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.

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