2 Kings 10

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1. 1Ahab had 70 sons living in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria — to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and the guardians who were raising Ahab's children. The letters said:
2. 2As soon as this letter reaches you, since your master's sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city, and armour—
3. 3Choose the best and most capable of your master's sons, put him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's family."
4. 4But the leaders were terrified. They said to each other, "Two kings couldn't stand against him! How could we possibly resist?"
5. 5So the palace manager, the city governor, the elders, and the guardians of the children sent a message back to Jehu: "We are your servants. We'll do whatever you tell us. We won't make anyone king — do whatever you think is best."
6. 6Jehu wrote them a second letter: "If you are truly on my side and will obey me, cut off the heads of your master's sons and bring them to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow." Now the 70 royal sons were being raised by the leading men of the city.
7. 7When the letter arrived, the city leaders seized all 70 of the king's sons and killed them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.
8. 8A messenger came and told Jehu, "They've delivered the heads of the king's sons." Jehu ordered, "Stack them in two piles at the city gate entrance and leave them there until morning."
9. 9The next morning, he went out and stood before all the people. He said, "You are righteous. Yes, I conspired against my master and killed him — but who killed all these?"
10. 10Understand this: not a single word of the LORD, which He spoke concerning Ahab's family, will fall to the ground. The LORD has done what He spoke through His servant Elijah.
11. 11Then Jehu killed everyone who was left of Ahab's family in Jezreel, including all his great men, his relatives, and his priests. He didn't leave a single one alive.
12. 12Then he got up and left, heading to Samaria. On the way, he was at the shearing house.
13. 13Jehu met with the relatives of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are the relatives of Ahaziah, and we are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen."
14. 14"Take them alive!" Jehu ordered. His men captured them and slaughtered all 42 of them at the pit near the shearing house. He didn't spare a single one.
15. 15After leaving there, Jehu encountered Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?" Jehonadab answered, "It is." "Then give me your hand," Jehu said. Jehonadab reached out his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot.
16. 16"Come with me," Jehu said, "and see my zeal for the LORD." So Jehonadab rode along in his chariot.
17. 17When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he killed everyone left from Ahab's family there, wiping them out completely — just as the LORD had told Elijah would happen.
18. 18Then Jehu assembled all the people and announced, "Ahab served Baal only a little. Jehu will serve him far more.
19. 19Now summon every prophet of Baal, every worshiper, and every priest. No one is to be absent, because I'm planning a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who doesn't show up will be put to death." But this was all a trick — Jehu's real plan was to destroy every worshiper of Baal.
20. 20Jehu commanded, "Announce a sacred assembly for Baal!" So they sent out the proclamation.
21. 21Jehu sent word throughout all of Israel, and every worshiper of Baal came — not a single one stayed home. They packed into the temple of Baal until it was full from wall to wall.
22. 22Jehu told the keeper of the wardrobe, "Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal." So he brought out robes for everyone.
23. 23Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal. Jehu told the worshipers, "Look around carefully and make sure no servants of the LORD are in here — only worshipers of Baal."
24. 24As the worshipers went inside to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu had stationed 80 soldiers outside. He warned them, "If any of the men I'm handing over to you escapes, the soldier who let him go will pay with his own life."
25. 25As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guard and the captains, "Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone come out." They struck them with the edge of the sword, and the guard and the captains threw them out and went to the city of Baal's temple.
26. 26They brought out the images from the temple of Baal and burned them.
27. 27They broke down the image of Baal, demolished the house of Baal, and turned it into a latrine, which it remains to this day.
28. 28That is how Jehu wiped out Baal worship from Israel.
29. 29However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel into — specifically, the golden calves set up at Bethel and Dan.
30. 30The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing what is right in my eyes and have dealt with Ahab's family exactly as I intended, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel for four generations."
31. 31But Jehu didn't make any effort to follow the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He never turned away from the sins of Jeroboam that had led Israel into sin.
32. 32In those days, the LORD began to reduce Israel's territory: and Hazael attacked them along all the borders of Israel;
33. 33everything east of the Jordan: all of Gilead, including the lands of the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, from Aroer by the Arnon Valley all the way through Gilead and Bashan.
34. 34Everything else about Jehu's reign — all he accomplished and all his power — is recorded in the official history of Israel's kings.
35. 35Jehu died and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king after him.
36. 36Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.