Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, was anointed as king of Israel by the prophet Elisha's servant, as recorded in 2 Kings 9. His reign marked a significant turning point in the history of the Northern Kingdom due to his zealous reforms aimed at eradicating Baal worship and restoring the worship of Yahweh.

Anointing and Ascension to the Throne

Jehu's rise to power was divinely orchestrated. The prophet Elisha sent a young prophet to anoint Jehu as king, with a specific mandate to destroy the house of Ahab and eliminate the worship of Baal from Israel. The anointing took place in Ramoth-gilead, where Jehu was serving as a commander in the army (2 Kings 9:1-6). Upon receiving the anointing, Jehu immediately set out to fulfill his divine commission.

Execution of Judgment on the House of Ahab

Jehu's first act as king was to execute judgment on the house of Ahab, as prophesied by Elijah (1 Kings 21:21-24). Jehu killed Joram, the son of Ahab, and Ahaziah, the king of Judah, who was allied with the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:24-27). He then proceeded to Jezreel, where he confronted Jezebel, Ahab's wife, who was thrown from a window and trampled underfoot (2 Kings 9:30-33).

Jehu continued his purge by orchestrating the massacre of Ahab's seventy sons in Samaria, ensuring the complete eradication of Ahab's lineage (2 Kings 10:1-11). This act fulfilled the word of the LORD spoken through Elijah.

Eradication of Baal Worship

One of Jehu's most notable reforms was his campaign against Baal worship, which had been introduced and promoted by Ahab and Jezebel. Jehu cunningly gathered all the prophets and worshipers of Baal under the pretense of holding a great sacrifice. Once they were assembled in the temple of Baal, Jehu ordered their execution, effectively eliminating Baal worship from Israel (2 Kings 10:18-28).

Partial Obedience and Consequences

Despite Jehu's zeal in executing judgment on Ahab's house and eradicating Baal worship, his reforms were incomplete. He failed to remove the golden calves at Bethel and Dan, which Jeroboam had set up, and continued to lead Israel in the sin of idolatry (2 Kings 10:29-31). The LORD commended Jehu for his actions against Ahab's house, promising that his descendants would sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation. However, because of his failure to fully turn away from idolatry, the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel during his reign (2 Kings 10:32-33).

Legacy

Jehu's reign lasted for 28 years, and he was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz (2 Kings 10:36). His reforms, though significant, were marred by incomplete obedience to God's commands. Jehu's actions serve as a reminder of the importance of wholehearted devotion to God and the dangers of partial obedience. His legacy is a complex one, marked by both commendable zeal for the LORD and a failure to fully eradicate idolatry from the land.