Old/New Testament
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.[a] 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,[b] “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[c] 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,[d] 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[e] arrived, the city leaders arrested the king’s sons, slaughtered all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu[f] 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[g] 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,[h] and went to Samaria. When he arrived at the shearing house[i] 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.[j] He left none of them alive.
15 After he left there, he encountered Rechab’s son Jehonadab. After he greeted him, Jehu[k] asked him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?”
“It is,” Jehonadab answered.
“If it is,” Jehu replied,[l] “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[m] had Jehonadab[n] ride in his chariot.
17 When Jehu[o] 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[p] 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[q] 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[r] 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[s] 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[t] 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(A)
11 As soon as Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned that her son had died, she seized the throne[u] and executed the entire royal bloodline.[v] 2 But King Joram’s daughter Jehosheba, who was Ahaziah’s sister, rescued[w] 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,[x] 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[y] Sabbath dressed[z] 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[aa] and defend it. 7 Two[ab] of you who enter here on this coming[ac] 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,[ad] 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(B)
15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains in charge of[ae] the army, “Take her out the back way[af] 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(C)
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[ag] 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[ah] 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 [ai] Jehoash began to reign as king when he was seven years old, 12 1 [aj] ascending to the throne in the seventh year of the reign of[ak] Jehu and then reigning for 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah from Beer-sheba. 2 Jehoash did what the Lord considered to be right during the entire time when Jehoiada the priest was instructing him, 3 except that the high places were not demolished, so the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places.
Jehoash Institutes Temple Repairs
4 Jehoash spoke to the priests about all of the proceeds[al] of the consecrated gifts that were being brought into the Lord’s Temple, cash from every man who was traveling through the area,[am] cash obtained by personal assessment,[an] and all the cash that came through voluntary gifts[ao] into the Lord’s Temple:
5 “Let the priests get support for themselves from their own donors, and let them repair the Temple wherever a leak in need of repair is discovered.”
6 But 23 years into the reign of King Jehoash, the priests still had not repaired the leaks in the Temple. 7 So King Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, along with other[ap] priests, and asked them, “Why haven’t you fixed the leaks in the Temple? Stop receiving donations from your acquaintances for repairing the leaks in the Temple.”
8 So the priests agreed to receive no more cash from the people, but they didn’t repair the leaks in the Temple, either. 9 So Jehoiada the priest grabbed a chest, bored an opening in its lid, and placed it next to the altar, on the right side as one enters the Lord’s Temple. The priests who tended the entryway put all the money that was brought into the Lord’s Temple into the chest.[aq] 10 As a result, whenever they noticed that there was a lot of money in the chest, the king’s secretary and the high priest went forward, put the money in bags, counted the money that had been given over to the Lord’s Temple, 11 and disbursed the cash directly into the hands of those who did the work and who were in charge of the oversight of the Lord’s Temple. They paid it to the carpenters and builders who worked on the Lord’s Temple, 12 to masons and stonecutters, and for procurement of timber and quarried stone for making repairs to the Lord’s Temple, and for all outlays needed for repairs of the Temple.
13 But no provision was included for the Lord’s Temple from the money that was brought into the Lord’s Temple for silver basins, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels made of gold or silver, 14 because that money had been allocated to the workmen who were repairing the Lord’s Temple. 15 Furthermore, they required no accounting from the men into whose hand they had paid the money to do the work, because the workers acted in good faith. 16 The money from the guilt offerings and[ar] from the sin offerings was not brought into the Lord’s Temple, because it was allocated to the priests.
Hazael Attacks Israel
17 Later, King Hazael of Aram invaded and attacked Gath, captured it, and then set out to approach Jerusalem. 18 So King Jehoash of Judah took all of the sacred things that his ancestors Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, along with his own dedicated things, and all the gold that could be located within the treasure vaults of the Lord’s Temple and in the king’s palace, and paid off King Hazael of Aram. Then Hazael[as] left Jerusalem.
Amaziah Succeeds Jehoash (Joash)(D)
19 Now the rest of the Joash’s activities—everything he did—are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah, are they not? 20 His servants rose up in rebellion, formed a conspiracy, and assassinated Joash in the palace at the terrace ramparts[at] while he was on his way down to Silla. 21 Shimeath’s son Jozacar and Shomer’s son Jehozabad, his servants, attacked him and he died. They buried him alongside his ancestors in the City of David, and his son Amaziah became king to replace him.
29 The next day, John[a] saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks above me, because he existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t recognize him, but I came baptizing with[b] water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 John also testified, “I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I didn’t recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with[c] water told me, ‘The person on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with[d] the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen this and have testified that this is the Son[e] of God.”
The First Disciples
35 The next day, John was standing there again with two of his disciples. 36 As he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38 But when Jesus turned around and saw them following, he asked them, “What are you looking for?”
They asked him, “Rabbi,” (which is translated “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 He told them, “Come and see!” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.[f]
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.[g] 41 The first thing Andrew[h] did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Anointed One!”[i] (which is translated “Messiah”).[j]
42 He led Simon[k] to Jesus. Jesus looked at him intently and said, “You are Simon, John’s son.[l] You will be called Cephas!”[m] (which is translated “Peter”).[n]
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathaniel
43 The next day, Jesus decided to go away to Galilee, where he found Philip and told him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathaniel and told him, “We have found the man about whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote—Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
46 Nathaniel asked him, “From Nazareth? Can anything good come from there?”
Philip told him, “Come and see!”
47 Jesus saw Nathaniel coming toward him and said about him, “Look, a genuine Israeli, in whom there is no deceit!”
48 Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, while you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathaniel replied to him, “Rabbi,[o] you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus told him, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” 51 Then he told him, “Truly, I tell all of you[p] emphatically, you will see heaven standing open and the angels of God going up and coming down to the Son of Man.”
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