Jehu Destroys the House of Ahab
1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons, saying, 2“As soon as this letter reaches you — since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons — 3choose the best and most worthy of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” 4But they were utterly terrified and said, “Look, two kings could not stand against him — how can we stand?” 5So the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders, and the guardians sent word to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you tell us. We will not make anyone king — do what you think is best.” 6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side and will obey my voice, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the king’s seventy sons were with the leading men of the city, who were raising them. 7When the letter reached them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 8A messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” He said, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” 9The next morning he went out, stood there, and said to all the people, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him — but who struck down all these? 10Know then that nothing Yahweh spoke against the house of Ahab will fail to come true. Yahweh has done what he spoke through his servant Elijah.” 11So Jehu struck down everyone remaining of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, along with all his chief men, close friends, and priests, leaving him no survivor. 12Then Jehu set out and went to Samaria. On the way, at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13Jehu came upon the relatives of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked, “Who are you?” They said, “We are relatives of Ahaziah, and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.” 14He said, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked — forty-two men. He left no one alive. 15When he left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him and said, “Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” “If so,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” He gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot beside him. 16Jehu said, “Come with me and see my zeal for Yahweh.” So he had him ride along in his chariot. 17When Jehu reached Samaria, he struck down everyone remaining of Ahab’s house in Samaria, until he had wiped it out, in keeping with the word that Yahweh had spoken to Elijah.
Jehu Wipes Out Baal Worship
18Then Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much more. 19So now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I am about to offer a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever fails to come will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceitfully, in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20Jehu said, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21He sent word throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came — not one stayed away. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was completely full. 22He said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the worshipers of Baal.” And he brought out garments for them. 23Then Jehu, along with Jehonadab son of Rechab, went into the temple of Baal and said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and make sure there is no servant of Yahweh here with you — only worshipers of Baal.” 24So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If any of the men I am placing in your hands escapes, it will cost you your life for his.” 25As soon as Jehu had finished offering the burnt offering, he said to the guards and officers, “Go in and strike them down — let no one escape.” So they struck them down with the sword, and the guards and officers threw the bodies out and went into the inner shrine of the temple of Baal. 26They brought out the sacred pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them. 27They tore down the sacred pillar of Baal and demolished the temple of Baal, turning it into a latrine, as it remains to this day. 28So Jehu wiped out Baal worship from Israel.
The Reign of Jehu Ends
29Yet Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had led Israel to sin — the golden calves at Bethel and at Dan. 30Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab everything I had in mind, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31But Jehu was not careful to follow the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, who had led Israel to sin. 32In those days Yahweh began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael struck them throughout the territory of Israel, 33from the Jordan eastward — all the land of Gilead, the territory of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh — from Aroer by the Arnon Valley, through Gilead and Bashan. 34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all that he did, and all his might — are these not written in the Annals of the Kings of Israel? 35Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria; Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 36The length of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
