Beginning
Jehu Is Chosen King
9 Elisha called a man from the group of the prophets. Elisha said, “Tighten your clothes around you. And take this small bottle of olive oil in your hand. Go to Ramoth in Gilead. 2 When you arrive, find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat is the son of Nimshi. Go in and make Jehu get up from among his brothers. Take him to an inner room. 3 Take the bottle and pour the oil on Jehu’s head. Say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have appointed you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run away. Don’t wait!”
4 So the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth in Gilead. 5 When he arrived, he saw the officers of the army sitting together. He said, “Commander, I have a message for you.”
Jehu asked, “For which one of us?”
The young man said, “For you, commander.”
6 Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu’s head. He said to Jehu, “This is what the Lord of Israel says: ‘I have appointed you king over the Lord’s people, Israel. 7 You must destroy the family of Ahab your master. I will punish Jezebel for the deaths of my servants the prophets. And I will punish her for all the Lord’s servants who were murdered. 8 So all Ahab’s family will die. I will not let any male child in Ahab’s family live in Israel. It does not matter if he is a slave or a free person. 9 I will make Ahab’s family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. They will be like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 The dogs will eat Jezebel in the portion of land at Jezreel. And no one will bury her.’”
Then the young prophet opened the door and ran away.
11 Jehu went back to his master’s officers. One of them said to Jehu, “Is everything all right? Why did this crazy man come to you?”
Jehu answered, “You know the man and how he talks.”
12 They answered, “That’s not true! Tell us.”
Jehu said, “He said, ‘This is what the Lord says: I have appointed you to be king over Israel.’”
13 Then the officers hurried. Each man took off his own coat. They put them on the stairs for Jehu. Then they blew the trumpet. They said, “Jehu is king!”
Joram and Ahaziah Are Killed
14 So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat made plans against Joram. (Jehoshaphat was the son of Nimshi.) Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth in Gilead from Hazael king of Aram. 15 But King Joram had to return to Israel to heal from the injuries the Arameans had given him. He received these injuries when he fought against Hazael king of Aram.
Jehu said, “If you agree with this, don’t let anyone leave the city. They might tell the news in Jezreel.” 16 Then he got into his chariot and set out for Jezreel. Joram was resting there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
17 The lookout was standing on the watchtower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s troops coming. He said, “I see some soldiers!”
Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them. Tell him to ask, ‘Do you bring good news?’”
18 So the horseman rode out to meet Jehu. The horseman said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you bring good news?’”
Jehu said, “That’s none of your business! Come along behind me.”
The lookout reported, “The messenger reached them. But he is not coming back.”
19 So Joram sent out a second horseman. This rider came to Jehu’s group and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you bring good news?’”
Jehu answered, “That’s none of your business! Come along behind me.”
20 The lookout reported, “The second man reached them. But he is not coming back. The man in the chariot is driving like Jehu son of Nimshi. He drives as if he were crazy!”
21 Joram said, “Get my chariot ready.” Then the servant got Joram’s chariot ready. Joram and Ahaziah king of Judah went out. Each king went in his own chariot to meet Jehu. And they met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.
22 When Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Do you bring good news, Jehu?”
Jehu answered, “There will never be any good news as long as your mother Jezebel worships idols and uses witchcraft.”
23 Joram turned the horses to run away. He yelled to Ahaziah, “It’s a trick, Ahaziah!”
24 Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between his shoulders. The arrow went through Joram’s heart. And he fell down in his chariot.
25 Jehu ordered Bidkar, his chariot officer, “Pick up Joram’s body. Throw it into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember when you and I rode together with Joram’s father Ahab. The Lord made this prophecy against him: 26 ‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons, says the Lord. So I will punish Ahab in his field, says the Lord.’ So take Joram’s body and throw it into the field, as the Lord has said.”
27 When Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he ran away toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, saying, “Shoot Ahaziah, too!” Ahaziah was wounded in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam. Ahaziah got as far as Megiddo but died there. 28 His servants carried his body in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in Jerusalem. 29 (Ahaziah had become king over Judah in Joram’s eleventh year as king. Joram was the son of Ahab.)
Death of Jezebel
30 When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it. She put paint on her eyes and fixed her hair. Then she looked out the window. 31 Jehu entered the city gate. And Jezebel said, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri,[a] you who killed your master?”
