2 Kings 10

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 There were seventy of Ahab's sons in Samaria. Jehu sent to Samaria, to the authorities of the city, tothe elders and to the guardians of Ahab's children. He said,	1 Ahab had seventy descendants in Samaria. Jehu prepared letters and sent them to the city rulers, to the elders, and to the guardians of Ahab's descendants in Samaria.
2 'Now, when this letter reaches you, you have your master's sons with you; you also have chariots andhorses, a fortified city and weapons.	2 "Since your master's sons are with you," he wrote, "and you have the chariots, the horses, a fortified city, and the weapons, when this letter reaches you
3 See which of your master's sons is the best and worthiest, put him on his father's throne and fight for your master's dynasty!'	3 decide which is the best and the fittest of your master's offspring, place him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."
4 They were utterly terrified. 'We have seen how the two kings could not stand up to him,' they said, 'sohow could we?'	4 They were overcome with fright and said, "If two kings could not withstand him, how can we?"
5 Consequently the master of the palace, the governor of the city, the elders and the guardians sentword to Jehu, 'We are your servants. We shal do whatever you order us. We shall not proclaim a king; act asyou think best.'	5 So the vizier and the ruler of the city, along with the elders and the guardians, sent this message to Jehu: "We are your servants, and we will do everything you tell us. We will proclaim no one king; do whatever you think best."
6 Jehu then wrote them a second letter. He said, 'If you are for me and if you are prepared to acceptorders from me, take the heads of the men of your master's family and come to me at Jezreel by this timetomorrow.' (There were seventy of Ahab's sons being educated there by the leading men of the city.)	6 So Jehu wrote them a second letter: "If you are on my side and will obey me, count the heads of your master's sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow." (The seventy princes were in the care of prominent men of the city, who were rearing them.)
7 When this letter reached them, they took the king's sons and butchered al seventy of them, put theirheads in baskets and sent them to him at Jezreel.	7 When the letter arrived, they took the princes and slew all seventy of them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.
8 The messenger came and told Jehu, 'They have brought the heads of the king's sons.' 'Leave them intwo heaps at the entrance to the gate until morning,' he replied.	8 "They have brought the heads of the princes," a messenger came in and told him. "Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the city until morning," he ordered.
9 When morning came, he went out and, standing, said to all the people, 'No guilt attaches to you! I didindeed plot against my master and have kil ed him; but what about al these? Who struck them?	9 Going out in the morning, he stopped and said to all the people: "You are not responsible, and although I conspired against my lord and slew him, yet who killed all these?
10 Know, then, that nothing will fail to be fulfil ed of the prophecy uttered by Yahweh against the Houseof Ahab; Yahweh has done what he said through his servant Elijah.'	10 Know that not a single word which the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab shall go unfulfilled. The LORD has accomplished all that he foretold through his servant Elijah."
11 Jehu then kil ed every member of the House of Ahab surviving in Jezreel, all his leading men, hisclose friends, his priests; he did not leave a single one alive.	11 Thereupon Jehu slew all who were left of the family of Ahab in Jezreel, as well as all his powerful supporters, intimates, and priests, leaving him no survivor.
12 Jehu then set out for Samaria. As he was on his way, at Beth-Eked of the Shepherds,	12 Then he set out for Samaria, and at Beth-eked-haroim on the way,
13 he met the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah. 'Who are you?' he asked. 'We are Ahaziah's brothers,'they replied, 'and we are on our way to pay our respects to the king's sons and the queen mother's sons.'	13 he came across kinsmen of Ahaziah, king of Judah. "Who are you?" he asked. "We are kinsmen of Ahaziah," they replied. "We are going down to visit the princes and the family of the queen mother."
14 'Take them alive,' he said. They took them alive, and he slaughtered them at the storage-wel of Beth-Eked, forty-two of them; he did not spare a single one.	14 "Take them alive," Jehu ordered. They were taken alive, forty-two in number, then slain at the pit of Beth-eked. Not one of them was spared.
15 Leaving there, he came on Jehonadab son of Rechab who was on his way to meet him. He greetedhim and said, 'Is your heart true to mine, as my heart is to yours?' Jehonadab replied, 'Yes.' 'If so,' Jehu said,'give me your hand.' Jehonadab gave him his hand, and Jehu took him up beside him in his chariot.	15 When he had left there, Jehu met Jehonadab, son of Rechab, on the road. He greeted him and asked, "Are you sincerely disposed toward me, as I am toward you?" "Yes," replied Jehonadab. "If you are," continued Jehu, "give me your hand." Jehonadab gave him his hand, and Jehu drew him up into his chariot.
16 'Come with me,' he said, 'and witness my zeal for Yahweh,' and took him along in his chariot.	16 "Come with me," he said, "and see my zeal for the LORD." And he took him along in his own chariot.
