2 Kings 9 summary meaning ai explained commentary

2 Kings 9 meaning explained in AI Summary

Chapter 9 of 2 Kings marks a turning point in Israel's history with the rise of Jehu and the bloody end of Ahab's dynasty.

1. Jehu's Anointing (vv. 1-13):

* The prophet Elisha sends a young prophet to Ramoth Gilead to secretly anoint Jehu, a military commander, as the new king of Israel.

* The young prophet emphasizes that Jehu is tasked with wiping out the wicked house of Ahab as punishment for their idolatry and sins.

2. Jehu's Rebellion (vv. 14-37):

* Jehu's fellow commanders are initially skeptical but quickly pledge their allegiance after witnessing the anointing.

* Jehu, known for his furious chariot driving, sets off for Jezreel, where King Joram (Ahab's son) is recovering from battle wounds.

* Joram, along with King Ahaziah of Judah (Joram's nephew), rides out to meet Jehu, but Jehu kills Joram with an arrow and casts his body in the field of Naboth, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy.

* Ahaziah flees but is mortally wounded and later dies in Megiddo.

3. Jezebel's Demise (vv. 30-37):

* Jehu enters Jezreel and confronts Jezebel, Ahab's widow and the queen mother, who defiantly awaits him.

* Jehu orders eunuchs in the palace to throw Jezebel out of the window. She falls to her death, her blood splattering on the wall.

* Jehu's men trample her body, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy. Later, when they try to bury her, they find only her skull, feet, and hands, as dogs have devoured her flesh.

Key Themes:

Divine Judgment: The chapter highlights God's judgment on Ahab's house for their idolatry and wickedness, fulfilling the prophecies spoken by Elijah.
Zeal for Yahweh: Jehu is portrayed as a zealous warrior carrying out God's will, even if it means brutal violence.
The Cycle of Violence: While Jehu's actions fulfill prophecy, they also perpetuate a cycle of bloodshed and violence in Israel.

Chapter 9 sets the stage for Jehu's reign, which will be marked by both religious reforms and continued violence. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of idolatry and the complex nature of divine justice.

2 Kings 9 bible study ai commentary

This chapter chronicles the violent and rapid fulfillment of God's judgment against the house of Ahab. Acting through the prophet Elisha, God anoints Jehu, a military commander, as the instrument to execute this long-decreed sentence. The narrative unfolds with brutal efficiency, detailing the assassinations of King Joram of Israel, King Ahaziah of Judah, and Queen Jezebel. Each death is meticulously shown to fulfill specific prophecies, particularly those made by Elijah, underscoring the themes of divine sovereignty, the inescapable consequences of idolatry, and the certainty of God's prophetic word.

2 Kings 9 context

This chapter is set during the ongoing war between Israel and Aram (Syria) over the strategic city of Ramoth-gilead. The political and spiritual climate of Israel is defined by the legacy of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of the Omride dynasty, who promoted Baal worship and persecuted Yahweh's prophets. The events are a direct consequence of prophecies delivered by Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and 1 Kings 21. Understanding the role of a prophet anointing a new king (a "regime change" prophet) and the ancient Near East's brutal political realities is crucial for interpreting the violent, yet divinely sanctioned, events that follow.

2 Kings 9:1-3

And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, “Tie up your garment, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead. And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him arise from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner chamber. Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and flee, and do not linger.”

In-depth-analysis

Sons of the prophets: A community or guild of prophets serving under a master prophet, in this case, Elisha.
Tie up your garment: An instruction to prepare for swift, unhindered action, similar to "girding up the loins."
Flask of oil: The physical symbol of a divine anointing for a special office, typically for priests and kings. The oil signifies being set apart for God's purpose and empowered by His Spirit.
Ramoth-gilead: A key military outpost on the frontier with Aram-Damascus, where Israel's army was gathered. Anointing a military commander in the midst of his troops was a strategic move to ensure the coup's success.
Inner chamber: A place of secrecy. This ensures the anointing is a private, divine commission before it becomes a public, political act, preventing immediate discovery and interference.
Flee, and do not linger: This command protects the young prophet from being implicated in the ensuing rebellion and emphasizes that the message is from God, not from the messenger himself. The prophet's role is to deliver the divine word and depart, leaving the outcome to God and His chosen agent.

Bible references

1 Sam 16:1, 13: Then the Lord said to Samuel... "fill your horn with oil, and go"... Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. (Parallels the secret anointing of David as king.)
1 Ki 19:16: ...and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel. (Direct fulfillment of the commission God gave to Elijah.)
Exod 30:30-32: “You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them... It shall not be poured on the body of an ordinary person." (Shows the sacredness and restricted use of anointing oil for God's chosen leaders.)

