Thematic Bible
Thematic Bible
Ahaziah » King of judah. Called azariah and jehoahaz » Brethren of, slain
He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them.
Enthusiasm » Instances of » Jehu
Elisha the prophet called one of the young prophets and said to him: Prepare to go to Ramoth in Gilead. Take this jar of olive oil with you. When you get there look for Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a private room away from his companions. Pour this olive oil on his head, and say: 'Jehovah anoints you king of Israel. Then leave there as fast as you can.' read more.
The young prophet went to Ramoth. He found the army officers in conference. He said: I have a message for you. Jehu asked: Who are you speaking to? To you, captain. He replied. The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.' After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled. Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu answered: You know what he wanted. No we do not! They replied. Tell us what he said! They asked. He told me that Jehovah says: 'I anoint you king of Israel.' At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: Jehu is king! So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram:
The young prophet went to Ramoth. He found the army officers in conference. He said: I have a message for you. Jehu asked: Who are you speaking to? To you, captain. He replied. The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.' After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled. Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu answered: You know what he wanted. No we do not! They replied. Tell us what he said! They asked. He told me that Jehovah says: 'I anoint you king of Israel.' At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: Jehu is king! So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram:
Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated: You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter, choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him. read more.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel.
Homicide » Instances of felonious » Jehu
Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted. read more.
When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.'
When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.'
Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated: You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter, choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him. read more.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal.
Jehu » Son of nimshi, king of israel » Religious zeal of, in killing idolaters
Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated: You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter, choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him. read more.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel.
The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel.
Jehu carried out God's sentence on the dynasty. He came across a group made up of Judean leaders and of Ahaziah's nephews that had accompanied Ahaziah on his visit. Jehu killed them all. A search was made for Ahaziah. He was found hiding in Samaria. They took him to Jehu and put him to death. But they did bury his body out of respect for his grandfather King Jehoshaphat, who had done all he could to serve Jehovah. No member of Ahaziah's family was left who could rule the kingdom.
So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram: King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel. So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him. read more.
The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?' So a horseman went out to them and said: The king asks: 'Do you come in peace? ' Jehu said: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning. A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: Do you come in peace? Jehu replied: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported: He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently. Joram said: Get ready. They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he said: Do you come in peace, Jehu? He said in reply: What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft? Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: Broken faith, O Ahaziah! Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted. When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.'
The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?' So a horseman went out to them and said: The king asks: 'Do you come in peace? ' Jehu said: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning. A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: Do you come in peace? Jehu replied: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported: He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently. Joram said: Get ready. They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he said: Do you come in peace, Jehu? He said in reply: What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft? Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: Broken faith, O Ahaziah! Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted. When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.'
Kings » Who reigned over israel » Jehu
Pour this olive oil on his head, and say: 'Jehovah anoints you king of Israel. Then leave there as fast as you can.' The young prophet went to Ramoth. He found the army officers in conference. He said: I have a message for you. Jehu asked: Who are you speaking to? To you, captain. He replied. read more.
The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.' After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled. Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu answered: You know what he wanted. No we do not! They replied. Tell us what he said! They asked. He told me that Jehovah says: 'I anoint you king of Israel.' At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: Jehu is king! So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram: King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel. So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him. The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?' So a horseman went out to them and said: The king asks: 'Do you come in peace? ' Jehu said: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning. A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: Do you come in peace? Jehu replied: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported: He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently. Joram said: Get ready. They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he said: Do you come in peace, Jehu? He said in reply: What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft? Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: Broken faith, O Ahaziah! Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted. When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.' Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated: You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter, choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him. The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel. But Jehu did not keep himself from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and the evil he made Israel do. The gold calves were still worshiped in Bethel and in Dan. Jehovah said to Jehu: You have done well by doing what is right in my eyes. You carried out my purpose for the family of Ahab. Therefore your sons will be kings of Israel to the fourth generation. But Jehu did not take care to keep the law of Jehovah with all his heart. He did not keep himself from the sin that Jeroboam did and made Israel do. Jehovah began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael of Syria conquered all the Israelite territory east of the Jordan, as far south as the town of Aroer on the Arnon River. This included the territories of Gilead and Bashan, where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and East Manasseh lived. Everything else that Jehu did, including his brave deeds, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. He died and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king. Jehu had ruled in Samaria as king of Israel for twenty-eight years.
