Jehu
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Bible Concordance
Jehu (63 Occurrences)

1 Kings 16:1 The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 16:7 Moreover by the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came the word of Yahweh against Baasha, and against his house, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, in being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck him. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 16:12 Thus Zimri destroyed all the house of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 19:16 You shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 19:17 It shall happen, that he who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and he who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:2 When you come there, find Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brothers, and carry him to an inner room. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:5 When he came, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. Then he said, "I have a message for you, captain." Jehu said, "To which of us all?" He said, "To you, O captain." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:11 Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said to him, "Is all well? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" He said to them, "You know the man and what his talk was." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:12 And they say, 'False, declare, we pray thee, to us;' and he saith, 'Thus and thus spake he unto me, saying, Thus said Jehovah, I have anointed thee for king unto Israel.' (See NIV)

2 Kings 9:13 Then they hurried, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:14 So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram was keeping Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria; (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:15 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.) Jehu said, "If this is your thinking, then let no one escape and go out of the city, to go to tell it in Jezreel." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:16 So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 9:17 Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he spied the company of Jehu as he came, and said, "I see a company." Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send to meet them, and let him say,'Is it peace?'" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:18 So there went one on horseback to meet him, and said, "Thus says the king,'Is it peace?'" Jehu said, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!" The watchman said, "The messenger came to them, but he isn't coming back." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:19 Then he sent out a second on horseback, who came to them, and said, "Thus says the king,'Is it peace?'" Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me!" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:20 The watchman said, "He came to them, and isn't coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he drives furiously." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:21 Joram said, "Get ready!" They got his chariot ready. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah went out, each in his chariot, and they went out to meet Jehu, and found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:22 It happened, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, "Is it peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace, so long as the prostitution of your mother Jezebel and her witchcraft abound?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:24 Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and struck Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:25 Then Jehu said to Bidkar his captain, "Pick him up, and throw him in the plot of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember how, when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh laid this burden on him: (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:27 But when Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled by the way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, and said, "Strike him also in the chariot!" They struck him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo, and died there. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:30 When Jehu was come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she painted her eyes, and attired her head, and looked out at the window. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:31 As Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, "Do you come in peace, Zimri, you murderer of your master?" (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 9:33 He said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down; and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall, and on the horses. Then he trampled her under foot. (See NIV)

2 Kings 10:1 Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up the sons of Ahab, saying, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:5 He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:7 It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. (See NIV)

2 Kings 10:8 A messenger came, and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." He said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning." (See NIV)

2 Kings 10:9 It happened in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master, and killed him; but who struck all these? (See NIV)

2 Kings 10:11 So Jehu struck all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:13 Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:15 And when he had gone away from there, he came across Jehonadab, the son of Rechab: and he said good-day to him, and said to him, Is your heart TRUE to mine, as mine is to yours? And Jehonadab in answer said, It is; and Jehu said, If it is, give me your hand. And he gave him his hand, and he made him come up into his carriage. (BBE DBY JPS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:18 Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:19 Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshippers, and all of his priests. Let none be absent; for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live." But Jehu did it in subtlety, intending that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:20 Jehu said, "Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal!" They proclaimed it. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:21 Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn't come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:22 And Jehu said to him who kept the robes, Get out robes for all the servants of Baal. So he got out robes for them. (BBE NIV)

2 Kings 10:23 Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshippers of Baal, "Search, and look that there are here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:24 They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him eighty men outside, and said, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:25 It happened, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in, and kill them! Let none escape." They struck them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:28 Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:29 However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, Jehu didn't depart from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

2 Kings 10:30 Yahweh said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:31 But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:35 Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 10:36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 12:1 In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 13:1 In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 14:8 Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us look one another in the face." (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Kings 15:12 This was the word of Yahweh which he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your sons to the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel." So it came to pass. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 2:38 and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 2:39 and Jehu begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, (YLT)

