Jehu Reigns over Israel

Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of (A)the sons of the prophets and said to him, “[a](B)Get ready and (C)take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to (D)Ramoth-gilead. When you arrive there, then look there for (E)Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and (F)have him get up from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room. Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(G)I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee, and do not wait.”

So (H)the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. When he arrived, behold, the commanders of the army were sitting, and he said, “I have a word for you, commander.” And Jehu said, “[b]For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, commander.” He then got up and went into the house, and the prophet’s servant poured the oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘(I)I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, (J)so that I may avenge (K)the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, (L)at the hand of Jezebel. For the entire house of Ahab shall perish, and (M)I will eliminate from Ahab (N)every male person (O)both [c]slave and free in Israel. (P)I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and (Q)like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10 (R)The dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.

11 Now Jehu went out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “(S)Is everything well? Why did this (T)crazy fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know very well the man and his talk.” 12 And they said, “It is a lie; tell us now.” And he said, “Such and such he said to me, saying, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’” 13 Then (U)they hurried, and each man took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and (V)blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”

Jehu Assassinates Jehoram (Joram)

14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (W)Now Joram [d]with all Israel was [e]defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15 but (X)King [f]Joram had returned to Jezreel to have himself healed of the wounds which the Arameans had [g]inflicted on him when he fought Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said to the other men, “If this is your [h]intent, then let no [i]one escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.” 16 Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, since Joram was lying there recovering. (Y)And Ahaziah the king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the [j]company of Jehu as he came, and he said, “I see a [k]company.” And [l]Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and have him [m]ask, ‘Is your intention peace?’” 18 So a horseman went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is your intention peace?’” But Jehu said, “[n](Z)How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” And the watchman [o]reported, “The messenger came to them, but he did not return.” 19 Then he sent a second horseman, and he came to them and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is your intention peace?’” And Jehu [p]answered, “[q]How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” 20 And the watchman [r]reported, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and (AA)the [s]driving is like the driving of (AB)Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21 Then [t]Joram said, “[u]Get ready.” And they [v]made his chariot ready. (AC)Then [w]Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu and found him on the [x](AD)property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22 When [y]Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is your intention peace, Jehu?” And he [z]answered, “What ‘peace,’ (AE)so long as your mother Jezebel’s acts of prostitution and witchcraft are so many?” 23 So [aa]Joram [ab]turned back and fled, and he said to Ahaziah, “(AF)There is treachery, Ahaziah!” 24 Then (AG)Jehu [ac]drew his bow with his full strength and [ad]shot [ae]Joram between his arms; and the arrow went [af]through his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25 And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and (AH)throw him on the [ag]property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when [ah]you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the (AI)Lord brought this (AJ)pronouncement against him: 26 (AK)I have certainly seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ declares the Lord, ‘and (AL)I will repay you on this [ai]property,’ declares the Lord. Now then, pick him up and throw him on the [aj]property, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”

Jehu Assassinates Ahaziah

27 (AM)When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by way of the garden house. But Jehu pursued him and said, “[ak]Shoot him too, in the chariot.” So they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is at (AN)Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28 (AO)Then his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his grave with his fathers in the city of David.

29 Now in (AP)the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, and (AQ)she put makeup on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked down through the window. 31 As Jehu entered the gate, she said, “(AR)Is your intention peace, Zimri, his master’s murderer?” 32 Then he raised his face toward the window and said, “Who is with me, who?” And two or three officials looked down at him.

Jezebel Is Killed

33 Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and he trampled her underfoot. 34 When he came in, he ate and drank; and he said, “See now to (AS)this cursed woman and bury her, for (AT)she is a king’s daughter.” 35 So they went to bury her, but they found nothing of her except the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 Therefore they returned and informed him. And he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘(AU)On the [al]property of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; 37 and (AV)the corpse of Jezebel will be like dung on the face of the field in the [am]property of Jezreel, so they cannot say, “This is Jezebel.”’”