32 Jehu looked up at the window. He said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked out from the window at Jehu. 33 Jehu said to them, “Throw her down!” So they threw Jezebel down. And the horses ran over her body. Some of her blood splashed on the wall and on the horses.
34 Jehu went into the house and ate and drank. Then he said, “Now see about this cursed woman. Bury her, because she is a king’s daughter.”
35 The men went to bury Jezebel. But they could not find her body. They could only find the skull, feet and palms of her hands. 36 So they came back and told Jehu. Then Jehu said, “The Lord said this through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘The dogs will eat the body of Jezebel in the portion of land at Jezreel. 37 Her body will be like manure on the field in the land at Jezreel. Then people cannot say that the body is Jezebel.’”
Families of Ahab and Ahaziah Killed
10 Ahab’s family had 70 sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria. He sent them to the officers and elders of Jezreel. He also sent them to the guardians of the sons of Ahab. Jehu said, 2 “You have chariots, horses and a city with strong walls. You also have weapons. When you get this letter, 3 choose the best and most worthy person among your master’s sons. Make him king. Then fight for your master’s family.”
4 But the officers and elders of Jezreel were very frightened. They said, “The two kings could not stop Jehu. So, surely we can’t either.”
5 The palace manager, the city governor, the elders and the guardians sent a message to Jehu. They said, “We are your servants. We will do everything you tell us to do. We won’t make any man king. Do whatever you think is best.”
6 Then Jehu wrote a second letter. It said, “If you are on my side and will obey me, cut off the heads of your master’s sons. And come to me at Jezreel tomorrow about this time.”
Now there were 70 sons of the king’s family. They were with the leading men of the city who were their guardians. 7 The leaders received the letter. Then they took the king’s sons and killed all 70 of them. They put their heads in baskets. And they sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. 8 The messenger came to Jehu. He told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons!”
Then Jehu said, “Lay the heads in two piles at the city gate until morning.”
9 In the morning, Jehu went out and stood before the people. He said to them, “You are innocent. Look, I made plans against my master. I killed him. But who killed all these? 10 You should know that nothing the Lord said will fail. Everything the Lord said about Ahab’s family will come true. The Lord has spoken through his servant Elijah. And the Lord has done what he said.” 11 So Jehu killed everyone of Ahab’s family in Jezreel who was still alive. He also killed all Ahab’s leading men, close friends and priests. No one was left alive who had helped Ahab.
12 Then Jehu left and went to Samaria. He went on the road to Beth Eked of the Shepherds. 13 There Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said, “Who are you?”
They answered, “We are relatives of Ahaziah. We have come down to visit the families of the king and the king’s mother.”
14 Then Jehu said, “Take them alive!” So they captured Ahaziah’s relatives alive. But they killed them at the well near Beth Eked. There were 42 of them. Jehu did not leave anyone alive.
15 After Jehu left there, he met Jehonadab son of Recab. He was also on his way to meet Jehu. Jehu greeted him and said, “Are you as good a friend to me as I am to you?”
Jehonadab answered, “Yes, I am.”
Jehu said, “If you are, then give me your hand.” So Jehonadab gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him into the chariot. 16 Jehu said, “Come with me. You can see how strong my feelings are for the Lord.” So Jehu had Jehonadab ride in his chariot.
17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all of Ahab’s family. He did this until he had destroyed all of those who were left. Jehu did what the Lord had told Elijah would happen.
Baal Worshipers Killed
18 Then Jehu gathered all the people together. He said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little. But Jehu will serve Baal much. 19 Now call for me all Baal’s prophets and priests. Call all the people who worship Baal. Don’t let anyone miss this meeting. I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who is not there will not remain alive.” But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20 He said, “Prepare a holy meeting for Baal.” So they announced the meeting. 21 Then Jehu sent word through all Israel. All the worshipers of Baal came. Not one stayed home. They came into the temple of Baal. The temple was filled from one side to the other.
22 Jehu spoke to the man who kept the robes. He said, “Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them. 23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Recab went into the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the worshipers of Baal, “Look around. Be sure there are no servants of the Lord with you. Be sure there are only people here who worship Baal.” 24 So the worshipers of Baal went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
But Jehu had 80 men waiting outside. He told them, “Don’t let anyone escape. If you let anyone escape, you must pay with your own life.”