1 Chronicles 4:35 and Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Chronicles 12:3 The chief was Ahiezer; then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite, and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth, and Beracah, and Jehu the Anathothite, (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 19:2 Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Should you help the wicked, and love those who hate Yahweh? for this thing wrath is on you from before Yahweh. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 20:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu the son of Hanani, which is inserted in the book of the kings of Israel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:7 Now the destruction of Ahaziah was of God, in that he went to Joram: for when he was come, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:8 It happened, when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the princes of Judah, and the sons of the brothers of Ahaziah, ministering to Ahaziah, and killed them. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 22:9 He sought Ahaziah, and they caught him (now he was hiding in Samaria), and they brought him to Jehu, and killed him; and they buried him, for they said, He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart. The house of Ahaziah had no power to hold the kingdom. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Chronicles 25:17 Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hosea 1:4 Yahweh said to him, "Call his name Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel on the house of Jehu, and will cause the kingdom of the house of Israel to cease. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Thesaurus
Jehu (63 Occurrences)
... of the conduct of the war, met in council; and while engaged in their deliberations,
a messenger from Elisha appeared in the camp, and taking Jehu from the ...
/j/jehu.htm - 47k

Jehu's (6 Occurrences)
...Jehu's (6 Occurrences). ... 2 Kings 9:17 And the watchman stood on the tower in Jizreel,
and saw Jehu's company as he came, and said, I see a company. ...
/j/jehu's.htm - 8k

Jehu'el (1 Occurrence)
Jehu'el. << Jehuel, Jehu'el. Jehu's >>. Multi-Version Concordance
Jehu'el (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles 29:14 and of the sons ...
/j/jehu&#39;el.htm - 6k

Jehu'di (3 Occurrences)
Jehu'di. << Jehudi, Jehu'di. Jehudijah >>. Multi-Version Concordance
Jehu'di (3 Occurrences). Jeremiah 36:14 and all the ...
/j/jehu&#39;di.htm - 7k

Jehu'cal (1 Occurrence)
Jehu'cal. << Jehucal, Jehu'cal. Jehud >>. Multi-Version Concordance
Jehu'cal (1 Occurrence). Jeremiah 37:3 And Zedekiah the ...
/j/jehu&#39;cal.htm - 6k

Nimshi (5 Occurrences)
... Saved. Jehu was "the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi" (2 Kings 9:2; Comp. ... NIMSHI.
nim'-shi (nimshi): The grandfather of Jehu (2 Kings 9:2, 14). ...
/n/nimshi.htm - 8k

Jehonadab (2 Occurrences)
... (see RECHABITE.) His interview and alliance with Jehu are mentioned in 2 Kings
10:15-23. He went with Jehu in his chariot to Samaria. Int. ...
/j/jehonadab.htm - 11k

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 2 Kings 10:18 Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them,
"Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. (See RSV). ...
/b/ba&#39;al.htm - 22k

Jizreel (30 Occurrences)
... king Joram had returned to be healed in Jizreel of the wounds that the Syrians had
given him, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If ...
/j/jizreel.htm - 15k

Ahazi'ah (33 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). 2 Kings 9:16 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. (See RSV). ...
/a/ahazi&#39;ah.htm - 16k

Hitchcock's Bible Names
Jehu

himself who exists

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Jehu

(the living).

  1. The founder of the fifth dynasty of the kingdom of Israel, son of Jehoshaphat. (2 Kings 9:2) He reigned over Israel 28 years, B.C. 884-856. His first appearance in history is when he heard the warning of Elijah against the murderer of Naboth. (2 Kings 9:25) In the reigns of Ahaziah and Jehoram, Jehu rose to importance. He was, under the last-named king, captain of the host in the siege of Ramoth-gilead. During this siege he was anointed by Elisha's servant, and told that he was appointed to be king of Israel and destroyer of the house of Ahab. (2 Kings 9:12) The army at once ordained him king, and he set off full speed for Jezreel. Jehoram, who was lying ill in Jezreel, came out to meet him, as it happened on the fatal field of Naboth. (2 Kings 9:21-24) Jehu seized his opportunity, and shot him through the heart. (2 Kings 9:24) Jehu himself advanced to the gates of Jezreel and fulfilled the divine warning on Jezebel as already on Jehoram. He then entered on a work of extermination hitherto unparalleled in the history of the Jewish monarchy. All the descendants of Ahab that remained in Jezreel, together with the officers of the court and the hierarchy of Eastward, were swept away. His next step was to secure Samaria. For the pretended purpose of inaugurating anew the worship of Baal, he called all the Bailouts together at Samaria. The vast temple raised by Ahab, (1 Kings 16:32) was crowded from end to end. The chief sacrifice was offered, as if in the excess of his zeal, by Jehu himself. As soon as it was ascertained that all, and none but, the idolaters were there, the signal was given to eighty trusted guards, and sweeping massacre removed at one blow the whole heathen population of the kingdom of Israel. This is the last public act recorded of Jehu. The remaining twenty-seven years of his long reign are passed over in a few words, in which two points only are material: --He did not destroy the calf-worship of Jeroboam:-- The transjordanic tribes suffered much from the ravages of Hazael. (2 Kings 10:29-33) He was buried in state in Samaria, and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz. (2 Kings 10:35) His name is the first of the Israelite kings which appears in the Assyrian monuments.
  2. Jehu son of Hanani; a prophet of Judah, but whose ministrations were chiefly directed to Israel. His father was probably the seer who attacked Asa. (2 Chronicles 16:7) He must have begun his career as a prophet when very young. He first denounced Baasha, (1 Kings 16:1,7) and then, after an interval of thirty years, reappeared to denounce Jehoshaphat for his alliance with Ahab. (2 Chronicles 19:2,3) He survived Jehoshaphat and wrote his life. ch. (2 Chronicles 20:34)
  3. A man of Judah of the house of Hezron. (1 Chronicles 2:38)
  4. A Simeonite, son of Josibiah. (1 Chronicles 4:35)
  5. Jehu the Antothite was one of the chief of the heroes of Benjamin who joined David at Ziklag. (1 Chronicles 12:3)
ATS Bible Dictionary
Jehu

The son of Hanani, a prophet, sent with messages from God to Baasha king of Israel, and many years afterwards, to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 1 Kings 16:1-7 2 Chronicles 19:1-3 20:34.

The "son" of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi, (compare 1 Kings 19:16 2 Kings 9:2) a general of the army of Joram, slew his master, and usurped the throne of Israel, B. C. 884. He reigned twentyeight years. See his history in 1 Kings 19:16,17 2 Kings 9:1-10:36. He fulfilled the divine purpose in extirpating the family of the impious Ahab, and zealously destroyed the priests of Baal and many other friends of Ahab. But his heart was not right with God. The Syrians possessed themselves of his eastern frontier, and his dynasty was cut short in the fourth generation.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
JEHU

je'-hu (yehu; meaning uncertain, perhaps "Yahweh is he"; 1 Kings 19:16, 17 2 Kings 9; 2 Kings 10; Eiou): Son of Jehoshaphat, and descendant of Nimshi, hence, commonly called "the son of Nimshi"; 10th king of Israel, and founder of its IVth Dynasty. Jehu reign for 28 years. His accession may be reckoned at circa 752 B.C. (some date a few years later).

1. Officer of Ahab:

A soldier of fortune, Jehu appears first as an officer in the body-guard of Ahab. To himself we owe the information that he was present at the judicial murder of Naboth, and that Naboth's sons were put to death with their father (2 Kings 9:26). He was in attendance when Ahab drove from Samaria to inspect his new possession in Jezreel, and was witness of the dramatic encounter at the vineyard between the king and the prophet Elijah (compare 1 Kings 21:16;). Years after, Jehu reminded Bidkar, his captain (literally, "thirdsman," in chariot), of the doom they had there heard pronounced upon Ahab and his house (2 Kings 9:25). It was in fulfillment of this doom that Jehu at that time ordered the body of the slain Jehoram to be thrown into the enclosure which had once been Naboth's (2 Kings 9:26). Ahab's temporary repentance averted the punishment from himself for a few years (1 Kings 21:27-29), but the blow fell at the battle of Ramoth-gilead, and Jehu would not be unmindful of the prophet's words as he beheld the dogs licking Ahab's blood as they washed his chariot "by the pool of Samaria" (1 Kings 22:38).

2. Jehoram at Ramoth-gilead and Jezreel:

A different fate awaited Ahab's two sons. The elder, Ahaziah, died, after a short reign, from the effects of an accident (2 Kings 1). He was succeeded by his brother Jehoram, who toward the close of his reign of 12 years (2 Kings 3:1) determined on an attempt to recover Ramoth-gilead, where his father had been fatally stricken, from Hazael, of Syria. Ramoth-gilead was taken (2 Kings 9:14), but in the attack the Israelite king was severely wounded, and was taken to Jezreel to be healed of his wounds (2 Kings 9:15). The city meanwhile was left in charge of Jehu and his fellow-captains. At Jezreel he was visited by Ahaziah, of Judah, who had taken part with him in the war (2 Kings 8:28, 29; 2 Kings 9:16).

