Jehu's Rise and the Fall of Ahab's House

Ahaziah began to reign in Judah and followed the pattern of Ahab's house, doing evil in Yahweh's sight. He joined Joram king of Israel in war against Hazael of Syria at Ramoth Gilead, where Joram was wounded. Joram returned to Jezreel to recover, and Ahaziah went there to visit him.

While Joram was recovering, Elisha sent a young prophet to Ramoth Gilead with oil for Jehu. In a private room he anointed Jehu king over Israel and announced Yahweh's judgment on Ahab's house, including Jezebel, because of the blood of Yahweh's servants. When Jehu told the officers, they spread their cloaks, blew the trumpet, and proclaimed him king.

Jehu rode to Jezreel. Joram and Ahaziah went out in their chariots to meet him on the land of Naboth. There Jehu killed Joram and ordered his body thrown onto Naboth's field, recalling Yahweh's word about Naboth's blood. Ahaziah fled by the way of the garden house. He was struck in his chariot, reached Megiddo, died there, and was buried in Jerusalem.

Jehu then entered Jezreel. Jezebel looked out from a window, and when Jehu called for support, her own eunuchs threw her down. Later Jehu said this fulfilled Yahweh's word spoken by Elijah. Jehu also sent letters concerning Ahab's seventy sons, and the officials and guardians killed them. He declared that Yahweh's word against Ahab's house had not failed.

The bloodshed continued. Jehu wiped out those remaining from Ahab's house in Jezreel and Samaria, and he killed forty-two relatives of Ahaziah on the road. He then trapped the worshipers of Baal, destroyed them, and tore down Baal's temple. Yet Jehu was not fully faithful. He kept the sins of Jeroboam, and in his days Hazael began to take parts of Israel, though Jehu's dynasty was promised four generations.