Jehu Becomes King of Israel
1 One day, Elisha called for one of the other prophets and said:
Take this bottle of olive oil and get ready to go to the town of Ramoth in Gilead. 2 When you get there, find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a place where the two of you can be alone, 3 then pour olive oil on his head to show that he is the new king. Say to him, “The Lord has chosen you to be king of Israel.” Then leave quickly—don't wait around for anything!
4 The young prophet left for Ramoth. 5 When he arrived, the army officers were meeting together. “Sir, I have a message for you,” he said.
“For which one of us?” Jehu asked.
“You, sir,” the prophet answered. 6 So Jehu got up and went inside. The prophet poured olive oil on Jehu's head and told him:
The Lord God of Israel has this message for you: “I am the Lord, and I have chosen you to be king of my people Israel. 7 I want you to wipe out the family of Ahab, so Jezebel will be punished for killing the prophets and my other servants. 8 Every man and boy in Ahab's family must die, whether slave or free. 9 His whole family must be destroyed, just like the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 As for Jezebel, her body will be eaten by dogs in the town of Jezreel. There won't be enough left of her to bury.”
Then the young prophet opened the door and ran out.
11 Jehu went back to his officers, and one of them asked, “What did that crazy prophet want? Is everything all right?”
“You know him and how he talks,” Jehu answered.
12 “No, we don't. What did he say?” they asked.
“He had a message from the Lord,” Jehu replied. “He said that the Lord has chosen me to be the next king of Israel.”
13 They quickly grabbed their coats and spread them out on the steps where Jehu was standing. Someone blew a trumpet, and everyone shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
14-16 King Joram of Israel had been badly wounded in the battle at Ramoth, trying to defend it against King Hazael and the Syrian army. Joram was now recovering in Jezreel, and King Ahaziah of Judah was there, visiting him.
Meanwhile, Jehu was in Ramoth, making plans to kill Joram. He said to his officers, “If you want me to be king, then don't let anyone leave this town. They might go to Jezreel and tell Joram.” Then Jehu got in his chariot and rode to Jezreel.
17 When the guard in the watchtower at Jezreel saw Jehu and his men riding up, he shouted to the king, “I see a large group of men coming this way.”
Joram ordered, “Send someone out to ask them if this is a friendly visit.”
18 One of the soldiers rode out and said to Jehu, “King Joram wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”
“What's it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just stay behind me with the rest of my troops!”
About the same time the guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back.”
19 So Joram sent out another rider, who rode up to Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”
“What's it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just get behind me with the rest of my troops!”
20 The guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!”
21 Joram commanded, “Get my chariot ready.” Then he and Ahaziah got in their chariots and rode out to meet Jehu. They all met on the land that had belonged to Naboth. 22 Joram asked, “Jehu, is this a peaceful visit?”
“How can there be peace?” Jehu asked. “Your mother Jezebel has caused everyone to worship idols and practice witchcraft.”
23 “Ahaziah, let's get out of here!” Joram yelled. “It's a trap!” As Joram tried to escape, 24 Jehu shot an arrow. It hit Joram between his shoulders, then it went through his heart and came out his chest. He fell over dead in his chariot.
25-26 Jehu commanded his assistant Bidkar, “Get Joram's body and throw it in the field that Naboth once owned. Do you remember when you and I used to ride side by side behind Joram's father Ahab? It was then that the Lord swore to Ahab that he would be punished in the same field where he had killed Naboth and his sons. So throw Joram's body there, just as the Lord said.”
27 Ahaziah saw all of this happen and tried to escape to the town of Beth-Haggan, but Jehu caught up with him and shouted, “Kill him too!” So his troops shot Ahaziah with an arrow while he was on the road to Gur near Ibleam. He went as far as Megiddo, where he died. 28 Ahaziah's officers put his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where they buried him beside his ancestors.
29 Ahaziah had become king of Judah in the eleventh year of the rule of Ahab's son Joram.
Jehu Kills Jezebel
30 Jehu headed toward Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard he was coming, she put on eye shadow and brushed her hair. Then she stood at the window, waiting for him to arrive. 31 As he walked through the city gate, she shouted down to him, “Why did you come here, you murderer? To kill the king? You're no better than Zimri!”
32 He looked up toward the window and asked, “Is anyone up there on my side?” A few palace workers stuck their heads out of a window, 33 and Jehu shouted, “Throw her out the window!” They threw her down, and her blood splattered on the walls and on the horses that trampled her body.
34 Jehu left to get something to eat and drink. Then he told some workers, “Even though she was evil, she was a king's daughter, so make sure she has a proper burial.”
35 But when they went out to bury her body, they found only her skull, her hands, and her feet. 36 They reported this to Jehu, and he said, “The Lord told Elijah the prophet that Jezebel's body would be eaten by dogs right here in Jezreel. 37 And he warned that her bones would be spread all over the ground like manure, so that no one could tell who it was.”
Jehus tiek svaidīts par ķēniņu
1 Pravietis Elīša pasauca vienu no praviešu dēliem un sacīja: “Apjoz gurnus, ņem šo eļļas trauku un ej uz Rāmot-Gileādu. 2 Tur nonācis, lūko, kur ir Jehus, Jehošāfāta dēls, Nimšī dēla dēls. Iegājis pie tā, liec tam celties no biedru vidus un ieved viņu guļamistabā, 3 ņem eļļas trauku, izlej to viņam uz galvas un saki: tā saka Kungs: es tevi svaidu par Israēla ķēniņu! Tad atver durvis un nekavējoties bēdz!” 4 Un puisis, jaunais pravietis, gāja uz Rāmot-Gileādu. 5 Viņš iegāja karaspēka virsnieku apspriedē un teica: “Man tev kas jāsaka, virsniek.” Jehus jautāja: “Kuram no mums?” Viņš atbildēja: “Tev, virsniek!” 6 Tad Jehus cēlās, iegāja namā, un tas lēja viņam uz galvas eļļu, sacīdams: “Tā saka Kungs, Israēla Dievs: es tevi svaidu par ķēniņu Kunga tautai Israēlam, 7 un tu apkausi sava kunga Ahāba namu, jo es atriebšu Īzebelei savu kalpu praviešu asinis un visu Kunga kalpu asinis! 8 Viss Ahāba nams ies bojā! Es iznīdēšu Ahābam visus, kas pret mūri mīž, kā brīvo, tā saistīto Israēlā! 9 Ahāba namam es darīšu tāpat kā Jārobāma, Nebāta dēla, namam un Baešas, Ahijas dēla, namam. 10 Suņi rīs Īzebeli Jizreēlas tīrumā, un neviens viņu neapbedīs!” Pēc tam viņš atvēra durvis un bēga.
11 Kad Jehus izgāja pie sava kunga kalpiem, tie viņam jautāja: “Vai viss kārtībā? Kāpēc šis trakais nāca pie tevis?” Viņš tiem teica: “Jūs zināt šo vīru un viņa runu!” 12 Tie sacīja: “Nieki! Stāsti taču mums!” Jehus teica: “Viņš uz mani runāja tā un tā un teica: tā saka Kungs: es tevi svaidu par Israēla ķēniņu!” 13 Tad tie steidzās, ņēma katrs savas drēbes, izklāja zem viņa kājām uz kāpnēm, pūta ragu un sauca: “Jehus ir ķēniņš!”
