2Kings 10:1 - Prayer Tents



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2Kings 10
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10Ahab had seventy sons still living in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters addressed to the officers of Jezreel, the city elders, and those in charge of Ahab's sons, and posted them to Samaria.H256H7657H1121H8111H3058H3789H5612H7971H8111H8269H3157H2205H539H256H559 2The letters read: This letter is fair warning. You're in charge of your master's children, chariots, horses, fortifications, and weapons.H5612H935H113H1121H7393H5483H4013H5892H5402 3Pick the best and most capable of your master's sons and put him on the throne. Prepare to fight for your master's position.H7200H2896H3477H113H1121H7760H1H3678H3898H113H1004 4They were absolutely terrified at the letter. They said, "Two kings have already been wiped out by him; what hope do we have?"H3966H3966H3372H559H8147H4428H5975H6440H5975 5So they sent the warden of the palace, the mayor of the city, the elders, and the guardians to Jehu with this message: "We are your servants. Whatever you say, we'll do. We're not making anyone king here. You're in charge—do what you think best."H1004H5892H2205H539H7971H3058H559H5650H6213H559H376H4427H6213H2896H5869 6Then Jehu wrote a second letter: If you are on my side and are willing to follow my orders, here's what you do: Decapitate the sons of your master and bring the heads to me by this time tomorrow in Jezreel. The king's sons numbered seventy. The leaders of the city had taken responsibility for them.H3789H5612H8145H559H8085H6963H3947H7218H582H113H1121H935H3157H4279H6256H4428H1121H7657H376H1419H5892H1431 7When they got the letter, they took the king's sons and killed all seventy. Then they put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.H5612H935H3947H4428H1121H7819H7657H376H7760H7218H1731H7971H3157 8A messenger reported to Jehu: "They've delivered the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Stack them in two piles at the city gate until morning."H935H4397H5046H559H935H7218H4428H1121H559H7760H8147H6652H6607H8179H1242 9In the morning Jehu came out, stood before the people, and addressed them formally: "Do you realize that this very day you are participants in GOD's righteous workings? True, I am the one who conspired against my master and assassinated him. But who, do you suppose, is responsible for this pile of skulls?H1242H3318H5975H559H5971H6662H7194H113H2026H5221 10Know this for certain: Not a single syllable that GOD spoke in judgment on the family of Ahab is canceled; you're seeing it with your own eyes—GOD doing what, through Elijah, he said he'd do."H3045H645H5307H776H1697H3068H3068H1696H1004H256H3068H6213H1696H3027H5650H452 11Then Jehu proceeded to kill everyone who had anything to do with Ahab's family in Jezreel—leaders, friends, priests. He wiped out the entire lot.H3058H5221H7604H1004H256H3157H1419H3045H3548H7604H8300 12That done, he brushed himself off and set out for Samaria. Along the way, at Beth Eked (Binding House) of the Shepherds,H6965H935H3212H8111H7462H1004H1044H1870 13he met up with some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said, "Who are you?" They said, "We're relatives of Ahaziah and we've come down to a reunion of the royal family."H3058H4672H251H274H4428H3063H559H559H251H274H3381H7965H1121H4428H1121H1377 14"Grab them!" ordered Jehu. They were taken and then massacred at the well of Beth Eked. Forty-two of them—no survivors.H559H8610H2416H8610H2416H7819H953H1044H8147H705H376H7604H376 15He went on from there and came upon Jehonadab the Recabite who was on his way to meet him. Greeting him, he said, "Are we together and of one mind in this?" Jehonadab said, "We are—count on me." "Then give me your hand," said Jehu. They shook hands on it and Jehonadab stepped up into the chariot with Jehu.H3212H4672H3082H1121H7394H7125H1288H559H3426H3824H3477H3824H3824H3082H559H3426H5414H3027H5414H3027H5927H4818 16"Come along with me," said Jehu, "and witness my zeal for GOD." Together they proceeded in the chariot.H559H3212H7200H7068H3068H7392H7393 17When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu massacred everyone left