3. The Anointing of Jehu:

The time was now ripe for the execution of the predicted vengeance on the house of Ahab, and to Elisha the prophet, the successor of Elijah, it fell to take the decisive step which precipitated the crisis. Hazael and Jehu had already been named to Elijah as the persons who were to execute the Divine judgment, the one as king of Syria, the other as king of Israel (1 Kings 19:15-17). Elijah was doubtless aware of this commission, which it was now his part, as respected Jehu, to fulfill. A messenger was hastily dispatched to Ramoth-gilead, with instructions to seek out Jehu, take him apart, anoint him king of Israel in Yahweh's name, and charge him with the task of utterly destroying the house of Ahab in punishment for the righteous blood shed by Ahab and Jezebel. The messenger was then to flee. This was done, and Jehu, the sacred oil poured on his head, found himself alone with this appalling trust committed to him (2 Kings 9:1-10).

4. The Revolution-Death of Jehoram:

Events now moved rapidly. Jehu's companions were naturally eager to know what had happened, and on learning that Jehu had been anointed king, they at once improvised a throne by throwing their garments on the top of some steps, blew the trumpet, and proclaimed, "Jehu is king." Not a moment was lost. No one was permitted to leave the city to carry forth tidings, and Jehu himself, with characteristic impetuosity, set out, with a small body of horsemen, in his chariot to Jezreel. Bidkar was there as charioteer (2 Kings 9:25). As they came within sight of the city, a watchman reported their advance, and messengers were sent to inquire as to their errand. These were ordered to fall into the rear. This conduct awakened suspicion, and Jehoram and Ahaziah-who was still with his invalided kinsman-ordered their chariots, and proceeded in person to meet Jehu. The companies met at the ill-omened field of Naboth, and there the first stroke of vengeance fell. The anxious query, "Is it peace?" was answered by a storm of denunciation from Jehu, and on Jehoram turning to flee, an arrow from Jehu's powerful bow shot him through the heart, and he sank dead in his chariot. Ahaziah likewise was pursued, and smitten "at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam." He died at Megiddo, and was taken to Jerusalem for burial in the sepulcher of the kings (2 Kings 9:11-28). A somewhat variant account of Ahaziah's death is given in 2 Chronicles 22:9. It is possible that Jehu came to Megiddo or its neighborhood, and had to do with his end there.

5. Death of Jezebel:

The slaughter of Jehoram was at once followed by that of the chief instigator of all the crimes for which the house of Ahab suffered-the queen-mother Jezebel. Hot from the pursuit of Ahaziah, Jehu pressed on Jezreel. Jezebel, now an aged woman, but still defiant, had painted and attired herself, and, looking from her window, met him as he drove into the palace court, with the insulting question, "Is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master's murderer?" (compare 1 Kings 16:9-12). Jehu's answer was an appeal for aid from those within. Two or three eunuchs of the palace gave signs of their concurrence. These, at Jehu's bidding, threw Jezebel down into the courtyard, where, lying in her blood, she was trodden under foot by the chariot horses. When, a little later, her remains were sought for burial, she was found to have been almost wholly devoured by the dogs-a lurid commentary on Elijah's earlier threatening, which was now recalled (2 Kings 9:30-37). Jehu was an intrepid minister of judgment, but the pitiless zeal, needless cruelty, and, afterward, deceit, with which he executed his mission, withdraw our sympathy from him, as it did that of a later prophet (Hosea 1:4).

6. Slaughter of Ahab's Descendants:

The next acts of Jehu reveal yet more clearly his thoroughness of purpose and promptitude of action, while they afford fresh exhibitions of his ruthlessness and unscrupulousness of spirit. Samaria was the capital of the kingdom, and headquarters of the Baal-worship introduced by Jezebel, though it is recorded of Jehoram that he had removed, at least temporarily, an obelisk of Baal which his father had set up (2 Kings 3:2; compare 10:26). The city was still held for the house of Ahab, and 70 of Ahab's "son"-to be taken here in the large sense of male descendants-resided in it (2 Kings 10:1, 6). Jehu here adopted a bold and astute policy. He sent letters to Samaria challenging those in authority to set up one of their master's sons as king, and fight for the city and the kingdom. The governors knew well that they could make no effective resistance to Jehu, and at once humbly tendered their submission. Jehu, in a second message, bade them prove their sincerity by delivering to him the heads of the 70 princes of Ahab's house in baskets. This they did, by their act irrevocably committing themselves to Jehu's cause (2 Kings 10:9). The ghastly relics were piled up in two heaps at the gate of Jezreel-a horrible object lesson to any still inclined to hesitate in their allegiance. Friends and partisans of the royal house shared the fate of its members (2 Kings 10:11).

