Beginning
Jehu Anointed King of Israel
9 Elisha called one of the members of the[a] Guild of Prophets and told him, “Get ready to run,[b] take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2 As soon as you get there, go find Jehoshaphat’s son Jehu, the grandson of Nimshi. When you do,[c] go in, tell him to get up and go apart with you away from his brothers. Lead him into a private chamber, 3 take the flask of oil, and pour it out on his head. Then tell him, ‘This is what the Lord says: I’m anointing you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and leave. Don’t linger there!”
4 So the young man, who was an attendant to the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5 When he arrived, the army commanders were seated, so he said, “I have a message for you, captain!”
Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”
“For you, captain!” he answered.
6 So Jehu[d] got up and went inside the house, and the young man[e] told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord—that is, over Israel. 7 You are to attack the household of your master Ahab, so I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, as well as the blood of all of the servants of the Lord that has been spilled[f] at Jezebel’s orders.[g] 8 The entire household of Ahab will die, and I will cut off from Ahab every male person in Israel, whether imprisoned or surviving.[h] 9 I will make the household of Ahab like the household of Nebat’s son Jeroboam and the household of Ahijah’s son Baasha. 10 Furthermore, the dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel. There will be no burial for her.’” Then he opened the door and left.
11 As Jehu was coming out to his master’s attendants, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac visit you?”
“You know the man and how he speculates,” Jehu replied.
12 “That’s a lie!” they said. “Tell us what’s going on!”
“He said ‘This and that’ to me,” he responded. “‘This is what the Lord says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’”
13 At this, each man quickly grabbed his own garment, placed it under him at the top of the stairs,[i] sounded a trumpet, and announced, “Jehu is king!”
Joram (Also Known as Jehoram) is Assassinated(A)
14 Meanwhile, Jehoshaphat’s son Jehu, the grandson of Nimshi, had been conspiring against Joram while Joram and all the army of[j] Israel had been defending Ramoth-gilead against King Hazael from Aram. (15 But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from wounds he had sustained from the Arameans when he had fought against King Hazael from Aram.) So Jehu concluded, “Since this is what you’ve decided,[k] then let no one get away, leave the city, and go report to Jezreel!” 16 Then Jehu rode by chariot to Jezreel, since Joram was recovering[l] there. King Ahaziah from Judah had come to visit Joram.
17 While the watchman was standing guard in the tower at Jezreel, he watched Jehu’s entourage arrive. So he called out, “I see a group arriving.”
Joram ordered, “Take a horseman, send him out to meet them, and have him ask, ‘Have you come in peace?’”[m]
18 So a horseman went out, greeted Jehu and said, “This is what the king said: ‘Have you come in peace?’”
But Jehu responded, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”
The watchman reported, “The messenger arrived there, but he hasn’t returned.”
19 Then Joram sent out a second horseman, who went out to them and said, “This is what the king said: ‘Have you come in peace?’”
Jehu responded, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”
20 The watchman reported to Joram, “He arrived there, but he hasn’t returned. Also, he drives like Nimshi’s son Jehu drives—irrationally!”
21 Joram replied, “Let’s begin our attack!” As soon as his chariot was prepared, both King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out, each in his own chariot, to fight against Jehu. They met together in the property that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.[n]
22 As soon as Joram noticed Jehu, he cried out, “Peace, Jehu?”
Jehu[o] replied, “What peace, given[p] your mother Jezebel’s prostitution and all of[q] her witchcraft?”[r]
23 Joram reined his horse[s] around to flee and cried out to Ahaziah, “Ahaziah! Treachery!” 24 But Jehu drew his bow with all of his strength, shooting Joram between his shoulder blades.[t] The arrow pierced his heart, and he collapsed in his chariot.
25 After this, Jehu called out to Bidkar, his third in command, “Pick up Joram’s body and throw it in the field, the property that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite, because you and I remember how when we were riding together in pursuit of his father Ahab, that the Lord pronounced this oracle[u] against him:
26 ‘This is what the Lord says, “I have certainly observed the blood of Naboth and his sons, and I will repay you on this property,” declares the Lord.’
“Therefore take the body and throw it in the field, just as the Lord said.”
King Ahaziah is Also Killed(B)
27 As soon as King Ahaziah of Judah observed this, he attempted to flee by the garden house road, but Jehu pursued him. At the ascent toward Gur which is near Ibleam, he ordered, “Shoot him in the chariot, too!”
Ahaziah fled to Megiddo, where he died. 28 Ahaziah’s servants transported the king’s body[v] by chariot to Jerusalem and buried it in his own sepulcher near his ancestors in the City of David. 29 Ahaziah had begun to reign over Judah in the eleventh year of the reign of[w] Ahab’s son Joram.
