2 Kings 10
Christian Standard Bible
Jehu Kills the House of Ahab
10 Since Ahab had seventy 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 Your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry, so when this letter(C) arrives 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[d] at this time tomorrow at Jezreel.
All seventy 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 seventy, 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 city 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 to Samaria. On the way, while he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds, 13 Jehu met the relatives of King Ahaziah 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—forty-two 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?” [e]
“It is,” Jehonadab replied.
Jehu said, “If it is,[f] 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[g] came; no one failed to 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 eighty men outside, and he warned them, “Whoever allows any of the men I am placing in 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 pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it, 27 and they tore down the pillar(W) of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine(X)—which it still is today.
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: the whole land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer(AC) which is by the Arnon Valley(AD) through Gilead to Bashan.[h]
34 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 ancestors 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 twenty-eight years.(AG)
Footnotes
- 10:1 LXX; MT reads of Ahab
- 10:3 Lit the good and the upright
- 10:5 Lit Do what is good in your eyes
- 10:6 Lit heads of the men of the sons of your master
- 10:15 Lit heart upright like my heart is with your heart
- 10:15 LXX, Syr, Vg; MT reads mine?” Jehonadab said, “It is and it is
- 10:21 LXX adds—all his priests and all his prophets—
- 10:33 Lit Arnon Valley and Gilead and Bashan
2 Kings 10
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
10 And Achab had seventy sons in Samaria: so Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the chief men of the city, and to the ancients, and to them that brought up Achab's children, saying:
2 As soon as you receive these letters, ye that have your master's sons, and chariots, and horses, and fenced cities, and armour,
3 Choose the best, and him that shall please you most of your master's sons, and set him on his father's throne, and fight for the house of your master.
4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: Behold two kings could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist?
5 Therefore the overseers of the house, and the rulers of the city, and the ancients, and the tutors sent to Jehu, saying: We are thy servants, whatsoever thou shalt command us we will do, neither will we make us a king: do thou all that pleaseth thee.
6 And he wrote letters the second time to them, saying: If you be mine, and will obey me, take the heads of the sons of your master, and come to me to Jezrahel by to morrow this time. Now the king's sons, being seventy men, were brought up with the chief men of the city.
7 And when the letters came to them, they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezrahel.
8 And a messenger came, and told him, saying: They have brought the heads of the king's sons. And he said: Lay ye them in two heaps by the entering in of the gate until the morning.
9 And when it was light, he went out, and standing said to all the people: You are just: if I conspired against my master, and slew him, who hath slain all these?
10 See therefore now that there hath not fallen to the ground any of the words of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Achab, and the Lord hath done that which he spoke in the hand of his servant Elias.
11 So Jehu slew all that were left of the house of Achab in Jezrahel, and all his chief men, and his friends, and his priests, till there were no remains left of him.
12 And he arose, and went to Samaria: and when he was come to the shepherds' cabin in the way,
13 He met with the brethren of Ochozias king of Juda, and he said to them: Who are you? And they answered: We are the brethren of Ochozias, and are come down to salute the sons of the king, and the sons of the queen.
14 And he said: Take them alive. And they took them alive, and killed them at the pit by the cabin, two and forty men, and he left not any of them.
15 And when he was departed thence, he found Jonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he blessed him. And he said to him: Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart? And Jonadab said: It is. If it be, said he, give me thy hand. He gave him his hand. And he lifted him up to him into the chariot,
16 And he said to him: Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So he made him ride in his chariot,
17 And brought him into Samaria. And he slew all that were left of Achab in Samaria, to a man, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Elias.
18 And Jehu gathered together all the people, and said to them: Achab worshipped Baal a little, but I will worship him more.
19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests: let none be wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal: whosoever shall be wanting shall not live. Now Jehu did this craftily, that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
20 And he said: Proclaim a festival for Baal. And he called,
21 And he sent into all the borders of Israel, and all the servants of Baal came: there was not one left that did not come. And they went into the temple of Baal: and the house of Baal was filled, from one end to the other.
22 And he said to them that were over the wardrobe: Bring forth garments for all the servants of Baal. And they brought them forth garments.
23 And Jehu and Jonadab the son of Rechab went to the temple of Baal, and said to the worshippers of Baal: Search, and see that there be not any with you of the servants of the Lord, but that there be the servants of Baal only.
24 And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings: but Jehu had prepared him fourscore men without, and said to them: If any of the men escape, whom I have brought into your hands, he that letteth him go shall answer life for life.
25 And it came to pass, when the burnt offering was ended, that Jehu commanded his soldiers and captains, saying: Go in, and kill them, let none escape. And the soldiers and captains slew them with the edge of the sword, and cast them out: and they went into the city of the temple of Baal,
26 And brought the statue out of Baal's temple, and burnt it,
27 And broke it in pieces. They destroyed also the temple of Baal, and made a jakes in its place unto this day.
28 So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel:
29 But yet he departed not from the sills of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin, nor did he forsake the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan.
30 And the Lord said to Jehu: Because thou hast diligently executed that which was right and pleasing in my eyes, and hast done to the house of Achab according to all that was in my heart: thy children shall sit upon the throne of Israel to the fourth Generation.
31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord the God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel to sin.
32 In those days the Lord began to he weary of Israel: and Hazael ravaged them in all the coasts of Israel,
33 From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Galaad, and Gad, and Ruben, and Manasses, from Aroer, which is upon the torrent Amen, and Galaad, and Basan.
34 But the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and his strength, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?
35 And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria: and Joachaz his son reigned in his stead.
36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel, in Samaria, was eight and twenty years.
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
- 2 Kings 10:1 So with MT, Syr., Tg.; LXX Samaria; Vg. city
- 2 Kings 10:1 the guardians of
- 2 Kings 10:3 most upright
- 2 Kings 10:4 Lit. stand before
- 2 Kings 10:12 Or The Shearing House
- 2 Kings 10:14 Or The Shearing House
- 2 Kings 10:15 Lit. found
- 2 Kings 10:20 Consecrate
- 2 Kings 10:21 Lit. house
- 2 Kings 10:25 Lit. city
- 2 Kings 10:27 Lit. house
- 2 Kings 10:31 was not careful
- 2 Kings 10:35 Died and joined his ancestors
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
