耶户铲除亚哈家

10 亚哈在撒玛利亚有七十个子孙。耶户写信给那里的首领、长老以及亚哈子孙的监护人,说: “既然你们主人的子孙和你们在一起,你们也拥有车马、坚城和兵器,你们接到这封信后, 就可以从你们主人的子孙中选立一个最好的继承王位,为你们主人家而战。” 他们都十分害怕,彼此商议说:“两位王都不能抵挡他,我们怎能抵挡呢?” 宫廷总管、总督、长老和众监护人便派人送信给耶户,说:“我们是你的仆人,你怎样吩咐,我们就怎样做。我们不会立任何人为王,你认为怎样好,就怎样办吧。”

耶户又写了一封信,说:“如果你们归顺我,愿意听从我,明天这个时候,带着你们主人子孙的首级来耶斯列见我。”当时亚哈的七十个子孙都养在城中显贵的府中。 这些显贵们接到信后,便杀了亚哈的七十个子孙,把他们的首级放在篮子里,送到耶斯列的耶户那里。 使者告诉耶户:“他们将王众子孙的首级送来了。”耶户下令:“把首级分成两堆,放在城门口,一直放到明天早上。” 第二天早晨,耶户出去站在城门口,对众人说:“你们都没有罪,是我背叛我主人,把他杀了。可是,是谁杀了这些人呢? 10 由此可知,耶和华对亚哈家的预言一句也没有落空。耶和华借祂仆人以利亚所说的一切都应验了。” 11 耶户杀了亚哈家留在耶斯列的亲属、大臣、朋友和祭司,一个不留。

12 耶户动身去撒玛利亚,经过牧人剪羊毛的地方时, 13 遇见犹大王亚哈谢的亲属,就问:“你们是谁?”他们答道:“我们是亚哈谢的亲属,现在去问候王和太后一家。” 14 耶户下令活捉他们,他的手下便捉住他们,在剪羊毛处的井旁全部杀掉,共四十二人,一个不留。

15 耶户继续前行,遇见前来迎接他的利甲的儿子约拿达。耶户问候他,并说:“我对你忠诚,你对我也一样忠诚吗?”约拿达答道:“当然!”耶户说:“既然如此,把手伸给我。”他伸出手来,耶户把他拉上车, 16 说:“跟我来,看我怎样热心为耶和华工作。”于是耶户让他坐在车上。 17 到了撒玛利亚,他把亚哈家在撒玛利亚剩下的人全部杀光,一个不留,应验了耶和华对以利亚说的话。

耶户计杀拜巴力之人

18 耶户召集了所有的人,对他们说:“亚哈供奉巴力还不够热心,我耶户要更热心地供奉他。 19 我要向巴力献大祭,你们去把巴力的先知和祭司及所有拜巴力的人一个不漏地召来。凡不来的人休想活命。”耶户这样做,是想用计杀尽拜巴力的人。 20 耶户下令召开祭拜巴力的庄严聚会,于是他们发出通告。 21 耶户派人送信到以色列各地,凡拜巴力的人全都来了,没有一个缺席。他们把整个巴力庙塞得满满的。 22 耶户吩咐掌管礼服的人拿出礼服给他们穿上, 23 然后他和利甲的儿子约拿达进庙向他们宣布说:“你们仔细察看,这里不可有事奉耶和华的人,只允许拜巴力的人在这里。” 24 耶户和约拿达在庙里献上祭物和燔祭。此前,他预先派了八十人在庙外守着,并下令:“我把这些人交在你们手中,谁放走一个,谁就要以命抵偿。” 25 耶户献完燔祭出来,便命令卫兵和将领说:“进去杀死他们,不要放走一人。”卫兵和将领进庙挥刀杀了他们,把尸首抛出去后,走入庙的内殿, 26 将巴力神柱搬出去烧了。 27 他们摧毁了巴力的神柱和庙,把庙当作厕所,至今未变。

28 这样,耶户从以色列扫除了巴力。 29 可是,他重蹈尼八的儿子耶罗波安的覆辙,拜伯特利和但两地的金牛犊,使以色列人陷入罪中。 30 耶和华对耶户说:“你已经做了我视为正的事,照我的意思除掉了亚哈一家,因此你的子孙必做以色列王,直到第四代。” 31 但耶户没有全心全意地遵守以色列的上帝耶和华的律法,却重蹈耶罗波安的覆辙,使以色列人陷入罪中。

耶户去世

32 那时,耶和华开始削减以色列的领土。哈薛攻打以色列各处, 33 侵占了约旦河以东的土地,包括基列全境,即迦得人、吕便人和玛拿西人住的地方,从亚嫩谷附近的亚罗珥起,直到基列和巴珊。 34 耶户其他的事及其一切所作所为和成就都记在以色列的列王史上。 35 他与祖先同眠后葬在撒玛利亚,他儿子约哈斯继位。 36 耶户在撒玛利亚统治以色列二十八年。

耶户写信给撒玛利亚的领袖

10 亚哈有七十个儿子在撒玛利亚。耶户写了一批信,送到撒玛利亚,对耶斯列的首领、长老和亚哈众子的导师说: “你们主人的儿子都在你们那里,你们也有战车、马匹、设防城和武器,那么这封信到达你们那里的时候, 你们就要看看在你们主人的儿子中,哪一个是最好最合适的,把他立在父亲的宝座上;你们又要为你们主人的家作战。” 他们就十分害怕,说:“看哪,两个王尚且不能在他面前站立得住,我们又怎能站得住呢?” 于是内务长、市长、长老和亚哈众子的导师送信给耶户说:“我们是你的仆人,你吩咐我们的,我们都必照办;我们也不会立甚么人作王;你看怎样好,我们就怎样作。”