Jezebel is Executed
30 As soon as Jehu arrived at Jezreel, Jezebel adorned her eyes, arranged her hair, and peered out a window. 31 When Jehu had entered through the gate, she asked, “Was Zimri, who murdered his master,[x] received well?”
32 Jehu[y] looked up toward the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” When two or three eunuchs looked out at him, 33 he ordered, “Throw her down!”
So they did, and her blood splashed against the wall and on the horses, while Jehu trampled her underfoot. 34 Later on, after he had come in to eat and drink, he ordered, “Go and see to this cursed woman, and bury her, because she was a king’s daughter.” 35 But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing left of her except her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. 36 So they returned and reported to Jehu,[z] and he responded, “This fulfills[aa] this message from the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the foreigner,[ab] who said:
‘Dogs will eat Jezebel’s flesh on the property of Jezreel, 37 and her corpse will lie like dung on the surface of the field on the property in Jezreel, but no one will say, “This is Jezebel.”’”
Ahab’s Dynasty is Ended
10 Meanwhile, Ahab had 70 sons who lived in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria—to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and the guardians of Ahab’s children.[ac] He told them, 2 “As soon as you receive this letter (since your master’s children are with you, you have chariots and horses there with you, and you are protected by a walled city and weaponry), 3 select the best and most qualified of your master’s sons, set him in place on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s dynasty!”
4 But they were too terrified, and so they told one another,[ad] “Look! Two previous kings couldn’t stand up to Jehu, so how can we?” 5 So the household overseer and the city supervisor, along with the elders and the children’s guardians, sent word[ae] to Jehu, telling him, “We will serve you and do everything you ask. We won’t set up a king, so do what you want to do.”
6 But Jehu wrote them another letter: “If you’re loyal to me, and if you intend to obey my commands,[af] then bring the heads of your master’s sons and meet me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow.”
Now the king’s sons, totaling 70 men, were living with the leading men of the city, who were their guardians. 7 When the letter from Jehu[ag] arrived, the city leaders arrested the king’s sons, slaughtered all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu[ah] at Jezreel.
8 When the messenger arrived to report to the king, he said, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.”
Jehu[ai] replied, “Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.” 9 The next morning, Jehu went out, stood still, and announced to all the people: “Are you righteous? I conspired against my master and killed him, but who slaughtered all of these? 10 Keep this in mind—not a single statement by the Lord will fail to come about that he spoke concerning Ahab’s dynasty, because the Lord has accomplished what he predicted by his servant Elijah.”
11 So Jehu executed all those who remained from Ahab’s dynasty in Jezreel, including all of Ahab’s men, his friends, and his priests, until there remained not even one survivor. 12 Then Jehu got up, left the city,[aj] and went to Samaria. When he arrived at the shearing house[ak] that was located on the way, 13 Jehu met up with the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked them, “Who are you?”
They answered, “We’re Ahaziah’s relatives, and we’ve come down to greet the king’s sons and the sons of the queen mother.”
14 Jehu ordered, “Take them alive!” So Jehu’s soldiers captured them and executed all 42 of them near the pit at the shearing house.[al] He left none of them alive.
15 After he left there, he encountered Rechab’s son Jehonadab. After he greeted him, Jehu[am] asked him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?”
“It is,” Jehonadab answered.
“If it is,” Jehu replied,[an] “Put out your hand.” So Jehonadab stuck out his hand, and Jehu took him up to stand in his chariot. 16 He told him, “Come with me and see my enthusiasm for the Lord!” So Jehu[ao] had Jehonadab[ap] ride in his chariot.
17 When Jehu[aq] arrived in Samaria, he executed everyone who remained of Ahab’s household in Samaria, until he had utterly destroyed Ahab in accordance with the message from the Lord that he spoke to Elijah.
Jehu Executes the Prophets of Baal
18 Then Jehu assembled all the people and announced to them, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot! 19 Therefore summon all of Baal’s prophets to me, including all his worshipers and all his priests. Don’t leave even one out, because I’ve prepared a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever doesn’t show up doesn’t live!” But Jehu did this deceptively, intending to destroy Baal’s worshippers. 20 Jehu ordered, “Set aside a solemn assembly for Baal!”
And so they proclaimed it. 21 Jehu sent the proclamation[ar] throughout Israel, and all the Baal worshipers came. There wasn’t a single man left who failed to come. When they entered Baal’s temple, it was filled from one end to the other. 22 Then Jehu[as] ordered the one in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all of the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.
