International Standard Version

Hebrew Study Bible

1Meanwhile, Ahab had 70 sons who lived in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria—to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and the guardians of Ahab's children. He told them,

1וּלְאַחְאָ֛ב שִׁבְעִ֥ים בָּנִ֖ים בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן וַיִּכְתֹּב֩ יֵה֨וּא סְפָרִ֜ים וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח שֹׁמְר֗וֹן אֶל־ שָׂרֵ֤י יִזְרְעֶאל֙ הַזְּקֵנִ֔ים וְאֶל־ הָאֹמְנִ֥ים אַחְאָ֖ב לֵאמֹֽר׃

2"As soon as you receive this letter (since your master's children are with you, you have chariots and horses there with you, and you are protected by a walled city and weaponry),

2וְעַתָּ֗ה כְּבֹ֨א הַסֵּ֤פֶר הַזֶּה֙ אֲלֵיכֶ֔ם וְאִתְּכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֑ם וְאִתְּכֶם֙ הָרֶ֣כֶב וְהַסּוּסִ֔ים וְעִ֥יר מִבְצָ֖ר וְהַנָּֽשֶׁק׃

3select the best and most qualified of your master's sons, set him in place on his father's throne, and fight for your master's dynasty!"

3וּרְאִיתֶ֞ם הַטּ֤וֹב וְהַיָּשָׁר֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֔ם וְשַׂמְתֶּ֖ם עַל־ כִּסֵּ֣א אָבִ֑יו וְהִֽלָּחֲמ֖וּ עַל־ בֵּ֥ית אֲדֹנֵיכֶֽם׃

4But they were too terrified, and so they told one another, "Look! Two previous kings couldn't stand up to Jehu, so how can we?"

4וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ מְאֹ֣ד מְאֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ הִנֵּה֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הַמְּלָכִ֔ים לֹ֥א עָמְד֖וּ לְפָנָ֑יו וְאֵ֖יךְ נַעֲמֹ֥ד אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃

5So the household overseer and the city supervisor, along with the elders and the children's guardians, sent word to Jehu, telling him, "We will serve you and do everything you ask. We won't set up a king, so do what you want to do."

5וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֲשֶׁר־ עַל־ הַבַּ֣יִת וַאֲשֶׁ֪ר עַל־ הָעִ֟יר וְהַזְּקֵנִים֩ וְהָאֹמְנִ֨ים אֶל־ יֵה֤וּא ׀ לֵאמֹר֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־ תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלֵ֖ינוּ נַעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹֽא־ נַמְלִ֣יךְ אִ֔ישׁ הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃

6But Jehu wrote them another letter: "If you're loyal to me, and if you intend to obey my commands, then bring the heads of your master's sons and meet me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow." Now the king's sons, totaling 70 men, were living with the leading men of the city, who were their guardians.

6וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב אֲלֵיהֶם֩ סֵ֨פֶר ׀ שֵׁנִ֜ית לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־ לִ֨י אַתֶּ֜ם וּלְקֹלִ֣י ׀ אַתֶּ֣ם שֹׁמְעִ֗ים קְחוּ֙ אֶת־ רָאשֵׁי֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־ אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֹ֧אוּ אֵלַ֛י כָּעֵ֥ת מָחָ֖ר יִזְרְעֶ֑אלָה וּבְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ אֶת־ גְּדֹלֵ֥י הָעִ֖יר מְגַדְּלִ֥ים אוֹתָֽם׃

7When the letter from Jehu arrived, the city leaders arrested the king's sons, slaughtered all 70 of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

7וַיְהִ֗י כְּבֹ֤א הַסֵּ֙פֶר֙ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אֶת־ בְּנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽיִּשְׁחֲט֖וּ שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֑ישׁ וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ אֶת־ רָֽאשֵׁיהֶם֙ בַּדּוּדִ֔ים וַיִּשְׁלְח֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו יִזְרְעֶֽאלָה׃

8When the messenger arrived to report to the king, he said, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." Jehu replied, "Put them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning."

8וַיָּבֹ֤א הַמַּלְאָךְ֙ וַיַּגֶּד־ ל֣וֹ לֵאמֹ֔ר הֵבִ֖יאוּ רָאשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר שִׂ֣ימוּ אֹתָ֞ם שְׁנֵ֧י צִבֻּרִ֛ים פֶּ֥תַח הַשַּׁ֖עַר עַד־ הַבֹּֽקֶר׃

9The next morning, Jehu went out, stood still, and announced to all the people: "Are you righteous? I conspired against my master and killed him, but who slaughtered all of these?

