1Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the officials of Jezreel, the elders and to the guardians of Ahab's children, which read: 2“As soon as this letter arrives, since the king's sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and armor, 3Select the best and most worthy of the king's sons, set him on his father's throne, and then prepare to fight for Ahab’s dynasty.” 4But they were paralyzed with fear, and said, “If two kings could not stand before Jehu; then how can we stand?” 5And the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent this reply to Jehu, “We will do whatever you say. We will not appoint anyone king. Do whatever you thin best.” 6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring the heads of Ahab’s sons, and come and meet me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now those seventy royal princes, Ahab’s sons, were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them up.

7And when that letter arrived, they killed the king's seventy sons, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. 8And when the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the king's sons.” And Jehu said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” 9And in the morning, Jehu went out, and told all the people, “You are just and innocent. It was I who conspired against my master (Joram), and killed him. But who killed all these? 10Have no doubt now that not a word of the LORD, which He spoke concerning the house of Ahab, shall fail; for the LORD has done exactly what He said by His servant, Elijah.” 11So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel - all his relatives, influential men, close friends, and his priests - and left none remaining.

12Then Jehu left Jezreel for Samaria. And when he reached the shearing house of the shepherds at Beth Eked along the way, 13Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?” And they answered, “We are relatives of Ahaziah; and are on our way to visit the family of the king (Ahab) and of the queen (Jezebel).” 14And Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” And they took them alive, then they killed them, forty-two men, at the pit of the shearing house. He left no survivors.

15And when he left there, he came upon Jehonadab, son of Rechab, coming to meet him; and Jehu greeted him, and said, “Are you as loyal to me as I am to you?” And Jehonadab answered, “I am.” And Jehu said, “If so, give me your hand.” And Jehonadab gave him his hand; and Jehu helped him up into the chariot with him. 16And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD.” So, he had Jehonadab ride along in his chariot. 17And when he reached Samaria, he killed all of Ahab’s family who remained in Samaria; he destroyed them just as the LORD had spoken through Elijah.

18Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and told them, “Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much more. 19Now call to me all the prophets of Baal - all his servants, and all his priests; let none be missing; for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is absent shall not live.” But Jehu was using deception, with the intent of destroying all the worshippers of Baal. 20And Jehu said, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” And they proclaimed it. 21And Jehu sent word through all Israel; and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a worshipper of Baal who did not come. And they all came into the temple of Baal; and the temple of Baal was full from one end to the other. 22And Jehu told the keeper of the vestry (wardrobe), “Bring out garments for all the worshippers of Baal.” And he brought them all robes. 23And Jehu and Jehonadab, son of Rechab, went into the temple of Baal, and told the worshippers of Baal, “Search carefully, and make sure that there are none here with you who serve the LORD, but only those who worship Baal.” 24Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. But Jehu had posted eighty men outside, with these orders: “If any of these men whom I have placed in your hands escape, whoever lets him escape shall pay for his life with his own life.” 25And as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu told the guard and their captains, “Go in, and kill them; let none escape.” And they slew them with the sword; and the guard and the captains threw their bodies out, and then entered the inner room of the temple of Baal. 26And they brought the images out of the temple of Baal, and burned them. 27And they also broke down the pillar of Baal, and tore down the temple of Baal, and made it a latrine as it is this day.

28Thus Jehu purged the worship of Baal from Israel. 29However, Jehu did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin by leading them to worship the golden calves that were in Bethel, and in Dan. 30And the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31But yet Jehu was not diligent in walking in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart; for he failed to turn from the sins of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin.

32In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel, and Hazael defeated them in various parts of Israel; 33From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, by the river, Arnon, through Gilead to Bashan.

34Now the rest of the events in the reign of Jehu, and what he achieved, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35And Jehu died, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz, his son, succeeded him. 36And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.