23 Jehu and Rechab’s son Jehonadab entered Baal’s temple, and Jehu told the Baal worshipers, “Look around and be sure that no servant of the Lord is here among you, but only worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, ordering them, “If any of these men whom I’ve brought into your control escape, the one who allows it will forfeit his life.”
25 As soon as he had completed the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, “Go in and execute them. Don’t let even one man escape.” So they executed them with swords, and the guards and the officers threw the bodies out and proceeded into the inner room of Baal’s temple, 26 from which they brought out the sacred pillars and burned them. 27 They also cut down the pillar to Baal, tore apart Baal’s temple, and turned it into a latrine—and it remains that way today. 28 That’s how Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel. 29 Even so, Jehu never abandoned the sins of Nebat’s son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, regarding the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.
Israel Begins to Reduce in Size
30 Nevertheless, the Lord told Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what I saw as the right thing to do by completing everything I had in mind regarding Ahab’s dynasty, your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.” 31 But Jehu did not remain careful to walk in the instruction[at] of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart. He never abandoned the sins of Jeroboam that had caused Israel to sin. 32 In those days, the Lord began to reduce Israel in size: Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel, 33 from the Jordan River[au] eastward, all the territory of Gilead, the descendants of Gad, the descendants of Reuben, and the descendants of Manasseh, from Aroer by the Valley of the Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan.
Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu
34 Now as to the rest of Jehu’s activities, including his valiant deeds, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not? 35 Then Jehu died, as did[av] his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz reigned in his place. 36 Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.
Athaliah Reigns as Queen of Judah(C)
11 As soon as Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she seized the throne[aw] and executed the entire royal bloodline.[ax] 2 But King Joram’s daughter Jehosheba, who was Ahaziah’s sister, rescued[ay] Ahaziah’s son Joash from the group of the king’s sons who were being executed and hid him and his nurse in her bedroom, concealing him from Athaliah so he was not put to death. 3 So Joash remained hidden with her in the Lord’s Temple for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
4 But during the seventh year of her reign,[az] Jehoiada went out and called together the rulers of hundreds, the captains, and the guards, and assembled them together inside the Lord’s Temple. He made a covenant with them, making them take an oath in the Lord’s Temple, and then he revealed the king’s son to them. 5 He ordered them:
“Here’s what we’ll do: A third of you will enter here on this coming[ba] Sabbath dressed[bb] as guardians of the watch for the king’s palace, 6 with a third of you at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Keep watch over the palace[bc] and defend it. 7 Two[bd] of you who enter here on this coming[be] Sabbath are to stand watch at the Lord’s Temple, 8 guarding the king and surrounding him with weapons in hand. Whoever comes within range is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes, coming or going.”
9 So the captains of hundreds did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one of them assembled his men who were to enter on the Sabbath, along with those who were to leave on the Sabbath, and approached Jehoiada the priest.
10 The priest issued King David’s personal spears and shields that had been stored in the Lord’s Temple to the captains of hundreds. 11 So the guards stood assembled, every soldier with weapons in hand, surrounding the king from the right side corner of the Temple to the left side corner, including around the altar and the Temple.
12 Then he brought out the king’s son, put the royal crown on him, presented him with the Testimony,[bf] and installed him as king. They anointed him, applauded, and said, “May the king live!”
13 When Athaliah heard all of the commotion coming from those who were guarding the people, she approached the people who were in the Lord’s Temple. 14 She looked around—and there was the king, standing near a column, as was the royal custom! He was accompanied by the commanding officers, along with trumpeters who stood beside the king. All the people of the land sounded trumpets in their excitement.
But Athaliah tore her clothes and bellowed, “It’s a plot! A conspiracy!”
Athaliah is Executed(D)
15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of[bg] the army, “Take her out the back way[bh] and execute anybody who follows her,” since the priest had also issued this order: “Let’s not put her to death in the Lord’s Temple.” 16 So they arrested Athaliah, took her out through the same entrance used by the horses for entering the king’s palace, and executed her.
A Covenant is Made(E)
17 Then Jehoiada entered into a covenant with the Lord, the king, and the people, that they would live as the Lord’s people, and also entered into a covenant with the king and the people. 18 Then all of the people of the land entered Baal’s temple, tore it down, and broke his altars and his images to pieces, killing Mattan the priest of Baal right in front of the altars. Furthermore, Jehoiada[bi] the priest appointed officers to guard the Lord’s Temple, 19 and brought the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, taking the king out of the Lord’s Temple, marching through the guard’s gate to the king’s palace, where Joash[bj] took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20 After this, everyone throughout the land rejoiced and the city was at peace, because they had executed Athaliah at the king’s palace.
Jehoash (Joash) Reigns over Judah
21 [bk] Jehoash began to reign as king when he was seven years old,
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