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2 Re 10
La Nuova Diodati

10 Achab in Samaria, aveva settanta figli. Jehu scrisse delle lettere e le mandò a Samaria ai capi della città, agli anzianie ai tutori dei figli di Achab; in esse diceva:

2 «Appena vi giungerà questa lettera, siccome avete con voi i figli del vostro signore e avete carri e cavalli, una città fortificata e le armi,

3 scegliete il figlio migliore e piú adatto del vostro signore, mettetelo sul trono di suo padre e combattete per la casa del vostro signore».

4 Ma quelli ebbero una grande paura e dissero: «Ecco due re non hanno potuto resistergli; come potremo resistergli noi?».

5 Perciò il prefetto del palazzo, il governatore della città, gli anziani e i tutori dei figli di Achab mandarono a dire a Jehu: «Noi siamo tuoi servi e faremo tutto quello che ci ordinerai; non eleggeremo re nessuno; fa' ciò che meglio ti pare»

6 Allora egli scrisse loro una seconda lettera, in cui diceva: «Se siete con me e volete ubbidire alla mia voce, prendete le teste di quegli uomini, dei figli del vostro signore e venite da me a Jezreel, domani a quest'ora». Ora i figli del re, in numero di settanta, stavano con i nobili della città, che li educavano.

7 Come questi ricevettero la lettera, presero i figli del re e li scannarono tutti e settanta, poi misero le loro teste in ceste e le mandarono a Jehu in Jezreel.

8 Cosí venne un messaggero a riferirgli la cosa, dicendo: «Hanno portato le teste dei figli del re». Jehu rispose: «Mettetele in due mucchi all'entrata della porta fino a domani mattina».

9 Il mattino seguente egli uscí e, stando in piedi, disse a tutto il popolo: «Voi siete giusti, ecco, io ho cospirato contro il mio signore e l'ho ucciso, ma chi ha uccisi tutti questi?

10 Riconoscete dunque, che non è caduta a terra neppure una delle parole dell'Eterno che l'Eterno ha pronunciato contro la casa di Achab, l'Eterno infatti ha compiuto ciò che aveva detto per mezzo del suo servo Elia.

11 Cosí Jehu fece morire tutti quelli che erano rimasti della casa di Achab a Jezreel, tutti i suoi grandi i suoi amici e i suoi sacerdoti, senza lasciarne neppure uno.

12 Poi si levò e partí per andare a Samaria. Lungo la strada, giunto a Beth-Eked,

13 Jehu incontrò i fratelli di Achaziah re di Giuda, e disse: «Chi siete?». Quelli risposero: «Siamo i fratelli di Achaziah, e scendiamo a salutare i figli del re e i figli della regina».

14 Allora egli ordinò: «Prendeteli vivi!» Cosí li presero vivi e li scannarono presso il pozzo di Beth-Eked, in numero di quarantadue; non ne risparmiò neppure uno

15 Partito di là, trovò Jehonadab, figlio di Rekab, che gli veniva incontro; lo salutò e gli disse: «E il tuo cuore retto come il mio è verso il tuo?». Jehonadab rispose: «Lo è». «Se è cosí». disse Jehu, «dammi la mano». Allora egli gli diede la mano, cosí lo fece salire con sé sul carro e gli disse:

16 «Vieni con me e vedrai il mio zelo per l'Eterno!». Quindi lo portò via nel suo carro.

17 Giunto a Samaria, uccise tutti quelli che erano rimasti della casa di Achab in Samaria, fino alla sua completa distruzione, secondo la parola che l'Eterno aveva detto a Elia.

18 Poi Jehu radunò tutto il popolo e gli disse: «Achab ha servito un poco Baal, ma Jehu lo servirà molto di piú.

19 Ora convocate presso di me tutti i profeti di Baal, tutti i suoi servi e tutti i suoi sacerdoti, non ne manchi neppure uno, perché devo fare un grande sacrificio a Baal, chiunque mancherà non sarà lasciato in vita». Ma Jehu agiva con inganno per distruggere gli adoratori di Baal.

20 Quindi Jehu ordinò: «Proclamate una festa solenne in onore di Baal!». Cosí la proclamarono.

21 Poi Jehu inviò messaggeri per tutto Israele; cosí tutti gli adoratori di Baal vennero, e non vi fu neppure uno che si astenesse di venire, entrarono nel tempio di Baal, e il tempio di Baal fu ripieno da un capo all'altro.

