Jehu Slaughters Ahab's Descendants

2 Kings 10

1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of 1 Jezreel, to the elders, and to 2 those who reared Ahab's sons, saying: 2 Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons are with you, and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and weapons, 3 choose the 3 best qualified of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house. 4 But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Look, a two kings could not 4 stand up to him; how then can we stand?" 5 And he who was in charge of the house, and he who was in charge of the city, the elders also, and those who reared the sons, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, we will do all you tell us; but we will not make anyone king. Do what is good in your sight." 6 Then he wrote a second letter to them, saying:
If you are for me and will obey my voice, take the heads of the men, your master's sons, and come to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.
Now the king's sons, seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who were rearing them. 7 So it was, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons and b slaughtered seventy persons, put their heads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8 Then a messenger came and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." And he said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning." 9 So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Indeed c I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these? 10 "Know now that nothing shall d fall to the earth of the word of the LORD which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD has done what He spoke e by His servant Elijah." 11 So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.

12 And he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way, at 5 Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13 f Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are you?" So they answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah; we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother." 14 And he said, "Take them alive!" So they took them alive, and g killed them at the well of 6 Beth Eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.

15 Now when he departed from there, he 7 met h Jehonadab the son of i Rechab, coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is toward your heart?" And Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, j give me your hand." So he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, "Come with me, and see my k zeal for the LORD." So they had him ride in his chariot. 17 And when he came to Samaria, l he killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed them, according to the word of the LORD m which He spoke to Elijah.

  1. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:24
    Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.
    2 Kings 9:27
    But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoot him also in the chariot." And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
  2. Cross References
    Judges 9:5
    Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.
    1 Kings 21:21
    Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free.
    2 Kings 11:1
    When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs.
  3. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:14 - 24
    So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria.
  4. Cross References
    1 Samuel 3:19
    So Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
    1 Kings 8:56
    Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses.
    Jeremiah 44:28
    Yet a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah; and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone to the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs.
  5. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:17 - 24
    Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying.
    1 Kings 21:29
    "See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house."
  6. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 22:8
    And it happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, that he killed them.
  7. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 22:8
    And it happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, that he killed them.
  8. Cross References
    Jeremiah 35:6
    But they said, "We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, 'You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.
  9. Cross References
    1 Chronicles 2:55
    And the families of the scribes who dwelt at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Suchathites. These were the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
  10. Cross References
    Ezra 10:19
    And they gave their promise that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they presented a ram of the flock as their trespass offering.
    Ezekiel 17:18
    'Since he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, and in fact gave his hand and still did all these things, he shall not escape.'"
  11. Cross References
    1 Kings 19:10
    So he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.
  12. Cross References
    2 Kings 9:8
    For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free.
    2 Chronicles 22:8
    And it happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, and found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers who served Ahaziah, that he killed them.
  13. Cross References
    1 Kings 21:21
    Behold, I will bring calamity on you. I will take away your posterity, and will cut off from Ahab every male in Israel, both bond and free.
    1 Kings 21:29
    "See how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the calamity in his days. In the days of his son I will bring the calamity on his house."
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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