2 Kings — Chapter 10

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1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:

2“When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry,

3select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

4But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

5So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.

7And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

8When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?

10Know, then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”

11So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

12Then Jehu set out toward Samaria. At Beth-eked of the Shepherds,

13Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?” “We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”

14Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

15When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?” “It is!” Jehonadab replied. “If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot,

16saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.

17When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.

18Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.

19Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.

21Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end.

22And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

23Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.”

24And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”

25When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.

26They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.

27They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

28Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,

29but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

30Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

31Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

32In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory

33from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

34As for the rest of the acts of Jehu, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

35And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place.

36So the duration of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

1And Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Ahab’s children, saying,

2Now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fenced city also, and armour;

3Look even out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.

4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

5And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

7And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.

8And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entering in of the gate until the morning.

9And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?

10Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORD spake concerning the house of Ahab: for the LORD hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

11So Jehu slew all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

12And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing house in the way,

13Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah; and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.

14And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

15And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him: and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thine hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

16And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So they made him ride in his chariot.

17And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah.

18And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much.

19Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

20And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

21And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.

22And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.

23And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.

24And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

25And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.

26And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them.

27And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan.

30And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

32In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel;

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

34Now the 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 slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

36And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.

1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and unto them that brought up [the sons of] Ahab, saying,

2And now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master`s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor;

3look ye out the best and meetest of your master`s sons, and set him on his father`s throne, and fight for your master`s house.

4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand?

5And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up [the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes.

6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be on my side, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master`s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to-morrow this time. Now the king`s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.

7And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king`s sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel.

8And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king`s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.

9And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye are righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him; but who smote all these?

10Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of Jehovah, which Jehovah spake concerning the house of Ahab: for Jehovah hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah.

11So Jehu smote all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

12And he arose and departed, and went to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing-house of the shepherds in the way,

13Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah: and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen.

14And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

15And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thy hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

16And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah. So they made him ride in his chariot.

17And when he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake to Elijah.

18And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much.

19Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice [to do] to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

20And Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it.

21And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.

22And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.

23And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Jehovah, but the worshippers of Baal only.

24And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, [he that letteth him go], his life shall be for the life of him.

25And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.

26And they brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them.

27And they brake down the pillar of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught-house, unto this day.

28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, [to wit], the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.

30And Jehovah said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, [and] hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

32In those days Jehovah began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel;

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

34Now the 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 slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.

36And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.

1Ahab had 70 sons living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab’s dynasty. This is what the letters said,

2“You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives,

3pick the best and most capable of your master’s sons, place him on his father’s throne, and defend your master’s dynasty.”

4They were absolutely terrified and said, “Look, two kings could not stop him! How can we?”

5So the palace supervisor, the city commissioner, the leaders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu, “We are your subjects! Whatever you say, we will do. We will not make anyone king. Do what you consider proper.”

6He wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me, then take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.” Now the king had 70 sons, and the prominent men of the city were raising them.

7When they received the letter, they seized the king’s sons and executed all 70 of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel.

8The messenger came and told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” Jehu said, “Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”

9In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people, “You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men?

10Therefore take note that not one of the Lord’s words which he pronounced against Ahab’s dynasty will fail to materialize. The Lord has done what he announced through his servant Elijah.”

11Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel, and all his nobles, close friends, and priests. He left no survivors.

12Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria. While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds,

13Jehu encountered the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We have come down to see how the king’s sons and the queen mother’s sons are doing.”

14He said, “Capture them alive!” So they captured them alive and then executed all 42 of them by the cistern at Beth Eked. He left no survivors.

15When he left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rekab who had been looking for him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Are you as committed to me as I am to you?” Jehonadab answered, “I am!” Jehu replied, “If so, give me your hand.” So he offered his hand and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot.

16Jehu said, “Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot.

17He went to Samaria and killed each of Ahab’s remaining family members who were in Samaria until he destroyed them, in keeping with the Lord’s message which he had announced to Elijah.

18Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab worshiped Baal a little; Jehu will worship him with great devotion.