Cross references

1 Sam 10:1 (Saul's anointing), Eph 6:14 (girding loins for spiritual warfare), Jer 1:17 (prophetic readiness).

2 Kings 9:4-10

So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead... And he said, "I have a message for you, O commander." And Jehu said, "To which of us all?" And he said, "To you, O commander." So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord, over Israel. And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets... For the whole house of Ahab shall perish... And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her." Then he opened the door and fled.

In-depth-analysis

The people of the Lord: This phrase frames the kingdom of Israel not as a secular political entity, but as God's covenant people. Jehu's kingship is a divine stewardship.
You shall strike down: A direct, unambiguous command. Jehu is not merely permitted but commanded to act as God's executioner.
Avenge the blood...: The primary reason for the judgment is Ahab and Jezebel's persecution of God's prophets (e.g., 1 Ki 18:4, 13) and righteous individuals like Naboth. The Hebrew word for "avenge" is nāqam, which refers to divine justice and righteous retribution.
Dogs shall eat Jezebel: A direct, verbatim quotation of Elijah's prophecy, emphasizing that this event is the precise fulfillment of that word. Being unburied and consumed by scavengers was considered the most dishonorable fate in the ancient world.

Bible references

1 Ki 21:21-23: “Behold, I will bring disaster upon you... And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’” (The prophecy that is now being set in motion.)
Deut 32:43: "...for he will avenge the blood of his servants and will take vengeance on his adversaries." (Establishes God's character as the avenger of his people.)
Rev 19:2: "...for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants." (Echoes the theme of God avenging the blood of his servants in the final judgment.)

Cross references

1 Ki 14:10-11 (Prophecy against Jeroboam's house), 1 Ki 16:3-4 (Prophecy against Baasha's house), Rom 12:19 (Vengeance belongs to the Lord).

Polemics

The commissioning speech is a powerful polemic against Baal worship. While Jezebel promoted a religion centered on Baal and Asherah, this act demonstrates Yahweh's ultimate authority over the land, the army, and the throne of Israel. He, not Baal, determines who rules and executes justice.

2 Kings 9:11-13

When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, “Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the fellow and his talk.” And they said, “That is not true. Tell us now.” And he said, “Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.’” Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”

In-depth-analysis

Mad fellow: (məšuggā‘). A derogatory term for a prophet, likely due to their ecstatic, otherworldly states that appeared as madness to outsiders. It reflects the army commanders' cynical view of prophets.
You know the fellow and his talk: Jehu's initial evasiveness. He likely feigns dismissal to gauge their reaction and loyalty before revealing the momentous news.
That is not true: The other commanders sense the gravity of the secret meeting and press him for the truth.
Took his garment and put it under him: An ancient act of homage and recognition of royalty. It creates a makeshift throne or royal path, symbolizing their submission to Jehu as their king.
Bare steps: Could refer to the top of an external staircase, providing a prominent place for the proclamation.
Blew the trumpet: The traditional signal for a royal coronation or a call to war, now used to announce the new king. The army's immediate and unanimous support demonstrates the deep discontent with Joram and the Omride dynasty.

Bible references

Matt 21:7-8: "...and they put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road..." (Jesus' Triumphal Entry, where cloaks are laid down in recognition of His kingship.)
Jer 29:26: “...you should put any madman who prophesies into the stocks and into the neck-iron.” (Shows məšuggā‘ used elsewhere as a term for a prophet.)
1 Ki 1:39: "...and they blew the trumpet, and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” (Parallels the use of the trumpet in a coronation.)

Cross references

Hos 9:7 (Prophet as a fool/madman), 2 Sam 15:10 (Absalom's usurpation with a trumpet), John 19:1-3 (mocking of kingship).

2 Kings 9:14-20

Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram... Now Joram was guarding Ramoth-gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria, but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him... The watchman on the tower in Jezreel saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, "I see a company." ...And the watchman reported, "He went to them and is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

In-depth-analysis

Conspired against Joram: The divine anointing is now put into human, political action.
Joram... returned to be healed in Jezreel: This detail is crucial. The king is away from his army, vulnerable, and located in Jezreel—the very place of Naboth's vineyard and where Jezebel resided.
Let no one escape: Jehu's first command is to secure the camp and maintain secrecy, demonstrating his tactical skill.
The watchman... saw: The narrative builds immense tension through the eyes of the watchman. The approaching company is a mystery, and the failed return of two messengers heightens the sense of dread and impending doom.
He drives furiously: (bə-šiggā‘ôn). This Hebrew word for Jehu's frantic driving comes from the same root as məšuggā‘ ("mad fellow"). The literary connection is intentional: the "mad" prophet's message has created a "madly" driving executioner. Jehu's character is defined by a frantic, zealous, and unstoppable energy.

