II Kings 10

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

Ahab had seventy descendants in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the elders and officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of [the children] of Ahab, as follows:

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

“Now, when this letter reaches you—since your master’s sons are with you and you also have chariots and horses, and a fortified city and weapons—

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

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

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

But they were overcome by fear, for they thought, “If the two kings could not stand up to him, how can we?”

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח אֲשֶׁר־עַל־הַבַּ֣יִת וַאֲשֶׁ֪ר עַל־הָעִ֟יר וְהַזְּקֵנִים֩ וְהָאֹמְנִ֨ים אֶל־יֵה֤וּא׀לֵאמֹר֙ עֲבָדֶ֣יךָֽ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ וְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־תֹּאמַ֥ר אֵלֵ֖ינוּ נַעֲשֶׂ֑ה לֹא־נַמְלִ֣ךְ אִ֔ישׁ הַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עֲשֵֽׂה׃

The steward of the palace and the governor of the city and the elders and the guardians sent this message to Jehu: “We are your subjects, and we shall do whatever you tell us to. We shall not proclaim anyone king; do whatever you like.”

וַיִּכְתֹּ֣ב אֲלֵיהֶם֩ סֵ֨פֶר׀שֵׁנִ֜ית לֵאמֹ֗ר אִם־לִ֨י אַתֶּ֜ם וּלְקֹלִ֣י׀ אַתֶּ֣ם שֹׁמְעִ֗ים קְחוּ֙ אֶת־רָאשֵׁי֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵי־אֲדֹֽנֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֹ֧אוּ אֵלַ֛י כָּעֵ֥ת מָחָ֖ר יִזְרְעֶ֑אלָה וּבְנֵ֤י הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ שִׁבְעִ֣ים אִ֔ישׁ אֶת־גְּדֹלֵ֥י הָעִ֖יר מְגַדְּלִ֥ים אוֹתָֽם׃

He wrote them a second time: “If you are on my side and are ready to obey me, take the heads of the attendants of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel tomorrow at this time.” Now the princes, seventy in number, were with the notables of the town, who were rearing them.

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

But when the letter reached them, they took the princes and slaughtered all seventy of them; they put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel.

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

A messenger came and reported to him: “They have brought the heads of the princes.” He said, “Pile them up in two heaps at the entrance of the gate before morning.”

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

In the morning he went out and stood there; and he said to all the people, “Are you blameless? True, I conspired against my master and killed him; but who struck down all of these?

דְּע֣וּ אֵפ֗וֹא כִּי֩ לֹ֨א יִפֹּ֜ל מִדְּבַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אַ֔רְצָה אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה עַל־בֵּ֣ית אַחְאָ֑ב וַיהֹוָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ה אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֶּ֔ר בְּיַ֖ד עַבְדּ֥וֹ אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃

Know, then, that nothing that G OD has spoken concerning the House of Ahab shall remain unfulfilled, for G OD has done what was announced through Elijah—God’s servant.”

וַיַּ֣ךְ יֵה֗וּא אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֤ים לְבֵית־אַחְאָב֙ בְּיִזְרְעֶ֔אל וְכׇל־גְּדֹלָ֖יו וּמְיֻדָּעָ֣יו וְכֹהֲנָ֑יו עַד־בִּלְתִּ֥י הִשְׁאִֽיר־ל֖וֹ שָׂרִֽיד׃

And Jehu struck down all that were left of the House of Ahab in Jezreel—and all his notables, intimates, and priests—till he left him no survivor.

וַיָּ֙קׇם֙ וַיָּבֹ֔א וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ שֹׁמְר֑וֹן ה֛וּא בֵּֽית־עֵ֥קֶד הָרֹעִ֖ים בַּדָּֽרֶךְ׃

He then set out for Samaria. On the way, when he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds,

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

Jehu came upon the kinsmen of King Ahaziah of Judah. “Who are you?” he asked. They replied, “We are the kinsmen of Ahaziah, and we have come to pay our respects to the sons of the king and the sons of the queen mother.”

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ תִּפְשׂ֣וּם חַיִּ֔ים וַֽיִּתְפְּשׂ֖וּם חַיִּ֑ים וַיִּשְׁחָט֞וּם אֶל־בּ֣וֹר בֵּֽית־עֵ֗קֶד אַרְבָּעִ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וְלֹא־הִשְׁאִ֥יר אִ֖ישׁ מֵהֶֽם׃ {ס}

“Take them alive!” he said. They took them alive and then slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two of them; he did not spare a single one.

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׃

He went on from there, and he met Jehonadab son of Rechab coming toward him. He greeted him and said to him, “Are you as wholehearted with me as I am with you?” “I am,” Jehonadab replied. “If so,” [said Jehu,] “give me your hand.” He gave him his hand and [Jehu] helped him into the chariot.

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לְכָ֣ה אִתִּ֔י וּרְאֵ֖ה בְּקִנְאָתִ֣י לַיהֹוָ֑ה וַיַּרְכִּ֥בוּ אֹת֖וֹ בְּרִכְבּֽוֹ׃

“Come with me,” he said, “and see my zeal for G OD .” And he was taken along in the chariot.

וַיָּבֹא֙ שֹׁמְר֔וֹן וַ֠יַּ֠ךְ אֶת־כׇּל־הַנִּשְׁאָרִ֧ים לְאַחְאָ֛ב בְּשֹׁמְר֖וֹן עַד־הִשְׁמִד֑וֹ כִּדְבַ֣ר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר אֶל־אֵלִיָּֽהוּ׃ {פ}

Arriving in Samaria, [Jehu] struck down all the survivors of [the House of] Ahab in Samaria, until he wiped it out, fulfilling the word that G OD had spoken to Elijah.

