2 Kings 10:1-13 ▼

1 Now Ahab (father's brother) had seventy sons in Samaria (watch mountain). So Jehu (YHWH is He) wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel [officials of the city], to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:

2 “When this letter arrives, since your⁺ master’s sons are with you⁺ and you⁺ have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry,

3 select the best and most worthy son of your⁺ master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your⁺ master’s house.”

4 But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

5 So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu (YHWH is He): “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

6 Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you⁺ are on my side, and if you⁺ will obey me, then bring the heads of your⁺ master’s sons to me at Jezreel (God sows) by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.

7 And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel (God sows).

8 When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

9 The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You⁺ are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?

10 Know, then, that not a word the LORD {YHWH} has spoken against the house of Ahab (father's brother) will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah (my God is YHWH).”

11 So Jehu (YHWH is He) killed everyone in Jezreel (God sows) who remained of the house of Ahab (father's brother), as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

12 Then Jehu set out toward Samaria (watch mountain). At Beth-eked (house of shearing) of the Shepherds,

13 Jehu (YHWH is He) met some relatives of Ahaziah (YHWH holds) king of Judah (praised) and asked, “Who are you⁺?” “We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”