2 Kings Chapter 10 to 11 : Easy-to-Read Version  | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

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Jehu Writes the Leaders of Samaria

10 Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the rulers and leaders of Jezreel. He also sent the letters to the people that raised Ahab’s sons. {In the letters Jehu} said, 2–3“As soon as you get this letter, choose the person that is the best and most worthy among your father’s sons. You have chariots* and horses. And you are living in a strong city. You also have weapons. Put the son you choose on his father’s throne. Then fight for your father’s family.” 4But the rulers and leaders of Jezreel were very much afraid. They said, “The two kings (Joram and Ahaziah) could not stop Jehu. So we can’t stop him either!” 5The man that took care of Ahab’s house, the man that controlled the city, the elders, and the people who raised {Ahab’s children} sent a message to Jehu. “We are your servants. We will do anything you tell us. We will not make any man king. Do what you think is good.”

Leaders of Samaria Kill Ahab’s Children

6Then Jehu wrote a second letter to these leaders. Jehu said, “If you support me and obey me, then cut off the heads of Ahab’s sons. And bring them to me at Jezreel about this time tomorrow. Ahab had 70 sons. They were with the leaders of the city that raised them. 7When the leaders of the city received the letter, they took the king’s sons and killed all 70 of them. Then the leaders put the heads of the king’s sons in baskets. They sent the baskets to Jehu at Jezreel. 8The messenger came to Jehu and told him, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons!” Then Jehu said, “Lay the heads in two piles at the city gate until morning.” 9In the morning, Jehu went out and stood before the people. He said to the people, “You are innocent. Look, I made plans against my master. I killed him. But who killed all these sons of Ahab? You killed them! 10You should know that everything the Lord says will happen. And the Lord used Elijah to say these things about Ahab’s family. Now the Lord has done the things he said he would do.” 11So Jehu killed all the people in Ahab’s family living in Jezreel. Jehu killed all the important men, close friends, and priests. None of Ahab’s people were left alive.

Jehu Kills Ahaziah’s Relatives

12Jehu left Jezreel and went to Samaria. On the way, Jehu stopped at a place called Shepherd’s Camp, {where the shepherds cut wool from their sheep}. 13Jehu met with the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said {to them}, “Who are you?” They answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah, king of Judah. We have come down to visit the king’s children and the queen mother’s* children. 14Then Jehu said {to his men}, “Take them alive!” Jehu’s men captured Ahaziah’s relatives alive. There were 42 people. Jehu killed them at the well near Beth Eked. Jehu did not leave any person alive.

Jehu Meets Jehonadab

15After Jehu left there, he met Jehonadab son of Recab. Jehonadab was on his way to meet Jehu. Jehu greeted Jehonadab and said to him, “Are you a faithful friend to me, as I am to you?*” Jehonadab answered, “Yes, I am a faithful friend to you.” Jehu said, “If you are, then give me your hand.” Then Jehu reached out and pulled Jehonadab up into the chariot.* 16Jehu said, “Come with me. You can see how strong my feelings are for the Lord.” So Jehonadab rode in Jehu’s chariot.* 17Jehu came to Samaria and killed all Ahab’s family that were still alive in Samaria. Jehu killed them all. Jehu did the things that the Lord had told Elijah.

Jehu Calls the Worshipers of Baal

18Then Jehu gathered all the people together. Jehu said to them, “Ahab served Baal a little. But Jehu will serve Baal much! 19Now call together all the priests and prophets of Baal. And call together all the people that worship Baal. Don’t let any person miss this meeting. I have a great sacrifice to give to Baal. I will kill any person that doesn’t come to this meeting!” But Jehu was tricking them. Jehu wanted to destroy the worshipers of Baal. 20Jehu said, “Prepare a holy meeting for Baal.” And the priests announced the meeting. 21Then Jehu sent a message through all the land of Israel. All the worshipers of Baal came. There was not a person that stayed home. The Baal worshipers came into the temple* of Baal. The temple was filled with people. 22Jehu said to the man that kept the robes, “Bring out the robes for all the worshipers of Baal.” So that man brought out the robes for the Baal worshipers. 23Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Recab went into the temple* of Baal. Jehu said to the worshipers of Baal, “Look around and be sure that there are no servants of the Lord with you. Be sure there are only people that worship Baal.” 24The worshipers of Baal went into the temple of Baal to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. But outside, Jehu had 80 men waiting. Jehu told them, “Don’t let any of the people escape. If any man lets one person escape, then that man must pay with his own life. 25Quickly after Jehu had finished offering the burnt offering, he said to the guards and to the captains, “Go in and kill the worshipers of Baal! Don’t let any person come out of the temple alive!” So the captains used thin swords and killed the worshipers of Baal. The guards and the captains threw the bodies of the worshipers of Baal out. Then the guards and the captains went to the inner room* of the temple* of Baal. 26They brought out the memorial stones* that were in the temple of Baal and burned the temple. 27Then they smashed the memorial stones of Baal. They also smashed the temple of Baal. They made the temple of Baal into a restroom. People still use that place as a toilet. 28So Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. 29But Jehu did not completely turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin. Jehu did not destroy the golden calves in Bethel and in Dan.

