Jehu (1 Kings 19:16–17; 2 Kings 9:2; 2 Kings 9:6–7; 2 Kings 9:13; 2 Kings 9:20; 2 Kings 9:24; 2 Kings 9:33; 2 Kings 9:36; 2 Kings 10:9–10; 2 Kings 10:15–16; 2 Kings 10:19; 2 Kings 10:28; 2 Kings 10:30–31; 2 Kings 15:12; 2 Chronicles 22:7–9; Hosea 1:4)

Son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, anointed king over Israel

A captain of the host in Israel whom the LORD named to Elijah as the one to be anointed king, who was anointed at Ramoth-gilead, slew Joram, Jezebel, the sons of Ahab and the worshippers of Baal, and reigned twenty-eight years in Samaria without departing from the sins of Jeroboam.

The LORD told Elijah, “and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel” (1 Kings 19:16), and added, “him that escapeth from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay; and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay” (1 Kings 19:17). The text next shows him as one of the captains of the host at Ramoth-gilead, where a young man sent by Elisha poured oil on his head and said, “I have anointed thee king over the people of Jehovah, even over Israel. And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master” (2 Kings 9:6-7). The captains blew the trumpet, “saying, Jehu is king” (2 Kings 9:13).

He rode to Jezreel, where the watchman said, “the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously” (2 Kings 9:20). Joram was shot through the heart, Jezebel was thrown from her window, the seventy sons of Ahab were slain, and the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah were slain at the shearing-house (2 Kings 9:24, 33; 10:7, 14). Jehu then gathered the worshippers of Baal into the house of Baal, “But Jehu did it in subtlety” (2 Kings 10:19), and “Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel” (2 Kings 10:28).

The LORD said to him, “Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes … thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:30). The next verse reads, “But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 10:31). He reigned twenty and eight years in Samaria and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz (2 Kings 10:35-36). Hosea records the word of the LORD, “I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu” (Hosea 1:4).

Strengths

• Did well in executing what was right in the LORD's eyes

Weaknesses

• Did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam
• Took no heed to walk in the law with all his heart

Themes

• Anointed by the prophetic word
• The house of Ahab
• Baal destroyed
• Zeal and the whole heart
• The golden calves
• Blood of Jezreel

Named to Elijah (1 Kings 19:15–18)

The LORD tells Elijah to anoint Hazael king over Syria, Jehu the son of Nimshi king over Israel, and Elisha prophet in his room.

Anointed at Ramoth-gilead (2 Kings 9:1–13)

Elisha sends one of the sons of the prophets, who takes Jehu into an inner chamber, pours oil on his head and anoints him king; the captains proclaim him.

Anointed at Ramoth-gilead

“And Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets … and go to Ramoth-gilead. 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” (2 Kings 9:1-2). The young man found the captains of the host sitting; “And Jehu said, Unto which of us all? And he said, To thee, O captain” (2 Kings 9:5).

“And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of Jehovah, even over Israel. 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 Jehovah, at the hand of Jezebel” (2 Kings 9:6-7). Then the young man “opened the door, and fled” (2 Kings 9:10).

Jehu came out to the servants of his lord, and one said, “Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee?” (2 Kings 9:11) When he told them what was said, “they hasted, 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” (2 Kings 9:13).

Joram shot at Jezreel (2 Kings 9:14–26)

Jehu conspires against Joram, drives to Jezreel, meets the two kings in the portion of Naboth, and smites Joram with an arrow.

Joram shot at Jezreel

“So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram” (2 Kings 9:14), who had returned to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds the Syrians had given him. Two horsemen were sent to ask, “Is it peace?” (2 Kings 9:18) and Jehu answered each, “What hast thou to do with peace? turn thee behind me.” (2 Kings 9:18) The watchman told, “the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously” (2 Kings 9:20).

Joram and Ahaziah king of Judah went out in their chariots and “found him in the portion of Naboth the Jezreelite” (2 Kings 9:21). Joram said, “Is it peace, Jehu?” (2 Kings 9:22) and he answered, “What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?” (2 Kings 9:22).

“And Jehu drew his bow with his full strength, and smote Joram between his arms; and the arrow went out at his heart, and he sunk down in his chariot” (2 Kings 9:24). Jehu told Bidkar his captain to cast him in the field of Naboth, “according to the word of Jehovah” (2 Kings 9:26).

Ahaziah of Judah struck (2 Kings 9:27–29; 2 Chronicles 22:7–9)

Ahaziah king of Judah flees and is smitten at the ascent of Gur; 2 Kings says he died at Megiddo, and 2 Chronicles says he was brought to Jehu and slain.

Jezebel thrown down (2 Kings 9:30–37)

Jezebel looks out at the window as Jehu enters Jezreel; he has her thrown down, tramples her, and cites the word the LORD spoke by Elijah.

Jezebel thrown down

“And 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. And as Jehu entered in at the gate, she said, Is it peace, thou Zimri, thy master’s murderer?” (2 Kings 9:30-31). He lifted up his face and said, “Who is on my side? who?” (2 Kings 9:32), and two or three eunuchs looked out to him.

“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 trod her under foot” (2 Kings 9:33). He went in, “did eat and drink” (2 Kings 9:34), and said, “See now to this cursed woman, and bury her; for she is a king’s daughter” (2 Kings 9:34).

