1
Now Ahab had seventysons in Samaria. And Jehuwroteletters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying,
5
And the one who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders, and the guardians of the children, sent word to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, all that you say to us we will do, we will not makeanymanking; dowhat is good in your sight."
6
Then he wrote a letter to them a secondtimesaying, "If you are on my side, and you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men, your master'ssons, and come to me at Jezreeltomorrow about this time." Now the king'ssons, seventypersons, were with the greatmen of the city, who were rearing them.
7
When the lettercame to them, they took the king'ssons and slaughtered them, seventypersons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel.
8
When the messengercame and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king'ssons," he said, "Put them in twoheaps at the entrance of the gateuntilmorning."
9
Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, "You are innocent; behold, I conspiredagainst my master and killed him, but whokilledallthese?
10
"Knowthen that there shall fall to the earthnothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORDspokeconcerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has donewhat He spokethrough His servantElijah."
11
So Jehukilledall who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his greatmen and his acquaintances and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.
13
Jehumet the relatives of Ahaziahking of Judah and said, "Who are you?" And they answered, "We are the relatives of Ahaziah; and we have comedown to greet the sons of the king and the sons of the queenmother."
15
Now when he had departed from there, he metJehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him; and he greeted him and said to him, "Is your heartright, as my heart is with your heart?" And Jehonadabanswered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.
17
When he came to Samaria, he killedall who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of the LORDwhich He spoke to Elijah.