in Samaria who was in any way connected with Ahab—a mass execution, just as GOD had told Elijah.H935H8111H5221H7604H256H8111H8045H1697H3068H1696H452 18Next, Jehu got all the people together and addressed them: Ahab served Baal small-time; Jehu will serve him big-time.H3058H6908H5971H6908H559H256H5647H1168H4592H3058H5647H7235 19"Get all the prophets of Baal here—everyone who served him, all his priests. Get everyone here; don't leave anyone out. I have a great sacrifice to offer Baal. If you don't show up, you won't live to tell about it." (Jehu was lying, of course. He planned to destroy all the worshipers of Baal.)H7121H5030H1168H5647H3548H376H6485H1419H2077H1168H6485H2421H3058H6213H6122H6H5647H1168 20Jehu ordered, "Make preparation for a holy convocation for Baal." They did and posted the date.H3058H559H6942H6116H1168H7121 21Jehu then summoned everyone in Israel. They came in droves—every worshiper of Baal in the country. Nobody stayed home. They came and packed the temple of Baal to capacity.H3058H7971H3478H5647H1168H935H376H7604H935H935H1004H1168H1004H1168H4390H6310H6310 22Jehu directed the keeper of the wardrobe, "Get robes for all the servants of Baal." He brought out their robes.H559H4458H3318H3830H5647H1168H3318H4403 23Jehu and Jehonadab the Recabite now entered the temple of Baal and said, "Double-check and make sure that there are no worshipers of GOD in here; only Baal-worshipers are allowed."H3058H935H3082H1121H7394H1004H1168H559H5647H1168H2664H7200H3426H5650H3068H5647H1168 24Then they launched the worship, making the sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed eighty men outside with orders: "Don't let a single person escape; if you do, it's your life for his life."H935H6213H2077H5930H3058H7760H8084H376H2351H559H376H582H935H3027H4422H5315H5315 25When Jehu had finished with the sacrificial solemnities, he signaled to the officers and guards, "Enter and kill! No survivors!" And the bloody slaughter began. The officers and guards threw the corpses outside and cleared the way to enter the inner shrine of Baal.H3615H6213H5930H3058H559H7323H7991H935H5221H376H3318H5221H6310H2719H7323H7991H7993H3212H5892H1004H1168 26They hauled out the sacred phallic stone from the temple of Baal and pulverized it.H3318H4676H1004H1168H8313 27They smashed the Baal altars and tore down the Baal temple. It's been a public toilet ever since.H5422H4676H1168H5422H1004H1168H7760H4163H4280H3117 28And that's the story of Jehu's wasting of Baal in Israel.H3058H8045H1168H3478 29But for all that, Jehu didn't turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, the sins that had dragged Israel into a life of sin—the golden calves in Bethel and Dan stayed.H2399H3379H1121H5028H3478H2398H3058H5493H310H2091H5695H1008H1835 30GOD commended Jehu: "You did well to do what I saw was best. You did what I ordered against the family of Ahab. As reward, your sons will occupy the throne of Israel for four generations."H3068H559H3058H2895H6213H3477H5869H6213H1004H256H3824H1121H7243H3427H3678H3478 31Even then, though, Jehu wasn't careful to walk in GOD's ways and honor the God of Israel from an undivided heart. He didn't turn back from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into a life of sin.H3058H8104H3212H8451H3068H430H3478H3824H5493H2403H3379H3478H2398 32It was about this time that GOD began to shrink Israel. Hazael hacked away at the borders of IsraelH3117H3068H2490H7096H3478H7096H2371H5221H1366H3478 33from the Jordan to the east—all the territory of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh from Aroer near the Brook Arnon. In effect, all Gilead and Bashan.H3383H4217H8121H776H1568H1425H7206H4520H6177H5158H769H1568H1316 34The rest of the life and times of Jehu, his accomplishments and fame, are written in The Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.H3499H1697H3058H6213H1369H3789H5612H1697H3117H4428H3478 35Jehu died and was buried in the family plot in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz was the next king.H3058H7901H1H6912H8111H3059H1121H4427 36Jehu ruled Israel from Samaria for twenty-eight years.H3117H3058H4427H3478H8111H6242H8083H8141


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