1Ahab’s royal family in the city of Samaria had a total of 70 sons. Jehu wrote some letters to the officials of the city. He also sent them to the elders there. And he sent them to the people who took care of Ahab’s children. Jehu said,2‘Your master’s sons are with you. You also have chariots and horses and weapons. And you are living in a city that has high walls around it. As soon as you read this letter, here’s what I want you to do.3Choose the best and most respected son of your master. Place him on his father Joram’s throne. Then fight for your master’s royal house.’4The leaders of Samaria were terrified. They said, ‘King Joram and King Ahaziah couldn’t stand up against Jehu. So how can we?’5The city governor and the person in charge of the palace sent a message to Jehu. The message was also from the elders and the people who took care of Ahab’s children. In the message, they said, ‘We will serve you. We’ll do anything you say. We won’t appoint anyone to be king. Do what you think is best.’6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter. He said, ‘You say you are on my side. You say you will obey me. If you really mean it, bring me the heads of your master’s sons. Meet me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.’ There were 70 royal princes. They were with the most important men of the city. Those men were in charge of raising them.7When Jehu’s letter arrived, the men went and got the princes. They killed all 70 of them. They put their heads in baskets. Then they sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.8When the messenger arrived, he spoke to Jehu. He told him, ‘The heads of the princes have been brought here.’ Then Jehu ordered his men, ‘Put them in two piles. Pile them up at the entrance of the city gate until morning.’9The next morning Jehu went out. He stood in front of all the people. He said, ‘You aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong. I’m the one who made plans against my master Joram. I killed him. But who killed all these?10I want you to know that the LORD has spoken against Ahab’s royal house. Not a word of what he has said will fail. The LORD has done exactly what he announced through his servant Elijah.’11So Jehu killed everyone from Ahab’s family who was in Jezreel. He also killed all Ahab’s chief men. And he killed Ahab’s close friends and his priests. He didn’t leave anyone alive in Ahab’s family.12Then Jehu started out for Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds,13he saw some people. They were relatives of Ahaziah, the king of Judah. Jehu asked them, ‘Who are you?’ They said, ‘We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We’ve come down to visit the families of the king and of his mother.’14‘Take them alive!’ Jehu ordered. So his men took them alive. Then they killed them by the well of Beth Eked. They killed a total of 42 of them. Jehu didn’t leave anyone alive.15Jehu left there. On the way he met Jehonadab. He was the son of Rekab. Jehonadab was on his way to see Jehu. Jehu greeted him. He asked, ‘Are you my friend? You know I’m your friend.’ ‘I am’, Jehonadab answered. ‘If that’s true,’ said Jehu, ‘hold out your hand.’ So he did. Then Jehu helped him up into the chariot.16Jehu said, ‘Come along with me. See how committed I am to serve the LORD.’ Jehu made Jehonadab ride in his chariot.17Jehu came to Samaria. He killed everyone there who was left from Ahab’s family. And so he completely destroyed Ahab’s royal house. That’s what the LORD had said would happen. He had spoken that message to Elijah.
Jehu kills the people who serve Baal
18Then Jehu brought together all the people. He said to them, ‘Ahab served the god named Baal a little. I will serve him a lot.19Send for all of Baal’s prophets. Also send for all his priests and the others who serve him. Make sure that not a single one is missing. I’m going to hold a great sacrifice to honour Baal. Anyone who doesn’t come will be killed.’ But Jehu was lying to them. He was planning to destroy everyone who served Baal.20Jehu said, ‘Call everyone together to honour Baal.’ So they did.21Then he sent a message all through Israel. All those who served Baal came. Not a single one of them stayed away. They crowded into Baal’s temple. It was full from one end to the other.22Jehu spoke to the one who took care of the sacred robes. He told him, ‘Bring robes for everyone who serves Baal.’ So he brought the robes out for them.23Then Jehu went into Baal’s temple. Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, went with him. Jehu said to those who served Baal, ‘Look around. Make sure that no one who serves the LORD is here with you. Make sure only those who serve Baal are here.’24So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu had stationed 80 men outside. He warned them, ‘I’m placing some men in your hands. Don’t let a single one of them escape. If you do, you will pay for his life with yours.’25Jehu finished sacrificing the burnt offering. As soon as he did, he gave an order to the guards and officers. He commanded them, ‘Go inside and kill everyone. Don’t let a single one of them escape.’ So they cut them down with their swords. The guards and officers threw the bodies outside. Then they entered the most sacred area inside Baal’s temple.26They brought the sacred stone of Baal outside. They burned it up.27So they destroyed Baal’s sacred stone. They also tore down Baal’s temple. People have used it as a public toilet to this day.28So Jehu destroyed the worship of the god named Baal in Israel.29But he didn’t turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins. Jehu worshipped the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.30The LORD said to Jehu, ‘You have done well. You have accomplished what is right in my eyes. You have done to Ahab’s royal house everything I wanted you to do. So your sons after you will sit on the throne of Israel. They will rule until the time of your children’s grandchildren.’31But Jehu wasn’t careful to obey the law of the LORD. He didn’t obey the God of Israel with all his heart. He didn’t turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.32In those days the LORD began to make the kingdom of Israel smaller. Hazael gained control over many parts of Israel. He gained control over all their territory33east of the River Jordan. It included the whole land of Gilead from Aroer by the River Arnon valley all the way to Bashan. That was the territory of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh.34The other events of Jehu’s rule are written down. Everything he did and accomplished is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.35Jehu joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became the next king after him.36Jehu had ruled over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.
