Jehu Reigns over Israel

1Now Elisha the prophet summoned one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “[a]Get ready and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. 2When you arrive there, then look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and have him get up from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room. 3Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, ‘This is what the LORD says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’ Then open the door and flee, and do not wait.”

4So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead. 5When he arrived, behold, the commanders of the army were sitting, and he said, “I have a word for you, commander.” And Jehu said, “[b]For which one of us?” And he said, “For you, commander.” 6He then got up and went into the house, and the prophet’s servant poured the oil on his head and said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel. 7And you shall strike the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel. 8For the entire house of Ahab shall perish, and I will eliminate from Ahab every male person both [c]slave and free in Israel. 9I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah. 10The dogs will eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’” Then he opened the door and fled.

11Now Jehu went out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “Is everything well? Why did this crazy fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know very well the man and his talk.” 12And they said, “It is a lie; tell us now.” And he said, “Such and such he said to me, saying, ‘This is what the LORD says: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’” 13Then they hurried, and each man took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, “Jehu is king!”

Jehu Assassinates Jehoram (Joram)

14So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Now Joram [d]with all Israel was [e]defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15but King [f]Joram had returned to Jezreel to have himself healed of the wounds which the Arameans had [g]inflicted on him when he fought Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said to the other men, “If this is your [h]intent, then let no [i]one escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel.” 16Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, since Joram was lying there recovering. And Ahaziah the king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

17Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the [j]company of Jehu as he came, and he said, “I see a [k]company.” And [l]Joram said, “Take a horseman and send him to meet them and have him [m]ask, ‘Is your intention peace?’” 18So a horseman went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is your intention peace?’” But Jehu said, “[n]How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” And the watchman [o]reported, “The messenger came to them, but he did not return.” 19Then he sent a second horseman, and he came to them and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Is your intention peace?’” And Jehu [p]answered, “[q]How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me.” 20And the watchman [r]reported, “He came up to them, but he did not return; and the [s]driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”

21Then [t]Joram said, “[u]Get ready.” And they [v]made his chariot ready. Then [w]Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu and found him on the [x]property of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22When [y]Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is your intention peace, Jehu?” And he [z]answered, “What ‘peace,’ so long as your mother Jezebel’s acts of prostitution and witchcraft are so many?” 23So [aa]Joram [ab]turned back and fled, and he said to Ahaziah, “There is treachery, Ahaziah!” 24Then Jehu [ac]drew his bow with his full strength and [ad]shot [ae]Joram between his arms; and the arrow went [af]through his heart, and he sank in his chariot. 25And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, “Pick him up and throw him on the [ag]property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when [ah]you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the LORD brought this pronouncement against him: 26‘I have certainly seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will repay you on this [ai]property,’ declares the LORD. Now then, pick him up and throw him on the [aj]property, in accordance with the word of the LORD.”

Jehu Assassinates Ahaziah

27When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by way of the garden house. But Jehu pursued him and said, “[ak]Shoot him too, in the chariot.” So they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is at Ibleam. But he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28Then his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his grave with his fathers in the city of David.

29Now in the eleventh year of Joram, the son of Ahab, Ahaziah became king over Judah.

30When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, and she put makeup on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked down through the window. 31As Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is your intention peace, Zimri, his master’s murderer?” 32Then he raised his face toward the window and said, “Who is with me, who?” And two or three officials looked down at him.

Jezebel Is Killed