2 Kings, Chapter 10:
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Verses from 2 Kings, Chapter 10 of the book of 1 Samuel of the Bible.
The death of Ahab's family
- 1. At that time, in Samaria, seventy descendants of Ahab lived. Jehu wrote a letter and sent it to the city leaders, authorities, and guardians of Ahab's descendants. The letter said:
- 2. “As soon as you receive this letter, you who care for the king's sons and have chariots, horses, a fortified city and weapons,
- 3. Choose the best and fittest of the king's sons and place him on his father's throne. Fight for your lord’s dynasty.”
- 4. However, they were terrified and said, “If even two kings could not face him, how can we?”
- 5. Then the administrator of the palace, the governor of the city, the officials, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu, saying: “We are your servants and will do whatever you ask of us. We will not proclaim any king. Do what you think is best.”
- 6. In response, Jehu wrote a second letter: “If you are on my side and are ready to obey me, bring me the heads of your master's descendants to Jezreel at this time tomorrow.” Ahab's seventy descendants were being raised by the city leaders.
- 7. As soon as they received the letter, they beheaded all seventy descendants of Ahab, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.
- 8. Upon receiving news that the heads had arrived, Jehu ordered: “Place them in two heaps at the city gate, where they will be exposed until tomorrow.”
- 9. The next morning, Jehu went out and addressed the gathered people, declaring: “You are innocent! It was I who conspired against my lord and killed him, but who killed all these?
- 10. Know, then, that not one word that the Lord spoke against the family of Ahab will be fulfilled. The Lord has fulfilled everything he said through his servant Elijah.”
- 11. Jehu then killed all of Ahab's remaining family in Jezreel, as well as all of his influential allies, personal friends, and priests, leaving no survivors.
- 12. After this, Jehu left for Samaria. On the way, in Beth-Ekked of the Shepherds,
- 13. He found some relatives of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and asked, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are relatives of Ahaziah and are going to visit the families of the king and queen mother.”
- 14. Then Jehu commanded his soldiers, “Take them alive!” They caught them and killed them at the well of Beth-eked. There were forty-two men, and none of them were left alive.
- 15. Continuing on his way, Jehu met Jonadab, Rechab's son, who had come to meet him. After greeting him, Jehu asked: “Do you agree with what I am doing?” Jonadab replied, “I am.” Then Jehu said, “Then give me your hand.” Jonadab stretched out his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot.
- 16. Then Jehu took him to Samaria and said, “Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.” So Jonadab went with him in his chariot.
- 17. Upon arriving in Samaria, Jehu killed all who remained of Ahab's family in the city. He exterminated them, thus fulfilling the word that the Lord had spoken to Elijah.
Jehu kills all the priests of Baal in Israel
- 18. Jehu called together all the people and said to them, “Ahab did not serve the god Baal with a little devotion, but I will serve him with great zeal.
- 19. Therefore, gather together all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests. No one should be lacking, for I will make a great sacrifice to Baal. Anyone who doesn’t show up will be killed.” But Jehu was planning to act cunningly to eliminate the Baal worshipers.
- 20. Then Jehu commanded, “Hold an assembly in honor of Baal.” The proclamation was made,
- 21. and he sent messengers throughout all Israel. All the Baal worshipers came; there was none missing. They filled the temple of Baal to the last corner.
- 22. Jehu said to the man in charge of the priestly garments, “Bring the garments for all the worshipers of Baal.” And he brought them.
- 23. Then Jehu entered the temple of Baal with Jonadab son of Rechab and said to the worshipers of Baal, “Look carefully and make sure that there are no servants of the Lord here, but only worshipers of Baal.”
- 24. Then they approached to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu had placed eighty men outside and said to them, “If any of you let even one of the men I am delivering into your hands escape, your life will answer for his life.”
- 25. When Jehu finished offering the burnt offering, he gave an order to the guards and officials: “Go in and kill them all! Don’t let anyone escape!” They killed them with the edge of the sword, threw the bodies outside, and entered the inner sanctum of the temple of Baal.
- 26. Then they took the sacred pillar of Baal out of the temple and burned it.
- 27. So they destroyed the sacred pillar of Baal, demolished the temple, and turned it into a rubbish dump, which remains so to this day.
- 28. In this way, Jehu eliminated Baal worship in Israel.
- 29. However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin by worshiping the golden calves in Bethel and Dan.
- 30. And the Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well in carrying out what I consider right, carrying out everything I wanted against the family of Ahab. Therefore, his descendants will occupy the throne of Israel until the fourth generation.”
- 31. However, Jehu did not bother to wholeheartedly obey the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, nor did he turn away from the sins that Jeroboam led Israel to commit.
- 32. In those days, the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael conquered all Israelite territory,
- 33. east of the Jordan, from Aroer, by the river Arnon, to Bashan, including all the region of Gilead, which belonged to the tribes of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh.
- 34. All the other events of Jehu's reign, everything he did and all his accomplishments, are recorded in the annals of the kings of Israel.
- 35. Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king.
- 36. Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for twenty-eight years.
