1 And Ahab{H256} had seventy{H7657} sons{H1121} in Samaria{H8111}. And Jehu{H3058} wrote{H3789}{(H8799)} letters{H5612}, and sent{H7971}{(H8799)} to Samaria{H8111}, unto the rulers{H8269} of Jezreel{H3157}, to the elders{H2205}, and to them that brought up{H539}{(H8802)} Ahab's{H256} children, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

2 Now as soon as this letter{H5612} cometh{H935}{(H8800)} to you, seeing your master's{H113} sons{H1121} are with you, and there are with you chariots{H7393} and horses{H5483}, a fenced{H4013} city{H5892} also, and armour{H5402};

3 Look even out{H7200}{(H8804)} the best{H2896} and meetest{H3477} of your master's{H113} sons{H1121}, and set{H7760}{(H8804)} him on his father's{H1} throne{H3678}, and fight{H3898}{(H8734)} for your master's{H113} house{H1004}.

4 But they were exceedingly{H3966}{H3966} afraid{H3372}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold, two{H8147} kings{H4428} stood{H5975}{(H8804)} not before{H6440} him: how then shall we stand{H5975}{(H8799)}?

5 And he that was over the house{H1004}, and he that was over the city{H5892}, the elders{H2205} also, and the bringers up{H539}{(H8802)} of the children, sent{H7971}{(H8799)} to Jehu{H3058}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, We are thy servants{H5650}, and will do{H6213}{(H8799)} all that thou shalt bid{H559}{(H8799)} us; we will not make any{H376} king{H4427}{(H8686)}: do{H6213}{(H8798)} thou that which is good{H2896} in thine eyes{H5869}.

6 Then he wrote{H3789}{(H8799)} a letter{H5612} the second time{H8145} to them, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, If ye be mine, and if ye will hearken{H8085}{(H8802)} unto my voice{H6963}, take{H3947}{(H8798)} ye the heads{H7218} of the men{H582} your master's{H113} sons{H1121}, and come{H935}{(H8798)} to me to Jezreel{H3157} by to morrow{H4279} this time{H6256}. Now the king's{H4428} sons{H1121}, being seventy{H7657} persons{H376}, were with the great men{H1419} of the city{H5892}, which brought them up{H1431}{(H8764)}.

7 And it came to pass, when the letter{H5612} came{H935}{(H8800)} to them, that they took{H3947}{(H8799)} the king's{H4428} sons{H1121}, and slew{H7819}{(H8799)} seventy{H7657} persons{H376}, and put{H7760}{(H8799)} their heads{H7218} in baskets{H1731}, and sent{H7971}{(H8799)} him them to Jezreel{H3157}.

8 And there came{H935}{(H8799)} a messenger{H4397}, and told{H5046}{(H8686)} him, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, They have brought{H935}{(H8689)} the heads{H7218} of the king's{H4428} sons{H1121}. And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Lay{H7760}{(H8798)} ye them in two{H8147} heaps{H6652} at the entering in{H6607} of the gate{H8179} until the morning{H1242}.

9 And it came to pass in the morning{H1242}, that he went out{H3318}{(H8799)}, and stood{H5975}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} to all the people{H5971}, Ye be righteous{H6662}: behold, I conspired{H7194}{(H8804)} against my master{H113}, and slew{H2026}{(H8799)} him: but who slew{H5221}{(H8689)} all these?

10 Know{H3045}{(H8798)} now{H645} that there shall fall{H5307}{(H8799)} unto the earth{H776} nothing of the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}, which the LORD{H3068} spake{H1696}{(H8765)} concerning the house{H1004} of Ahab{H256}: for the LORD{H3068} hath done{H6213}{(H8804)} that which he spake{H1696}{(H8765)} by{H3027} his servant{H5650} Elijah{H452}.

11 So Jehu{H3058} slew{H5221}{(H8686)} all that remained{H7604}{(H8737)} of the house{H1004} of Ahab{H256} in Jezreel{H3157}, and all his great men{H1419}, and his kinsfolks{H3045}{(H8794)}, and his priests{H3548}, until he left{H7604}{(H8689)} him none remaining{H8300}.

