2 מְלָכִים 10

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

Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the officials of Jezreel, to the elders, and to the guardians of the sons of Ahab, saying:

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

“When this letter arrives, since your master’s sons are with you and you have chariots and horses, a fortified city and weaponry,

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

select the best and most worthy son of your master, set him on his father’s throne, and fight for your master’s house.”

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

But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”

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

So the palace administrator, the overseer of the city, the elders, and the guardians sent a message to Jehu: “We are your servants, and we will do whatever you say. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever is good in your sight.”

6 וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב 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׃

Then Jehu wrote them a second letter and said: “If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, then bring the heads of your master’s sons to me at Jezreel by this time tomorrow.” Now the sons of the king, seventy in all, were being brought up by the leading men of the city.

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

And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.

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

When the messenger arrived, he told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the sons of the king.” And Jehu ordered, “Pile them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning.”

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

The next morning, Jehu went out and stood before all the people and said, “You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him. But who killed all these?

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

Know, then, that not a word the LORD has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail, for the LORD has done what He promised through His servant Elijah.”

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

So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his great men and close friends and priests, leaving him without a single survivor.

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

Then Jehu set out toward Samaria. At Beth-eked of the Shepherds,

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

Jehu met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, “Who are you?” “We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered, “and we have come down to greet the sons of the king and of the queen mother.”

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

Then Jehu ordered, “Take them alive.” So his men took them alive, then slaughtered them at the well of Beth-eked—forty-two men. He spared none of them.

15 וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ 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׃

When he left there, he found Jehonadab son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Is your heart as true to mine as my heart is to yours?” “It is!” Jehonadab replied. “If it is,” said Jehu, “give me your hand.” So he gave him his hand, and Jehu helped him into his chariot,

16 וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְכָ֣ה אִתִּ֔י וּרְאֵ֖ה בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י לַיהוָ֑ה וַיַּרְכִּ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּרִכְבּֽוֹ׃

saying, “Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD!” So he had him ride in his chariot.

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

When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.

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

Then Jehu brought all the people together and said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.

19 וְעַתָּ֣ה 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׃

Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. See that no one is missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

20 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יֵה֗וּא קַדְּשׁ֧וּ עֲצָרָ֛ה לַבַּ֖עַל וַיִּקְרָֽאוּ׃

And Jehu commanded, “Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal.” So they announced it.

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

Then Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; there was not a man who failed to show. They entered the temple of Baal, and it was filled from end to end.

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

And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, “Bring out garments for all the servants of Baal.” So he brought out garments for them.

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

Next, Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab entered the temple of Baal, and Jehu said to the servants of Baal, “Look around to see that there are no servants of the LORD here among you—only servants of Baal.”

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

And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and warned them, “If anyone allows one of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape, he will forfeit his life for theirs.”

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

When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal.

26 וַיֹּצִ֛אוּ אֶת־מַצְּב֥וֹת בֵּית־הַבַּ֖עַל וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֽוּהָ׃

They brought out the sacred pillar of the temple of Baal and burned it.

27 וַֽיִּתְּצ֔וּ אֵ֖ת מַצְּבַ֣ת הַבָּ֑עַל וַֽיִּתְּצוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיְשִׂמֻ֥הוּ לְמֽוֹצָא֖וֹת עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃

They also demolished the sacred pillar of Baal. Then they tore down the temple of Baal and made it into a latrine, which it is to this day.

28 וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Thus Jehu eradicated Baal from Israel,

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

but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit—the worship of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.

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

Nevertheless, the LORD said to Jehu, “Because you have done well in carrying out what is right in My sight and have done to the house of Ahab all that was in My heart, four generations of your sons will sit on the throne of Israel.”

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

Yet Jehu was not careful to follow the instruction of the LORD, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

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

In those days the LORD began to reduce the size of Israel. Hazael defeated the Israelites throughout their territory

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

from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

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

As for the rest of the acts of Jehu, along with all his accomplishments and all his might, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

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

And Jehu rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz reigned in his place.

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

So the duration of Jehu’s reign over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.