CH 9: Elisha the prophet and man of God anoints Jehu to be king of Israel. Jehu was an army commander under king Joram already at this time so he was also a great warrior. When Jehu was anointed he was given a message from Elisha (who had gotten it from God) that Jehu was to utterly destroy king Ahab and his entire family. The Lord was on His way to avenging the murder of all his prophets by Jezebel (who is also king Joram's mother & Ahab is his father). The Lord's prophecy came true at this point when Jehu kills king Joram and dumps his body on the same plot of land that his father and mother, Ahab & Jezebel, had killed Naboth and his sons over.
Also, because king Ahaziah of Judah was with king Joram when Jehu came after him (they were in battle together against a common enemy at this time), Jehu also killed king Ahaziah, but they buried him in the City of David (aka Jerusalem). King Ahaziah had become king in the 11th year of king Joram's reign in Israel.
Now when Jezebel who was in the city of Jezreel, heard of all that had happened by Jehu's hand, she got all dressed up and sat on her window sill. When Jehu came upon her he looked up and shouted to the eunuchs to throw her out of the window- and they immediately did so. She hit the ground and died, and Jehu trampled her with his horse. He then went in to eat and drink in the palace. But later, because she was a king's daughter, he told the men to go bury her. They went out to do this but all that was left was her skull, hands and feet. This scene brought final fulfillment to the prophecies by the Lord against the house of Ahab (through Elijah in 1 Kings 21:21-24; 22:34-38) that the dogs will eat Jezebel's body in this exact location in Jezreel, and her remains will be scattered like dung so that no one can recognize her!
Also, because king Ahaziah of Judah was with king Joram when Jehu came after him (they were in battle together against a common enemy at this time), Jehu also killed king Ahaziah, but they buried him in the City of David (aka Jerusalem). King Ahaziah had become king in the 11th year of king Joram's reign in Israel.
Now when Jezebel who was in the city of Jezreel, heard of all that had happened by Jehu's hand, she got all dressed up and sat on her window sill. When Jehu came upon her he looked up and shouted to the eunuchs to throw her out of the window- and they immediately did so. She hit the ground and died, and Jehu trampled her with his horse. He then went in to eat and drink in the palace. But later, because she was a king's daughter, he told the men to go bury her. They went out to do this but all that was left was her skull, hands and feet. This scene brought final fulfillment to the prophecies by the Lord against the house of Ahab (through Elijah in 1 Kings 21:21-24; 22:34-38) that the dogs will eat Jezebel's body in this exact location in Jezreel, and her remains will be scattered like dung so that no one can recognize her!
CH 10: Jehu kills Ahab's family as the Lord had told him to do. And he made sure to kill all relatives, important officials, personal friends, and even his "priests". Not a single person was left alive that was important to Ahab.
The now King Jehu also accidentally ran into relatives of the late king Ahaziah while traveling for Samaria, 42 of them, and killed all of them as well after learning who they were. So Jehu went to Samaria and found more of Ahab's relatives and killed all of them as well. Next, Jehu got all the priests together who were devoted to the false god Baal, and killed them all while they were gathered to sacrifice in the temple of Baal (Jehu had arranged this). Then he went one step further, he destroyed the "sacred" pillar and wrecked the temple and converted it into a public toilet! Was this guy awesome or what?
Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel (finally!!).
But, Jehu did not destroy the gold calves at Bethel, and he did not obey the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart, and he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit (the gold calves in Bethel). Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years and his son Jehoahaz became king after him. The Lord did promise Jehu that his sons the the 4th generation would be kings since he did obey Him in destroying all of Ahab's family.
The now King Jehu also accidentally ran into relatives of the late king Ahaziah while traveling for Samaria, 42 of them, and killed all of them as well after learning who they were. So Jehu went to Samaria and found more of Ahab's relatives and killed all of them as well. Next, Jehu got all the priests together who were devoted to the false god Baal, and killed them all while they were gathered to sacrifice in the temple of Baal (Jehu had arranged this). Then he went one step further, he destroyed the "sacred" pillar and wrecked the temple and converted it into a public toilet! Was this guy awesome or what?
Jehu destroyed every trace of Baal worship from Israel (finally!!).
But, Jehu did not destroy the gold calves at Bethel, and he did not obey the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart, and he refused to turn from the sins that Jeroboam had led Israel to commit (the gold calves in Bethel). Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years and his son Jehoahaz became king after him. The Lord did promise Jehu that his sons the the 4th generation would be kings since he did obey Him in destroying all of Ahab's family.