Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria - unto the elders that were lords of Jezreel, and to them that nursed up Ahab's children - saying, "Now at the coming of these letters to you, ye have with you your master's sons, and ye have with you chariots and horses, and a strong city and harness. Therefore choose the best, and him that most pleaseth you of your master's sons, and put him on his father's seat, and fight for your lord's house." read more.
And they were accordingly afraid, and said, "See, two kings were not able to stand before him: how shall we then stand?" And the governor of the king's house and of the city and of the elders and the nurses sent to Jehu, saying, "We are thy servants and will do all that thou shalt bid us. We will make no man king: but do thou what seemeth good in thine eyes." Then he wrote another letter to them saying, "If ye be mine and will obey my voice, then take the heads of your master's sons and come to me to Jezreel, by tomorrow this time." And the king's sons were seventy persons with the great men of the city which nourished them. And when the letter came to them, they took the king's children and slew them in number, seventy persons, and put their heads in coffins and sent them to him to Jezreel. And there came a messenger and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, "Let them put them on two heaps in the entering of the gate, till it be day."