⁸ A messenger went to Jehu and said, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.”

So Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”

²⁸ brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.

¹⁴ The town leaders then sent word to Jezebel, “Naboth has been stoned to death.”

¹⁸ Then Joab sent a battle report to David. ¹⁹ He told his messenger, “Report all the news of the battle to the king. ²⁰ But he might get angry and ask, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? ²¹ Wasn’t Abimelech son of Gideon^[a] killed at Thebez by a woman who threw a millstone down on him from the wall? Why would you get so close to the wall?’ Then tell him, ‘Uriah the Hittite was killed, too.’”

²³ the body must not remain hanging from the tree overnight. You must bury the body that same day, for anyone who is hung^[a] is cursed in the sight of God. In this way, you will prevent the defilement of the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession.