Study Desk

select the most qualified of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house.

Then Jehu wrote them a second letter, saying: If you are on my side, and if you will obey me, bring me the heads of your master's sons at this time tomorrow at Jezreel. All 70 of the king's sons were being cared for by the city's prominent men.

Know, then, that not a word the Lord spoke against the house of Ahab will fail, for the Lord has done what He promised through His servant Elijah."

Then he said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord !" So he let him ride with him in his chariot.

Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live." However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.

Jehu commanded, "Consecrate a solemn assembly for Baal." So they called one.

Then he said to the custodian of the wardrobe, "Bring out the garments for all the servants of Baal." So he brought out their garments.

Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed 80 men outside, and he warned them, "Whoever allows any of the men I am delivering into your hands to escape will forfeit his life for theirs."

and commanded them, "This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the king's palace.

A third are to be at the Sur gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.

"Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the Lord 's temple.

Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, "Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her," for the priest had said, "She is not to be put to death in the Lord 's temple."

So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for the Lord 's temple.

All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king's palace.

Then Joash said to the priests, "All the dedicated money brought to the Lord 's temple, census money, money from vows, and all money voluntarily given for the Lord 's temple,

So King Joash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said, "Why haven't you repaired the temple's damage? Since you haven't, don't take any money from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple."

the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord 's temple and for all spending for temple repairs.

However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver were made for the Lord 's temple from the money brought into the temple.

Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord 's favor, and the Lord heard him, for He saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.

Jehoahaz did not have an army left, except for 50 horsemen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 foot soldiers, because the king of Aram had destroyed them, making them like dust at threshing.