Bible references

Isa 21:6: For thus the Lord said to me: “Go, set a watchman; let him announce what he sees.” (The role of the watchman in announcing approaching danger or news.)
Ezek 33:2-6: "If the watchman sees the sword coming... but does not blow the trumpet... the sword comes and takes any one of them... his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand." (Illustrates the responsibility of a watchman.)
2 Sam 18:24-27: (The watchman reports news of the battle and recognizes Ahimaaz by his running style, paralleling the recognition of Jehu by his driving.)

Cross references

Hab 2:1 (Prophet as a watchman), Nah 2:4 (chariots raging in the streets), 2 Ki 8:28-29 (Background for Joram's injury).

2 Kings 9:21-24

Joram said, "Get ready." And they got his chariot ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and they went to meet Jehu and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” He answered, “What peace can there be, so long as the whoredoms of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!” And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his shoulders, and the arrow went out through his heart, and he sank in his chariot.

In-depth-analysis

The property of Naboth the Jezreelite: The location is not coincidental. It is divinely orchestrated for the judgment to occur at the very scene of the crime that sealed Ahab's fate (1 Kings 21). This underscores that the execution is about specific, historical justice.
Is it peace, Jehu?: (ha-šālôm). Joram asks if Jehu comes with peaceful intent. Shalom means more than an absence of conflict; it means wholeness, well-being, and prosperity.
What peace...?: Jehu's response links national well-being directly to spiritual fidelity. He declares that true shalom is impossible while the state-sanctioned idolatry ("whoredoms") and sorcery ("witchcrafts") of Jezebel persist.
Whoredoms... witchcrafts: These terms refer to spiritual unfaithfulness to Yahweh (idolatry) and the pagan religious practices associated with Baal worship.
Treachery: (mirmāh). Joram recognizes the coup. Ironically, it was his own family's treachery against Naboth that led to this moment.
With his full strength: This phrase emphasizes Jehu's zeal and the definitive finality of the act.

Bible references

1 Ki 21:19: “Thus says the Lord: ‘In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick up your own blood.’” (The prophecy concerning the place of judgment.)
Jer 6:14: They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. (A prophetic critique of false declarations of peace amidst deep sin.)
Rev 17:1-2: "...the great prostitute... with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality..." (Idolatry and corrupting influence described as whoredom.)

Cross references

Hos 1:2 (Israel's spiritual harlotry), Nah 3:4 (Nineveh's harlotries and sorceries), Gal 5:19-21 (works of the flesh include sorcery).

2 Kings 9:25-26

Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, “Pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I were riding side by side behind Ahab his father, how the Lord made this pronouncement against him: ‘As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the Lord, I will repay you on this plot of ground,’ declares the Lord. Now therefore, pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”

In-depth-analysis

To Bidkar his aide: Jehu explains his actions to his lieutenant, making it clear this is not murder for personal ambition but the execution of a divine decree.
Remember...: Jehu reveals that he was personally present when Elijah delivered the prophecy to Ahab. This gives him a unique role as a direct witness to the original pronouncement, making his act of fulfillment even more powerful.
The blood of his sons: This is a detail not mentioned in the 1 Kings 21 account. It either reveals a fuller version of the prophecy or exposes a previously unmentioned detail of the crime—that Ahab's house not only killed Naboth but also his sons to eliminate all heirs to the land.
I will repay you: The Hebrew principle of lex talionis (an eye for an eye) and measure-for-measure justice. God repays Ahab's house on the very land they stole.
In accordance with the word of the Lord: Jehu's explicit, repeated motivation. He is self-consciously acting as an agent of Yahweh's justice.

Bible references

1 Ki 21:29: "Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the evil upon his house." (Shows the delayed, but not cancelled, judgment which now falls on Joram.)
Deut 19:10: "Lest innocent blood be shed in your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, and so the guilt of bloodshed be upon you." (The principle of bloodguilt polluting the land.)
Rom 13:4: "For he is God's servant, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer." (The theological principle of a ruler acting as God's servant to execute justice.)

