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          DASV: 2 Kings 10    

1 Now Ahab had seventy sons living in Samaria. Jehu wrote
letters, and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel,
the elders, and to the guardians who brought up the sons of
Ahab, saying,
2 "Since your master's sons are with you, and there are at
your disposal chariots and horses, a fortified city, and
weapons, as soon as this letter arrives
3 select the best and ablest of your master's sons, and set
him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."
4 But they were absolutely terrified, and said, "Look, two kings
could not stand against him, how then can we?"
5 So the overseer of the palace, mayor of the city, the elders,
and those guardians of the king's children, sent this message
to Jehu, "We are your servants, and will do whatever you tell
us. We will not make anyone king. Do whatever you think best."

6 Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If
you are on my side, and if you will obey my voice, then take
the heads of your master's sons, and come to me in Jezreel by
this time tomorrow." Now the seventy king's sons were with the
leading men of the city who brought them up.
7 When the letter came to them, they took the king's sons, and
killed all seventy of them, and put their heads in baskets, and
sent them to Jehu at Jezreel.
8 A messenger came and told him, "They have brought the heads
of the king's sons." Jehu ordered, "Stack them into two heaps
at the entrance of the city gate until morning."
9 In the morning, he went out and stood there, and told all the
people, "You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my
master, and killed him; but who struck down all these?
10 Know now that not one of the LORD's words which the LORD spoke
concerning the house of Ahab will fall to the earth unfulfilled.
The LORD has done exactly what he promised through his servant
Elijah."
11 So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab
in Jezreel, and all his leading officials, his close friends
and his priests. He left no survivors.

12 Then he got up and left to go to Samaria. On the way, while
he was at Beth-eked of the shepherds,
13 Jehu met with the relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah, and
asked, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are relatives of Ahaziah.
We have come down to visit the sons of the king and the
queen mother."
14 So he ordered, "Take them alive." So they captured them alive,
and killed all forty-two of them at the well of Beth-eked.
He left no survivors.

15 When he left there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab who
was coming to meet him. He saluted him, and said to him, "Is
your heart as loyal to me, as my heart is loyal to you?"
Jehonadab answered, "I am." "If you are," Jehu said, "give
me your hand." So he gave him his hand, and he helped him
up into the chariot.
16 Then he said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD."
So they had him ride along in his chariot.
17 When he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained
from Ahab's family in Samaria; he totally destroyed them,
according to the word of the LORD that he spoke to Elijah.

18 Jehu gathered all the people together, and told them, "Ahab
served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.
19 Now therefore assemble before me all the prophets of Baal,
along with all his worshippers and priests. Make sure none
of them are missing for I am offering a great sacrifice to Baal.
Whoever fails to come will not live." But Jehu was deceiving
them so that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
20 Then Jehu announced, "Consecrate a solemn assembly for Baal."
So they proclaimed it.

21 Then Jehu sent messengers throughout all Israel, and all
the worshippers of Baal came; so that there was no one left
who did not come. They entered the temple of Baal; and the
temple of Baal was filled from one end to the other.
22 Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, "Bring out the
ceremonial robes for all the worshippers of Baal." So he
brought out robes for them.
23 Then Jehu and Jehonadab the son of Rechab entered the
temple of Baal. He announced to the worshippers of Baal,
"Look around and make sure that none of the servants of the
LORD are here with you, but only the worshippers of Baal."
24 They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings.
Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside, and said,
"If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape,
you will pay for his life with your own life."
25 As soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering,
Jehu ordered the guard and commanders, "Go in, and kill them.
Let none of them escape." So they struck them down with
the edge of the sword; and the guard and commanders threw
them out. Then they went into the inner citadel of
the temple of Baal.
26 They ripped out the pillars that were in the temple of
Baal, and burned them.
27 They demolished the pillar of Baal, and broke down the
temple of Baal, and made it a public toilet to this day.
28 This is how Jehu wiped out Baal worship from Israel.

29 However, Jehu did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam
the son of Nebat, by which he led Israel to sin--the golden
calves that were in Bethel and Dan.
30 The LORD said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in
accomplishing what is right in my eyes, and have done to
the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart,
your sons will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth
generation."
31 But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD,
the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn
away from the sins of Jeroboam, by which he led Israel
to sin.
32 In those days the LORD began to reduce Israel's territory.
Hazael defeated them throughout all the territory of Israel
33 east of the Jordan River including all the land of Gilead,
the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer,
which is by the Arnon gorge, as far as Gilead and Bashan.
34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did,
and all his might, are they not written in the scroll of
the Annals of the Kings of Israel?
35 Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in
Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.
36 Jehu reigned twenty-eight years over Israel in Samaria.

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