2 Kings 10:1-7 ▼

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).