Jehu’s Rule Over Israel

30The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have done the things that I say are good. You destroyed Ahab’s family the way I wanted you to. So your descendants* will rule Israel for four generations.” 31But Jehu was not careful to live in the law of the Lord with all his heart. Jehu did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam that caused Israel to sin.

Hazael Defeats Israel

32At that time, the Lord began to cut parts from Israel. Hazael king of Aram defeated the Israelites on every border of Israel. 33Hazael won the land east of the Jordan River—all the land of Gilead, including the land that belonged to the family groups of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh. Hazael won all the land from Aroer by the Arnon Valley to Gilead and Bashan.

The Death of Jehu

34All the other great things that Jehu did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel. 35Jehu died and was buried with his ancestors.* The people buried Jehu in Samaria. Jehu’s son Jehoahaz became the new king of Israel after him. 36Jehu ruled over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.

chariot(s) A small wagon used in war. queen mother The mother of the king. Are you a faithful friend … you Literally, “Is your heart true to me? My heart is true to your heart.” chariot(s) A small wagon used in war. temple Here this means the building where people went to worship Baal. inner room Literally, “The city of the temple of Baal.” memorial stones Stones that were set up to help people remember something special. In ancient Israel, people often set up stones as special places to worship false gods.  descendants A person’s children and all of their future families. ancestors Literally, “fathers.” This means a person’s parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from.


Athaliah Kills the King’s Sons in Judah

11 Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother. She saw that her son was dead, so she got up and killed all the king’s family. 2Jehosheba was King Joram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister. Joash was one of the king’s sons. Jehosheba took Joash while the other children were being killed. Jehosheba hid Joash. She put Joash and his nurse in her bedroom. So Jehosheba and the nurse hid Joash from Athaliah. That way Joash was not killed. 3Then Joash and Jehosheba hid in the Lord’s temple.* Joash hid there for six years. And Athaliah ruled over the land of Judah. 4In the seventh year, Jehoiada {the high priest} sent and got the captains of the Carites* and guards.* Jehoiada brought them together in the Lord’s temple.* Then Jehoiada made an agreement with them. In the temple Jehoiada forced them to make a promise. Then he showed the king’s son (Joash) to them. 5Then Jehoiada gave them a command. He said, “This is the thing you must do. One third of you must come in at the start of each Sabbath day. You men will protect the king at his house. 6Another third of you will be at the Sur Gate. And another third will be at the gate behind the guard. This way you will be like a wall protecting Joash. 7At the end of each Sabbath day, two-thirds of you will guard the Lord’s temple and protect King Joash. 8You must stay with King Joash any time he goes any place. The whole group must surround the king. Each guard must have his weapon in his hand. And you must kill any person that comes too close to you.” 9The captains obeyed all the things that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each captain took his men. One group was to guard the king on Saturday. And the other groups were to guard the king during the rest of the week. All those men went to Jehoiada the priest. 10And the priest gave spears and shields to the captains. These were the spears and shields David put in the Lord’s temple.* 11These guards stood with their weapons in their hands from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple. They stood around the altar* and the temple and around the king when he went to the temple. 12These men brought out Joash. They put the crown on Joash and gave him the agreement between the king and God.* Then they anointed* him and made him the new king. They clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” 13Queen Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people. So she went to the people at the Lord’s temple. 14Athaliah saw the king by the column where the king usually stood. She also saw the leaders and men playing the trumpets for the king. She saw that all the people were very happy. She heard the trumpets, and she tore her clothes {to show she was upset}. Then Athaliah shouted, “Treason! Treason!” 15Jehoiada the priest gave a command to the captains that were in charge of the soldiers. Jehoiada told them, “Take Athaliah outside of the temple area. Kill any of her followers. But don’t kill them in the Lord’s temple.” 16So the soldiers grabbed Athaliah. They killed her as soon as she went through the horse’s entrance to the palace. 17Then Jehoiada made the agreement between the Lord and the king and the people. This agreement showed that the king and the people belonged to the Lord. Jehoiada also made the agreement between the king and the people. {This agreement showed what the king would do for the people. And it showed that the people would obey and follow the king.} 18Then all the people went to the temple of {the false god} Baal. The people destroyed the statue of Baal, and they destroyed his altars.* They broke them into many, many pieces. The people also killed Baal’s priest, Mattan, in front of the altars. So {Jehoiada} the priest put men in charge of maintaining the Lord’s temple. 19The priest led all the people. They went from the Lord’s temple to the king’s house. The king’s special guards and the captains went with the king. And all the other people followed them. They went to the entrance to the king’s house. Then King Joash sat on the throne. 20All the people were happy. The city was peaceful. And Queen Athaliah was killed with a sword near the king’s house. 21Joash was seven years old when he became the king.

temple A special building for worshiping God. God commanded the Jews to worship him at the temple in Jerusalem. Carites Or, “Kerethites,” special soldiers hired to serve the king. guards Literally, “runners” or “messengers.” altar(s) A stone table used for burning sacrifices offered as gifts to God. agreement between the king and God This was probably the promise the king made to serve God. See verse 17 and 1 Sam. 10:25. anoint(ed) To pour olive oil on a person’s head to show he was chosen by God to be a king, priest, or prophet.

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