12 And he arose{H6965}{(H8799)} and departed{H935}{(H8799)}, and came{H3212}{(H8799)} to Samaria{H8111}. And as he was at the shearing{H7462}{(H8802)} house{H1004}{(H8677)}{H1044} in the way{H1870},

13 Jehu{H3058} met{H4672}{(H8804)} with the brethren{H251} of Ahaziah{H274} king{H4428} of Judah{H3063}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Who are ye? And they answered{H559}{(H8799)}, We are the brethren{H251} of Ahaziah{H274}; and we go down{H3381}{(H8799)} to salute{H7965} the children{H1121} of the king{H4428} and the children{H1121} of the queen{H1377}.

14 And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Take{H8610}{(H8798)} them alive{H2416}. And they took{H8610}{(H8799)} them alive{H2416}, and slew{H7819}{(H8799)} them at the pit{H953} of the shearing house{H1044}, even two{H8147} and forty{H705} men{H376}; neither left{H7604}{(H8689)} he any{H376} of them.

15 And when he was departed{H3212}{(H8799)} thence, he lighted{H4672}{(H8799)} on Jehonadab{H3082} the son{H1121} of Rechab{H7394} coming to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} him: and he saluted{H1288}{(H8762)} him, and said{H559}{(H8799)} to him, Is{H3426} thine heart{H3824} right{H3477}, as my heart{H3824} is with thy heart{H3824}? And Jehonadab{H3082} answered{H559}{(H8799)}, It is{H3426}. If it be, give{H5414}{(H8798)} me thine hand{H3027}. And he gave{H5414}{(H8799)} him his hand{H3027}; and he took him up{H5927}{(H8686)} to him into the chariot{H4818}.

16 And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Come{H3212}{(H8798)} with me, and see{H7200}{(H8798)} my zeal{H7068} for the LORD{H3068}. So they made him ride{H7392}{(H8686)} in his chariot{H7393}.

17 And when he came{H935}{(H8799)} to Samaria{H8111}, he slew{H5221}{(H8686)} all that remained{H7604}{(H8737)} unto Ahab{H256} in Samaria{H8111}, till he had destroyed{H8045}{(H8689)} him, according to the saying{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}, which he spake{H1696}{(H8765)} to Elijah{H452}.

18 And Jehu{H3058} gathered{H6908} all the people{H5971} together{H6908}{(H8799)}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto them, Ahab{H256} served{H5647}{(H8804)} Baal{H1168} a little{H4592}; but Jehu{H3058} shall serve{H5647}{(H8799)} him much{H7235}{(H8687)}.

19 Now therefore call{H7121}{(H8798)} unto me all the prophets{H5030} of Baal{H1168}, all his servants{H5647}{(H8802)}, and all his priests{H3548}; let none{H376} be wanting{H6485}{(H8735)}: for I have a great{H1419} sacrifice{H2077} to do to Baal{H1168}; whosoever shall be wanting{H6485}{(H8735)}, he shall not live{H2421}{(H8799)}. But Jehu{H3058} did{H6213}{(H8804)} it in subtilty{H6122}, to the intent that he might destroy{H6}{(H8687)} the worshippers{H5647}{(H8802)} of Baal{H1168}.

20 And Jehu{H3058} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Proclaim{H6942}{(H8761)} a solemn assembly{H6116} for Baal{H1168}. And they proclaimed{H7121}{(H8799)} it.

21 And Jehu{H3058} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} through all Israel{H3478}: and all the worshippers{H5647}{(H8802)} of Baal{H1168} came{H935}{(H8799)}, so that there was not a man{H376} left{H7604}{(H8738)} that came{H935}{(H8804)} not. And they came{H935}{(H8799)} into the house{H1004} of Baal{H1168}; and the house{H1004} of Baal{H1168} was full{H4390}{(H8735)} from one end{H6310} to another{H6310}.

22 And he said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him that was over the vestry{H4458}, Bring forth{H3318}{(H8685)} vestments{H3830} for all the worshippers{H5647}{(H8802)} of Baal{H1168}. And he brought them forth{H3318}{(H8686)} vestments{H4403}.

23 And Jehu{H3058} went{H935}{(H8799)}, and Jehonadab{H3082} the son{H1121} of Rechab{H7394}, into the house{H1004} of Baal{H1168}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the worshippers{H5647}{(H8802)} of Baal{H1168}, Search{H2664}{(H8761)}, and look{H7200}{(H8798)} that there be{H3426} here with you none of the servants{H5650} of the LORD{H3068}, but the worshippers{H5647}{(H8802)} of Baal{H1168} only.