Judgment upon Ahab’s House

10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in (AW)Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the officials of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying, “And now, (AX)when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, [an]as well as the chariots and horses, and a fortified city and the weapons, select the best and most capable of your master’s sons and seat him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” But they feared greatly and said, “Behold, (AY)the two kings did not stand firm before him; how then can we stand?” And the one who was in charge of the household, and the one who was in charge of the city, and the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, “(AZ)We are your servants, and everything that you tell us we will do. We will not appoint any man king; do what is good in your sight.” Then he wrote them a letter a second time, saying, “If you are on my side, and will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel about this time tomorrow.” Now the king’s sons, seventy men, were with the great people of the city, who were raising them. When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and (BA)slaughtered them, seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. When the messenger came and informed him, saying, “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.” Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, “You are [ao]innocent; behold, (BB)I conspired against my master and killed him, but (BC)who [ap]killed all these? 10 Know then that (BD)nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, shall [aq]fall to the earth, for the Lord has done (BE)what He spoke [ar]through His servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu [as]killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in (BF)Jezreel, and all his great men, his acquaintances, and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.

12 Then he set out and [at]went to Samaria. On the way while he was at [au]Beth-eked of the shepherds, 13 (BG)Jehu [av]encountered the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they [aw]answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah; and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.” 14 Then he said, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive, and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.

15 Now when he had gone from there, he [ax]encountered (BH)Jehonadab the son of (BI)Rechab coming to meet him; and he [ay]greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, just as my heart is with your heart?” And Jehonadab [az]answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, (BJ)give me your hand.” And he gave him his hand, and he pulled him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, “Come with me and (BK)see my zeal for the Lord.” So [ba]he had him ride in his chariot. 17 When he came to Samaria, (BL)he [bb]killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had eliminated [bc]them, (BM)in accordance with the word of the Lord which He spoke to Elijah.

Jehu Destroys Baal Worshipers

18 Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, “(BN)Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now, (BO)summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one go missing, because I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in deception, in order to eliminate the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, “(BP)Proclaim a holy assembly for Baal.” And (BQ)they proclaimed it. 21 Then Jehu sent word [bd]throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a person left who did not come. And when they entered (BR)the house of Baal, the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 And he said to the one who was [be]in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the garments for them. 23 Then Jehu entered the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab; and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search carefully and see to it that there is here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they entered to [bf]offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed for himself eighty men outside, and he had said, “(BS)The one who allows any of the men whom I bring into your hands to escape [bg]shall give up his life in exchange.”

25 Then it came about, as soon as he had finished [bh]offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the [bi](BT)guard and to the royal officers, “(BU)Go in, [bj]kill them; let none come out.” So they [bk]killed them with the edge of the sword; and the [bl]guard and the royal officers threw them out, and went to the [bm]sanctuary of the house of Baal. 26 They brought out the (BV)memorial stones of the house of Baal and burned them. 27 They also tore down the memorial stone of Baal and tore down the house of Baal, and (BW)made it a latrine as it is to this day.

28 So Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel. 29 However, (BX)as for the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel, from these Jehu did not desist, including the (BY)golden calves that were at Bethel and at Dan. 30 Yet the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in performing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab in accordance with everything that was in My heart, (BZ)your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu (CA)was not careful to walk in the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart; (CB)he did not desist from the sins of Jeroboam, into which he misled Israel.

32 In those days the (CC)Lord began to cut off pieces from Israel; and (CD)Hazael [bn]defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites; from (CE)Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, that is, (CF)Gilead and Bashan.

Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu

34 Now as for the rest of the acts of Jehu and everything that he did and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 35 And Jehu [bo]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And his son Jehoahaz became king in his place. 36 So the [bp]time which Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Athaliah Queen of Judah

11 (CG)When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and eliminated all the royal [bq]children. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, (CH)took Joash the son of Ahaziah and abducted him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. So he was kept hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

(CI)Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent orders and brought the captains of hundreds of (CJ)the Carites and of the [br]guards, and brought them to himself at the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: (CK)a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house (a third also shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the [bs]guards), [bt]shall keep watch over the house [bu]for defense. And two parts of you, all who go out on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And (CL)you are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

So the captains of hundreds (CM)acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, along with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then (CN)the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 The [bv]guards stood, each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought the king’s son out, and (CO)put the crown on him and gave him (CP)the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “(CQ)Long live the king!”

13 (CR)When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and of the people, she came to the people at the house of the Lord. 14 And she looked, and behold, the king was standing (CS)by the pillar according to the custom, with the captains and the [bw]trumpeters beside the king; and (CT)all the people of the land were joyful and were blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah (CU)tore her clothes and cried out, “(CV)Conspiracy! Conspiracy!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword!” For the priest said, “She is not to be put to death at the house of the Lord.” 16 So they [bx]seized her, and when [by]they brought her to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was (CW)put to death there.