Cross references

Lev 24:19-21 (Lex Talionis), Deut 32:35 (Vengeance is Mine), Heb 10:30 (The Lord will judge His people).

2 Kings 9:27-29

When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of the garden house. And Jehu pursued him and said, “Shoot him also.” And they shot him in his chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is near Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there... In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.

In-depth-analysis

Ahaziah the king of Judah: Ahaziah was the grandson of Ahab (his mother was Athaliah, Ahab's daughter). His presence and subsequent death show that the judgment on the house of Ahab extends to its descendants and allies in Judah. Alliance with the wicked has fatal consequences.
The garden house: A detail of the escape route. His attempt to flee is futile.
Megiddo: A historically significant city in the Jezreel valley, often associated with major battles and judgment (the word Armageddon derives from Har Megiddo - the Mount of Megiddo). It is a fitting place for a king allied with the house of Ahab to die.
Verse 29: This verse seems like a chronological note out of place, but it serves to clarify Ahaziah's reign and reinforces that the narrator is working from historical records, giving the account an air of historical precision.

Bible references

2 Chr 22:7-9: "But it was ordained by God that the fall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to Joram... And the men of Jehu... found the princes of Judah... and they killed them... he was a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart." (Provides a parallel account, adding details and a theological commentary on Ahaziah's doom being God-ordained.)
2 Ki 8:25-27: (Details Ahaziah's family connection to Ahab and his decision to go with Joram to war, setting the stage for his death.)
1 Cor 15:33: "Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (A NT principle illustrating the danger of ungodly alliances.)

Cross references

Prov 13:20 (Walk with wise, be wise), Rev 16:16 (Armageddon at Megiddo), 2 Chr 19:2 (Jehoshaphat rebuked for allying with Ahab).

2 Kings 9:30-37

When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, “Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?”... He said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled her. Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, "See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter." But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands... This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, and the body of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field...'"

In-depth-analysis

She painted her eyes and adorned her head: This is not an act of seduction, but one of royal defiance. Knowing her fate, she prepares to meet her killer not as a victim, but in full royal regalia, maintaining her queenly status to the end.
You Zimri, murderer of your master: Jezebel's taunt is historically precise. Zimri was an Israelite army commander who assassinated his king, only to be overthrown himself after a reign of seven days (1 Ki 16:9-20). She is calling Jehu a treacherous, short-lived usurper.
Two or three eunuchs: Her own servants betray her. This shows the totality of her loss of power; even those in her inner court abandon her.
Ate and drank: Jehu's casual meal after this gruesome execution can be seen as either cold-blooded ruthlessness or the calm confidence of one who has successfully carried out a divine mission. It signifies the transfer of power is complete.
This cursed woman: Jehu refers to her using a term that signifies one who is under a divine curse, again framing his action as fulfillment of God's will.
King's daughter: Jehu's brief moment of respect for her royal lineage prompts the burial attempt, which in turn leads to the discovery of the prophecy's shocking and literal fulfillment.
Skull... feet... palms: The prophecy is fulfilled with horrifying precision. The survival of these specific parts is medically and literarily striking, perhaps suggesting the parts of her that schemed (head), walked into sin (feet), and acted wickedly (hands) were all that remained identifiable.
As dung on the face of the field: The ultimate dishonor. Her remains are scattered, unidentifiable, and serve as fertilizer, a grotesque end for a proud queen and a final polemic against the futility of her god, Baal, the god of fertility.

Bible references

1 Ki 21:23: "And of Jezebel the Lord also said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.’” (The prophecy being explicitly fulfilled.)
1 Ki 16:15-20: (The story of Zimri, which gives context to Jezebel's insult.)
Rev 2:20-23: "But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel... I will throw her onto a sickbed... and I will strike her children dead." (Jezebel becomes a "type" or symbol in the New Testament for a corrupting influence that leads God's people into idolatry and immorality, whose judgment is certain.)

Cross references

Prov 16:18 (pride before a fall), Isa 14:19 (the dishonor of an unburied king), Jer 22:19 (king dragged and cast out, unburied).

2 Kings chapter 9 analysis

Prophecy and Fulfillment: The primary theological engine of this chapter is the meticulous fulfillment of prophecy. The narrator deliberately frames every major act of violence—the location of Joram's death, the manner of Jezebel's death—as the direct "word of the Lord." This serves to validate the authority of Yahweh and His prophets against the claims of Baal.
The Ambiguity of Jehu: While Jehu is presented here as the zealous instrument of God's will, the rest of his story and later prophetic commentary complicate this picture. Hosea 1:4 states, "For in a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel." This suggests that while the what (the elimination of Ahab's house) was commanded by God, the how (the blood-drenched violence) or the why (Jehu's own political ambition mixed with his zeal) was judged by God later. God can use even the imperfect and mixed motives of people to accomplish His sovereign purposes.
Kingdom Violence vs. Kingdom of Peace: The violent coup of Jehu stands in stark contrast to the establishment of Jesus' kingdom. While Jehu uses the sword to purge evil, Jesus establishes his rule through his own sacrificial death. The king is executed, rather than being the executioner. Jesus' followers are called to lay down their lives, not take up the sword for a political coup (Matt 26:52). Jehu's kingdom is of this world; Jesus' kingdom is not from this world (John 18:36).
Typology of Jezebel: Jezebel is not just a historical figure but becomes a biblical archetype of seductive, idolatrous, and corrupting power that persecutes the righteous. Her name is invoked in Revelation to describe a similar influence within the church, demonstrating the enduring danger of syncretism and idolatry for God's people in any age.

2 Kings 9 summary

Elisha, obeying God's command, sends a young prophet to secretly anoint Jehu, a commander in the Israelite army, as the new king. Given a divine mandate to destroy the idolatrous house of Ahab and avenge the blood of God's prophets, Jehu is immediately proclaimed king by his fellow commanders. Acting with ferocious speed, he rides to Jezreel and assassinates King Joram of Israel at the very property of Naboth, the man his parents had murdered. He also commands the execution of the visiting King Ahaziah of Judah, an ally to Ahab's house. The chapter culminates in the gruesome death of Queen Jezebel, who is thrown from a window, trampled by horses, and consumed by dogs, fulfilling Elijah's prophecy to the letter.

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2 Kings chapter 9 kjv

¹ And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:
² And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;
³ Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.
⁴ So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.
⁵ And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.
⁶ And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the LORD, even over Israel.
⁷ And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
⁸ For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:
⁹ And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:
¹⁰ And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.
¹¹ Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.
¹² And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel.
¹³ Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.
¹⁴ So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.
¹⁵ But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.
¹⁶ So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.
¹⁷ And there stood a watchman on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, I see a company. And Joram said, Take an horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say, Is it peace?
¹⁸ So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me. And the watchman told, saying, The messenger came to them, but he cometh not again.
¹⁹ Then he sent out a second on horseback, which came to them, and said, Thus saith the king, Is it peace? And Jehu answered, What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.
²⁰ And the watchman told, saying, He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously.
²¹ And Joram said, Make ready. And his chariot was made ready. And Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out against Jehu, and met him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite.
²² And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?
²³ And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah.
²⁴ And Jehu drew a bow with his full strength, and smote Jehoram between his arms, and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot.
²⁵ Then said Jehu to Bidkar his captain, Take up, and cast him in the portion of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for remember how that, when I and thou rode together after Ahab his father, the LORD laid this burden upon him;
²⁶ Surely I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth, and the blood of his sons, saith the LORD; and I will requite thee in this plat, saith the LORD. Now therefore take and cast him into the plat of ground, according to the word of the LORD.
²⁷ But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. And Jehu followed after him, and said, Smite him also in the chariot. And they did so at the going up to Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
²⁸ And his servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his sepulchre with his fathers in the city of David.
²⁹ And in the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab began Ahaziah to reign over Judah.
³⁰ And when Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her face, and tired her head, and looked out at a window.
³¹ And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Had Zimri peace, who slew his master?
³² And he lifted up his face to the window, and said, Who is on my side? who? And there looked out to him two or three eunuchs.
³³ And he said, Throw her down. So they threw her down: and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses: and he trode her under foot.
³⁴ And when he was come in, he did eat and drink, and said, Go, see now this cursed woman, and bury her: for she is a king's daughter.
³⁵ And they went to bury her: but they found no more of her than the skull, and the feet, and the palms of her hands.
³⁶ Wherefore they came again, and told him. And he said, This is the word of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel:
³⁷ And the carcass of Jezebel shall be as dung upon the face of the field in the portion of Jezreel; so that they shall not say, This is Jezebel.

