10Since Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria, Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab's sons, saying:H256H7657H1121H8111H3058H3789H5612H7971H8111H8269H3157H2205H539H256H5592When this letter arrives, since your master's sons are with you and you have chariots, horses, a fortified city, and weaponry,H5612H935H113H1121H7393H5483H4013H5892H54023select the most qualified of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.H7200H2896H3477H113H1121H7760H1H3678H3898H113H10044However, they were terrified and reasoned, "Look, two kings couldn't stand against him; how can we?"H3966H3966H3372H559H8147H4428H5975H6440H59755So the overseer of the palace, 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 tell us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think is right."H1004H5892H2205H539H7971H3058H559H5650H6213H559H376H4427H6213H2896H58696Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying: If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring me the heads of your master's sons at this time tomorrow at Jezreel. All 70 of the king's sons were being cared for by the city's prominent men.H3789H5612H8145H559H8085H6963H3947H7218H582H113H1121H935H3157H4279H6256H4428H1121H7657H376H1419H5892H14317When the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and slaughtered all 70, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.H5612H935H3947H4428H1121H7819H7657H376H7760H7218H1731H7971H31578When the messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons," the king said, "Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning."H935H4397H5046H559H935H7218H4428H1121H559H7760H8147H6652H6607H8179H12429The next morning when he went out and stood [at the gate], he said to all the people, "You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all these?H1242H3318H5975H559H5971H6662H7194H113H2026H522110Know, then, that not a word the LORD spoke against the house of Ahab will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah."H3045H645H5307H776H1697H3068H3068H1696H1004H256H3068H6213H1696H3027H5650H45211So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel— all his great men, close friends, and priests— leaving him no survivors.H3058H5221H7604H1004H256H3157H1419H3045H3548H7604H830012Then he set out and went on his way to Samaria. On the way, while he was at Beth-eked of the Shepherds,H6965H935H3212H8111H7462H1004H1044H187013Jehu met the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, "Who are you?" They answered, "We're Ahaziah's relatives. We've come down to greet the king's sons and the queen mother's sons."H3058H4672H251H274H4428H3063H559H559H251H274H3381H7965H1121H4428H1121H137714Then Jehu ordered, "Take them alive." So they took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked— 42 men. He didn't spare any of them.H559H8610H2416H8610H2416H7819H953H1044H8147H705H376H7604H37615When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab [coming] to meet him. He greeted him and then asked, "Is your heart one with mine?" "It is," Jehonadab replied. Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." So he gave him his hand, and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot with him.H3212H4672H3082H1121H7394H7125H1288H559H3426H3824H3477H3824H3824H3082H559H3426H5414H3027H5414H3027H5927H481816Then he said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!" So he let him ride with him in his chariot.H559H3212H7200H7068H3068H7392H739317When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained from [the house of] Ahab in Samaria until he had annihilated his house, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah.H935H8111H5221H7604H256H8111H8045H1697H3068H1696H45218Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.H3058H6908H5971H6908H559H256H5647H1168H4592H3058H5647H723519Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live." However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.H7121H5030H1168H5647H3548H376H6485H1419H2077H1168H6485H2421H3058H6213H6122H6H5647H116820Jehu commanded, "Consecrate a solemn assembly for Baal." So they called one.H3058H559H6942H6116H1168H712121Then Jehu sent [messengers] throughout all Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man left who did not come. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from one end to the other.H3058H7971H3478H5647H1168H935H376H7604H935H935H1004H1168H1004H1168H4390H6310H631022Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, "Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal." So he brought out their garments.H559H4458H3318H3830H5647H1168H3318H440323Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, "Look carefully to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you— only servants of Baal."H3058H935H3082H1121H7394H1004H1168H559H5647H1168H2664H7200H3426H5650H3068H5647H116824Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, and he warned [them], "Whoever allows any of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape [will forfeit] his life for theirs."H935H6213H2077H5930H3058H7760H8084H376H2351H559H376H582H935H3027H4422H5315H531525When he finished offering the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, "Go in and kill them. Don't let anyone out." So they struck them down with the sword. Then the guards and officers threw [the bodies] out and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.H3615H6213H5930H3058H559H7323H7991H935H5221H376H3318H5221H6310H2719H7323H7991H7993H3212H5892H1004H116826They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned themH3318H4676H1004H1168H831327and tore down the pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it a latrine— [which it is] to this day.H5422H4676H1168H5422H1004H1168H7760H4163H4280H311728Jehu eliminated Baal [worship] from Israel,H3058H8045H1168H347829but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit— [worshiping] the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan.H2399H3379H1121H5028H3478H2398H3058H5493H310H2091H5695H1008H183530Nevertheless, 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."H3068H559H3058H2895H6213H3477H5869H6213H1004H256H3824H1121H7243H3427H3678H347831Yet, Jehu was not careful to follow with all his heart the law of the LORD God of Israel. He did not turn from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.H3058H8104H3212H8451H3068H430H3478H3824H5493H2403H3379H3478H239832In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory:H3117H3068H2490H7096H3478H7096H2371H5221H1366H347833from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead— the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites— from Aroer which is by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.H3383H4217H8121H776H1568H1425H7206H4520H6177H5158H769H1568H131634Now the rest of the events of Jehu's [reign], along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are written about in the Historical Record of Israel's Kings.H3499H1697H3058H6213H1369H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H347835Jehu rested with his fathers, and he was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became king in his place.H3058H7901H1H6912H8111H3059H1121H442736The length of Jehu's reign over Israel in Samaria was 28 years.H3117H3058H4427H3478H8111H6242H8083H8141
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