17 Then (CX)Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they would be the Lords people, and (CY)between the king and the people. 18 And all the people of the land came to (CZ)the house of Baal and tore it down; they thoroughly smashed (DA)his altars and his images in pieces, and they (DB)killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Then the priest appointed sentries over the house of the Lord. 19 And he took the captains of hundreds and the (DC)Carites, and the [bz]guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came by way of (DD)the gate of the [ca]guards to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So (DE)all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was [cb]peaceful. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

21 [cc](DF)Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 9:1 Lit Belt up your waist
  2. 2 Kings 9:5 Lit To whom of us all?
  3. 2 Kings 9:8 Or child and adult
  4. 2 Kings 9:14 Lit he and
  5. 2 Kings 9:14 Lit protecting
  6. 2 Kings 9:15 Heb Jehoram
  7. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit struck
  8. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit soul
  9. 2 Kings 9:15 Lit escapee leave
  10. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit crowd
  11. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit crowd
  12. 2 Kings 9:17 Heb Jehoram
  13. 2 Kings 9:17 Lit say
  14. 2 Kings 9:18 Lit What to you and to peace
  15. 2 Kings 9:18 Lit reported, saying
  16. 2 Kings 9:19 Lit said
  17. 2 Kings 9:19 See note 1 v 18
  18. 2 Kings 9:20 Lit reported, saying
  19. 2 Kings 9:20 I.e., of the chariot
  20. 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
  21. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit Harness the chariot
  22. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit harnessed
  23. 2 Kings 9:21 Heb Jehoram
  24. 2 Kings 9:21 Lit portion
  25. 2 Kings 9:22 Heb Jehoram
  26. 2 Kings 9:22 Lit said
  27. 2 Kings 9:23 Heb Jehoram
  28. 2 Kings 9:23 Lit turned his hands
  29. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit filled his hand with the bow
  30. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit struck
  31. 2 Kings 9:24 Heb Jehoram
  32. 2 Kings 9:24 Lit out from
  33. 2 Kings 9:25 Lit portion
  34. 2 Kings 9:25 Lit I and you
  35. 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
  36. 2 Kings 9:26 Lit portion
  37. 2 Kings 9:27 Lit strike
  38. 2 Kings 9:36 Lit portion
  39. 2 Kings 9:37 Lit portion
  40. 2 Kings 10:2 Lit and with you the
  41. 2 Kings 10:9 Lit righteous
  42. 2 Kings 10:9 Lit struck
  43. 2 Kings 10:10 I.e., fail to come true
  44. 2 Kings 10:10 Lit by the hand of
  45. 2 Kings 10:11 Lit struck
  46. 2 Kings 10:12 Lit came in and went
  47. 2 Kings 10:12 I.e., house of binding
  48. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit found
  49. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit said
  50. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit found
  51. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit blessed
  52. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit said
  53. 2 Kings 10:16 Lit they
  54. 2 Kings 10:17 Lit struck
  55. 2 Kings 10:17 Lit him
  56. 2 Kings 10:21 Lit in all
  57. 2 Kings 10:22 Lit over the
  58. 2 Kings 10:24 Lit make
  59. 2 Kings 10:24 Lit his soul for his soul
  60. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit making
  61. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit runners
  62. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit strike
  63. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit struck
  64. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit runners
  65. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit city
  66. 2 Kings 10:32 Lit struck
  67. 2 Kings 10:35 I.e., died
  68. 2 Kings 10:36 Lit days
  69. 2 Kings 11:1 Lit seed
  70. 2 Kings 11:4 Lit runners
  71. 2 Kings 11:6 Lit runners
  72. 2 Kings 11:6 Lit and shall
  73. 2 Kings 11:6 Or possibly in shifts
  74. 2 Kings 11:11 Lit runners
  75. 2 Kings 11:14 Lit trumpets
  76. 2 Kings 11:16 Lit laid hands on her
  77. 2 Kings 11:16 Lit she entered
  78. 2 Kings 11:19 Lit runners
  79. 2 Kings 11:19 Lit runners
  80. 2 Kings 11:20 Or quiet
  81. 2 Kings 11:21 Ch 12:1 in Heb; Jehoash is another spelling of Joash in Heb

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