24 And when they went in{H935}{(H8799)} to offer{H6213}{(H8800)} sacrifices{H2077} and burnt offerings{H5930}, Jehu{H3058} appointed{H7760}{(H8804)} fourscore{H8084} men{H376} without{H2351}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, If any{H376} of the men{H582} whom I have brought{H935}{(H8688)} into your hands{H3027} escape{H4422}{(H8735)}, he that letteth him go, his life{H5315} shall be for the life{H5315} of him.

25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end{H3615}{(H8763)} of offering{H6213}{(H8800)} the burnt offering{H5930}, that Jehu{H3058} said{H559}{(H8799)} to the guard{H7323}{(H8801)} and to the captains{H7991}, Go in{H935}{(H8798)}, and slay{H5221}{(H8685)} them; let none{H376} come forth{H3318}{(H8799)}. And they smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them with the edge{H6310} of the sword{H2719}; and the guard{H7323}{(H8801)} and the captains{H7991} cast them out{H7993}{(H8686)}, and went{H3212}{(H8799)} to the city{H5892} of the house{H1004} of Baal{H1168}.

26 And they brought forth{H3318}{(H8686)} the images{H4676} out of the house{H1004} of Baal{H1168}, and burned{H8313}{(H8799)} them.

27 And they brake down{H5422}{(H8799)} the image{H4676} of Baal{H1168}, and brake down{H5422}{(H8799)} the house{H1004} of Baal{H1168}, and made{H7760}{(H8799)} it a draught house{H4163}{(H8675)}{H4280} unto this day{H3117}.

28 Thus Jehu{H3058} destroyed{H8045}{(H8686)} Baal{H1168} out of Israel{H3478}.

29 Howbeit from the sins{H2399} of Jeroboam{H3379} the son{H1121} of Nebat{H5028}, who made Israel{H3478} to sin{H2398}{(H8689)}, Jehu{H3058} departed{H5493}{(H8804)} not from after{H310} them, to wit, the golden{H2091} calves{H5695} that were in Bethel{H1008}, and that were in Dan{H1835}.

30 And the LORD{H3068} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jehu{H3058}, Because thou hast done well{H2895}{(H8689)} in executing{H6213}{(H8800)} that which is right{H3477} in mine eyes{H5869}, and hast done{H6213}{(H8804)} unto the house{H1004} of Ahab{H256} according to all that was in mine heart{H3824}, thy children{H1121} of the fourth{H7243} generation shall sit{H3427}{(H8799)} on the throne{H3678} of Israel{H3478}.

31 But Jehu{H3058} took no heed{H8104}{(H8804)} to walk{H3212}{(H8800)} in the law{H8451} of the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478} with all his heart{H3824}: for he departed{H5493}{(H8804)} not from the sins{H2403} of Jeroboam{H3379}, which made Israel{H3478} to sin{H2398}{(H8689)}.

32 In those days{H3117} the LORD{H3068} began{H2490}{(H8689)} to cut{H7096} Israel{H3478} short{H7096}{(H8763)}: and Hazael{H2371} smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them in all the coasts{H1366} of Israel{H3478};

33 From Jordan{H3383} eastward{H4217}{H8121}, all the land{H776} of Gilead{H1568}, the Gadites{H1425}, and the Reubenites{H7206}, and the Manassites{H4520}, from Aroer{H6177}, which is by the river{H5158} Arnon{H769}, even Gilead{H1568} and Bashan{H1316}.

34 Now the rest{H3499} of the acts{H1697} of Jehu{H3058}, and all that he did{H6213}{(H8804)}, and all his might{H1369}, are they not written{H3789}{(H8803)} in the book{H5612} of the chronicles{H1697}{H3117} of the kings{H4428} of Israel{H3478}?

35 And Jehu{H3058} slept{H7901}{(H8799)} with his fathers{H1}: and they buried{H6912}{(H8799)} him in Samaria{H8111}. And Jehoahaz{H3059} his son{H1121} reigned{H4427}{(H8799)} in his stead.

36 And the time{H3117} that Jehu{H3058} reigned{H4427}{(H8804)} over Israel{H3478} in Samaria{H8111} was twenty{H6242} and eight{H8083} years{H8141}.