19So now, bring to me all the prophets of Baal, as well as all his servants and priests. None of them must be absent, for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal. Any of them who fails to appear will lose his life.” But Jehu was tricking them so he could destroy the servants of Baal.

20Then Jehu ordered, “Make arrangements for a celebration for Baal.” So they announced it.

21Jehu sent invitations throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one was absent. They arrived at the temple of Baal and filled it up from end to end.

22Jehu ordered the one who was in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out robes for them.

23Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went to the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Make sure there are no servants of the Lord here with you; there must be only servants of Baal.”

24They went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside. He had told them, “If any of the men inside gets away, you will pay with your lives!”

25When he finished offering the burnt sacrifice, Jehu ordered the royal guard and officers, “Come in and strike them down! Don’t let any escape!” So the royal guard and officers struck them down with the sword and left their bodies lying there. Then they entered the inner sanctuary of the temple of Baal.

26They hauled out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.

27They demolished the sacred pillar of Baal and the temple of Baal; it is used as a latrine to this very day.

28So Jehu eradicated Baal worship from Israel.

29However, Jehu did not repudiate the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had encouraged Israel to commit; the golden calves remained in Bethel and Dan.

30The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have accomplished my will and carried out my wishes with regard to Ahab’s dynasty. Therefore four generations of your descendants will rule over Israel.”

31But Jehu did not carefully and wholeheartedly obey the law of the Lord God of Israel. He did not repudiate the sins which Jeroboam had encouraged Israel to commit.

32In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel’s territory. Hazael attacked their eastern border.

33He conquered all the land of Gilead, including the territory of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, extending all the way from the Aroer in the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

34The rest of the events of Jehu’s reign, including all his accomplishments and successes, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

35Jehu passed away and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz replaced him as king.

36Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years in Samaria.

1Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up Ahab’s sons, saying,

2“Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor,

3Select the best and fittest of your master’s sons, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

4But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, “Behold, the two kings didn’t stand before him! How then shall we stand?”

5He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes.”

6Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, “If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men who are your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time.” Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.

7When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and killed them, even seventy people, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.

8A messenger came and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” He said, “Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning.”

9In the morning, he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, “You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?

10Know now that nothing will fall to the earth of Yahweh’s word, which Yahweh spoke concerning Ahab’s house. For Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah.”

11So Jehu struck all that remained of Ahab’s house in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him no one remaining.

12He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way,

13Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen.”

14He said, “Take them alive!” They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty-two men. He didn’t leave any of them.

15When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” Jehonadab answered, “It is.” “If it is, give me your hand.” He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot.

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

17When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to Yahweh’s word, which he spoke to Elijah.

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

19Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshipers, and all of his priests. Let no one be absent; for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live.” But Jehu did deceptively, intending to destroy the worshipers of Baal.

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

21Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn’t come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another.

22He said to him who kept the wardrobe, “Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal!” So he brought robes out to them.

23Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that none of the servants of Yahweh are here with you, but only the worshipers of Baal.”

24So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed for himself eighty men outside, and said, “If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him.”

25As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, “Go in and kill them! Let no one escape.” So they struck them with the edge of the sword. The guard and the captains threw the bodies out, and went to the inner shrine of the house of Baal.

26They brought out the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them.

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

28Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29However, Jehu didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, the golden calves that were in Bethel and that were in Dan.

30Yahweh said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to Ahab’s house according to all that was in my heart, your descendants shall sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”

31But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn’t depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin.

32In those days Yahweh began to cut away parts of Israel; and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel;

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

34Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

35Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

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

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Summary

Jehu forces Samaria's elders to execute all seventy of Ahab's sons, whose heads are piled at the city gate, and he goes on to kill everyone remaining of Ahab's house along with his officials and priests, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy against that dynasty (vv. 1-11). He also slaughters forty-two relatives of Ahaziah of Judah and, joined by Jehonadab son of Rechab, wipes out any survivors of Ahab's family still in Samaria (vv. 12-17). Under the pretense of holding a great sacrifice to Baal, Jehu gathers all of Baal's worshipers into his temple and has them massacred, then destroys the temple and turns it into a latrine (vv. 18-27). Though the Lord commends Jehu for carrying out this judgment and promises his descendants the throne for four generations, Jehu fails to remove Jeroboam's golden calves at Bethel and Dan or to fully follow the law (vv. 28-31). As a result, the Lord begins reducing Israel's territory, and Hazael conquers the land east of the Jordan before Jehu dies and his son Jehoahaz succeeds him (vv. 32-36).

