⁶ Then Jehu wrote a second letter. It said, “If you are on my side and will obey me, cut off the heads of your master’s sons. And come to me at Jezreel tomorrow about this time.”

Now there were 70 sons of the king’s family. They were with the leading men of the city who were their guardians. ⁷ The leaders received the letter. Then they took the king’s sons and killed all 70 of them. They put their heads in baskets. And they sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. ⁸ The messenger came to Jehu. He told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons!”

Then Jehu said, “Lay the heads in two piles at the city gate until morning.”