1 Achando-se em Samaria setenta filhos de Acabe, Jeú escreveu cartas e as enviou a Samaria, aos chefes da cidade, aos anciãos e aos tutores dos filhos de Acabe, dizendo: 2 Logo, em chegando a vós outros esta carta (pois estão convosco os filhos de vosso senhor, como também os carros, os cavalos, a cidade fortalecida e as armas), 3 escolhei o melhor e mais capaz dos filhos de vosso senhor, ponde-o sobre o trono de seu pai e pelejai pela casa de vosso senhor. 4 Porém eles temeram muitíssimo e disseram: Dois reis não puderam resistir a ele; como, pois, poderemos nós fazê-lo? 5 Então, o responsável pelo palácio, e o responsável pela cidade, e os anciãos, e os tutores mandaram dizer a Jeú: Teus servos somos e tudo quanto nos ordenares faremos; a ninguém constituiremos rei; faze o que bem te parecer. 6 Então, lhes escreveu outra carta, dizendo: Se estiverdes do meu lado e quiserdes obedecer-me, tomai as cabeças dos homens, filhos de vosso senhor, e amanhã a estas horas vinde a mim a Jezreel. Ora, os filhos do rei, que eram setenta, estavam com os grandes da cidade, que os criavam. 7 Chegada a eles a carta, tomaram os filhos do rei, e os mataram, setenta pessoas, e puseram as suas cabeças nuns cestos, e lhas mandaram a Jezreel. 8 Veio um mensageiro e lhe disse: Trouxeram as cabeças dos filhos do rei. Ele disse: Ponde-as em dois montões à entrada da porta, até pela manhã. 9 Saindo ele pela manhã, parou e disse a todo o povo: Vós estais sem culpa; eis que eu conspirei contra o meu senhor e o matei; mas quem feriu todos estes? 10 Sabei, pois, agora, que, da palavra do Senhor, pronunciada contra a casa de Acabe, nada cairá em terra, porque o Senhor fez o que falou por intermédio do seu servo Elias. 11 Jeú feriu também todos os restantes da casa de Acabe em Jezreel, como também todos os seus grandes, os seus conhecidos e os seus sacerdotes, até que nem um sequer lhe deixou ficar de resto.

12 Então, se dispôs, partiu e foi a Samaria. E, estando no caminho, em Bete-Equede dos Pastores, 13 encontrou Jeú parentes de Acazias, rei de Judá, e perguntou: Quem sois vós? Eles responderam: Parentes de Acazias; voltamos de saudar os filhos do rei e os da rainha-mãe. 14 Então, disse Jeú: Apanhai-os vivos. Eles os apanharam vivos e os mataram junto ao poço de Bete-Equede, quarenta e dois homens; e a nenhum deles deixou de resto.

15 Tendo partido dali, encontrou a Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, que lhe vinha ao encontro; Jeú saudou-o e lhe perguntou: Tens tu sincero o coração para comigo, como o meu o é para contigo? Respondeu Jonadabe: Tenho. Então, se tens, dá-me a mão. Jonadabe deu-lhe a mão; e Jeú fê-lo subir consigo ao carro 16 e lhe disse: Vem comigo e verás o meu zelo para com o Senhor. E, assim, Jeú o levou no seu carro. 17 Tendo Jeú chegado a Samaria, feriu todos os que ali ficaram de Acabe, até destruí-los, segundo a palavra que o Senhor dissera a Elias.

18 Ajuntou Jeú a todo o povo e lhe disse: Acabe serviu pouco a Baal; Jeú, porém, muito o servirá. 19 Pelo que chamai-me, agora, todos os profetas de Baal, todos os seus servidores e todos os seus sacerdotes; não falte nenhum, porque tenho grande sacrifício a oferecer a Baal; todo aquele que faltar não viverá. Porém Jeú fazia isto com astúcia, para destruir os servidores de Baal. 20 Disse mais Jeú: Consagrai uma assembleia solene a Baal; e a proclamaram. 21 Também Jeú enviou mensageiros por todo o Israel; vieram todos os adoradores de Baal, e nenhum homem deles ficou que não viesse. Entraram na casa de Baal, que se encheu de uma extremidade à outra. 22 Então, disse Jeú ao vestiário: Tira as vestimentas para todos os adoradores de Baal. E o fez. 23 Entrou Jeú com Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, na casa de Baal e disse aos adoradores de Baal: Examinai e vede bem não esteja aqui entre vós algum dos servos do Senhor, mas somente os adoradores de Baal.

24 E, entrando eles a oferecerem sacrifícios e holocaustos, Jeú preparou da parte de fora oitenta homens e disse-lhes: Se escapar algum dos homens que eu entregar em vossas mãos, a vida daquele que o deixar escapar responderá pela vida dele. 25 Sucedeu que, acabado o oferecimento do holocausto, ordenou Jeú aos da sua guarda e aos capitães: Entrai, feri-os, que nenhum escape. Feriram-nos a fio de espada; e os da guarda e os capitães os lançaram fora, e penetraram no mais interior da casa de Baal, 26 e tiraram as colunas que estavam na casa de Baal, e as queimaram. 27 Também quebraram a própria coluna de Baal, e derribaram a casa de Baal, e a transformaram em latrinas até ao dia de hoje.

