¹⁴Jehu 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.

¹⁵But 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, “Are you really on my side? If you are, don’t let anyone sneak out of the city. Don’t let them go and tell the news in Jezreel.” ¹⁶Then 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.

¹⁷A 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?’ ”

¹⁸The 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.”

¹⁹So the king sent out a second horseman. When he came to them, he told them, “The king asks, ‘Are you coming in peace?’ ”

Jehu replied, “What do you know about peace? Get in line behind me.”

²⁰The 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 man.”

²¹“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.

²²When 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?”

²³Joram turned around and tried to get away. He called out to Ahaziah. He said, “It’s treason, Ahaziah!”

²⁴Then Jehu shot an arrow at Joram. It hit him between the shoulders. It went through his heart. He sank down slowly in his chariot.

²⁵Jehu spoke to Bidkar, his chariot officer. He said, “Pick him 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 made a prophecy about him. He announced, ²⁶‘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 him up. Throw him on that piece of land. That’s what the Lord said would happen.”

²⁷Ahaziah, 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 he escaped to Megiddo. And that’s where he died.

²⁸Ahaziah’s servants took him to Jerusalem in his chariot. They buried his body in his family tomb in the City of David. ²⁹Ahaziah had become king of Judah. It was in the 11th year of Joram, the son of Ahab.

Jehu Kills Jezebel

³⁰Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel heard about it. So she put makeup on her eyes and fixed her hair. She looked out of a window. ³¹Jehu entered the gate below. Then Jezebel said, “You are just like Zimri. You murdered your master. Have you come here in peace?”

³²He looked up at the window. “Who is on my side?” he called out. “Who?” Two or three officials looked down at him. ³³“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.

³⁴Jehu went inside. He ate and drank. “The Lord put a curse on that woman,” he said. “Take proper care of her body. Bury it. After all, she was a king’s daughter.”

³⁵So they went out to bury her body. But all they found was her skull, feet and hands.

³⁶They 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. ³⁷Her body will be left to rot on that piece of land. So no one will be able to say, “Here’s where Jezebel is buried.” ’ ”

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.

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