杀尽亚哈的子孙

于是耶户写第二封信给他们说:“如果你们是归从我,听我的话的,就要把你们主人的儿子们的头颅取下,明天大约这个时候,带来耶斯列给我。”那时,王的七十个儿子是住在抚养他们的城中的大臣那里。 这信到达他们那里的时候,他们就拿住王的众子,把这七十人杀了,然后把他们的头放在篮子里,送到耶斯列耶户那里。 有使者来告诉耶户说:“王的众子的头送到了。”他说:“把它们分作两堆放在城门口,直到早上。” 第二天早上的时候,耶户出来,站着对众民说:“你们都是无罪的,看哪,是我自己背叛了我的主人,把他杀了,但这所有的人又是谁击杀的呢? 10 你们要知道耶和华的话,就是耶和华所说攻击亚哈家的话,一句也没有落空;耶和华借着他的仆人以利亚所说的话,他都作成了。” 11 于是耶户击杀了亚哈家在耶斯列剩下的人,还有他所有的大臣、有关的人、祭司,没有一个给他存留。

杀尽亚哈谢的兄弟

12 耶户动身,往撒玛利亚去。在路上,他经过牧羊人的伯艾吉那里。 13 他遇见了犹大王亚哈谢的兄弟们。他说:“你们是谁?”他们说:“我们是亚哈谢的兄弟。我们下来要向王的众子和太后的众子请安。” 14 他说:“活捉他们!”他的手下就活捉了他们,在伯艾吉的坑边杀了他们;一共是四十二个人,没有留下一人。

15 他又从那里往前行,看见利甲的儿子约拿达来迎接他。耶户向他请安,然后说:“你的心对我忠诚,就像我的心对你的心一样吗?”约拿达说:“是的。”耶户说:“如果是的话,伸出你的手来。”他伸出他的手,耶户就把他拉上他的战车。 16 耶户说:“你和我一起去,看看我对耶和华的热诚。”于是用自己的战车载他同去。 17 他来到撒玛利亚,就击杀亚哈家所有在撒玛利亚剩下的人,把他们完全消灭,正如耶和华对以利亚所说的话。

设计杀尽拜巴力的人

18 耶户集合众民,对他们说:“从前亚哈信奉巴力还算是少,耶户要信奉更多。 19 现在,所有的巴力先知、所有信奉他的和他所有的祭司都要给我召来,不要走漏一人;因为我要向巴力献一个极大的祭,缺席的必不得活。”耶户用诡计这样行,是要除灭所有信奉巴力的人。 20 耶户又说:“要为巴力召开一个严肃会。”于是众人宣告召开大会。 21 耶户派人走遍以色列各地,所有信奉巴力的人都来了,没有一个不来的。他们都进了巴力庙,以致巴力庙从这边到那边都塞满了人。 22 耶户对掌管衣橱的说:“把礼服拿出来,给所有拜巴力的人穿。”他就把礼服拿出来给他们穿上。 23 耶户和利甲的儿子约拿达来到巴力的庙中。他对信奉巴力的人说:“搜查看看,这里不要有信奉耶和华的人和你们同在一起,只可以有信奉巴力的人。” 24 他们进去献祭和献燔祭。耶户布置了八十个人在外面,说:“如果我带来交在你们手中的人,有一个从他们中间逃脱了,你们就要以命抵命。”

25 耶户献完了燔祭,就对卫兵和军长说:“你们进去,杀死他们,一个也不让他们出来。”卫兵和军长于是用刀击杀他们,又把他们的尸体拋出去,然后往巴力庙的内室去了。 26 他们又把巴力庙内的神柱搬出去烧了。 27 他们毁坏了巴力的神柱,又拆毁了巴力庙,作为厕所,直到今日。 28 这样,耶户从以色列中消灭了巴力。

耶户仍拜金牛犊

29 只是耶户没有离弃尼八的儿子耶罗波安的罪,就是他使以色列人陷于罪中的那些罪,敬拜在伯特利和但的金牛犊。 30 耶和华对耶户说:“因为你办好了我看为正的事,照我的一切心意对付亚哈家,你的子孙要坐在以色列的王位上,直到第四代。” 31 可是耶户没有尽心遵行耶和华以色列 神的律法,离弃耶罗波安使以色列人陷于罪中的那些罪。

哈薛入侵以色列地

32 在那些日子,耶和华开始削弱以色列,哈薛在以色列各处的边境攻击他们: 33 从约旦河以东,基列的全地,迦得人、流本人和玛拿西人之地,从靠近亚嫩河的亚罗珥起,至基列和巴珊。 34 耶户其余的事迹和他所行的一切,以及他的一切英雄事迹,不是都写在以色列诸王的年代志上吗?

耶户逝世

35 耶户和他的祖先同享安息,葬在撒玛利亚,他儿子约哈斯接续他作王。 36 耶户在撒玛利亚作王统治以色列共二十八年。

10 And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab's children, saying,

Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;

Look even out the best and meetest of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?

10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the Lord hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

11 So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

12 And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,

13 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.

14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So they made him ride in his chariot.

17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the Lord, which he spake to Elijah.

18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.

19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

20 And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.

22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.

23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but the worshippers of Baal only.

24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.

26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.

27 And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

30 And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

32 In those days the Lord began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

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

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all 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 slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.