2 Kings 9 14-2 Kings 10 25
Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Jehu made plans against Joram. During that time Joram and Israel’s whole army had been guarding Ramoth Gilead. They had been guarding it against Hazael, the king of Aram.But King Joram had returned to Jezreel. He had gone there to give his wounds time to heal. The soldiers of Aram had wounded him in his battle against Hazael, the king of Aram. Jehu said to his men,“ Do you want to make me king? If you do, don’t let anyone sneak out of the city. Don’t let them go and tell the news in Jezreel.”Then Jehu got into his chariot. He rode off to Jezreel. Joram was resting there. And Ahaziah, the king of Judah, had gone down to see him.A lookout was standing on the roof of the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s troops approaching. So he called out,“ I see some troops coming.”“ Get a horseman,” Joram ordered.“ Send him to ride out to them. Have him ask,‘ Are you coming in peace?’ ”The horseman rode out to where Jehu was. He said,“ The king asks,‘ Are you coming in peace?’ ”“ What do you know about peace?” Jehu answered.“ Get in line behind me.” The lookout reported,“ The messenger has reached them. But he isn’t coming back.”So the king sent out a second horseman. When he came to them, he said,“ The king asks,‘ Are you coming in peace?’ ” Jehu replied,“ What do you know about peace? Get in line behind me.”The lookout reported,“ The second messenger has reached them. But he isn’t coming back either. The one driving the chariot drives like Jehu, the son of Nimshi. He’s driving like a crazy person.”“ Get my chariot ready,” King Joram ordered. When it was ready, he rode out. Ahaziah, the king of Judah, rode out with him. Each of them was in his own chariot. They both went to meet Jehu. They met him at the piece of land that had belonged to Naboth from Jezreel.When Joram saw Jehu he asked,“ Have you come here in peace, Jehu?”“ Your mother Jezebel worships statues of gods,” Jehu replied.“ She also worships evil powers. The evil things she does have spread everywhere. As long as all of that goes on, how can there be peace?”Joram turned around and tried to get away. He called out,“ It’s treason, Ahaziah!”Then Jehu shot an arrow at Joram. It hit him between the shoulders. It went through his heart. He sank down slowly in his chariot.Jehu spoke to Bidkar, his chariot officer. Jehu said,“ Pick Joram up. Throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Joram’s father Ahab? It was when the Lord spoke this prophecy against him. The Lord announced,‘ Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons. You can be sure that I will make you pay for it on this piece of land.’ So pick Joram up. Throw him on that piece of land. That’s what the Lord said would happen.”Ahaziah, the king of Judah, saw what had happened. So he tried to get away. He went up the road toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him. He shouted,“ Kill him too!” Jehu’s men wounded Ahaziah in his chariot. It happened on the way up to Gur near Ibleam. But Ahaziah escaped to Megiddo. And that’s where he died.Ahaziah’s servants took him to Jerusalem in his chariot. They buried him in his family tomb in the City of David.Ahaziah had become king of Judah. It was in the 11th year of Joram, the son of Ahab.Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel heard about it. So she put makeup on her eyes and fixed her hair. Then she looked out of a window.Jehu entered the gate below. Jezebel said to him,“ You are just like Zimri. You murdered your master. Have you come here in peace?”Jehu looked up at the window.“ Who is on my side?” he called out.“ Who?” Two or three officials looked down at him.“ Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed on the wall. Some of it splashed on Jehu’s chariot horses as they ran over her.Jehu went inside. He ate and drank.“ The Lord put a curse on that woman,” he said.“ Take proper care of her body. Bury her. After all, she was a king’s daughter.”So they went out to bury her. But all they found was her head, feet and hands.They went back and reported it to Jehu. He told them,“ That’s what the Lord said would happen. He announced it through his servant Elijah, who was from Tishbe. He said,‘ On a piece of land at Jezreel, dogs will eat up Jezebel’s body.Her body will end up as garbage on that piece of land. So no one will be able to say,“ Here’s where Jezebel is buried.” ’ ”Ahab’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,“ 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.Choose 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.”The leaders of Samaria were terrified. They said,“ King Joram and King Ahaziah couldn’t stand up against Jehu. So how can we?”The 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.”Then 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.When 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.When 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. Stack them up at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”The 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?I 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.”So 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.Then Jehu started out for Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds,he 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.”“ 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.Jehu 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.Jehu said,“ Come along with me. See how committed I am to serve the Lord.” Jehu had Jehonadab ride along in his chariot.Jehu 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.Then Jehu brought together all the people. He said to them,“ Ahab served the god named Baal a little. I will serve him a lot.Send 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 honor Baal. Anyone who doesn’t come will be killed.” But Jehu was lying to them. He was planning to destroy everyone who served Baal.Jehu said,“ Call everyone together to honor Baal.” So they did.Then 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.Jehu 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.Then 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.”So 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.”Jehu 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.