2 Kings chapter 9 nkjv

¹ And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets, and said to him, "Get yourself ready, take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
² Now when you arrive at that place, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, and go in and make him rise up from among his associates, and take him to an inner room.
³ Then take the flask of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, 'Thus says the LORD: "I have anointed you king over Israel." ' Then open the door and flee, and do not delay."
⁴ So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead.
⁵ And when he arrived, there were the captains of the army sitting; and he said, "I have a message for you, Commander." Jehu said, "For which one of us?" And he said, "For you, Commander."
⁶ Then he arose and went into the house. And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
⁷ You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.
⁸ For the whole house of Ahab shall perish; and I will cut off from Ahab all the males in Israel, both bond and free.
⁹ So I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.
¹⁰ The dogs shall eat Jezebel on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her.' " And he opened the door and fled.
¹¹ Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, "Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?" And he said to them, "You know the man and his babble."
¹² And they said, "A lie! Tell us now." So he said, "Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, 'Thus says the LORD: "I have anointed you king over Israel." ' "
¹³ Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, "Jehu is king!"
¹⁴ So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, against Hazael king of Syria.
¹⁵ But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds which the Syrians had inflicted on him when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, "If you are so minded, let no one leave or escape from the city to go and tell it in Jezreel."
¹⁶ So Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram was laid up there; and Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.
¹⁷ Now a watchman stood on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company of men." And Joram said, "Get a horseman and send him to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?' "
¹⁸ So the horseman went to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king: 'Is it peace?' " And Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me." So the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger went to them, but is not coming back."
¹⁹ Then he sent out a second horseman who came to them, and said, "Thus says the king: 'Is it peace?' " And Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me."
²⁰ So the watchman reported, saying, "He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!"
²¹ Then Joram said, "Make ready." And his chariot was made ready. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot; and they went out to meet Jehu, and met him on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.
²² Now it happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" So he answered, "What peace, as long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft are so many?"
²³ Then Joram turned around and fled, and said to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!"
²⁴ Now Jehu drew his bow with full strength and shot Jehoram between his arms; and the arrow came out at his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.
²⁵ Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him into the tract of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together behind Ahab his father, that the LORD laid this burden upon him:
²⁶ 'Surely I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons,' says the LORD, 'and I will repay you in this plot,' says the LORD. Now therefore, take and throw him on the plot of ground, according to the word of the LORD."
²⁷ But when Ahaziah king of Judah saw this, he fled by the road to Beth Haggan. So Jehu pursued him, and said, "Shoot him also in the chariot." And they shot him at the Ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Then he fled to Megiddo, and died there.
²⁸ And his servants carried him in the chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the City of David.
²⁹ In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king over Judah.
³⁰ Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window.
³¹ Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?"
³² And he looked up at the window, and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" So two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
³³ Then he said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot.
³⁴ And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, "Go now, see to this accursed woman, and bury her, for she was a king's daughter."
³⁵ So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.
³⁶ Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, "This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel;
³⁷ and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, "Here lies Jezebel." ' "

2 Kings chapter 9 niv

¹ The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, "Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead.
² When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room.
³ Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and run; don't delay!"
⁴ So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead.
⁵ When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. "I have a message for you, commander," he said. "For which of us?" asked Jehu. "For you, commander," he replied.
⁶ Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu's head and declared, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king over the LORD's people Israel.
⁷ You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the LORD's servants shed by Jezebel.
⁸ The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel?slave or free.
⁹ I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah.
¹⁰ As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.'?" Then he opened the door and ran.
¹¹ When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, "Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?" "You know the man and the sort of things he says," Jehu replied.
¹² "That's not true!" they said. "Tell us." Jehu said, "Here is what he told me: 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.'?"
¹³ They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, "Jehu is king!"
¹⁴ So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead against Hazael king of Aram,
¹⁵ but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him in the battle with Hazael king of Aram.) Jehu said, "If you desire to make me king, don't let anyone slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel."
¹⁶ Then he got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel, because Joram was resting there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
¹⁷ When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu's troops approaching, he called out, "I see some troops coming." "Get a horseman," Joram ordered. "Send him to meet them and ask, 'Do you come in peace?'?"
¹⁸ The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, "This is what the king says: 'Do you come in peace?'?" "What do you have to do with peace?" Jehu replied. "Fall in behind me." The lookout reported, "The messenger has reached them, but he isn't coming back."
¹⁹ So the king sent out a second horseman. When he came to them he said, "This is what the king says: 'Do you come in peace?'?" Jehu replied, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me."
²⁰ The lookout reported, "He has reached them, but he isn't coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi?he drives like a maniac."
²¹ "Hitch up my chariot," Joram ordered. And when it was hitched up, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of ground that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.
²² When Joram saw Jehu he asked, "Have you come in peace, Jehu?" "How can there be peace," Jehu replied, "as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?"
²³ Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, "Treachery, Ahaziah!"
²⁴ Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot.
²⁵ Jehu said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, "Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the LORD spoke this prophecy against him:
²⁶ 'Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the LORD, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the LORD.' Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the LORD."
²⁷ When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, shouting, "Kill him too!" They wounded him in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there.
²⁸ His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of David.
²⁹ (In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king of Judah.)
³⁰ Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window.
³¹ As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, "Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?"
³² He looked up at the window and called out, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him.
³³ "Throw her down!" Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
³⁴ Jehu went in and ate and drank. "Take care of that cursed woman," he said, "and bury her, for she was a king's daughter."
³⁵ But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands.
³⁶ They went back and told Jehu, who said, "This is the word of the LORD that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel's flesh.
³⁷ Jezebel's body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, 'This is Jezebel.'?"

