Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel , to the elders , and to the guardians (of the sons) of Ahab , saying :
“ When this ... letter arrives , since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses , a fortified city and weaponry ,
select the best and most worthy son of your master , set him on his father’s throne , and fight for your master’s house. ”
But they were terrified ... ... and reasoned , “ If two kings could not stand against him , how ... can we ? ”
So the palace administrator ... , the overseer ... of the city , the elders , and the guardians sent a message to Jehu : “ We are your servants , and we will do whatever - you say .... We will not make anyone king. Do (whatever is) good in your sight. ”
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 by this time tomorrow. ” Now the sons of the king , seventy in all , ... were being brought up - by the leading men of the city.
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.
When the messenger arrived , he told “ They have brought the heads of the sons of the king. ” ... And (Jehu) ordered , “ Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning. ”
- The next morning , (Jehu) went out and 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 ?
Know , then , that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail ... , for the LORD has done - what He promised through His servant Elijah. ”
So Jehu - killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab , as well as all his great men and close friends and priests , ... leaving without (a single) survivor.
Then (Jehu) set out ... ... toward Samaria. ... At Beth-eked of the Shepherds ... , -
Jehu met - some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked , “ Who are you ? ” “ We are relatives of Ahaziah , ” they answered , “ and we have come down to greet the sons of the king (and) of the queen mother. ”
Then Jehu ordered , “ Take them alive. ” So (his men) took them alive , then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked — forty-two ... men. He spared none
When he left there , he found - Jehonadab son of Rechab , who was coming to meet him. (Jehu) greeted him and asked , “ Is ... your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours ? ” “ It is ! ” Jehonadab replied. “If it is,” said Jehu , “ give me your hand. ” So he gave him his hand , and Jehu helped him into his chariot ... ,
saying , “ Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD ! ” So he had him ride - in his chariot.
When Jehu came to Samaria , he struck down - everyone belonging to Ahab who remained (there) , until he had destroyed them , according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.
Then Jehu - brought all the people together and said - , “ Ahab served - Baal a little , but Jehu will serve him a lot.
Now, therefore , summon to me all the prophets of Baal , all his servants , and all his priests. See that no one ... is missing , for a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever - is missing will not live. ” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy - the servants of Baal.
And Jehu commanded , “ Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. ” So they announced it.
Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel , and all the servants of Baal came ; there was not a man - who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal , and it ... was filled from end to end.
And (Jehu) said to the keeper ... of the wardrobe , “ Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal. ” So he brought out garments
Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal , and Jehu said to the servants of Baal , “ Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you — only ... servants of Baal .... ”
And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them , “ If anyone - allows one of the men - I am delivering into your hands to escape , he will forfeit his life for theirs. ”
- When he had finished making the burnt offering , Jehu said to the guards and officers , “ Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out. ” So the guards and officers put them vvv to the sword , threw (the bodies) out , and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.
They brought out - the (sacred) pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.
They also demolished - the (sacred) pillar of Baal. Then they tore down - the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine , which it is to this day.
Thus Jehu - eradicated Baal from Israel ,
but (he) did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat - had caused Israel to commit — - the worship of the golden - calves at Bethel - and Dan.
Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu , “ Because - you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart , four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel. ”
Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction 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. -
In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory
from the Jordan eastward ... - through all the land of Gilead ( the region of Gad , Reuben , and Manasseh ), and from Aroer - by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.
As for the rest of the Acts - of Jehu , along with all his accomplishments ... and all his might , ... ... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles - of the Kings of Israel ?
And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried - in Samaria , and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place.
So the duration - of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria (was) twenty-eight ... years.