Study Desk

The next day he took a blanket, dipped it in water and spread it on his face, so that he died; and Haza'el took his place as king.

So the young prophet left for Ramot-Gil‘ad.

You will attack the house of Ach'av your master, so that I can avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and of all the servants of Adonai , blood shed by Izevel.

So Yehu, riding in a chariot, went to Yizre‘el, for Yoram was laid up there. Achazyah king of Y'hudah had come down to visit Yoram.

So a man on horseback went to meet him and said, "The king asks if you are coming in peace." Yehu answered, "Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!" The watchman reported, "The messenger reached them, but he isn't coming back."

So he sent out a second man on horseback, who, on coming to him, said, "The king asks if you are coming in peace." Yehu answered, "Peace? What business is that of yours? Turn around, and get behind me!"

But when Achazyah the king of Y'hudah saw this, he fled on the road past Beit-HaGan. Yehu pursued him and ordered, "Strike him too in his chariot!" [So they struck him] at the Gur ascent, near Yivle‘am. He fled to Megiddo, but there he died.

He said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed onto the wall and the horses, and she was trampled underfoot.

So they came back and told him. He said, "This is what Adonai said through his servant Eliyahu from Tishbe: ‘In the field of Yizre‘el the dogs will eat the flesh of Izevel;

"You have with you your master's sons, also chariots and horses, as well as fortified cities and armor. So, as soon as this letter reaches you,

So the administrator of the palace, the governor of the city, the leaders and the children's guardians sent this message to Yehu: "We are your servants. We will do everything you ask us to; we won't appoint anyone king. Do as you see fit."

So Yehu killed everyone who remained from the house of Ach'av in Yizre‘el, all his leading men, his close friends and his cohanim, until not one of them was left alive.

On leaving there, he happened upon Y'honadav the son of Rekhav coming toward him. He greeted him and said to him, "Are you wholeheartedly with me, as I am with you?" "Yes," answered Y'honadav. "If so, give me your hand." He gave him his hand, and Yehu took him up into the chariot.

He said, "Come with me, and see how zealous I am for Adonai ." So they had him ride in his chariot.

Yehu said, "Proclaim a solemn assembly for Ba‘al," and they did so.

Yehu sent throughout all Isra'el, and all the worshippers of Ba‘al came, so that there was not one man left that didn't come. They entered the temple of Ba‘al, and the temple of Ba‘al was filled from one end to the other.

As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, Yehu said to the guards and officers, "Go in, and kill them; don't let one of them get out." So they killed them with the sword; then, after the guards and officers had thrown their bodies outside, they went into the temple of Ba‘al's inner shrine,

But Y'hosheva the daughter of King Yoram, sister of Achazyah, took Yo'ash the son of Achazyah and stole him away from among the princes who were being slaughtered. She took him and his nurse, sequestered them in a bedroom, and hid them from ‘Atalyah, so that he was not killed.

So they took her by force and led her through the horses' entry to the royal palace, and there she was put to death.

When ‘Atalyah the mother of Achazyah saw that her son was dead, she set about destroying the entire royal family. But Y'hosheva the daughter of King Yoram, sister of Achazyah, took Yo'ash the son of Achazyah and stole him away from among the princes who were being slaughtered. She took him and his nurse, sequestered them in a bedroom, and hid them from ‘Atalyah, so that he was not killed. He remained hidden with his nurse in the house of Adonai for six years; during this time ‘Atalyah ruled the land. In the seventh year Y'hoyada summoned the captains of hundred-man platoons, of both the Kari and the guard. He brought them into the house of Adonai , made an agreement with them and had them swear to it in the house of Adonai . Then he showed them the king's son and gave them this instruction: "Here is what you are to do: of you who come on duty on Shabbat, a third [normally] guards the royal palace, a third is at the Sur Gate and a third is at the gate behind the guards. [The first third] is to continue guarding the palace and serve as a barrier, while the other two groups of you who come on duty on Shabbat will guard the house of Adonai , where the king is. You are to surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who penetrates the ranks is to be killed. Stay with the king whenever he leaves or enters." The captains over hundreds did exactly as Y'hoyada the cohen ordered. Each took his men, those coming on duty on Shabbat and those going off duty on Shabbat, and came to Y'hoyada the cohen. The cohen issued to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David's and were kept in the house of Adonai . The guards then took positions, each man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, alongside the altar, alongside [the exterior of] the house and around the king. Then he brought out the king's son, crowned him, gave him [a copy of] the testimony and thus made him king; they anointed him, clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!" When ‘Atalyah heard the shouting of the guard and the people, she entered the house of Adonai where the people were, looked and saw the king standing there on the platform, in keeping with the rule, with the leaders and trumpeters next to the king. All the people of the land were celebrating and blowing the trumpets. At this ‘Atalyah tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!" Y'hoyada the cohen ordered the captains of hundreds, the army officers, "Escort her out past the ranks [of guards]; but anyone who follows her, kill with the sword." For the cohen had said, "She must not be put to death in the house of Adonai ." So they took her by force and led her through the horses' entry to the royal palace, and there she was put to death. Y'hoyada made a covenant between Adonai , the king and the people, that they would be Adonai 's people, and [a covenant] between the king and the people. Then all the people of the land went to the house of Ba‘al and broke it down; they completely smashed its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Ba‘al in front of the altars. Next, the cohen appointed officers over the house of Adonai . He took the captains of hundreds, the Kari, the guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of Adonai , going by way of the gate of the guards to the royal palace. There he sat on the throne of the kings. All the people of the land celebrated, and at last the city was quiet. That is how they killed ‘Atalyah with the sword at the royal palace.