7. Slaughter of Ahaziah's Brethren:

Apart from the faultiness in the agent's motive, the deeds now recounted fell within the letter of Jehu's commission. As much cannot be said of the deeds of blood that follow. Jehu had killed Ahaziah, king of Judah. Now, on his way to Samaria, he met a company of 42 persons, described as "brethren of Ahaziah"-evidently blood-relations of various degrees, as Ahaziah's own brethren had been earlier slain by the Arabians (2 Chronicles 21:17; 2 Chronicles 22:1)-and, on learning who they were, and of their purpose to visit their kinsfolk at Jezreel, gave orders that they be slain on the spot, and their bodies ignominiously thrown into the pit (or "cistern") of the shearing-house where he had encountered them. It was a cruel excess for which no sufficient justification can be pleaded (2 Kings 10:12-14).

8. Massacre of the Worshippers of Baal:

Still less can the craft and violence be condoned by which, when he reached Samaria, Jehu evinced his "zeal for Yahweh" (2 Kings 10:16) in the extirpation of the worshippers of Baal. Jehu had secured on his side the support of a notable man-Jehonadab the son of Rechab (2 Kings 10:15, 16; compare Jeremiah 35:6-19)-and his entrance into Samaria was signalized by further slaying of all adherents of Ahab. Then, doubtless to the amazement of many, Jehu proclaimed himself an enthusiastic follower of Baal. A great festival was organized, to which all prophets, worshippers, and priests of Baal were invited from every part of Israel. Jehu himself took the leading part in the sacrifice (2 Kings 10:25). Vestments were distributed to distinguish the true worshippers of Baal from others. Then when all were safely gathered into "the house of Baal," the gates were closed, and 80 soldiers were sent in to massacre the whole deluded company in cold blood. None escaped. The temple of Baal was broken up. Thus, indeed, "Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel" (2 Kings 10:28), but at what a frightful cost of falsehood and treacherous dealing! (2 Kings 10:18-28).

9. Wars with Hazael:

The history of Jehu in the Bible is chiefly the history of his revolution as now narrated. His reign itself is summed up in a few verses, chiefly occupied with the attacks made by Hazael, king of Syria, on the trans-Jordanic territories of Israel (2 Kings 10:32, 33). These districts were overrun, and remained lost to Israel till the reign of Jehu's great-grandson, Jeroboam II (2 Kings 14:28).

10. Assyrian Notices:

It is in another direction, namely, to the annals of Assyria, we have to look for any further information we possess on the reign of Jehu In these annals, fortunately, some interesting notices are preserved. In 854 B.C. was fought the great battle of Qarqar (a place between Aleppo and Hamath), when Shalmaneser II, king of Assyria, defeated a powerful combination formed against him (Damascus, Hamath, Philistia Ammon, etc.). Among the allies on this occasion is mentioned "Ahabbu of Sir'-ilaa," who took the third place with 2,000 chariots and 10,000 footmen. There is a difficulty in supposing Ahab to have been still reigning as late as 854, and Wellhausen, Kamphausen and others have suggested that Ahab's name has been confused with that of his successor Jehoram in the Assyrian annals. Kittel, in his History of the Hebrews (II, 233, English translation) is disposed to accept this view. G. Smith, in his Assyrian Eponym Canon (179), is of the opinion that the tribute lists were often carelessly compiled and in error as to names. The point of interest is that from this time Israel was evidently a tributary of Assyria.

11. Tribute of Jehu:

With this accord the further notices of Israel in the inscriptions of Shalmaneser II, two in number. Both belong to the year 842 B.C. and relate to Jehu. On Shalmaneser's Black Obelisk is a pictorial representation of "the tribute of Jehu, son of Omri." An ambassador kneels before the conqueror, and presents his gifts. They include silver, gold, a gold cup, gold vessels, a golden ladle, lead, a staff for the king's hand, scepters. An allusion to the same event occurs in the annals of Shalmaneser's campaign against Hazael of Syria in this year. "At that time I received the tribute of the Tyrians, Sidonians, of Jehu, son of Omri."