22 Jehu disse quindi al guardarobiere: «Tira fuori le vesti per tutti gli adoratori di Baal». Cosí egli tirò fuori le vesti per loro.

23 Allora Jehu, assieme a Jehonadab figlio di Rekab, entrò nel tempio di Baal e disse agli adoratori di Baal: «Cercate bene e guardate che qui con voi non vi sia alcun servo dell'Eterno, ma soltanto adoratori di Baal».

24 Cosí essi entrarono per offrire sacrifici e olocausti. Ora Jehu aveva appostato fuori del tempio ottanta uomini, ai quali aveva detto: «Se qualcuno lascerà fuggire uno solo degli uomini che metto nelle vostre mani, pagherà con la propria vita la vita di quel tale».

25 Cosí, appena terminò di compiere l'offerta dell'olocausto, Jehu ordinò alle guardie e ai capitani: «Entrate, uccideteli e non lasciate che alcuno scappi!». Perciò essi li passarono a fil di spada; poi le guardie e i capitani li buttarono fuori e penetrarono nella parte interna del tempio di Baal;

26 quindi portarono fuori le colonne sacre del tempio di Baal e le bruciarono.

27 Poi demolirono la statua di Baal e demolirono il tempio di Baal, e lo ridussero in un immondezzaio che rimane fino ad oggi.

28 Cosí Jehu fece scomparire Baal da Israele;

29 tuttavia egli non si ritrasse dai peccati di Geroboamo, figlio di Nebat, con i quali aveva fatto peccare Israele, e cioè, dai vitelli d'oro che erano a Bethel e a Dan.

30 L'Eterno quindi disse a Jehu: «Poiché hai agito bene, facendo ciò che è giusto ai miei occhi, e hai fatto alla casa di Achab tutto quello che avevo in cuore, i tuoi figli siederanno sul trono d'Israele fino alla quarta generazione»

31 Ma Jehu non si curò di seguire con tutto il cuore la legge dell'Eterno, il DIO d'Israele; egli infatti non si allontanò dai peccati di Geroboamo, con i quali aveva fatto peccare Israele.

32 In quel tempo l'Eterno cominciò a tagliar via alcune parti da Israele; infatti Hazael sconfisse gl'Israeliti su tutta la loro frontiera:

33 dal Giordano verso oriente, occupò tutto il paese di Galaad, i Gaditi, i Rubeniti e i Manassiti, da Aroer, che è vicino al torrente Arnon, fino a Galaad e Bashan.

34 Il resto delle gesta di Jehu, tutto ciò che fece e tutte le sue prodezze non è scritto nel libro delle Cronache dei re d'Israele?

35 Poi Jehu si addormentò con i suoi padri e lo seppellirono a Samaria. Al suo posto regnò suo figlio Jehoahaz.

36 Il tempo in cui Jehu regnò sopra Israele a Samaria, fu di ventotto anni.

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2 Kings 10
Legacy Standard Bible

The Heads of Ahab’s Sons Sent to Jehu

10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in (A)Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying, 2 “So now, (B)when this letter comes to you, [a]since your master’s sons are with you, [b]as well as the chariots and horses and a fortified city and the weapons, 3 look for the best and [c]fittest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” 4 But they feared exceedingly greatly and said, “Behold, (C)the two kings did not stand before him; how then can we stand?” 5 And the one who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, “(D)We are your servants, all that you say to us we will do, we will not make any man king; do what is good in your sight.” 6 Then he wrote a letter to them a second time saying, “If you are on my side, and you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me about this time tomorrow at Jezreel.” Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them. 7 Now it happened that when the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and (E)slaughtered them, seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8 Then the messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” So he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” 9 Now it happened in the morning that he went out and stood and said to all the people, “You are righteous; behold, (F)I conspired against my master and killed him, but (G)who struck down all these? 10 Know then that (H)nothing from the word of Yahweh, which Yahweh spoke concerning the house of Ahab, shall fall to the earth. Indeed, Yahweh has done (I)what He spoke by the hand of His servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in (J)Jezreel, and all his great men and his acquaintances and his priests, until [d]there was no survivor remaining for him.