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

Jehu assembled all the people and said to them, “Ahab served Baal little; Jehu shall serve him much!

וְעַתָּ֣ה כׇל־נְבִיאֵ֣י הַבַּ֡עַל כׇּל־עֹבְדָ֣יו וְכׇל־כֹּהֲנָיו֩ קִרְא֨וּ אֵלַ֜י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יִפָּקֵ֗ד כִּי֩ זֶ֨בַח גָּד֥וֹל לִי֙ לַבַּ֔עַל כֹּ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יִפָּקֵ֖ד לֹ֣א יִֽחְיֶ֑ה וְיֵהוּא֙ עָשָׂ֣ה בְעׇקְבָּ֔ה לְמַ֥עַן הַאֲבִ֖יד אֶת־עֹבְדֵ֥י הַבָּֽעַל׃

Therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests: let no one fail to come, for I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever fails to come shall forfeit his life.” Jehu was acting with guile in order to exterminate the worshipers of Baal.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יֵה֗וּא קַדְּשׁ֧וּ עֲצָרָ֛ה לַבַּ֖עַל וַיִּקְרָֽאוּ׃

Jehu gave orders to convoke a solemn assembly for Baal, and one was proclaimed.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יֵהוּא֙ בְּכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ כׇּל־עֹבְדֵ֣י הַבַּ֔עַל וְלֹא־נִשְׁאַ֥ר אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹא־בָ֑א וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיִּמָּלֵ֥א בֵית־הַבַּ֖עַל פֶּ֥ה לָפֶֽה׃

Jehu sent word throughout Israel, and all the worshipers of Baal came, not one remained behind. They came into the temple of Baal, and the temple of Baal was filled from end to end.

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

He said to the wardrobe manager, “Bring out the vestments for all the worshipers of Baal”; and he brought vestments out for them.

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

Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rechab came into the temple of Baal, and they said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search and make sure that there are no worshipers of G OD among you, but only worshipers of Baal.”

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

So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. But Jehu had stationed eighty of his men outside and had said, “Whoever permits the escape of a single one of those whom I commit to your charge shall forfeit life for life.”

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

When Jehu had finished presenting the burnt offering, he said to the guards and to the officers, “Come in and strike them down; let no one get away!” The guards and the officers struck them down with the sword and left them lying where they were; then they proceeded to the interior of the temple of Baal.

וַיֹּצִ֛אוּ אֶת־מַצְּב֥וֹת בֵּית־הַבַּ֖עַל וַֽיִּשְׂרְפֽוּהָ׃

They brought out the pillars of the temple of Baal and burned them.

וַֽיִּתְּצ֔וּ אֵ֖ת מַצְּבַ֣ת הַבָּ֑עַל וַֽיִּתְּצוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הַבַּ֔עַל וַיְשִׂמֻ֥הוּ (למחראות) [לְמֽוֹצָא֖וֹת] עַד־הַיּֽוֹם׃

They destroyed the pillar of Baal, and they tore down the temple of Baal and turned it into latrines, as is still the case.

וַיַּשְׁמֵ֥ד יֵה֛וּא אֶת־הַבַּ֖עַל מִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Thus Jehu eradicated the Baal from Israel.

רַ֠ק חֲטָאֵ֞י יָרׇבְעָ֤ם בֶּן־נְבָט֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶחֱטִ֣יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹא־סָ֥ר יֵה֖וּא מֵאַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם עֶגְלֵי֙ הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר בֵּֽית־אֵ֖ל וַאֲשֶׁ֥ר בְּדָֽן׃ {פ}

However, Jehu did not turn away from the sinful objects by which Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to sin, namely, the golden calves at Bethel and at Dan.

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

G OD said to Jehu, “Because you have acted well and done what was pleasing to Me, having carried out all that I desired upon the House of Ahab, four generations of your descendants shall occupy the throne of Israel.”

וְיֵה֗וּא לֹ֥א שָׁמַ֛ר לָלֶ֛כֶת בְּתֽוֹרַת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכׇל־לְבָב֑וֹ לֹ֣א סָ֗ר מֵעַל֙ חַטֹּ֣אות יָרׇבְעָ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶחֱטִ֖יא אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

But Jehu was not careful to follow the Teaching of G OD , the God of Israel, with all his heart; he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit.

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם הֵחֵ֣ל יְהֹוָ֔ה לְקַצּ֖וֹת בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּכֵּ֥ם חֲזָאֵ֖ל בְּכׇל־גְּב֥וּל יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

In those days G OD began to reduce Israel; and Hazael harassed them throughout the territory of Israel

מִן־הַיַּרְדֵּן֙ מִזְרַ֣ח הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֔ד הַגָּדִ֥י וְהָראוּבֵנִ֖י וְהַֽמְנַשִּׁ֑י מֵֽעֲרֹעֵר֙ אֲשֶׁר־עַל־נַ֣חַל אַרְנֹ֔ן וְהַגִּלְעָ֖ד וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃

east of the Jordan, all the land of Gilead—the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites—from Aroer, by the Wadi Arnon, up to Gilead and Bashan.

וְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יֵה֛וּא וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָׂ֖ה וְכׇל־גְּבוּרָת֑וֹ הֲלוֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

The other events of Jehu’s reign, and all his actions, and all his exploits, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Israel.

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

Jehu rested with his ancestors and he was buried in Samaria; he was succeeded as king by his son Jehoahaz.

וְהַיָּמִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר מָלַ֤ךְ יֵהוּא֙ עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עֶשְׂרִֽים־וּשְׁמֹנֶ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה בְּשֹׁמְרֽוֹן׃ {פ}

Jehu reigned over Israel for twenty-eight years in Samaria.