1 Now Ahab had seventysons in 1Samaria. And Jehuwroteletters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, the elders, and to the guardians of the children of Ahab, saying,
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"Now, 2when thislettercomes to you, since your master'ssons are with you, as well as the chariots and horses and a fortifiedcity and the weapons,
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select the best and fittest of your master'ssons, and set him on his father'sthrone, and fight for your master'shouse."
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But they fearedgreatly and said, "Behold, 3the twokings did not standbefore him; how then can we stand?"
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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, "4We are your servants, all that you say to us we will do, we will not makeanymanking; dowhat is good in your sight."
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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.
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When the lettercame to them, they took the king'ssons and 5slaughtered them, seventypersons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him at Jezreel.
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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."
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Now in the morning he went out and stood and said to all the people, "You are innocent; behold, 6I conspiredagainst my master and killed him, but 7whokilledallthese?
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"Knowthen that 8there shall fall to the earthnothing of the word of the LORD, which the LORDspokeconcerning the house of Ahab, for the LORD has done9what He spokethrough His servantElijah."
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So Jehukilledall who remained of the house of Ahab in 10Jezreel, and all his greatmen and his acquaintances and his priests, until he left him without a survivor.
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Then he arose and departed and went to Samaria. On the way while he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds,
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11Jehumet 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."
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He said, "Take them alive." So they took them alive and killed them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two*men; and he leftnone* of them.
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Now when he had departed from there, he met12Jehonadab the son of 13Rechab 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, 14give me your hand." And he gave him his hand, and he took him up to him into the chariot.
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He said, "Come with me and 15see my zeal for the LORD." So he made him ride in his chariot.
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When he came to Samaria, 16he killedall who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, 17according to the word of the LORDwhich He spoke to Elijah.