2 Kings 10–12

Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Royal House

10Ahab’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 those who took care of Ahab’s children. He said, ²“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. ³Choose 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.”

⁴The leaders of Samaria were terrified. They said, “King Joram and King Ahaziah couldn’t stand up against Jehu. So how can we?”

⁵The city governor and the person who was in charge of the palace sent a message to Jehu. The message was also from the elders and those who took care of Ahab’s children. It 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.”

⁶Then Jehu wrote them a second letter. It 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. ⁷When 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.

⁸When 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.”

⁹The next morning Jehu went out. He stood in front of all of 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 of these? ¹⁰I 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 promised through his servant Elijah.”

¹¹So Jehu killed everyone from Ahab’s family who was in Jezreel. He also killed all of Ahab’s chief men. And he killed Ahab’s close friends and his priests. He didn’t leave anyone in Ahab’s family alive.

¹²Then Jehu started out for Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds, ¹³he 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.”

¹⁴“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 men. Jehu didn’t leave anyone alive.

¹⁵After Jehu left there, he came upon Jehonadab. He was the son of Recab. 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. ¹⁶Jehu said, “Come along with me. See how committed I am to serve the Lord.” He had him ride along in his chariot.

¹⁷Jehu came to Samaria. He killed everyone who was left there from Ahab’s family. And so he wiped out Ahab’s royal house. That’s what the Lord had said would happen. He had spoken that message to Elijah.

Jehu Kills Those Who Serve Baal

¹⁸Then Jehu brought all of the people together. He said to them, “Ahab served the god Baal a little. I will serve him a lot. ¹⁹Send for all of Baal’s prophets. Also send for all of 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 those who served Baal.

²⁰Jehu said, “Call everyone together to honor Baal.” So they did. ²¹Then he sent a message all through Israel. All of 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.

²²Jehu 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.

²³Then Jehu went into Baal’s temple. Jehonadab, the son of Recab, went with him. Jehu spoke to those who served Baal. He said, “Look around. Make sure that no one who serves the Lord is here with you. Make sure only those who serve Baal are here.” ²⁴So 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.”

²⁵Jehu 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.

²⁶They brought the sacred stone of Baal outside. They burned it up. ²⁷So they destroyed Baal’s sacred stone. They also tore down Baal’s temple. People have used it as a public toilet to this very day.

²⁸So Jehu destroyed the worship of the god Baal in Israel. ²⁹But he didn’t turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins. Jehu worshiped the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

³⁰The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have accomplished what is right in my eyes. You have done to Ahab’s royal house everything I wanted you to do. So your sons after you will sit on the throne of Israel. They will rule until the time of your children’s grandchildren.”

³¹But Jehu wasn’t careful to obey the law of the Lord. He didn’t obey the God of Israel with all his heart. He didn’t turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.

³²In those days the Lord began to make the kingdom of Israel smaller. Hazael gained control over many parts of Israel. He gained control over all of their territory ³³east of the Jordan River. It included the whole land of Gilead from Aroer by the Arnon River valley all the way to Bashan. That was the territory of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh.

³⁴The other events of Jehu’s rule are written down. Everything he did and accomplished is written down. All of those things are written in the official records of the kings of Israel.

³⁵Jehu joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became the next king after him. ³⁶Jehu had ruled over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.

Athaliah and Joash

11Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother. She saw that her son was dead. So she began to wipe out the whole royal house of Judah.

²But Jehosheba went and got Joash, the son of Ahaziah. She was the daughter of King Jehoram and the sister of Ahaziah. She stole Joash away from among the royal princes. All of them were about to be murdered. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. That’s how she hid him from Athaliah. And that’s why Athaliah didn’t kill him. ³The child remained hidden with his nurse at the Lord’s temple for six years. Athaliah ruled over the land during that time.

⁴In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada sent for the commanders of companies of 100 men. They were the commanders over the Carites and guards. He had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them. He made them take an oath at the temple. Then he showed them the king’s son.

⁵He gave them a command. He said, “Here’s what you must do. There are five companies of you. Some of you are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath day. A third of you must guard the royal palace. ⁶A third of you must guard the Sur Gate. And a third of you must guard the gate that is behind the guard. All of you must take turns guarding the temple.

⁷“The rest of you are in the other two companies. Normally you are not on duty on the Sabbath. But you also must guard the temple for the king. ⁸Station yourselves around the king. Each man must have his weapon in his hand. Anyone else who approaches your companies must be put to death. Stay close to the king no matter where he goes.”

⁹The commanders of the companies did just as the priest Jehoiada ordered. Each commander got his men and came to Jehoiada. Some of the men were going on duty on the Sabbath day. Others were going off duty.

¹⁰Then Jehoiada gave weapons to the commanders. He gave them spears and shields. The weapons had belonged to King David. They had been in the Lord’s temple.

¹¹The guards stationed themselves around the new king. Each man had his weapon in his hand. They were near the altar and the temple. They stood from the south side of the temple to its north side. Their line formed half of a circle.

¹²Jehoiada brought Ahaziah’s son out. He put the crown on him. He gave him a copy of the covenant. And he announced that Joash was king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. The people clapped their hands. Then they shouted, “May the king live a long time!”

¹³Athaliah heard the noise the guards and the people were making. So she went to the people at the Lord’s temple. ¹⁴She looked. And there was the king! He was standing next to the pillar. That was the usual practice. The officers and trumpet players were standing beside the king. All of the people of the land were filled with joy. They were blowing trumpets.

Then Athaliah tore her royal robes. She called out, “Treason! It’s treason!”

¹⁵The priest Jehoiada gave an order to the commanders of the companies. They were in charge of the troops. He said to them, “Bring her away from the temple between the line of guards. Use your swords to kill anyone who follows her.” The priest had said, “She must not be put…