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 .
Jehu's Purge of Baal Worship
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 .
The End of Ahab's Line
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 .