Topical Encyclopedia Background:Jehu, the son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, was anointed king of Israel by the prophet Elisha, as instructed by God (2 Kings 9:1-3). His reign marked a significant turning point in the history of the Northern Kingdom, as he was tasked with eradicating the house of Ahab and the worship of Baal from Israel. Jehu's zeal for the Lord was evident in his swift and decisive actions against the idolatrous practices that had proliferated under Ahab and Jezebel. Jehu's Zeal and Initial Reforms: Jehu's initial actions were in alignment with God's commands. He executed Joram, the king of Israel, and Ahaziah, the king of Judah, and orchestrated the death of Jezebel (2 Kings 9:24-33). He further eradicated the seventy sons of Ahab and the remaining members of Ahab's family, fulfilling the prophecy given to Elijah (2 Kings 10:1-11). Jehu's most notable religious reform was the destruction of Baal worship in Israel. He cunningly gathered all the prophets and worshipers of Baal under the pretense of a grand sacrifice and slaughtered them, demolishing the temple of Baal and turning it into a latrine (2 Kings 10:18-27). Repeating Jeroboam's Sins: Despite Jehu's fervor in eliminating Baal worship, he failed to depart from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, who had led Israel into idolatry by establishing golden calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:28-30). The Berean Standard Bible records, "Yet Jehu was not careful to walk in the Law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit" (2 Kings 10:31). Jehu maintained the worship of these golden calves, which were a significant stumbling block for Israel, as they represented a syncretistic form of worship that violated the first and second commandments. Consequences and Legacy: Jehu's failure to fully commit to the Lord's ways had lasting repercussions for the Northern Kingdom. Although God acknowledged Jehu's actions against the house of Ahab and promised him a dynasty lasting four generations (2 Kings 10:30), the continuation of Jeroboam's idolatry led to spiritual and moral decline. The Lord began to reduce the size of Israel during Jehu's reign, allowing Hazael of Aram to defeat them in battle (2 Kings 10:32-33). Jehu's reign serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of incomplete obedience and the persistence of idolatry. His initial zeal was overshadowed by his unwillingness to fully abandon the idolatrous practices that had ensnared Israel since Jeroboam's time. This partial obedience highlights the importance of wholehearted devotion to God and the perils of compromising with sin. Subtopics Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: Death of Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: His Territory Invaded by Hazael, King of Syria Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: Prophecies Concerning Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: Religious Zeal of, in Killing Idolaters Jehu: The Prophet Wbo Announced the Wrath of Jehovah Against Baasha, King of Israel Related Terms |