25 Jehu finished offering the burnt offering. Then he spoke to the guards and the captains. He said, “Go in and kill the worshipers of Baal! Don’t let anyone come out.” So the guards and captains killed the worshipers of Baal with the sword. They threw the bodies of the worshipers of Baal out. Then they went to the inner rooms of the temple. 26 They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them. 27 Then they tore down the stone pillar of Baal. They also tore down the temple of Baal. They made it into a sewage pit, and it is still one today.
28 So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. 29 But he did not stop doing the sins Jeroboam son of Nebat had done. Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin. They worshiped the golden calves in Bethel and Dan.
30 The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have done what I said was right. You have done to the family of Ahab as I wanted. Your descendants as far as your great-great-grandchildren will be kings of Israel.” 31 But Jehu was not careful to keep the teachings of the Lord with all his heart. He did not stop doing the same sins Jeroboam had done. Jeroboam had caused Israel to sin.
32 At that time the Lord began to make Israel smaller. Hazael defeated the Israelites in all the land of Israel. 33 He took all the land on the east side of the Jordan. This was the land of Gilead. (It was the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh.) He took land from Aroer by the Arnon Ravine through Gilead to Bashan.
34 The other things Jehu did are written down. Everything he did and all his victories are recorded. They are in the book of the history of the kings of Israel. 35 Jehu died and was buried in Samaria. Jehu’s son Jehoahaz became king in his place. 36 Jehu was king over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.
Athaliah and Joash
11 Now Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead. Then she killed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba took Joash, Ahaziah’s son. She stole him from among the other sons of the king who were about to be murdered. (Jehosheba was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister.) She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. She hid Joash from Athaliah. So he was not killed. 3 He was hidden with her in the Temple of the Lord for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled the land.
4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of groups of 100 men. He sent for guards and the Carites, the royal bodyguards. He brought them together in the Temple of the Lord. Then he made an agreement with them. There, in the Temple of the Lord, he made them promise loyalty. Then he showed them the king’s son. 5 He commanded them, “This is what you must do. A third of you who come in on the Sabbath will guard the king’s palace. 6 Another third of you will be at the Sur Gate. And another third will be at the gate behind the guard. This way you will guard the Temple. 7 Two groups will go off duty on the Sabbath. They must protect the Temple of the Lord for the king. 8 All of you must stand around the king. Each man must have his weapon in his hand. If anyone comes near, kill him. Stay close to the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9 The commanders over 100 men obeyed everything Jehoiada the priest had commanded. Each one took his men who were beginning their Sabbath duty. Each one also took those who were ending their Sabbath duty. Both groups came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And he gave spears and shields to the commanders. They used to belong to King David. They were kept in the Temple of the Lord.
Joash Becomes King
11 Then each of the guards took his place. Each man had his weapon in his hand. There were guards from the south side of the Temple to the north side. They stood by the altar and the Temple and around the king. 12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son. He put the crown on Joash. Then he gave Joash a copy of the Agreement with the Lord. They appointed him king and poured olive oil on him. They clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
13 Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people. So she came to the people at the Temple of the Lord. 14 She looked, and there was the king. He was standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and trumpeters were standing beside him. All the people of the land were very happy and were blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes to show how upset she was. She screamed, “Traitors! Traitors!”
15 Jehoiada the priest gave orders to the commanders of 100 men who led the army. He said, “Surround her with soldiers. Kill with a sword anyone who follows her.” He said this because he had said, “Don’t put Athaliah to death in the Temple of the Lord.” 16 So they caught her when she came to where the horses enter the palace grounds. There she was put to death.
17 Then Jehoiada made an agreement. It was between the Lord and the king and the people. They agreed to be the Lord’s special people. He also made an agreement between the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols into small pieces. And they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
Then Jehoiada the priest placed guards at the Temple of the Lord. 19 He took with him the commanders of 100 men and the Carites, the royal bodyguards. He took the guards and all the people of the land. Together they took the king out of the Temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the gate of the guards. Then the king sat on the royal throne. 20 So all the people of Judah were very happy. And Jerusalem had peace because Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the palace.
21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.