17 When he entered Samaria, he kil ed al the survivors of Ahab's family there; he destroyed it, asYahweh had told Elijah it would happen.	17 When he arrived in Samaria, Jehu slew all who remained there of Ahab's line, doing away with them completely and thus fulfilling the prophecy which the LORD had spoken to Elijah.
18 Then Jehu assembled al the people. 'Ahab did Baal some smal service,' he said, 'but Jehu wil dohim a great one.	18 Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them: "Ahab served Baal to some extent, but Jehu will serve him yet more.
19 Now cal me al the prophets of Baal and al his priests. Not one is to be absent: I have a greatsacrifice to offer to Baal. If anyone is absent, he wil forfeit his life.' This was a trick on Jehu's part to destroy thedevotees of Baal.	19 Now summon for me all Baal's prophets, all his worshipers, and all his priests. See that no one is absent, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is absent shall not live." This Jehu did as a ruse, so that he might destroy the worshipers of Baal.
20 'Summon a sacred assembly for Baal,' he commanded; and they summoned it.	20 Jehu said further, "Proclaim a solemn assembly in honor of Baal." They did so,
21 Jehu sent messengers throughout Israel, and all the devotees of Baal arrived, not a man was left whodid not attend. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was full from wal to wall.	21 and Jehu sent word of it throughout the land of Israel. All the worshipers of Baal without exception came into the temple of Baal, which was filled to capacity.
22 Jehu then said to the keeper of the wardrobe, 'Bring out vestments for al the devotees of Baal'; hebrought out the vestments for them.	22 Then Jehu said to the custodian of the wardrobe, "Bring out the garments for all the worshipers of Baal." When he had brought out the garments for them,
23 Jehu then went into the temple of Baal with Jehonadab son of Rechab and said to Baal's devotees,'Make quite sure that there are no devotees of Yahweh in here with you, but only devotees of Baal.'	23 Jehu, with Jehonadab, son of Rechab, entered the temple of Baal and said to the worshipers of Baal, "Search and be sure that there is no worshiper of the LORD here with you, but only worshipers of Baal."
24 He then proceeded to present sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty of hismen outside, having said, 'Whoever lets one of the people go whom I am now putting within your clutches, wilpay for it with his life.'	24 Then they proceeded to offer sacrifices and holocausts. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside with this warning, "If one of you lets anyone escape of those whom I shall deliver into your hands, he shall pay life for life."
25 When he had finished making the burnt offering, he gave the order to the guards and equerries, 'Goin, strike them down! Let no one out!' The guards and equerries went in, putting everyone to the sword al theway to the sanctuary of Baal's temple.	25 As soon as he finished offering the holocaust, Jehu said to the guards and officers, "Go in and slay them. Let no one escape." So the guards and officers put them to the sword and cast them out. Afterward they went into the inner shrine of the temple of Baal,
26 They took the sacred pole out of Baal's temple and burned it.	26 took out the stele of Baal, and burned the shrine.
27 They demolished Baal's image and demolished Baal's temple too, making it into a latrine, which it stilis today.	27 Then they smashed the stele of Baal, tore down the building, and turned it into a latrine, as it remains today.
28 Thus Jehu rid Israel of Baal.	28 Thus Jehu rooted out the worship of Baal from Israel.
29 Even so, Jehu did not give up the sins into which Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel, the goldencalves of Bethel and Dan.	29 However, he did not desist from the sins which Jeroboam, son of Nebat, had caused Israel to commit, as regards the golden calves at Bethel and at Dan.
30 Yahweh said to Jehu, 'Since you have done wel in carrying out what pleases me, and have doneeverything I required to be done to the House of Ahab, your sons wil occupy the throne of Israel down to thefourth generation.'	30 The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well what I deem right, and have treated the house of Ahab as I desire, your sons to the fourth generation shall sit upon the throne of Israel."
31 Jehu, however, did not faithful y and wholeheartedly fol ow the law of Yahweh, God of Israel; he didnot give up the sins into which Jeroboam son of Nebat had led Israel.	31 But Jehu was not careful to observe wholeheartedly the law of the LORD, the God of Israel, since he did not desist from the sins which Jeroboam caused Israel to commit.
32 At that time Yahweh began to whittle Israel down, and Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout theterritory east of the Jordan:	32 At that time the LORD began to dismember Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory
33 the whole territory of Gilead -- of the Gadites, the Reubenites and the Manassehites -- from Aroer onthe River Arnon: Gilead and Bashan.	33 east of the Jordan (all the land of Gilead, of the Gadites, Reubenites and Manassehites), from Aroer on the river Arnon up through Gilead and Bashan.
34 The rest of the history of Jehu, his entire career, al his prowess, is this not recorded in the Book ofthe Annals of the Kings of Israel?	34 The rest of the acts of Jehu, his valor and all his accomplishments, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.
35 Then he fel asleep with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria; his son Jehoahaz succeeded him.	35 Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king.
36 Jehu's reign over Israel in Samaria lasted twenty-eight years.	36 The length of Jehu's reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.