2 Kings 10
English Standard Version
Jehu Slaughters Ahab’s Descendants
1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of the city,[1] to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons[2] of Ahab, saying, (1Ki 16:24; Es 2:7)2“Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, fortified cities also, and weapons,3select the best and fittest of your master’s sons and set him on his father’s throne and fight for your master’s house.”4But they were exceedingly afraid and said, “Behold, the two kings could not stand before him. How then can we stand?”5So he who was over the palace, and he who was over the city, together with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and we will do all that you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your eyes.” (Jos 9:8; Jos 9:11)6Then he wrote to them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you are ready to obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me at Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were bringing them up. (2Ki 10:1)7And as soon as the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. (1Ki 21:21)8When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”9Then in the morning, when he went out, he stood 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? (2Ki 9:14; 2Ki 9:24)10Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done what he said by his servant Elijah.” (1Sa 3:19; 1Ki 21:19; 1Ki 21:21; 1Ki 21:29)11So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests, until he left him none remaining.12Then he set out and went to Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds,13Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah, and we came down to visit the royal princes and the sons of the queen mother.” (2Ki 8:29; 2Ki 9:16; 2Ch 22:8)14He said, “Take them alive.” And they took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two persons, and he spared none of them.15And when he departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. And he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart true to my heart as mine is to yours?” And Jehonadab answered, “It is.” Jehu said,[3] “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand. And Jehu took him up with him into the chariot. (1Ch 2:55; Ezr 10:19; Jer 35:6; Jer 35:14; Jer 35:16; Jer 35:18; Eze 17:18)16And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he[4] had him ride in his chariot. (1Ki 19:10)17And when he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke to Elijah. (2Ki 9:8; 2Ki 10:10; 2Ch 22:8)
Jehu Strikes Down the Prophets of Baal
18Then Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. (1Ki 16:31)19Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal. (1Ki 18:19; 1Ki 22:6)20And Jehu ordered, “Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. (Ex 32:5; Le 23:36; Joe 1:14)21And Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. And they entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. (1Ki 16:32; 2Ki 11:18)22He said to him who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the vestments for them.23Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”24Then they[5] went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” (1Ki 20:39; 1Ki 20:42)25So as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the officers, “Go in and strike them down; let not a man escape.” So when they put them to the sword, the guard and the officers cast them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal, (1Ki 18:40)26and they brought out the pillar that was in the house of Baal and burned it. (1Ki 14:23; 2Ki 3:2; 2Ki 10:21)27And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. (2Ki 10:26; Ezr 6:11; Da 2:5; Da 3:29)
Jehu Reigns in Israel
28Thus Jehu wiped out Baal from Israel.29But Jehu did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin—that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel and in Dan. (1Ki 12:28; 1Ki 14:16)30And the Lord 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 according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” (2Ki 10:35; 2Ki 13:1; 2Ki 13:10; 2Ki 14:23; 2Ki 15:8; 2Ki 15:12)31But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. (2Ki 10:29)32In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: (1Ki 19:17; 2Ki 8:12; 2Ki 13:25; 2Ki 14:25)33from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, that is, Gilead and Bashan. (De 2:36; Am 1:3)34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?35So Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.36The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.