2 Kings 10

1Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria, and Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria—to Jezreel's rulers, the elders, and those who raised Ahab's sons—saying,

2Now as this letter comes to you, your master's sons, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and armor are with you.

3Look for the best and the right among your masters' sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your masters' house.

4They were greatly afraid and said, "See, the two kings could not stand before him—how could we stand?"

5The overseers of the household and the city, the elders, and the guardians sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and we will do everything you command us. We will not make any man king. Do what is good in your eyes."

6He wrote a second letter to them, saying, "If you stand with me and heed my voice, take the heads of the men—your masters' sons—and come to me in Jezreel tomorrow at this time." The king's sons, seventy men, were with the city's great men, who had raised them.

7When the letter reached them, they took the king's sons, slaughtered seventy men, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel.

8A messenger came and reported to him: "They brought the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Put them in two heaps at the gate entrance until morning."

9In the morning he went out, stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Look, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who struck all these?"

10Recognize now that none of Yahweh's word will fall to the ground—the word he spoke about Ahab's house—for Yahweh has carried out what he declared through his servant Elijah.

11Jehu struck all who remained of Ahab's house in Jezreel, and all his great men, his close acquaintances, and his priests, until he left him no survivor.

12He arose and set out and came to Samaria. He was at the shepherds' shearing house on the road.

13Jehu met the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are brothers of Ahaziah; we go down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen.”

15He departed from there and met Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart upright, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab said, “It is; yes, it is.” “Give me your hand.” He gave him his hand, and he pulled him up to him into the chariot.

16He said, "Come with me and see my zeal for Yahweh." So they had him ride in his chariot.

17He came to Samaria and struck down all who remained of Ahab in Samaria until he had destroyed him, according to the word of Yahweh that he spoke to Elijah.

18Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much more."

19Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to Baal—anyone who is missing will not live. But Jehu acted craftily in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20Jehu said, “Consecrate an assembly for Baal!” And they proclaimed it.

21Jehu sent to all Israel, and every worshiper of Baal came, so no man remained who did not come. They entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal filled up from one end to the other.

22He said to the one in charge of the vestry, "Bring out garments for all Baal's worshippers." He brought vestments out to them.

23Jehu entered the house of Baal with Jehonadab son of Rechab, and said to Baal's worshipers, "Search and see that no servants of Yahweh are here with you, only Baal's worshipers."

24They entered to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu stationed eighty men outside and said, "The man who escapes from the men whom I bring into your hands—his life shall be in place of his life."

25As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and captains, "Go in and strike them; let no one escape." They struck them with the sword's edge, and the guards and captains hurled them out and went to the city of the house of Baal.

26They brought out the pillars of the house of Baal and burned them.

27They tore down the pillar of Baal, tore down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.

28Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.

29However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin—the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan.

30Yahweh said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, doing to the house of Ahab everything that was in my heart, your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel."

31Jehu did not take care to walk in the law of Yahweh, God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not turn aside from the sins of Jeroboam, which he caused Israel to commit.

32In those days Yahweh began to cut Israel short, and Hazael struck them in all Israel's borders.

33From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer, which is on the Arnon, and Gilead and Bashan.

34The remainder of Jehu's deeds, all that he accomplished, and all his strength—are they not recorded in the book of the annals of Israel's kings?

35Jehu lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

36The days Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria were twenty-eight years.