“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.” (2 Kings 9:35) Jehu said, “This is the word of Jehovah, which he spake by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, In the portion of Jezreel shall the dogs eat the flesh of Jezebel” (2 Kings 9:36).

The house of Ahab cut off (2 Kings 10:1–17)

Jehu's letters lead the great men of Samaria to slay the seventy sons of Ahab; he slays the brethren of Ahaziah, takes Jehonadab into his chariot to see his zeal, and smites all that remain unto Ahab.

The house of Ahab cut off

“Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. And Jehu wrote letters” (2 Kings 10:1). The rulers answered, “We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us” (2 Kings 10:5), and his second letter said, “take ye the heads of the men your master’s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by to-morrow this time” (2 Kings 10:6). “They took the king’s sons, and slew them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them unto him to Jezreel” (2 Kings 10:7). In the morning Jehu said to all the people, “Ye are righteous: behold, I conspired against my master, and slew him; but who smote all these? Know now that there shall fall unto the earth nothing of the word of Jehovah, which Jehovah spake concerning the house of Ahab” (2 Kings 10:9-10).

On the way to Samaria he met the brethren of Ahaziah king of Judah and said, “Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing-house, even two and forty men” (2 Kings 10:14).

Then he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab and said, “Is thy heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? And Jehonadab answered, It is.” (2 Kings 10:15) He took him up into the chariot and said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah” (2 Kings 10:16). “And when he came to Samaria, he smote all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the word of Jehovah, which he spake to Elijah” (2 Kings 10:17).

The worshippers of Baal (2 Kings 10:18–28)

Jehu gathers all the worshippers of Baal into the house of Baal, has the guard slay them, and breaks down the pillar and house of Baal.

The worshippers of Baal

“And Jehu gathered all the people together, and said unto them, Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much” (2 Kings 10:18). He called for all the prophets, worshippers and priests of Baal for “a great sacrifice” (2 Kings 10:19); “But Jehu did it in subtlety, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal” (2 Kings 10:19).

“So that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another” (2 Kings 10:21). Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab and told the worshippers to search, that “none of the servants of Jehovah, but the worshippers of Baal only” (2 Kings 10:23) were there (2 Kings 10:23).

When the burnt-offering was ended, Jehu “said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword” (2 Kings 10:25). The pillars were burned, the house of Baal was broken down, “and made it a draught-house, unto this day. Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel” (2 Kings 10:27-28).

The promise and the sins of Jeroboam (2 Kings 10:29–31)

The LORD promises Jehu sons of the fourth generation on the throne, yet the text says he took no heed to walk in the law and did not depart from the golden calves.

The promise and the sins of Jeroboam

“Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan” (2 Kings 10:29).

“And Jehovah said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, thy sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:30).

“But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Jehovah, the God of Israel, with all his heart: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, wherewith he made Israel to sin” (2 Kings 10:31). The text sets the commendation and this verdict side by side and does not explain them further.

Hazael smites Israel; Jehu dies (2 Kings 10:32–36)

In his days the LORD begins to cut off from Israel and Hazael smites its borders; Jehu sleeps with his fathers after twenty-eight years and Jehoahaz his son reigns.

The word fulfilled and the blood of Jezreel (2 Kings 13:1–2; 2 Kings 15:12; Hosea 1:4)

The fourth generation of his sons sits on the throne as the LORD said, and Hosea is told that the blood of Jezreel will be avenged upon the house of Jehu.

The LORD (1 Kings 19:16; 2 Kings 9:6–7; 2 Kings 10:30; Hosea 1:4)

Named him to Elijah, spoke through the young prophet, promised him the fourth generation, and told Hosea of the blood of Jezreel upon his house.

Elijah (1 Kings 19:16–17; 2 Kings 9:36; 2 Kings 10:10)

The LORD told Elijah to anoint Jehu, and Jehu cites the word the LORD spoke by Elijah against Ahab's house and Jezebel.

Elisha (1 Kings 19:16–17; 2 Kings 9:1–3)

Elisha called one of the sons of the prophets and sent him to Ramoth-gilead to anoint Jehu.

Joram, son of Ahab (2 Kings 9:14–26)

Jehu conspired against Joram king of Israel and smote him between his arms with an arrow.

Ahaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 9:27; 2 Chronicles 22:7–9)

Went out with Joram to meet Jehu and was smitten at the ascent of Gur.

Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30–37)

Spoke to Jehu from her window and was thrown down and trodden under foot.

Ahab and his house (2 Kings 9:25; 2 Kings 10:1–11; 2 Kings 10:17)

Jehu had ridden after Ahab and smote the seventy sons and all that remained of Ahab's house.

Jehonadab the son of Rechab (2 Kings 10:15–16; 2 Kings 10:23)

Jehu asked if his heart was right, took him up into the chariot, and went with him into the house of Baal.

Jehoahaz (2 Kings 10:35; 2 Kings 13:1–2)

His son, who reigned in his stead and followed the sins of Jeroboam.

Hazael (1 Kings 19:15–17; 2 Kings 10:32–33)

Named with Jehu in the word to Elijah; in Jehu's days Hazael smote Israel in all its borders.

Major sections

• 1 Kings 19:15–18
• 2 Kings 9–10
• 2 Kings 13:1–2
• 2 Kings 15:12
• Hosea 1:4

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