2 Kings 10

1Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and the guardians of Ahab's sons, saying,

2Now when this letter comes to you, since your master's sons are with you, and the chariots and the horses, a fortified city also being with you, and the weapons,

3Then choose the best and most upright of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

4But they were very, very afraid, and they said, “Look, the two kings could not stand before him; so how can we stand?”

5So the one who was over the palace, and the one who was over the city, along with the elders and the guardians, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and all that you say to us we will do. We will not make any man king. Do what is good in your eyes.”

6So he wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are on my side and if you are listening to my voice, take the heads of the men, the sons of your master, and come to me at this time tomorrow at Jezreel.” Now the king’s sons, seventy men, were with the leading men of the city, who were raising them.

7And when the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and slaughtered seventy men, and put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.

8The messenger came and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” And he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9And it happened in the morning that he went out and stood and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Look, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who struck down all these?”

10Know, then, that not a word of Yahweh that he spoke against the house of Ahab will fall to the ground, and Yahweh has done what he spoke by the hand of his servant Elijah.

11So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, his close associates, and his priests, until he left him no survivor.

12Then he arose and went and traveled to Samaria. He was at Beth-eked of the shepherds on the way.

13Jehu found the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, “Who are you?” They said, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah, and we have come down to ask about the welfare of the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”

14And he said, “Capture them alive.” So they captured them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two men; he did not leave a man of them.

15He went on from there and found Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart upright, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab said, “It is, it is.” Jehu said, “Give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu took him up to himself into the chariot.

16Then he said, “Come with me and see my zeal for Yahweh.” So they had him ride in his chariot.

17When he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained of Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed them, according to the word of Yahweh that he had spoken to Elijah.

18Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.”

19Summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests; let no man be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in deceit, in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.

20Then Jehu said, “Consecrate a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they proclaimed it.

21So Jehu sent throughout all Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came; not a man was left who did not come. They entered the house of Baal, and the house of Baal was filled from end to end.

22He said to the one who was over the wardrobe, “Bring out clothing for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the clothing for them.

23Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the house of Baal, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and see that there is no servant of the LORD here among you, but only worshipers of Baal.”

24And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed for himself outside eighty men, and he said, “The man who lets any of the men whom I am delivering into your hands escape—his life for that man’s life.”

25And when he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the runners and to the officers, “Go in; strike them down. Let no man come out.” So they struck them down with the edge of the sword, and the runners and the officers threw them out and went as far as the inner shrine of the house of Baal.

26Then they brought out the pillars of the house of Baal and burned them.

27They tore down the pillar of Baal, and they tore down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day.

28So Jehu destroyed Baal from Israel.

29Only, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he caused Israel to sin—the golden calves that were at Bethel and at Dan.

30And Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.”

31But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he caused Israel to sin.

32In those days Yahweh began to cut off parts of Israel, and Hazael struck them down throughout all the territory of Israel.

33from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer, which is by the Arnon Valley, even Gilead and Bashan.

34The rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might—are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

35And Jehu lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son became king in his place.

36The time that Jehu reigned over Israel was twenty-eight years in Samaria.