12 Then he arose and came out and went to Samaria. On the way, while he was at [e]Beth-eked of the shepherds, 13 (K)Jehu found the [f]relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, “Who are you?” And they said, “We are the [g]relatives of Ahaziah; and we have come down [h]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 Then he went from there and found (L)Jehonadab the son of (M)Rechab coming to meet him; and he [i]blessed him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” And Jehonadab [j]answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, (N)give me your hand.” And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, “Come with me and (O)see my zeal for Yahweh.” So [k]he made him ride in his chariot. 17 And he came to Samaria (P)and struck down all who were left to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, (Q)according to the word of Yahweh which He spoke to Elijah.

Jehu Destroys the Slaves of Baal

18 Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, “(R)Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. 19 So now, (S)summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his slaves and all his priests; let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in [l]cunning, so that he might cause the slaves of Baal to perish. 20 And Jehu said, “(T)Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal.” And (U)they summoned them. 21 Then Jehu sent [m]throughout Israel, and all the slaves of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. So they came into (V)the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 Then he said to the one who was [n]in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the slaves of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them. 23 And Jehu came into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab; and he said to the slaves of Baal, “Search and see lest there be here with you any of the slaves of Yahweh, but only the slaves of Baal.” 24 Then they came in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had placed for himself eighty men outside, and he had said, “(W)The one who permits any of the men whom I cause to come into your hands to escape, [o]shall give up his life in exchange.”

25 Now it happened that as soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the [p](X)guard and to the royal officers, “(Y)Come in, strike them down; let none come out.” And they struck them down with the edge of the sword; and the [q]guard and the royal officers threw them out and went to the [r]inner room of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought out the sacred (Z)pillars of the house of Baal and burned them. 27 They also broke down the sacred pillar of Baal and broke down the house of Baal and (AA)made it a latrine to this day.

28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. 29 However, (AB)as for the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel sin, from these Jehu did not depart, even the (AC)golden calves that were at Bethel and that were at Dan. 30 And Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in My heart, (AD)your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu [s](AE)was not careful to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart; (AF)he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel sin.

32 In those days (AG)Yahweh began to cut off portions [t]from Israel; and (AH)Hazael struck them throughout the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordan to the east toward the sunrise, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites and the Reubenites and the Manassites, from (AI)Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even (AJ)Gilead and Bashan.

Jehoahaz Reigns over Israel

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 became king in his place. 36 Now the [u]time which Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 10:2 Lit and
  2. 2 Kings 10:2 Lit and with you the
  3. 2 Kings 10:3 Lit most upright
  4. 2 Kings 10:11 Lit he had no survivor
  5. 2 Kings 10:12 Lit house of binding
  6. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit brothers
  7. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit brothers
  8. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit about the peace of
  9. 2 Kings 10:15 Or greeted
  10. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit said
  11. 2 Kings 10:16 Lit they
  12. 2 Kings 10:19 Lit insidiousness
  13. 2 Kings 10:21 Lit in all
  14. 2 Kings 10:22 Lit over the
  15. 2 Kings 10:24 Lit his soul for his soul
  16. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit runners
  17. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit runners
  18. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit city
  19. 2 Kings 10:31 Lit did not watch
  20. 2 Kings 10:32 Lit in
  21. 2 Kings 10:36 Lit days
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2 Kings 10
New International Version

Ahab’s Family Killed

10 Now there were in Samaria(A) seventy sons(B) of the house of Ahab. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria: to the officials of Jezreel,[a](C) to the elders and to the guardians(D) of Ahab’s children. He said, 2 “You have your master’s sons with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weapons. Now as soon as this letter reaches you, 3 choose the best and most worthy of your master’s sons and set him on his father’s throne. Then fight for your master’s house.”

4 But they were terrified and said, “If two kings could not resist him, how can we?”

5 So the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your servants(E) and we will do anything you say. We will not appoint anyone as king; you do whatever you think best.”

6 Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side and will obey me, take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”

Now the royal princes, seventy of them, were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them. 7 When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy(F) of them. They put their heads(G) in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. 8 When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the princes.”

Then Jehu ordered, “Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

9 The next morning Jehu went out. He stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these? 10 Know, then, that not a word the Lord has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The Lord has done what he announced(H) through his servant Elijah.”(I) 11 So Jehu(J) killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his chief men, his close friends and his priests, leaving him no survivor.(K)

12 Jehu then set out and went toward Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13 he met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?”