28 Assim, Jeú exterminou de Israel a Baal. 29 Porém não se apartou Jeú de seguir os pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, que fez pecar a Israel, a saber, dos bezerros de ouro que estavam em Betel e em Dã. 30 Pelo que disse o Senhor a Jeú: Porquanto bem executaste o que é reto perante mim e fizeste à casa de Acabe segundo tudo quanto era do meu propósito, teus filhos até à quarta geração se assentarão no trono de Israel. 31 Mas Jeú não teve cuidado de andar de todo o seu coração na lei do Senhor, Deus de Israel, nem se apartou dos pecados que Jeroboão fez pecar a Israel.

32 Naqueles dias, começou o Senhor a diminuir os limites de Israel, que foi ferido por Hazael em todas as suas fronteiras, 33 desde o Jordão para o nascente do sol, toda a terra de Gileade, os gaditas, os rubenitas e os manassitas, desde Aroer, que está junto ao vale de Arnom, a saber, Gileade e Basã.

34 Ora, os mais atos de Jeú, e tudo quanto fez, e todo o seu poder, porventura, não estão escritos no Livro da História dos Reis de Israel? 35 Descansou Jeú com seus pais, e o sepultaram em Samaria; e Jeoacaz, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar. 36 Os dias que Jeú reinou sobre Israel em Samaria foram vinte e oito anos.

1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, unto the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and unto them that brought up the sons of Ahab, saying, 2 And now as soon as this letter cometh to you, seeing your master’s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor; 3 look ye out the best and meetest of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house. 4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings stood not before him: how then shall we stand? 5 And he that was over the household, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and they that brought up the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any man king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes. 6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If ye be on my side, and if ye will hearken unto my voice, take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to-morrow this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up. 7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel. 8 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said, Lay ye them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning. 9 And it came to pass in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, Ye are righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him; but who smote all these? 10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of Jehovah, which Jehovah spake concerning the house of Ahab: for Jehovah hath done that which he spake by his servant Elijah. 11 So Jehu smote all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men, and his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

12 And he arose and departed, and went to Samaria. And as he was at the shearing-house of the shepherds in the way, 13 Jehu met with the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, Who are ye? And they answered, We are the brethren of Ahaziah: and we go down to salute the children of the king and the children of the queen. 14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.

15 And when he was departed thence, he lighted on Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he saluted him, and said to him, Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is. If it be, give me thy hand. And he gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 And he said, Come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah. So they made him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake to Elijah.

18 And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. 21 And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another. 22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. 23 And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal; and he said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of Jehovah, but the worshippers of Baal only. 24 And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt-offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him.

25 And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt-offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26 And they brought forth the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them. 27 And they brake down the pillar of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught-house, unto this day. 28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

29 Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan. 30 And Jehovah said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel. 31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

32 In those days Jehovah began to cut off from Israel: and Hazael smote them in all the borders of Israel; 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. 34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35 And Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead. 36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.

1 Now there were in Samaria seventy sons of the house of Ahab. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria: to the officials of Jezreel, "to the elders and to the guardians of Ahab's children. He said,

2 "You have your master's sons with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weapons. Now as soon as this letter reaches you,

3 choose the best and most worthy of your master's sons and set him on his father's throne. Then fight for your master's house."

4 But they were terrified and said, "If two kings could not resist him, how can we?"

5 So the palace administrator, the city governor, the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: "We are your servants and we will do anything you say. We will not appoint anyone as king; you do whatever you think best."

6 Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying, "If you are on my side and will obey me, take the heads of your master's sons and come to me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow." Now the royal princes, seventy of them, were with the leading men of the city, who were rearing them.

7 When the letter arrived, these men took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.

8 When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, "They have brought the heads of the princes." Then Jehu ordered, "Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning."

9 The next morning Jehu went out. He 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 has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The LORD has done what he announced through his servant Elijah."

11 So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his chief men, his close friends and his priests, leaving him no survivor.

12 Jehu then set out and went toward Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds,

13 he met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, "Who are you?" They said, "We are relatives of Ahaziah, and we have come down to greet the families of the king and of the queen mother."

14 "Take them alive!" he ordered. So they took them alive and slaughtered them by the well of Beth Eked —forty-two of them. He left no survivor.

15 After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, "Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?" "I am," Jehonadab answered. "If so," said Jehu, "give me your hand." So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot.

16 Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD." Then he had him ride along in his chariot.

17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab's family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD spoken to Elijah.

18 Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.

19 Now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. See that no one is missing, because I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who fails to come will no longer live." But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20 Jehu said, "Call an assembly in honor of Baal." So they proclaimed it.

21 Then he sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one stayed away. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was full from one end to the other.

22 And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, "Bring robes for all the servants of Baal." So he brought out robes for them.

23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went into the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, "Look around and see that no one who serves the LORD is here with you —only servants of Baal."

24 So they went in to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had posted eighty men outside with this warning: "If one of you lets any of the men I am placing in your hands escape, it will be your life for his life."

25 As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers: "Go in and kill them; let no one escape." So they cut them down with the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and then entered the inner shrine of the temple of Baal.

26 They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it.

27 They demolished the sacred stone of Baal and tore down the temple of Baal, and people have used it for a latrine to this day.

28 So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel.

29 However, he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit —the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

30 The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in accomplishing what is right in my eyes and have done to the house of Ahab all I had in mind to do, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

31 Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit.

32 In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory

33 east of the Jordan in all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh), from Aroer by the Arnon Gorge through Gilead to Bashan.

34 As for the other events of Jehu's reign, all he did, and all his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

35 Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king.

36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.