2 Kings 10

1 And Achav had seventy sons in Samaria (Shomeron). And Yehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria (Shomeron), unto the rulers of Yizreel, to the elders, and to them that brought up Achav’s children, saying:

2 “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 fenced city also, and armour;

3 Look even 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, two kings stood not before him; how then shall we stand?”

5 And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Yehu, saying, “We are your servants, and will do all that you shalt bid us; we will not make any king; do you that which is good in your eyes.”

6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, “If you be mine, and if you will hearken unto my voice, take you the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Yizreel by tomorrow this time.” Now the king’s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, which brought them up.

7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Yizreel.

8 And there came a messenger, and told him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” And he said, “Lay you them in two heaps at the entering in 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, “You be righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him; but who slew all these?

10 Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of יהוה, which יהוה spake concerning the house of Achav; for יהוה hath done that which he spake by his servant Eliyah.”

11 So Yehu slew all that remained of the house of Achav in Yizreel, and all his great men, and his kinsfolks, and his priests (kohanim), until he left him none remaining.

12 And he arose and departed, and came to Samaria (Shomeron). And as he was at the shearing house in the way,

13 Yehu met with the brethren of Achazyah king of Judah (Yehudah), and said, “Who are you?” And they answered, “We are the brethren of Achazyah; 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 Yehonadav the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he saluted him, and said to him, “Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?” And Yehonadav answered, “It is.” “If it be, give me your 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 יהוה.” So they made him ride in his chariot.

17 And when he came to Samaria (Shomeron), he slew all that remained unto Achav in Samaria (Shomeron), till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of יהוה, which He spake to Eliyah.

18 And Yehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, “Achav served the Baal a little; but Yehu shall serve him much.

19 Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of the Baal, all his servants, and all his priests (kohanim); let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be missing, he shall not live.” But Yehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of the Baal.

20 And Yehu said, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” And they proclaimed it.

21 And Yehu sent through all Yisrael; and all the worshippers of the Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of the Baal; and the house of the Baal was full from one end to another.

22 And he said unto him that was over the vestry, “Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of the Baal.” And he brought them forth vestments.

23 And Yehu went, and Yehonadav the son of Rechab, into the house of the Baal, and said unto the worshippers of the Baal, “Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of יהוה, but the worshippers of the Baal only.”

24 And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Yehu appointed fourscore men outside, and said, “If any of the men whom I have brought 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 Yehu 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 the Baal.

26 And they brought forth the images out of the house of the Baal, and burned them.

27 And they broke down the image of the Baal, and broke down the house of the Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.

28 Thus Yehu destroyed the Baal out of Yisrael.

29 Howbeit from the sins of Yarovam the son of Nevat, who made Yisrael to sin, Yehu departed not from after them, that is, the golden calves that were in Bethel (Beit-El), and that were in Dan.

30 And יהוה said unto Yehu, “Because you have done well in executing that which is right in Mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Achav according to all that was in Mine heart, your children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Yisrael.”

31 But Yehu took no heed to walk in the Torah of יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael) with all his heart; for he departed not from the sins of Yarovam, which made Yisrael to sin.

32 In those days יהוה began to cut Yisrael short; and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Yisrael;

33 From Jordan (Yarden) eastward, all the land of Gilad, the Gadites, and the Reubenites (Reuveni), and the Menashshites, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, even Gilad and Bashan.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Yehu, and all that he did, and all his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yisrael?

35 And Yehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria (Shomeron). And Yehoachaz his son reigned in his stead.

36 And the time that Yehu reigned over Yisrael in Samaria (Shomeron) was twenty-eight years.