Authorship & Background

Author: Unknown, traditionally attributed to Jeremiah or a prophetic school. Originally one book with 1 Kings. Covers approximately 250 years (850-586 BC) from Elijah's translation through the Babylonian exile.
Historical Context: Chapter 10 completes Jehu's revolution — the systematic destruction of Ahab's house and the eradication of Baal worship from Israel. The chapter is relentlessly violent: seventy sons of Ahab beheaded, forty-two relatives of Ahaziah slaughtered, all remaining Ahab loyalists killed, and every Baal worshiper in Israel massacred in a single day. Jehu accomplishes God's stated purpose — the destruction of Ahab's dynasty and Baal's cult. Yet the chapter ends with a devastating assessment: "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart" (v.31). He destroyed Baal but kept the golden calves. He executed judgment but did not pursue righteousness. The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (discovered 1846) depicts Jehu paying tribute to Assyria — the only known ancient image of an Israelite king.
Classification: Historical Narrative
Key Themes: A challenge to choose a champion from seventy sons that Jehu already knows will never be answered, two heaps of heads displayed at the gate as evidence turned into indictment, forty-two relatives killed simply for traveling toward a court that no longer exists, a solemn assembly for Baal announced as devotion and used as a trap, and zeal that destroys an idol's temple while leaving Jeroboam's golden calves standing, judged incomplete for exactly that reason
Destruction of Ahab's House (vv.1-11): Jehu's strategy is psychologically brilliant and morally complex. He challenges Samaria's leaders to choose a champion from Ahab's seventy sons and fight — knowing they will not dare. Their surrender is total: "We will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes" (v.5). Jehu then demands the heads of all seventy sons. The leaders comply — making themselves complicit in the destruction. Jehu displays the heads in two heaps at the gate, then addresses the people: "Ye be righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him: but who slew all these?" (v.9). His point: the entire leadership participated; this is not one man's rebellion but God's judgment through many hands. He cites Elijah's prophecy: "there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of the LORD" (v.10). Then he kills all remaining Ahab loyalists — great men, kinfolk, priests — "until he left him none remaining."
The Slaughter Continues (vv.12-17): En route to Samaria, Jehu encounters forty-two relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah — unaware of the revolution, traveling to visit the royal family. Jehu kills them all. He then meets Jehonadab the son of Rechab — a strict ascetic whose family refused wine, houses, and agriculture (Jeremiah 35). Jehu invites him: "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD" (v.16). Jehonadab's presence lends moral authority to Jehu's actions. In Samaria, Jehu completes the purge of Ahab's house "according to the saying of the LORD."
Destruction of Baal Worship (vv.18-28): Jehu's most cunning act: he announces that he will serve Baal even more than Ahab did, and calls a solemn assembly for all Baal worshipers in Israel. The deception is total — every Baal worshiper attends, filling the temple "from one end to another." Jehu ensures no servants of the LORD are present, then stations eighty soldiers outside. After the burnt offering, the soldiers enter and slaughter every worshiper. They demolish the temple and make it a latrine — the ultimate desecration. "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel" (v.28). The method is deceptive and brutal, but the result fulfills God's purpose: Baal worship is eradicated from the northern kingdom.
Jehu's Failure and Decline (vv.29-36): Despite destroying Baal, Jehu retains Jeroboam's golden calves at Bethel and Dan. This is the fatal compromise: he removed the foreign god but kept the Israelite counterfeit. God acknowledges what Jehu did right (v.30) — his dynasty will last four generations (the longest in Israel's history). But the assessment is damning: "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart" (v.31). Zeal without wholehearted devotion is incomplete obedience. Consequently, God begins to "cut Israel short" — Hazael conquers all the territory east of the Jordan. Jehu's twenty-eight-year reign ends with Israel diminished, not restored.