2 Kings chapter 9 esv

¹ Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, "Tie up your garments, and take this flask of oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead.
² And when you arrive, look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. And go in and have him rise from among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber.
³ Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.' Then open the door and flee; do not linger."
⁴ So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth-gilead.
⁵ And when he came, behold, the commanders of the army were in council. And he said, "I have a word for you, O commander." And Jehu said, "To which of us all?" And he said, "To you, O commander."
⁶ So he arose and went into the house. And the young man poured the oil on his head, saying to him, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
⁷ And you shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, so that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD.
⁸ For the whole house of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel.
⁹ And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah.
¹⁰ And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and none shall bury her." Then he opened the door and fled.
¹¹ When Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they said to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" And he said to them, "You know the fellow and his talk."
¹² And they said, "That is not true; tell us now." And he said, "Thus and so he spoke to me, saying, 'Thus says the LORD, I anoint you king over Israel.'"
¹³ Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, "Jehu is king."
¹⁴ Thus Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram with all Israel had been on guard at Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Syria,
¹⁵ but King Joram had returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) So Jehu said, "If this is your decision, then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel."
¹⁶ Then Jehu mounted his chariot and went to Jezreel, for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to visit Joram.
¹⁷ Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came and said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman and send to meet them, and let him say, 'Is it peace?'"
¹⁸ So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "Thus says the king, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me." And the watchman reported, saying, "The messenger reached them, but he is not coming back."
¹⁹ Then he sent out a second horseman, who came to them and said, "Thus the king has said, 'Is it peace?'" And Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Turn around and ride behind me."
²⁰ Again the watchman reported, "He reached them, but he is not coming back. And the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."
²¹ Joram said, "Make ready." And they made ready his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his chariot, and went to meet Jehu, and met him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.
²² And when Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace can there be, so long as the whorings and the sorceries of your mother Jezebel are so many?"
²³ Then Joram reined about and fled, saying to Ahaziah, "Treachery, O Ahaziah!"
²⁴ And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and shot Joram between the shoulders, so that the arrow pierced his heart, and he sank in his chariot.
²⁵ Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, "Take him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember, when you and I rode side by side behind Ahab his father, how the LORD made this pronouncement against him:
²⁶ 'As surely as I saw yesterday the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons ? declares the LORD ? I will repay you on this plot of ground.' Now therefore take him up and throw him on the plot of ground, in accordance with the word of the LORD."
²⁷ When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled in the direction of Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him and said, "Shoot him also." And they shot him in the chariot at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. And he fled to Megiddo and died there.
²⁸ His servants carried him in a chariot to Jerusalem, and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.
²⁹ In the eleventh year of Joram the son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.
³⁰ When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window.
³¹ And as Jehu entered the gate, she said, "Is it peace, you Zimri, murderer of your master?"
³² And he lifted up his face to the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
³³ He said, "Throw her down." So they threw her down. And some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses, and they trampled on her.
³⁴ Then he went in and ate and drank. And he said, "See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."
³⁵ But when they went to bury her, they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands.
³⁶ When they came back and told him, he said, "This is the word of the LORD, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel,
³⁷ and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as dung on the face of the field in the territory of Jezreel, so that no one can say, This is Jezebel.'"