There are some indications that in his latter years, which were clouded with misfortune, Jehu associated with himself his son Jehoahaz in the government (compare 2 Kings 13:1, 10, where Jehoahaz comes to the throne in the 23rd, and dies in the 37th year of Jehoash of Judah-14 years-yet has a total reign of 17 years). Jehu is not mentioned in Chronicles, except incidentally in connection with the death of Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22:9), and as the grandfather of Jehoash (2 Chronicles 25:17).

The character of Jehu is apparent from the acts recorded of him. His energy, determination, promptitude, and zeal fitted him for the work he had to do. It was rough work, and was executed with relentless thoroughness. Probably gentler measures would have failed to eradicate Baal-worship from Israel. His impetuosity was evinced in his furious driving (2 Kings 9:20). He was bold, daring, unscrupulous, and masterful and astute in his policy. But one seeks in vain in his character for any touch of magnanimity, or of the finer qualities of the ruler. His "zeal for Yahweh" was too largely a cloak for merely worldly ambition. The bloodshed in which his rule was rounded early provoked a reaction, and his closing years were dark with trouble. He is specially condemned for tolerating the worship of the golden calves (2 Kings 10:29-31). Nevertheless the throne was secured to his dynasty for four generations (2 Kings 10:30; compare 15:12).

W. Shaw Caldecott

Easton's Bible Dictionary
Jehovah is he.

(1.) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah (1 Chronicles 2:38).

(2.) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag (1 Chronicles 12:3).

(3.) The son of Hanani, a prophet of Judah (1 Kings 16:1, 7; 2 Chronicles 19:2; 20:34), who pronounced the sentence of God against Baasha, the king of Israel.

(4.) King of Israel, the son of Jehoshaphat (2 Kings 9:2), and grandson of Nimshi. The story of his exaltation to the throne is deeply interesting. During the progress of a war against the Syrians, who were becoming more and more troublesome to Israel, in a battle at Ramoth-gilead Jehoram, the king of Israel, had been wounded; and leaving his army there, had returned to Jezreel, whither his ally, Ahaziah, king of Judah, had also gone on a visit of sympathy with him (2 Kings 8:28, 29). The commanders, being left in charge of the conduct of the war, met in council; and while engaged in their deliberations, a messenger from Elisha appeared in the camp, and taking Jehu from the council, led him into a secret chamber, and there anointed him king over Israel, and immediately retired and disappeared (2 Kings 9:5, 6). On being interrogated by his companions as to the object of this mysterious visitor, he informed them of what had been done, when immediately, with the utmost enthusiasm, they blew their trumpets and proclaimed him king (2 Kings 9:11-14). He then with a chosen band set forth with all speed to Jezreel, where, with his own hand, he slew Jehoram, shooting him through the heart with an arrow (9:24). The king of Judah, when trying to escape, was fatally wounded by one of Jehu's soldiers at Beth-gan. On entering the city, Jehu commanded the eunchs of the royal palace to cast down Jezebel into the street, where her mangled body was trodden under foot by the horses. Jehu was now master of Jezreel, whence he communicated with the persons in authority in Samaria the capital, commanding them to appear before him on the morrow with the heads of all the royal princes of Samaria. Accordingly on the morrow seventy heads were piled up in two heaps at his gate. At "the shearing-house" (2 Kings 10:12-14) other forty-two connected with the house of Ahab were put to death (2 Kings 10:14). As Jehu rode on toward Samaria, he met Jehonadab (q.v.), whom he took into his chariot, and they entered the capital together. By a cunning stratagem he cut off all the worshippers of Baal found in Samaria (2 Kings 10:19-25), and destroyed the temple of the idol (2 Kings 10:27).