Map & Geography

Places on this map

  • SamariaSebastia, West BankOmri bought a bare hill and built a capital on it, which gave the northern kingdom a fortress with no prior claim on it, the same calculation David made with Jerusalem. It commands the pass west toward the coastal plain. The name later spread to the whole region between Galilee and Judea. Wikipedia
  • Assyrianorthern IraqThe upper Tigris heartland around Nineveh, Calah and Asshur. Its armies reached Israel by following the Fertile Crescent north-west and then south down the coast, so the threat always arrived from the north even though Assyria lay to the east. Wikipedia
  • JerusalemJerusalemA hill town about 2,500 feet up in the central spine of Judah, roughly 35 miles inland from the Mediterranean and 15 miles west of the Jordan. It sits on no trade route and has no river, which is why it mattered as a fortress and a sanctuary rather than as a market. Wikipedia
  • Babylonnear Hillah, IraqOn the Euphrates about 55 miles south of modern Baghdad. Judah's exiles were marched roughly 900 miles to get here, the long way round the Arabian desert, which is why the journey took months and the return was a genuine undertaking rather than a short trip home. Wikipedia
  • Jordan RiverIsrael / Jordan borderRuns about 65 miles as the crow flies from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, dropping from 700 to 1,400 feet below sea level. Narrow enough to wade at most fords, it was still the boundary that divided wilderness from inheritance. Wikipedia
  • DamascusDamascus, SyriaAn oasis city where the Barada river runs out of the Anti-Lebanon into the desert, about 135 miles north-east of Jerusalem. It sat astride the caravan roads to Mesopotamia and Arabia, which made Aram rich and made it Israel's most persistent northern rival. Wikipedia
  • NinevehMosul, IraqAssyria's last capital, on the east bank of the Tigris across from modern Mosul, about 500 miles north-east of Israel. Sennacherib walled in an enormous city here, which is the scale behind Jonah's three days' journey and its 120,000 who cannot tell right from left. Wikipedia
  • AramSyriaThe Syrian interior north-east of Israel, a set of city-states rather than one kingdom, with Damascus the strongest. Aramaic, its language, became the everyday speech of the whole region including Judea. Wikipedia

Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.

Commentary

  • Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes the tension in evaluating Jehu: God commends his destruction of Ahab's house (v.30) but condemns his incomplete obedience (v.31). Hosea later condemns the "blood of Jezreel" (Hosea 1:4), suggesting Jehu's methods exceeded his mandate. Guzik emphasizes that zeal without holiness is dangerous — Jehu had the energy to destroy but not the devotion to build. His retention of the golden calves reveals that his revolution was political as much as spiritual.
  • Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
  • Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.

Videos

2 Kings 8:7-10:35 | Jehu the Destroyer | Bible Study
Spoken Gospel

The Successful Failure - 2 Kings 10:29-31
David Guzik

Dangerous Zeal - 2 Kings 10:16
David Guzik

Articles

  • GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of 2 Kings -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.

Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.

Reflection

  • Zeal Is Not the Same as Faithfulness (v.16) — Jehu invites Jehonadab to "come and see my zeal for the LORD," seeking a witness to his boldness rather than his heart's actual devotion. Is your spiritual life measured by visible activity, or by what's true when no one is watching?
  • Thorough Judgment, Half a Reform (v.28) — Jehu eradicates Baal worship from Israel completely, a genuine and commended accomplishment. What sin have you fully dealt with in one area of your life, and could that same follow-through be applied elsewhere?
  • Keeping the Comfortable Compromise (v.29) — Even after wiping out Baal, Jehu leaves Jeroboam's golden calves standing at Bethel and Dan. What is the acceptable idol you're tempted to leave in place after dealing with the obvious ones?
  • Not With All His Heart (v.31) — The chapter's verdict on Jehu is damning despite his violent zeal: he did not walk in the LORD's law wholeheartedly. Could God say the same thing about your obedience — plenty of activity, but divided devotion?
  • Consequences of Incomplete Obedience (v.32) — Because Jehu's reform stopped short, God allows Hazael to strip away Israel's territory during his reign. Where might a partial surrender in your life be costing you a fuller blessing?