They said, “We are relatives of Ahaziah,(L) and we have come down to greet the families of the king and of the queen mother.(M)”

14 “Take them alive!” he ordered. So they took them alive and slaughtered them by the well of Beth Eked—forty-two of them. He left no survivor.(N)

15 After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab(O) son of Rekab,(P) who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, “Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?”

“I am,” Jehonadab answered.

“If so,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.”(Q) So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot. 16 Jehu said, “Come with me and see my zeal(R) for the Lord.” Then he had him ride along in his chariot.

17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab’s family;(S) he destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.

Servants of Baal Killed

18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served(T) Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now summon(U) all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. See that no one is missing, because I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who fails to come will no longer live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20 Jehu said, “Call an assembly(V) in honor of Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 Then he sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one stayed away. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was full from one end to the other. 22 And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them.

23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went into the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around and see that no one who serves the Lord is here with you—only servants of Baal.” 24 So they went in to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had posted eighty men outside with this warning: “If one of you lets any of the men I am placing in your hands escape, it will be your life for his life.”(W)

25 As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers: “Go in and kill(X) them; let no one escape.”(Y) So they cut them down with the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and then entered the inner shrine of the temple of Baal. 26 They brought the sacred stone(Z) out of the temple of Baal and burned it. 27 They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple(AA) of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.

28 So Jehu(AB) destroyed Baal worship in Israel. 29 However, he did not turn away from the sins(AC) of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves(AD) at Bethel(AE) and Dan.

30 The Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”(AF) 31 Yet Jehu was not careful(AG) to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins(AH) of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

32 In those days the Lord began to reduce(AI) the size of Israel. Hazael(AJ) overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory 33 east of the Jordan in all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh), from Aroer(AK) by the Arnon(AL) Gorge through Gilead to Bashan.

34 As for the other events of Jehu’s reign, all he did, and all his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals(AM) of the kings of Israel?

35 Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king. 36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 10:1 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts and Vulgate of the city
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2 Kings 10
New King James Version

Ahab’s Seventy Sons Killed

10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of [a]Jezreel, to the elders, and to [b]those who reared Ahab’s sons, saying:

2 Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, 3 choose the [c]best qualified of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Look, (A)two kings could not [d]stand up to him; how then can we stand?” 5 And he who was in charge of the house, and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight.” 6 Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying:

If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.

Now the king’s sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them. 7 So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons and (B)slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.

8 Then a messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.”

And he said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9 So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Indeed (C)I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these? 10 Know now that nothing shall (D)fall to the earth of the word of the Lord which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the Lord has done what He spoke (E)by His servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

Ahaziah’s Forty-two Brothers Killed

12 And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way, at [e]Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13 (F)Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?”

So they answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah; we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”

14 And he said, “Take them alive!” So they took them alive, and (G)killed them at the well of [f]Beth Eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.

The Rest of Ahab’s Family Killed

15 Now when he departed from there, he [g]met (H)Jehonadab the son of (I)Rechab, coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?”

And Jehonadab answered, “It is.”

Jehu said, “If it is, (J)give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, “Come with me, and see my (K)zeal for the Lord.” So they had him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, (L)he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord (M)which He spoke to Elijah.

Worshipers of Baal Killed

18 Then Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, (N)“Ahab served Baal a little, Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore, call to me all the (O)prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu acted deceptively, with the intent of destroying the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, [h]“Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it. 21 Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. So they came into the [i]temple of Baal, and the (P)temple of Baal was full from one end to the other. 22 And he said to the one in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out vestments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out vestments for them. 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab went into the temple of Baal, and said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and see that no servants of the Lord are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men on the outside, and had said, “If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escapes, whoever lets him escape, it shall be (Q)his life for the life of the other.”

25 Now it happened, 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 kill them; let no one come out!” And they killed them with the edge of the sword; then the guards and the officers threw them out, and went into the [j]inner room of the temple of Baal. 26 And they brought the (R)sacred pillars out of the temple of Baal and burned them. 27 Then they broke down the sacred pillar of Baal, and tore down the [k]temple of Baal and (S)made it a refuse dump to this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.

29 However Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin, that is, from (T)the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan. 30 And the Lord (U)said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in doing what is right in My sight, and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, (V)your sons shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31 But Jehu [l]took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart; for he did not depart from (W)the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin.