The two of them went indoors. The prophet poured the olive oil on Jehu's head and said to him: Jehovah, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king of my people Israel. You are to kill your master the king of the house of Ahab. I am punishing Jezebel for murdering my prophets and my other servants. The entire house of Ahab will perish. I will get rid of every male in his family, young and old alike. I will treat his family as I did the families of King Jeroboam son of Nebat and of King Baasha son of Ahijah. Jezebel will not be buried. Dogs in the territory of Jezreel will eat her body.' After saying this, the young prophet opened the door and fled. Jehu went back to his fellow officers. They asked him: Is everything all right? What did this mad fellow want with you? Jehu answered: You know what he wanted. No we do not! They replied. Tell us what he said! They asked. He told me that Jehovah says: 'I anoint you king of Israel.' At once Jehu's fellow officers spread their cloaks at the top of the steps for Jehu to stand on. They blew trumpets and shouted: Jehu is king! So Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, plotted against Joram. Joram and all the army of Israel were keeping watch on Ramoth-gilead against Hazael, king of Aram: King Joram went back to Jezreel to recuperate from the wounds he received from the Aramaeans when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. Jehu said: If this is your purpose let no one get away to give news of it in Jezreel. So Jehu got into his carriage and went to Jezreel. Joram was ill in bed there and Ahaziah, king of Judah came to see him. The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu and his company coming. He said: I see a company of people. Joram said: Send out a horseman to them and let him ask: 'Do you come in peace?' So a horseman went out to them and said: The king asks: 'Do you come in peace? ' Jehu said: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported that the horseman reached the group and was returning. A second man was sent out on horseback. He approached them and asked the same thing: Do you come in peace? Jehu replied: What have you to do with peace? Follow me. The watchman reported: He went up to them and has not come back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu, son of Nimshi, for he is driving violently. Joram said: Get ready. They prepared his chariot and Joram, king of Israel, with Ahaziah, king of Judah, went out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They came face to face with him at the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. When Joram saw Jehu he said: Do you come in peace, Jehu? He said in reply: What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts of witchcraft? Then Joram turned his horses and fled. He said to Ahaziah: Broken faith, O Ahaziah! Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and sent an arrow, wounding Joram between the arms. The arrow came out at his heart, and he went down on his face in his chariot. Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain: Pick him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. I remember when you and I were riding together after Ahab, his father. Jehovah offered this prophesy against him. Even as I saw the blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday, 'I will pay you back in this field,' declares Jehovah. Now take him and throw him into the field as Jehovah predicted. When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled on the road leading to Beth Haggan. Jehu pursued him and ordered: Shoot him down in his chariot. They shot him at Gur Pass, near Ibleam. Ahaziah continued to flee until he got to Megiddo, where he died. His servants brought him in a chariot to Jerusalem. They buried him in a tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. Ahaziah became king over Judah. It was in the eleventh year of the rule of Joram, the son of Ahab. Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel had news of what happened. Painting her eyes and dressing her hair with ornaments, she put her head out of the window. As Jehu entered the town, she said: Have you come in peace, you Zimri, who killed his master? Then, looking up to the window, he said: Who is on my side, who? Two or three eunuchs look out at him. He said: Take her and throw her out the window. So they threw her down with force. Her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses. She was crushed under their feet. He came in and ate and drank. He said: Now see to this cursed woman. Bury her body in the earth, for she is a king's daughter. They went to bury her, but they found nothing to bury. There were only the bones of her head, and her feet, and parts of her hands. So they came back and told him about it. He said: This is what Jehovah said by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the heritage of Jezreel the flesh of Jezebel will become food for dogs. The dead body of Jezebel will be like waste dropped on the face of the earth in the heritage of Jezreel. They will not be able to say: This is Jezebel.' Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of the town, and to the elders, and to those who took care of the sons of Ahab. The letter stated: You are in charge of the king's descendants, and you have at your disposal chariots, horses, weapons, and fortified cities. As soon as you receive this letter, choose the best qualified of the king's descendants and make him king, and fight to defend him. The rulers of Samaria were terrified. They said: How can we oppose Jehu when neither King Joram nor King Ahaziah could? So the officer in charge of the palace and the official in charge of the city, together with the leading citizens and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: We are your servants, and we are ready to do anything you say. But we will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best. Jehu wrote them another letter: If you are with me and are ready to follow my orders, bring the heads of King Ahab's descendants to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow. The seventy descendants of King Ahab were under the care and were being brought up by the leading citizens of Samaria. As soon as Jehu's letter arrived, the leaders of Samaria killed all seventy of Ahab's descendants and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Jehu was informed that the heads of Ahab's descendants had been brought. He ordered them to be piled up in two heaps at the city gate and left there until the following morning. In the morning he went out and said to all the people there: You are upright people. It is true that I made designs against my master, and put him to death. Who is responsible for the death of all these? You may be certain that nothing Jehovah said about the family of Ahab will be without effect. Jehovah has done what he said by his servant Elijah. Jehu put to death all the rest of the seed of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his relations and his near friends and his priests, till there were no more of them. Jehu then left for Samaria. He was at the meeting-place of the shepherds of the sheep. He came across the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked: Who are you? They replied: We are the brothers of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We are going down to see the children of the king and of the queen. He ordered: Take them alive. So they took them alive and then killed them at the cistern of the shearing house. He killed all forty-two of them. When he left there he met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab. He greeted him and said to him: Is your heart true to mine, as mine is to yours? Jehonadab in answer said: It is. Jehu said: If it is give me your hand. He gave him his hand and he made him come up into his chariot. He said: Come with me and see how I am on fire with zeal for Jehovah's cause. So he made him go with him in his chariot. When Jehu arrived at Samaria, he put to death all those of Ahab's family who were still in Samaria. There were no more of them, as Jehovah had said to Elijah. Jehu assembled all the people and said to them: Ahab was Baal's servant in a small way, but Jehu will be his servant on a great scale. Now send for all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and priests, to come to me. Let no one stay away for I have a great offering to make to Baal. Anyone who is not present will be put to death. Jehu did this with deceit. It was his purpose to destroy the servants of Baal. Jehu said: Let there be a special holy meeting for the worship of Baal. So a public statement was made. Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the servants of Baal came, not one kept away. They entered the house of Baal. It was full from one end to the other end. Jehu said to the keeper of the robes: Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. Jehu, with Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, went into the house of Baal. He said to the servants of Baal: Make a search with care, to see that no servant of Jehovah is with you, but only servants of Baal. They went in to make offerings and burned offerings. Jehu put eighty men outside. He told them: If any man whom I give into your hands escapes, he who lets him go will forfeit his own life for that life. As soon as he finished offering the burned offering Jehu said to the armed men and the captains: Go in and put them to death! Do not let one come out! So they put them to the sword. Pulling the images to the ground, they went into the holy place of the house of Baal. They removed the image of Asherah from the house of Baal and burned it. The altar of Baal was pulled down and the house of Baal was broken up and made an unclean place, as it is to this day. Jehu put an end to the worship of Baal in Israel. But Jehu did not keep himself from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, and the evil he made Israel do. The gold calves were still worshiped in Bethel and in Dan. Jehovah said to Jehu: You have done well by doing what is right in my eyes. You carried out my purpose for the family of Ahab. Therefore your sons will be kings of Israel to the fourth generation. But Jehu did not take care to keep the law of Jehovah with all his heart. He did not keep himself from the sin that Jeroboam did and made Israel do. Jehovah began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael of Syria conquered all the Israelite territory east of the Jordan, as far south as the town of Aroer on the Arnon River. This included the territories of Gilead and Bashan, where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and East Manasseh lived. Everything else that Jehu did, including his brave deeds, is recorded in The History of the Kings of Israel. He died and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king. Jehu had ruled in Samaria as king of Israel for twenty-eight years.