2 Kings 10

Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and those who were raising Ahab’s sons, saying, “When this letter reaches you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weapons, choose the best and most suitable of your master’s sons, place him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” But they were greatly afraid and said, “Two kings could not stand against him. How can we stand?” So the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders, and the guardians sent word to Jehu: “We are your servants and will do everything you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever seems good to you.” He wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side and will obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow.” Now the king’s seventy sons were with the leading men of the city, who were raising them. When the letter reached them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all seventy. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. A messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” He said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” In the morning he went out, stood before all the people, and said, “You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him, but who struck down all these? Know, then, that nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spoke against the house of Ahab, will fall to the ground. The LORD has done what he spoke through his servant Elijah.” Then Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his leading men, his close associates, and his priests, until he left him no survivor. He set out and went toward Samaria. On the way, at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, Jehu met the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?” They said, “We are Ahaziah’s brothers, and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.” He said, “Take them alive!” So they took them alive and slaughtered them at the cistern of Beth-eked, forty-two men. He left none of them alive. When 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 my heart is to yours?” Jehonadab said, “It is.” “If it is, give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu brought him up into the chariot with him. He said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD.” So they had him ride in his chariot. When he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained of Ahab in Samaria until he had destroyed them, according to the word the LORD had spoken to Elijah. Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. Now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests to me. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Anyone who is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceitfully to destroy Baal’s worshipers. Jehu said, “Consecrate a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all Baal’s worshipers came. Not one failed to come. They entered the temple of Baal, and the temple was filled from end to end. He said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all Baal’s worshipers.” So he brought out robes for them. Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal. He said to Baal’s worshipers, “Search and make sure that no servants of the LORD are here among you, but only worshipers of Baal.” Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “If any of the men I am placing in your hands escapes, the one who lets him escape will pay with his own life.” When he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and strike them down. Let no one come out!” So they struck them down with the edge of the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and went on to the stronghold of Baal’s temple. They brought out the sacred pillars from the temple of Baal and burned them. They tore down Baal’s sacred pillar, demolished the temple of Baal, and turned it into latrines, as it remains to this day. So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Nevertheless, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin: the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. The LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in my sight, 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.” But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, who had caused Israel to sin. In those days the LORD began to cut off parts of Israel. Hazael struck them throughout the territory of Israel: east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead, the land of the Gadites, Reubenites, and Manassites, from Aroer by the Arnon Valley, both Gilead and Bashan. As for the rest of the acts of Jehu, all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? Jehu rested with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz reigned in his place. Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-eight years.

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