2 Kings chapter 9 nlt

¹ Meanwhile, Elisha the prophet had summoned a member of the group of prophets. "Get ready to travel," he told him, "and take this flask of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth-gilead,
² and find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. Call him into a private room away from his friends,
³ and pour the oil over his head. Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: I anoint you to be the king over Israel.' Then open the door and run for your life!"
⁴ So the young prophet did as he was told and went to Ramoth-gilead.
⁵ When he arrived there, he found Jehu sitting around with the other army officers. "I have a message for you, Commander," he said. "For which one of us?" Jehu asked. "For you, Commander," he replied.
⁶ So Jehu left the others and went into the house. Then the young prophet poured the oil over Jehu's head and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anoint you king over the LORD's people, Israel.
⁷ You are to destroy the family of Ahab, your master. In this way, I will avenge the murder of my prophets and all the LORD's servants who were killed by Jezebel.
⁸ The entire family of Ahab must be wiped out. I will destroy every one of his male descendants, slave and free alike, anywhere in Israel.
⁹ I will destroy the family of Ahab as I destroyed the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and of Baasha son of Ahijah.
¹⁰ Dogs will eat Ahab's wife Jezebel at the plot of land in Jezreel, and no one will bury her." Then the young prophet opened the door and ran.
¹¹ Jehu went back to his fellow officers, and one of them asked him, "What did that madman want? Is everything all right?" "You know how a man like that babbles on," Jehu replied.
¹² "You're hiding something," they said. "Tell us." So Jehu told them, "He said to me, 'This is what the LORD says: I have anointed you to be king over Israel.'"
¹³ Then they quickly spread out their cloaks on the bare steps and blew the ram's horn, shouting, "Jehu is king!"
¹⁴ So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, led a conspiracy against King Joram. (Now Joram had been with the army at Ramoth-gilead, defending Israel against the forces of King Hazael of Aram.
¹⁵ But King Joram was wounded in the fighting and returned to Jezreel to recover from his wounds.) So Jehu told the men with him, "If you want me to be king, don't let anyone leave town and go to Jezreel to report what we have done."
¹⁶ Then Jehu got into a chariot and rode to Jezreel to find King Joram, who was lying there wounded. King Ahaziah of Judah was there, too, for he had gone to visit him.
¹⁷ The watchman on the tower of Jezreel saw Jehu and his company approaching, so he shouted to Joram, "I see a company of troops coming!" "Send out a rider to ask if they are coming in peace," King Joram ordered.
¹⁸ So a horseman went out to meet Jehu and said, "The king wants to know if you are coming in peace." Jehu replied, "What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!" The watchman called out to the king, "The messenger has met them, but he's not returning."
¹⁹ So the king sent out a second horseman. He rode up to them and said, "The king wants to know if you come in peace." Again Jehu answered, "What do you know about peace? Fall in behind me!"
²⁰ The watchman exclaimed, "The messenger has met them, but he isn't returning either! It must be Jehu son of Nimshi, for he's driving like a madman."
²¹ "Quick! Get my chariot ready!" King Joram commanded. Then King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah rode out in their chariots to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of land that had belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.
²² King Joram demanded, "Do you come in peace, Jehu?" Jehu replied, "How can there be peace as long as the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother, Jezebel, are all around us?"
²³ Then King Joram turned the horses around and fled, shouting to King Ahaziah, "Treason, Ahaziah!"
²⁴ But Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he sank down dead in his chariot.
²⁵ Jehu said to Bidkar, his officer, "Throw him into the plot of land that belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Do you remember when you and I were riding along behind his father, Ahab? The LORD pronounced this message against him:
²⁶ 'I solemnly swear that I will repay him here on this plot of land, says the LORD, for the murder of Naboth and his sons that I saw yesterday.' So throw him out on Naboth's property, just as the LORD said."
²⁷ When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled along the road to Beth-haggan. Jehu rode after him, shouting, "Shoot him, too!" So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot at the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam. He was able to go on as far as Megiddo, but he died there.
²⁸ His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem, where they buried him with his ancestors in the City of David.
²⁹ Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab.
³⁰ When Jezebel, the queen mother, heard that Jehu had come to Jezreel, she painted her eyelids and fixed her hair and sat at a window.
³¹ When Jehu entered the gate of the palace, she shouted at him, "Have you come in peace, you murderer? You're just like Zimri, who murdered his master!"
³² Jehu looked up and saw her at the window and shouted, "Who is on my side?" And two or three eunuchs looked out at him.
³³ "Throw her down!" Jehu yelled. So they threw her out the window, and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. And Jehu trampled her body under his horses' hooves.
³⁴ Then Jehu went into the palace and ate and drank. Afterward he said, "Someone go and bury this cursed woman, for she is the daughter of a king."
³⁵ But when they went out to bury her, they found only her skull, her feet, and her hands.
³⁶ When they returned and told Jehu, he stated, "This fulfills the message from the LORD, which he spoke through his servant Elijah from Tishbe: 'At the plot of land in Jezreel, dogs will eat Jezebel's body.
³⁷ Her remains will be scattered like dung on the plot of land in Jezreel, so that no one will be able to recognize her.'"