Death of Jehu

32 In those days the Lord began to cut off parts of Israel; and (X)Hazael conquered them in all the territory of Israel 33 from the Jordan eastward: all the land of Gilead—Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh—from (Y)Aroer, which is by the River Arnon, including (Z)Gilead and Bashan.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35 So Jehu [m]rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then (AA)Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 36 And the period that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 10:1 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX Samaria; Vg. city
  2. 2 Kings 10:1 the guardians of
  3. 2 Kings 10:3 most upright
  4. 2 Kings 10:4 Lit. stand before
  5. 2 Kings 10:12 Or The Shearing House
  6. 2 Kings 10:14 Or The Shearing House
  7. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit. found
  8. 2 Kings 10:20 Consecrate
  9. 2 Kings 10:21 Lit. house
  10. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit. city
  11. 2 Kings 10:27 Lit. house
  12. 2 Kings 10:31 was not careful
  13. 2 Kings 10:35 Died and joined his ancestors
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2 Kings 10
Holman Christian Standard Bible

Jehu Kills the House of Ahab

10 Since Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria,(A) Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel,(B) to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons,[a] saying:

2 When this letter(C) arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry, 3 select the most qualified[b] of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

4 However, they were terrified and reasoned, “Look, two kings(D) couldn’t stand against him; how can we?”

5 So the overseer of the palace, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think is right.”[c](E)

6 Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying:

If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring me the heads of your master’s sons at this time tomorrow at Jezreel.

All 70 of the king’s sons were being cared for by the city’s prominent men. 7 When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered all 70, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 8 When the messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” the king said, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9 The next morning when he went out and stood at the gate, he said to all the people, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him.(F) But who struck down all these? 10 Know, then, that not a word the Lord spoke against the house of Ahab will fail,(G) for the Lord has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”(H) 11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel—all his great men, close friends, and priests—leaving him no survivors.

12 Then he set out and went on his way to Samaria. On the way, while he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?”

They answered, “We’re Ahaziah’s(I) relatives. We’ve come down to greet the king’s sons and the queen mother’s(J) sons.”

14 Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked—42 men. He didn’t spare any of them.(K)

15 When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab(L) coming to meet him. He greeted him and then asked, “Is your heart one with mine?”[d]

“It is,” Jehonadab replied.

Jehu said, “If it is,[e] give me your hand.”(M)

So he gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot with him. 16 Then he said, “Come with me and see my zeal(N) for the Lord!” So he let him ride with him in his chariot. 17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained from the house of Ahab in Samaria until he had annihilated his house, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.(O)

Jehu Kills the Baal Worshipers

18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, “Ahab served Baal(P) a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot. 19 Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests.(Q) None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal. 20 Jehu commanded, “Consecrate a solemn assembly(R) for Baal.” So they called one.

21 Then Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal[f] came; there was not a man left who did not come.(S) They entered the temple of Baal,(T) and it was filled from one end to the other. 22 Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, “Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out their garments.

23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look carefully to see that there are no servants of the Lord here among you—only servants of Baal.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, and he warned them, “Whoever allows any of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape will forfeit his life for theirs.”(U) 25 When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Don’t let anyone out.”(V) So they struck them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw the bodies out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. 26 They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them 27 and tore down the pillar(W) of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine(X)—which it is to this day.

Evaluation of Jehu’s Reign

28 Jehu eliminated Baal worship from Israel, 29 but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—worshiping the gold calves that were in Bethel and Dan.(Y) 30 Nevertheless, the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”(Z)

31 Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

32 In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel.(AA) Hazael(AB) defeated the Israelites throughout their territory: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer(AC) which is by the Arnon Valley(AD) through Gilead to Bashan.[g]

34 Now the rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.(AE) 35 Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz(AF) became king in his place. 36 The length of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was 28 years.(AG)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 10:1 LXX; MT reads of Ahab
  2. 2 Kings 10:3 Lit the good and the upright
  3. 2 Kings 10:5 Lit Do what is good in your eyes
  4. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit heart upright like my heart is with your heart
  5. 2 Kings 10:15 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads mine?” Jehonadab said, “It is and it is
  6. 2 Kings 10:21 LXX adds —all his priests and all his prophets—
  7. 2 Kings 10:33 Lit Arnon Valley and Gilead and Bashan
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