9וַיְהִ֤י בַבֹּ֙קֶר֙ וַיֵּצֵ֣א וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ כָּל־ הָעָ֔ם צַדִּקִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם הִנֵּ֨ה אֲנִ֜י קָשַׁ֤רְתִּי עַל־ אֲדֹנִי֙ וָאֶהְרְגֵ֔הוּ וּמִ֥י הִכָּ֖ה אֶת־ כָּל־ אֵֽלֶּה׃

10Keep this in mind—not a single statement by the LORD will fail to come about that he spoke concerning Ahab's dynasty, because the LORD has accomplished what he predicted by his servant Elijah."

10דְּע֣וּ אֵפ֗וֹא כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יִפֹּ֜ל מִדְּבַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אַ֔רְצָה אֲשֶׁר־ דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה עַל־ בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֑ב וַיהוָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ה אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר בְּיַ֖ד עַבְדּ֥וֹ אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃

11So Jehu executed all those who remained from Ahab's dynasty in Jezreel, including all of Ahab's men, his friends, and his priests, until there remained not even one survivor.

11וַיַּ֣ךְ יֵה֗וּא אֵ֣ת כָּל־ הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֤ים לְבֵית־ אַחְאָב֙ בְּיִזְרְעֶ֔אל וְכָל־ גְּדֹלָ֖יו וּמְיֻדָּעָ֣יו וְכֹהֲנָ֑יו עַד־ בִּלְתִּ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר־ ל֖וֹ שָׂרִֽיד׃

12Then Jehu got up, left the city, and went to Samaria. When he arrived at the shearing house that was located on the way,

12וַיָּ֙קָם֙ וַיָּבֹ֔א וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמְר֑וֹן ה֛וּא בֵּֽית־ עֵ֥קֶד הָרֹעִ֖ים בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

13Jehu met up with the relatives of king Ahaziah of Judah. He asked them, "Who are you?" They answered, "We're Ahaziah's relatives, and we've come down to greet the king's sons and the sons of the queen mother."

13וְיֵה֗וּא מָצָא֙ אֶת־ אֲחֵי֙ אֲחַזְיָ֣הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִ֣י אַתֶּ֑ם וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ אֲחֵ֤י אֲחַזְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וַנֵּ֛רֶד לִשְׁל֥וֹם בְּנֵֽי־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וּבְנֵ֥י הַגְּבִירָֽה׃

14Jehu ordered, "Take them alive!" So Jehu's soldiers captured them and executed all 42 of them near the pit at the shearing house. He left none of them alive.

14וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֔ים וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֖וּם חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיִּשְׁחָט֞וּם אֶל־ בּ֣וֹר בֵּֽית־ עֵ֗קֶד אַרְבָּעִ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹֽא־ הִשְׁאִ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ מֵהֶֽם׃ ס

15After he left there, he encountered Rechab's son Jehonadab. After he greeted him, Jehu asked him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with yours?" "It is," Jehonadab answered. "If it is," Jehu replied, "Put out your hand." So Jehonadab stuck out his hand, and Jehu took him up to stand in his chariot.

15וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ מִשָּׁ֡ם וַיִּמְצָ֣א אֶת־ יְהוֹנָדָב֩ בֶּן־ רֵכָ֨ב לִקְרָאת֜וֹ וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֗הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו הֲיֵ֧שׁ אֶת־ לְבָבְךָ֣ יָשָׁ֗ר כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר לְבָבִי֙ עִם־ לְבָבֶ֔ךָ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָדָ֥ב יֵ֛שׁ וָיֵ֖שׁ תְּנָ֣ה אֶת־ יָדֶ֑ךָ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן יָד֔וֹ וַיַּעֲלֵ֥הוּ אֵלָ֖יו אֶל־ הַמֶּרְכָּבָֽה׃

16He told him, "Come with me and see my enthusiasm for the LORD!" So Jehu had Jehonadab ride in his chariot.

16וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְכָ֣ה אִתִּ֔י וּרְאֵ֖ה בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י לַיהוָ֑ה וַיַּרְכִּ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּרִכְבּֽוֹ׃

17When Jehu arrived in Samaria, he executed everyone who remained of Ahab's household in Samaria, until he had utterly destroyed Ahab in accordance with the message from the LORD that he spoke to Elijah.

17וַיָּבֹא֙ שֹֽׁמְר֔וֹן וַ֠יַּךְ אֶת־ כָּל־ הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֧ים לְאַחְאָ֛ב בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן עַד־ הִשְׁמִיד֑וֹ כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר אֶל־ אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ פ

18Then Jehu assembled all the people and announced to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot!

18וַיִּקְבֹּ֤ץ יֵהוּא֙ אֶת־ כָּל־ הָעָ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַחְאָ֕ב עָבַ֥ד אֶת־ הַבַּ֖עַל מְעָ֑ט יֵה֖וּא יַעַבְדֶ֥נּוּ הַרְבֵּֽה׃

19Therefore summon all of Baal's prophets to me, including all his worshipers and all his priests. Don't leave even one out, because I've prepared a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever doesn't show up doesn't live!" But Jehu did this deceptively, intending to destroy Baal's worshippers.

19וְעַתָּ֣ה כָל־ נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֡עַל כָּל־ עֹבְדָ֣יו וְכָל־ כֹּהֲנָיו֩ קִרְא֨וּ אֵלַ֜י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־ יִפָּקֵ֗ד כִּי֩ זֶ֨בַח גָּד֥וֹל לִי֙ לַבַּ֔עַל כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־ יִפָּקֵ֖ד לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶ֑ה וְיֵהוּא֙ עָשָׂ֣ה בְעָקְבָּ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן הַאֲבִ֖יד אֶת־ עֹבְדֵ֥י הַבָּֽעַל׃

20Jehu ordered, "Set aside a solemn assembly for Baal!" And so they proclaimed it.

20וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יֵה֗וּא קַדְּשׁ֧וּ עֲצָרָ֛ה לַבַּ֖עַל וַיִּקְרָֽאוּ׃

21Jehu sent the proclamation throughout Israel, and all the Baal worshipers came. There wasn't a single man left who failed to come. When they entered Baal's temple, it was filled from one end to the other.

21וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יֵהוּא֙ בְּכָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ כָּל־ עֹבְדֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל וְלֹֽא־ נִשְׁאַ֥ר אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־ בָ֑א וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיִּמָּלֵ֥א בֵית־ הַבַּ֖עַל פֶּ֥ה לָפֶֽה׃

22Then Jehu ordered the one in charge of the wardrobe, "Bring out garments for all of the worshipers of Baal." So he brought out garments for them.

22וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לַֽאֲשֶׁר֙ עַל־ הַמֶּלְתָּחָ֔ה הוֹצֵ֣א לְב֔וּשׁ לְכֹ֖ל עֹבְדֵ֣י הַבָּ֑עַל וַיֹּצֵ֥א לָהֶ֖ם הַמַּלְבּֽוּשׁ׃

23Jehu and Rechab's son Jehonadab entered Baal's temple, and Jehu told the Baal worshipers, "Look around and be sure that no servant of the LORD is here among you, but only worshipers of Baal."

23וַיָּבֹ֥א יֵה֛וּא וִיהוֹנָדָ֥ב בֶּן־ רֵכָ֖ב בֵּ֣ית הַבָּ֑עַל וַיֹּ֜אמֶר לְעֹבְדֵ֣י הַבַּ֗עַל חַפְּשׂ֤וּ וּרְאוּ֙ פֶּן־ יֶשׁ־ פֹּ֤ה עִמָּכֶם֙ מֵעַבְדֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה כִּ֛י אִם־ עֹבְדֵ֥י הַבַּ֖עַל לְבַדָּֽם׃

24Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Meanwhile, Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, ordering them, "If any of these men whom I've brought into your control escape, the one who allows it will forfeit his life."

24וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ לַעֲשׂ֖וֹת זְבָחִ֣ים וְעֹל֑וֹת וְיֵה֞וּא שָׂם־ ל֤וֹ בַחוּץ֙ שְׁמֹנִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הָאִ֤ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ יִמָּלֵט֙ מִן־ הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מֵבִ֣יא עַל־ יְדֵיכֶ֔ם נַפְשׁ֖וֹ תַּ֥חַת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

25As soon as he had completed the burnt offering, Jehu ordered the guards and the officers, "Go in and execute them. Don't let even one man escape." So they executed them with swords, and the guards and the officers threw the bodies out and proceeded into the inner room of Baal's temple,

25וַיְהִ֞י כְּכַלֹּת֣וֹ ׀ לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הָעֹלָ֗ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יֵ֠הוּא לָרָצִ֨ים וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁ֜ים בֹּ֤אוּ הַכּוּם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אַל־ יֵצֵ֔א וַיַּכּ֖וּם לְפִי־ חָ֑רֶב וַיַּשְׁלִ֗כוּ הָֽרָצִים֙ וְהַשָּׁ֣לִשִׁ֔ים וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ עַד־ עִ֥יר בֵּית־ הַבָּֽעַל׃

26from which they brought out the sacred pillars and burned them.

26וַיֹּצִ֛אוּ אֶת־ מַצְּב֥וֹת בֵּית־ הַבַּ֖עַל וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֽוּהָ׃

27They also cut down the pillar to Baal, tore apart Baal's temple, and turned it into a latrine—and it remains that way today.

27וַֽיִּתְּצ֔וּ אֵ֖ת מַצְּבַ֣ת הַבָּ֑עַל וַֽיִּתְּצוּ֙ אֶת־ בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיְשִׂמֻ֥הוּ [למחראות] (לְמֽוֹצָא֖וֹת) עַד־ הַיּֽוֹם׃

28That's how Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel.

28וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־ הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

29Even so, Jehu never abandoned the sins of Nebat's son Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, regarding the golden calves that were at Bethel and Dan.

29רַ֠ק חֲטָאֵ֞י יָרָבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־ נְבָט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱטִ֣יא אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹֽא־ סָ֥ר יֵה֖וּא מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם עֶגְלֵי֙ הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּֽית־ אֵ֖ל וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּדָֽן׃ ס

30Nevertheless, the LORD told Jehu, "Because you have done well in carrying out what I saw as the right thing to do by completing everything I had in mind regarding Ahab's dynasty, your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation."

30וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־ יֵה֗וּא יַ֤עַן אֲשֶׁר־ הֱטִיבֹ֙תָ֙ לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת הַיָּשָׁר֙ בְּעֵינַ֔י כְּכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בִּלְבָבִ֔י עָשִׂ֖יתָ לְבֵ֣ית אַחְאָ֑ב בְּנֵ֣י רְבִעִ֔ים יֵשְׁב֥וּ לְךָ֖ עַל־ כִּסֵּ֥א יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

31But Jehu did not remain careful to walk in the instruction of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart. He never abandoned the sins of Jeroboam that had caused Israel to sin.

31וְיֵה֗וּא לֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ר לָלֶ֛כֶת בְּתֽוֹרַת־ יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־ לְבָב֑וֹ לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מֵעַל֙ חַטֹּ֣אות יָֽרָבְעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

32In those days, the LORD began to reduce Israel in size: Hazael defeated them throughout the territory of Israel,

32בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם הֵחֵ֣ל יְהוָ֔ה לְקַצּ֖וֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּכֵּ֥ם חֲזָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־ גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

33from the Jordan River eastward, all the territory of Gilead, the descendants of Gad, the descendants of Reuben, and the descendants of Manasseh, from Aroer by the Valley of the Arnon, including Gilead and Bashan.

33מִן־ הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִזְרַ֣ח הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ אֵ֚ת כָּל־ אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֔ד הַגָּדִ֥י וְהָרֻאובֵנִ֖י וְהַֽמְנַשִּׁ֑י מֵעֲרֹעֵר֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ נַ֣חַל אַרְנֹ֔ן וְהַגִּלְעָ֖ד וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃

34Now as to the rest of Jehu's activities, including his valiant deeds, they are recorded in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel, are they not?

34וְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֵה֛וּא וְכָל־ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה וְכָל־ גְּבוּרָת֑וֹ הֲלֽוֹא־ הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־ סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

35Then Jehu died, as did his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz reigned in his place.

35וַיִּשְׁכַּ֤ב יֵהוּא֙ עִם־ אֲבֹתָ֔יו וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּשֹׁמְר֑וֹן וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ יְהוֹאָחָ֥ז בְּנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃

36Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.

36וְהַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָלַ֤ךְ יֵהוּא֙ עַל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּשְׁמֹנֶֽה־ שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ פ

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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