Topical Bible: Decision: Jehu

◄ Decision: Jehu ►

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Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, emerges as a pivotal figure in the history of Israel, known for his decisive actions that fulfilled divine prophecy and altered the course of the nation. His account is primarily recorded in 2 Kings 9-10, where his decisions are portrayed as both divinely ordained and brutally executed.

Anointed as King

Jehu's rise to power begins with a divine mandate. The prophet Elisha, following the instructions of Elijah, sends a young prophet to anoint Jehu as king over Israel. This anointing is not merely a political maneuver but a fulfillment of God's judgment against the house of Ahab. The prophet declares, "You are to strike down the house of your master Ahab, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets and all the servants of the LORD at the hand of Jezebel" (2 Kings 9:7). Jehu's decision to accept this anointing sets him on a path of radical reform and judgment.

Execution of Judgment

Jehu's first major decision as king is to confront and eliminate the reigning monarch, King Joram of Israel, and King Ahaziah of Judah, who is visiting Joram. In a swift and calculated move, Jehu kills Joram with an arrow, declaring, "Surely I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday, declares the LORD, and I will repay you on this plot of ground" (2 Kings 9:26). This act is a direct fulfillment of the prophecy against Ahab's house, demonstrating Jehu's commitment to executing divine justice.

Confrontation with Jezebel

Jehu's next significant decision involves the infamous Queen Jezebel. Upon arriving in Jezreel, Jezebel confronts Jehu from a window, but he orders her to be thrown down by her own eunuchs. Her death, as prophesied by Elijah, is gruesome and serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of idolatry and persecution of God's prophets. Jehu's decision to confront Jezebel directly underscores his role as an instrument of divine retribution.

Eradication of Ahab's Line

Jehu continues his campaign by eradicating the remaining members of Ahab's family. He writes letters to the guardians of Ahab's seventy sons in Samaria, challenging them to choose the best of Ahab's sons to sit on the throne. When they express fear and submission, Jehu orders the execution of all seventy sons, further consolidating his power and fulfilling the prophecy against Ahab's lineage (2 Kings 10:1-11).

Destruction of Baal Worship

In a decisive move to restore the worship of Yahweh, Jehu orchestrates the destruction of Baal worship in Israel. He deceives the prophets and worshipers of Baal by proclaiming a great sacrifice, only to trap and slaughter them all in the temple of Baal. Jehu's actions effectively eliminate Baal worship from Israel, as noted in 2 Kings 10:28, "Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel" .

Assessment of Jehu's Reign

Jehu's reign is marked by his zealous execution of God's judgment, yet it is also characterized by his failure to fully turn Israel back to the LORD. While he eradicates Baal worship, he does not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, maintaining the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The LORD acknowledges Jehu's actions, saying, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation" (2 Kings 10:30). However, Jehu's incomplete reform leads to continued idolatry in Israel.

Jehu's decisions, driven by divine mandate, reflect the complex interplay of obedience, judgment, and the limitations of human leadership in fulfilling God's purposes. His legacy is a testament to the seriousness of divine justice and the challenges of leading a nation back to covenant faithfulness.

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2 Kings 9:11-37
Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, Is all well? why came this mad fellow to you? And he said to them, You know the man, and his communication.
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2 Kings 10:1
And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,
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Library

Impure Zeal
... Jehu swept like a whirlwind, or like leaping fire among stubble ... Promptitude, decision,
secrecy,"the qualities which carry enterprises to success"marked his ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/impure zeal.htm

Knox and Queen Mary (Continued), 1564-1567
... He forgot, or did not choose to remember, a previous decision of his own, as we ... Civil
Magistrate," in face of his own published tracts of appeal to a Jehu or a ...
/.../lang/john knox and the reformation/chapter xvii knox and queen.htm

Paul in the Temple
... Jehu was proud of what he calls his 'zeal for the Lord,' which was really ... With swift
decision Lysias acts first and talks afterwards, securing the man who was ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/paul in the temple.htm

On Obedience to Pastors
... but simply (as in answering the preceding question) appeal to that decision of it ...
will drink no wine: for Jonadab," a great man in the reign of Jehu, "the son ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 97 on obedience to.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu, and will ... space of
time, and chiefs who till then had vacillated in their decision now crowded ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

Questions.
... 16. How long was the house of Jehu to continue? 17. ... 6. Who fostered the ill-will
between the brothers? 7. To whose decision was the dispute referred? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/questions.htm