a piece of cloth he discarded without a
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: second thought. For a moment, the eunuchs exchanged uneasy glances.
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: But then, as they looked down at the broken figure below,
• 22:49
  Speaker 1: the memories of her tyranny came rushing back. Years of cruelty,
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: of madness, of blood spilled in the name of her ambition. No.
• 23:01
  Speaker 8: This is exactly what she deserves.
• 23:05
  Speaker 3: Well done, lads. Now let the dogs finish the job.
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: The eunuchs stood in silence, their faces pale as they
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: watched the pack of dogs descend. The sound was something primal,
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: wet and brutal. The kind of noise that etched itself
• 23:24
  Speaker 1: into your bones and stayed there. Hadriel turned away, his
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: stomach churning, but Zimri couldn't seem to tear his eyes
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: from the scene below.
• 23:34
  Speaker 3: They're... they're really doing it. The dogs... they're... eating her.
• 23:42
  Speaker 8: That's what wild dogs do.
• 23:46
  Speaker 3: Not to queens.
• 23:48
  Speaker 8: Death comes for us all, I suppose, unless your name
• 23:52
  Speaker 8: is Elijah.
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: The title of Queen meant little now, her body already
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: unrecognizable beneath the feral frenzy. The prophecy of Elijah had
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: unfolded with chilling precision, and for all their snide remarks,
• 24:09
  Speaker 1: neither eunuch could deny the weight of it. This wasn't
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: just vengeance, it was something far more ancient, something written
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: in the fabric of forces far more powerful than they.
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: Jehu stood a few paces away, watching the scene with
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: a strange, almost serene expression. His eyes glittered as though
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: he were watching a play unfold, each act more satisfying
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: than the last. He gestured to one of his soldiers.
• 24:41
  Speaker 3: My lord, has the will of the lord been fulfilled?
• 24:44
  Speaker 5: Have we finished what was commanded of us?
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: Jehu turned to him with a smile that was equal
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: parts zeal and madness, his voice steady, as though the
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: question itself were laughably naive.
• 25:00
  Speaker 8: Finished!
• 25:01
  Speaker 3: Oh no, no, uh, no, no. For the family of Ahab. Judgment.
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: Judgment day.
• 25:11
  Speaker 3: It's just, oh, it's just begun.
• 25:15
  Speaker 7: Ha ha ha ha.
• 25:19
  Speaker 1: As Jehu turned back to his chariot, his laughter echoing
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: against the stone walls, the young man realized that he
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: had stepped into a story far larger and far darker
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: than he had ever imagined. The dogs below growled, their
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: feast continuing, while Jehu mounted his chariot and called for
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: his men to follow. The wheels turned, the horses snorted,
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: and the sound of hoofbeats faded into the distance, carrying
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: with them the storm that had only just begun to rage.
• 26:10
  Speaker 1: Steve Gatina, Max Bard, Zach Schelleberger and Ben Gammon are
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Coltofianu.
• 26:19
  Speaker 1: Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz,
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland Jr., Rosanna
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: Pilcher and Mitch Lashinsky. Music by Andrew Morgan-Smith. written by
• 26:35
  Speaker 1: Aaron Salvato, Brie Rosely, and Chris Baig. You can hear
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: more Prey.com productions on the Prey.com app, available on the
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: The Chosen People, please rate and leave a review.