Jehu's Purge and the Death of Jezebel
A young prophet sent by Elisha anoints the commander Jehu in a back room, tells him to destroy the house of Ahab, and runs. His officers ask what the madman wanted; told the answer, they spread their cloaks under him and blow the trumpet.
Jehu drives to Jezreel — the lookout identifies him at a distance by his driving, which is furious — and kills King Joram in Naboth's vineyard, the field Ahab and Jezebel had taken by judicial murder. Jezebel paints her eyes, arranges her hair and meets him from an upper window with a taunt; her own eunuchs throw her down at his order.
Jehu goes on to wipe out Ahab's seventy sons and the worshippers of Baal by a ruse. The books of Kings credit him with obeying the commission and condemn him in the same breath for what he did not change.
Where in scripture
[1] After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. [2] Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, “Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my house; and I will give you for it a better vineyard than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” [3] Naboth said to Ahab, “May Yahweh forbid me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!” [4] Ahab came into his house sullen and angry because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He laid himself down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread. …
1 Kings 21:1–29 — opening verses
[1] Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, “Put your belt on your waist, take this vial of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. [2] When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him rise up from among his brothers, and take him to an inner room. [3] Then take the vial of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, ‘Yahweh says, “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door, flee, and don’t wait.” [4] So the young man, even the young man, the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. [5] When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, “I have a message for you, captain.” Jehu said, “To which of us all?” He said, “To you, O captain.” …
2 Kings 9:1–37 — opening verses
[1] Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up 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 armor, [3] Select the best and fittest 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, “Behold, the two kings didn’t stand before him! How then shall we stand?” …
2 Kings 10:1–36 — opening verses
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
