Study Desk

Now the word of the LORD came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying,

Moreover, the word of the LORD through the prophet Jehu the son of Hanani came against Baasha and his household, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of his hands, by being like the house of Jeroboam, and because he struck it.

So Zimri eliminated all the household of Baasha, in accordance with the word of the LORD which He spoke against Baasha through Jehu the prophet,

You shall also anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.

"And it shall come about that the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death.

"When you arrive there, then look there for Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in and have him get up from among his brothers, and bring him to an inner room.

When he arrived, behold, the commanders of the army were sitting, and he said, "I have a word for you, commander." And Jehu said, "For which one of us?" And he said, "For you, commander."

Now Jehu went out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, "Is everything well? Why did this crazy fellow come to you?" And he said to them, "You know very well the man and his talk."

Then they hurried, and each man took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and blew the trumpet, saying, "Jehu is king!"

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Now Joram with all Israel was defending Ramoth-gilead against Hazael king of Aram,

but King Joram had returned to Jezreel to have himself healed of the wounds which the Arameans had inflicted on him when he fought Hazael king of Aram. So Jehu said to the other men, "If this is your intent, then let no one escape from the city to go tell about it in Jezreel."

Then Jehu rode in a chariot and went to Jezreel, since Joram was lying there recovering. And Ahaziah the king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and he saw the company of Jehu as he came, and he said, "I see a company." And Joram said, "Take a horseman and send him to meet them and have him ask, 'Is your intention peace?'"

So a horseman went to meet him and said, "This is what the king says: 'Is your intention peace?'" But Jehu said, "How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me." And the watchman reported, "The messenger came to them, but he did not return."

Then he sent a second horseman, and he came to them and said, "This is what the king says: 'Is your intention peace?'" And Jehu answered, "How is peace any business of yours? Turn and follow me."

And the watchman reported, "He came up to them, but he did not return; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously."

Then Joram said, "Get ready." And they made his chariot ready. Then 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 on the property of Naboth the Jezreelite.

When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Is your intention peace, Jehu?" And he answered, "What 'peace,' so long as your mother Jezebel's acts of prostitution and witchcraft are so many?"

Then Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his arms; and the arrow went through his heart, and he sank in his chariot.

And Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, "Pick him up and throw him on the property of the field of Naboth the Jezreelite; for remember, when you and I were riding together after his father Ahab, that the LORD brought this pronouncement against him: