2 Kings 10 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Judgment upon Ahab’s House

10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in (A)Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the officials of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying, 2 “And now, (B)when this letter comes to you, since your master’s sons are with you, [a]as well as the chariots and horses, and a fortified city and the weapons, 3 select the best and most capable of your master’s sons and seat him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.” 4 But they feared greatly and said, “Behold, (C)the two kings did not stand firm before him; how then can we stand?” 5 And the one who was in charge of the household, and the one who was in charge of the city, and the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, “(D)We are your servants, and everything that you tell us we will do. We will not appoint any man king; do what is good in your sight.” 6 Then he wrote them a letter a second time, saying, “If you are on my side, and will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master’s sons, and come to me at Jezreel about this time tomorrow.” Now the king’s sons, seventy men, were with the great people of the city, who were raising them. 7 When the letter came to them, they took the king’s sons and (E)slaughtered them, seventy men, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel. 8 When the messenger came and informed him, saying, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons,” he said, “Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.” 9 Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, “You are [b]innocent; behold, (F)I conspired against my master and killed him, but (G)who [c]killed all these? 10 Know then that (H)nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, shall [d]fall to the earth, for the Lord has done (I)what He spoke [e]through His servant Elijah.” 11 So Jehu [f]killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in (J)Jezreel, and all his great men, his acquaintances, and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.

12 Then he set out and [g]went to Samaria. On the way while he was at [h]Beth-eked of the shepherds, 13 (K)Jehu [i]encountered the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and he said, “Who are you?” And they [j]answered, “We are the relatives of Ahaziah; and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.” 14 Then he said, “Take them alive.” So they took them alive, and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two men; and he left none of them.

15 Now when he had gone from there, he [k]encountered (L)Jehonadab the son of (M)Rechab coming to meet him; and he [l]greeted him and said to him, “Is your heart right, just as my heart is with your heart?” And Jehonadab [m]answered, “It is.” Jehu said, “If it is, (N)give me your hand.” And he gave him his hand, and he pulled him up to him into the chariot. 16 Then he said, “Come with me and (O)see my zeal for the Lord.” So [n]he had him ride in his chariot. 17 When he came to Samaria, (P)he [o]killed all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had eliminated [p]them, (Q)in accordance with the word of the Lord which He spoke to Elijah.

Jehu Destroys Baal Worshipers

18 Then Jehu gathered all the people and said to them, “(R)Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much. 19 Now, (S)summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests; let no one go missing, because I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it in deception, in order to eliminate the worshipers of Baal. 20 And Jehu said, “(T)Proclaim a holy assembly for Baal.” And (U)they proclaimed it. 21 Then Jehu sent word [q]throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a person left who did not come. And when they entered (V)the house of Baal, the house of Baal was filled from one end to the other. 22 And he said to the one who was [r]in charge of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the worshipers of Baal.” So he brought out the garments for them. 23 Then Jehu entered the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab; and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search carefully and see to it that there is here with you none of the servants of the Lord, but only the worshipers of Baal.” 24 Then they entered to [s]offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.

Now Jehu had stationed for himself eighty men outside, and he had said, “(W)The one who allows any of the men whom I bring into your hands to escape [t]shall give up his life in exchange.”

25 Then it came about, as soon as he had finished [u]offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the [v](X)guard and to the royal officers, “(Y)Go in, [w]kill them; let none come out.” So they [x]killed them with the edge of the sword; and the [y]guard and the royal officers threw them out, and went to the [z]sanctuary of the house of Baal. 26 They brought out the (Z)memorial stones of the house of Baal and burned them. 27 They also tore down the memorial stone of Baal and tore down the house of Baal, and (AA)made it a latrine as it is to this day.

28 So Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel. 29 However, (AB)as for the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, into which he misled Israel, from these Jehu did not desist, including the (AC)golden calves that were at Bethel and at Dan. 30 Yet the Lord said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in performing what is right in My eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab in accordance with everything that was in My heart, (AD)your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.” 31 But Jehu (AE)was not careful to walk in the Law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart; (AF)he did not desist from the sins of Jeroboam, into which he misled Israel.

32 In those days the (AG)Lord began to cut off pieces from Israel; and (AH)Hazael [aa]defeated them throughout the territory of Israel: 33 from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites; from (AI)Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, that is, (AJ)Gilead and Bashan.

Jehoahaz Succeeds Jehu

34 Now as for the rest of the acts of Jehu and everything that he did and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 35 And Jehu [ab]lay down with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And his son Jehoahaz became king in his place. 36 So the [ac]time which Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 10:2 Lit and with you the
  2. 2 Kings 10:9 Lit righteous
  3. 2 Kings 10:9 Lit struck
  4. 2 Kings 10:10 I.e., fail to come true
  5. 2 Kings 10:10 Lit by the hand of
  6. 2 Kings 10:11 Lit struck
  7. 2 Kings 10:12 Lit came in and went
  8. 2 Kings 10:12 I.e., house of binding
  9. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit found
  10. 2 Kings 10:13 Lit said
  11. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit found
  12. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit blessed
  13. 2 Kings 10:15 Lit said
  14. 2 Kings 10:16 Lit they
  15. 2 Kings 10:17 Lit struck
  16. 2 Kings 10:17 Lit him
  17. 2 Kings 10:21 Lit in all
  18. 2 Kings 10:22 Lit over the
  19. 2 Kings 10:24 Lit make
  20. 2 Kings 10:24 Lit his soul for his soul
  21. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit making
  22. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit runners
  23. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit strike
  24. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit struck
  25. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit runners
  26. 2 Kings 10:25 Lit city
  27. 2 Kings 10:32 Lit struck
  28. 2 Kings 10:35 I.e., died
  29. 2 Kings 10:36 Lit days

Cross references

  1. 2 Kings 10:1 : 1 Kin 16:24-29
  2. 2 Kings 10:2 : 2 Kin 5:6
  3. 2 Kings 10:4 : 2 Kin 9:24, 27
  4. 2 Kings 10:5 : Josh 9:8, 11; 1 Kin 20:4, 32; 2 Kin 18:14
  5. 2 Kings 10:7 : Judg 9:5; 2 Kin 11:1
  6. 2 Kings 10:9 : 2 Kin 9:14-24
  7. 2 Kings 10:9 : 2 Kin 10:6
  8. 2 Kings 10:10 : 2 Kin 9:7-10
  9. 2 Kings 10:10 : 1 Kin 21:19-29
  10. 2 Kings 10:11 : Hos 1:4
  11. 2 Kings 10:13 : 2 Kin 8:24, 29; 2 Chr 21:17; 22:8
  12. 2 Kings 10:15 : Jer 35:6-19
  13. 2 Kings 10:15 : 1 Chr 2:55
  14. 2 Kings 10:15 : Ezra 10:19; Ezek 17:18
  15. 2 Kings 10:16 : 1 Kin 19:10
  16. 2 Kings 10:17 : 2 Kin 9:8
  17. 2 Kings 10:17 : 2 Kin 10:10
  18. 2 Kings 10:18 : 1 Kin 16:31, 32
  19. 2 Kings 10:19 : 1 Kin 18:19; 22:6
  20. 2 Kings 10:20 : Joel 1:14
  21. 2 Kings 10:20 : Ex 32:4-6
  22. 2 Kings 10:21 : 1 Kin 16:32; 2 Kin 11:18
  23. 2 Kings 10:24 : 1 Kin 20:30-42
  24. 2 Kings 10:25 : 1 Sam 22:17
  25. 2 Kings 10:25 : 1 Kin 18:40
  26. 2 Kings 10:26 : 1 Kin 14:23; 2 Kin 3:2
  27. 2 Kings 10:27 : Ezra 6:11; Dan 2:5; 3:29
  28. 2 Kings 10:29 : 1 Kin 12:28-30; 13:33, 34
  29. 2 Kings 10:29 : 1 Kin 12:29
  30. 2 Kings 10:30 : 2 Kin 15:12
  31. 2 Kings 10:31 : Prov 4:23
  32. 2 Kings 10:31 : 2 Kin 10:29
  33. 2 Kings 10:32 : 2 Kin 13:25; 14:25
  34. 2 Kings 10:32 : 1 Kin 19:17; 2 Kin 8:12; 13:22
  35. 2 Kings 10:33 : Deut 2:36
  36. 2 Kings 10:33 : Amos 1:3-5

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10 And Ahab hath seventy sons in Samaria, and Jehu writeth letters, and sendeth to Samaria, unto the heads of Jezreel, the elders, and unto the supporters of Ahab, saying, 2 `And now, at the coming in of this letter unto you, and with you [are] sons of your lord, and with you [are] the chariots and ...
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2 Kings 10 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

10 Forsooth seventy sons in Samaria were to Ahab. Therefore Jehu wrote letters, and sent into Samaria to the best men of the city, and to the greater men in birth, and to all the nurses of the sons of Ahab, and said, (Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And so Jehu wrote letters, and sent them to ...
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2 Kings 10 - World English Bible (WEB)

10 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 fortif...
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2 Kings 10 - The Voice (VOICE)

10 Ahab had many sons in Samaria—70 in all. This is how Jehu got the best of them:Jehu wrote many letters to Samaria—to the leaders in Jezreel, the elders, as well as the caretakers of Ahab’s children. Jehu’s Letter: 2 When you receive this letter, you will be in the company of Ahab’s sons; and at y...
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2 Kings 10 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Jehu Destroys Ahab’s Sons and Baal Worshippers10 Now Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab’s sons, saying: 2 “Now as soon as this letter reaches you—since your master’s sons are with you, and you ...
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2 Kings 10 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Massacre of Ahab’s Descendants10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samar′ia. So Jehu wrote letters, and sent them to Samar′ia, to the rulers of the city,[a] to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying, 2 “Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are wi...
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2 Kings 10 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Massacre of Ahab’s Descendants10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samar′ia. So Jehu wrote letters, and sent them to Samar′ia, to the rulers of the city,[a] to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying, 2 “Now then, as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master’s sons are wi...
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2 Kings 10 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Massacre of Ahab’s Descendants10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel,[a] to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of[b] Ahab, saying, 2 ‘Since your master’s sons are with you and you have at your disposal chariots and...
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2 Kings 10 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Massacre of Ahab’s Descendants10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of the city,[a] to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of[b] Ahab, saying,(A)2 “Since your master’s sons are with you and you have at your disposal chariots a...
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2 Kings 10 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Jehu Kills Ahab’s Family10 Ahab had seventy sons living in the city of Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of the city,[a] and to the guardians of King Ahab’s sons. He said, 2 “The king’s sons are with you, and you have at your disposal chariots, hors...
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2 Kings 10 - New Life Version (NLV)

Ahab’s Seventy Sons Are Killed10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters. He sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, to the leaders, and to those who took care of Ahab’s children. He said, 2 “Now your owner’s sons are with you. And you have war-wagons, and horses, and a ...
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2 Kings 10 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Ahab’s Seventy Sons Killed10 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote and sent letters to Samaria, to the rulers of [a]Jezreel, to the elders, and to [b]those who reared 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 ch...
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2 Kings 10 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Ahab’s family killed10 Now there were in Samaria seventy sons of the house of Ahab. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria: to the officials of Jezreel,[a] to the elders and to the guardians of Ahab’s children. He said, 2 ‘You have your master’s sons with you and you have chariots and horse...
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2 Kings 10 - New International Version (NIV)

Ahab’s Family Killed10 Now there were in Samaria(A) seventy sons(B) of the house of Ahab. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria: to the officials of Jezreel,[a](C) to the elders and to the guardians(D) of Ahab’s children. He said, 2 “You have your master’s sons with you and you have chariot...
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2 Kings 10 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Royal House10 Ahab’s royal family in the city of Samaria had a total of 70 sons. Jehu wrote some letters to the officials of the city. He also sent them to the elders there. And he sent them to the people who took care of Ahab’s children. Jehu said, 2 “Your master’s sons are w...
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2 Kings 10 - New English Translation (NET)

Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Family10 Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab’s dynasty. This is what the letters said,[a] 2 “You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a f...
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