Israēla ķēniņa Jorāma nāve
14 Jehus, Jehošāfāta dēls, Nimšī dēla dēls, sazvērējās pret Jorāmu. Jorāms ar visu Israēlu bija stāvējis Rāmot-Gileādā pret Arāmas ķēniņu Hazaēlu, 15 pēc tam ķēniņš Jorāms bija atgriezies Jizreēlā sadziedēt ievainojumus, kurus tam cirta aramieši karā pret Arāmas ķēniņu Hazaēlu. Tad Jehus sacīja: “Ja tāda ir jūsu griba, tad lai no pilsētas neizkļūst neviens bēglis, kas varētu iet un to pastāstīt Jizreēlā.” 16 Jehus kāpa ratos un brauca uz Jizreēlu, kur gulēja Jorāms. Un Jūdas ķēniņš Ahazjāhu bija ieradies apciemot Jorāmu. 17 Sargs, kas stāvēja Jizreēlas sargtornī, ieraudzīja nākam Jehus karapulku un sacīja: “Es redzu nākam karapulku.” Jorāms teica: “Ņem jātnieku un sūti pie tiem, lai jautā: kālab nākat?” 18 Jātnieks jāja tam pretī un sacīja: “Tā saka ķēniņš: kālab nākat?” Jehus atbildēja: “Kāda tev daļa, kālab, griez apkārt un seko man!” Tad sargs teica: “Vēstnesis ir nonācis līdz viņiem, bet atpakaļ nejāj.” 19 Tad sūtīja otru jātnieku, viņš nonāca pie tiem un sacīja: “Tā saka ķēniņš: kālab nākat?” Jehus sacīja: “Kāda tev daļa, kālab, griez apkārt un seko man!” 20 Un sargs teica: “Viņš ir nonācis līdz tiem, bet atpakaļ nejāj, bet tas tur brauc gluži kā Jehus, Nimšī dēls, – kā ārprātīgs.” 21 Tad Jorāms sacīja: “Jūdziet!” Tie iejūdza viņa ratus, un Jorāms, Israēla ķēniņš, un arī Ahazjāhu, Jūdas ķēniņš, izbrauca katrs savos ratos. Viņi devās pretī Jehum un sastapās ar to jizreēlieša Nābota laukā. 22 Kad Jorāms ieraudzīja Jehu, viņš jautāja: “Vai viss kārtībā, Jehu?” Viņš atbildēja: “Kas var būt kārtībā, kamēr tavas mātes Īzebeles maucība un burvestība aug augumā!” 23 Tad Jorāms grieza apkārt un bēgot sauca Ahazjāhu: “Nodevība, Ahazjāhu!” 24 Bet Jehus satvēra loku un iešāva Jorāmam starp pleciem, tā ka bulta izgāja cauri viņa sirdij un viņš nokrita savos ratos. 25 Jehus sacīja savam palīgam Bidkaram: “Ņem un nomet to jizreēlieša Nābota laukā, jo atceries, ka mēs abi braucām aiz viņa tēva Ahāba, un Kungs pavēstīja: 26 vai tad vakar es neredzēju Nābota asinis un viņa dēlu asinis? – tā vēstīja Kungs. Es tev to atdarīšu šajā laukā! – tā saka Kungs. Tādēļ ņem viņu un nomet šajā laukā, kā Kungs sacījis!”
Jūdas ķēniņa Ahazjāhu nāve
(2L 22:7–9)27 Jūdas ķēniņš Ahazjāhu to redzēja un bēga pa Bēt-Haganas ceļu, bet Jehus to vajāja un sauca: “Kaujiet arī to kararatos!” Tas bija Gūras augstienē, pie Jibleāmas – viņš bēga uz Megido un nomira tur. 28 Kalpi to aizveda uz Jeruzālemi un apbedīja kapā pie viņa tēviem Dāvida pilsētā.
29 Ahazjāhu bija kļuvis par Jūdas ķēniņu vienpadsmitajā Jorāma, Ahāba dēla, valdīšanas gadā.
Īzebeles nāve
30 Jehus nonāca Jizreēlā. Kad Īzebele to dzirdēja, viņa uzkrāsoja melnas uzacis, skaisti sakārtoja matus un raudzījās pa logu. 31 Kad Jehus ienāca pa vārtiem, viņa sacīja: “Kā klājas, tu, Zimrī, sava kunga slepkava?” 32 Viņš pacēla skatienu uz logu un teica: “Kurš ir ar mani? Kurš?” Un divi vai trīs einuhi paskatījās pa logu uz viņu. 33 Viņš tiem sacīja: “Metiet viņu ārā!” Un tie viņu izmeta ārā. Viņas asinis apslacīja mūri un zirgus, un tie viņu samīdīja. 34 Viņš iegāja iekšā, ēda un dzēra un tad sacīja: “Lūkojiet taču pēc tās nolādētās un apbediet to, jo viņa ir ķēniņa meita.” 35 Tie gāja viņu apbedīt, bet neko neatrada kā vien galvaskausu, kāju stilbus un plaukstas. 36 Tie atgriezās pie Jehus, pastāstīja to viņam, un viņš teica: “Tas ir Kunga vārds, kuru viņš runājis caur savu kalpu, tišbieti Eliju: suņi rīs Īzebeles miesu, 37 un Īzebeles līķis būs mēsli Jizreēlas tīrumā – neviens vairs nevarēs teikt: te ir Īzebele!”
