Ahab’s Seventy Sons Killed

1Now Ahab (father's brother) had seventy sons in Samaria (watch mountain). So Jehu (YHWH is He) wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel [officials of the city],a to the elders, and to the guardians of the sonsb of Ahab, saying: 2“When this letter arrives, since your⁺ master’s sons are with you⁺ and you⁺ have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry, 3select the best and most worthy son of your⁺ master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your⁺ master’s house.”

4But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

5So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu (YHWH is He): “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you⁺ are on my side, and if you⁺ will obey me, then bring the heads of your⁺ master’s sons to me at Jezreel (God sows) by this time tomorrow.”

Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city. 7And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel (God sows).

8When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.”

And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You⁺ are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these? 10Know, then, that not a word the LORD {YHWH} has spoken against the house of Ahab (father's brother) will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah (my God is YHWH).”

11So Jehu (YHWH is He) killed everyone in Jezreel (God sows) who remained of the house of Ahab (father's brother), as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

12Then Jehu set out toward Samaria (watch mountain). At Beth-eked (house of shearing) of the Shepherds, 13Jehu (YHWH is He) met some relatives of Ahaziah (YHWH holds) king of Judah (praised) and asked, “Who are you⁺?”

“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”

14Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked (house of shearing)—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

15When he left there, he found Jehonadab (YHWH is willing) son of Rechab (rider), who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?”

“It is!” Jehonadab replied.

“If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.”

So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot, 16saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD {YHWH}!” So he had him ride [they had him ride]c in his chariot.

17When Jehu came to Samaria (watch mountain), he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab (father's brother) who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD {YHWH} had spoken to Elijah (my God is YHWH).

Jehu Kills the Priests of Baal

18Then Jehu (YHWH is He) brought all the people together and said, “Ahab (father's brother) served Baal (lord) a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. 19Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal (lord), all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.”

But Jehu (YHWH is He) was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20And Jehu (YHWH is He) commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal (lord).” So they announced it.

21Then Jehu (YHWH is He) sent word throughout Israel (he wrestles with God), and all the servants of Baal (lord) came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end.

22And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal (lord).” So he brought out garments for them.

23Next, Jehu (YHWH is He) and Jehonadab (YHWH is willing) son of Rechab (rider) entered the temple of Baal (lord), and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD {YHWH} here among you⁺—only servants of Baal.”

24And they went in [he went in]d to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu (YHWH is He) had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your⁺ hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”

25When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu (YHWH is He) said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.”

So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal (lord).

26They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal (lord) and burned it. 27They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal (lord). Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

Jehu Repeats Jeroboam’s Sins

28Thus Jehu (YHWH is He) eradicated Baal (lord) from Israel (he wrestles with God), 29but he (YHWH is He) did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam (the people will contend) son of Nebat (aspect) had caused Israel (he wrestles with God) to commit—the worship of the golden (house of God) calves at Bethel and Dan (He has judged).

30Nevertheless, the LORD {YHWH} said to Jehu (YHWH is He), “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab (father's brother) all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel (he wrestles with God).”

31Yet Jehu (YHWH is He) was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam (the people will contend) had caused Israel to commit.

32In those days the LORD {YHWH} began to reduce the size of Israel (he wrestles with God). Hazael (one who sees God) defeated the Israelites throughout their territory 33from the Jordan (flowing down) eastward through all the land of Gilead (rocky region) (the region of Gad (a troop / fortune), Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer (ruins) by the Arnon (rushing stream) Valley through Gilead to Bashan (fruitful).

Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu in Israel

34As for the rest of the acts of Jehu (YHWH is He), along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel (he wrestles with God)?

35And Jehu (YHWH is He) rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria (watch mountain), and his son Jehoahaz (YHWH has seized) reigned in his place. 36So the duration of Jehu’s (YHWH is He) reign over Israel (he wrestles with God) in Samaria (watch mountain) was twenty-eight years.