Notwithstanding all this apparent zeal for the worship of Jehovah, Jehu yet tolerated the worship of the golden calves at Dan and Bethel. For this the divine displeasure rested upon him, and his kingdom suffered disaster in war with the Syrians (2 Kings 10:29-33). He died after a reign of twenty-eight years (B.C. 884-856), and was buried in Samaria (10:34-36). "He was one of those decisive, terrible, and ambitious, yet prudent, calculating, and passionless men whom God from time to time raises up to change the fate of empires and execute his judgments on the earth." He was the first Jewish king who came in contact with the Assyrian power in the time of Shalmaneser II.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(n.) A coachman; a driver; especially, one who drives furiously.
Strong's Hebrew
5250. Nimshi -- grandfather of Jehu
... << 5249, 5250. Nimshi. 5251 >>. grandfather of Jehu. Transliteration: Nimshi
Phonetic Spelling: (nim-shee') Short Definition: Nimshi. ...
/hebrew/5250.htm - 6k

3058. Yehu -- "the LORD is He," the name of several Israelites
... "the LORD is He," the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Yehu Phonetic
Spelling: (yay-hoo') Short Definition: Jehu. ... NASB Word Usage Jehu (58). Jehu. ...
/hebrew/3058.htm - 6k

Subtopics

Iconoclasm: Destroyed by Jehu

Jehu

Jehu: A Benjamite

Jehu: Son of Josibiah

Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel

Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: Death of

Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: His Territory Invaded by Hazael, King of Syria

Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: Prophecies Concerning

Jehu: Son of Nimshi, King of Israel: Religious Zeal of, in Killing Idolaters

Jehu: Son of Obed

Jehu: The Prophet Wbo Announced the Wrath of Jehovah Against Baasha, King of Israel

Related Terms

Jehu's (6 Occurrences)

Jehu'el (1 Occurrence)

Jehu'di (3 Occurrences)

Jehu'cal (1 Occurrence)

Nimshi (5 Occurrences)

Jehonadab (2 Occurrences)

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)

Jizreel (30 Occurrences)

Ahazi'ah (33 Occurrences)

Jehoahaz (22 Occurrences)

Baasha (26 Occurrences)

Jeho'ahaz (20 Occurrences)

Hanani (11 Occurrences)

Rode (22 Occurrences)

Naboth (18 Occurrences)

Carriage (32 Occurrences)

Ahaziah (34 Occurrences)

Ministers (49 Occurrences)

Joram (26 Occurrences)

Jezreel (37 Occurrences)

Jez'ebel (19 Occurrences)

Gur (2 Occurrences)

Worshipers (12 Occurrences)

Worshippers (45 Occurrences)

Eli'sha (52 Occurrences)

Baasa (26 Occurrences)

Ba'asha (26 Occurrences)

Jehoram (27 Occurrences)

Hana'ni (11 Occurrences)

Seraiah (18 Occurrences)

Haz'ael (21 Occurrences)

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)

Jezebel (20 Occurrences)

Zimri (16 Occurrences)

Omri (16 Occurrences)

Escaped (94 Occurrences)

Hazael (23 Occurrences)

Jo'ash (44 Occurrences)

Ramothgilead (19 Occurrences)

Jehosh'aphat (75 Occurrences)

Sama'ria (102 Occurrences)

Escape (142 Occurrences)

Ramoth-gilead (20 Occurrences)

Obed (13 Occurrences)

Jeho'ash (16 Occurrences)

Jehon'adab (2 Occurrences)

Jezreelite (9 Occurrences)

Jehoram's (3 Occurrences)

Garden-house (1 Occurrence)

Guardians (5 Occurrences)

Watchman (19 Occurrences)

Whoredoms (34 Occurrences)

Witchcrafts (3 Occurrences)

Ibleam (4 Occurrences)

Fornications (14 Occurrences)

Recab (12 Occurrences)

Escapes (11 Occurrences)

En-gannim (3 Occurrences)

Executing (4 Occurrences)

Engannim (3 Occurrences)

Effecting (9 Occurrences)

Escapeth (11 Occurrences)

Destroyeth (38 Occurrences)

Madman (8 Occurrences)

Prostitution (48 Occurrences)

Plot (53 Occurrences)

Bidkar (1 Occurrence)

Baal's (6 Occurrences)

Beth-haggan (1 Occurrence)

Baladan (2 Occurrences)

Challenge (6 Occurrences)

Convened (13 Occurrences)

Azari'ah (46 Occurrences)

Anathoth (16 Occurrences)

Ahab's (14 Occurrences)

Anathothite (4 Occurrences)

Asiel (1 Occurrence)

Ahaziah's (4 Occurrences)

Shot (25 Occurrences)

Jehoz'adak
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