Jehu King of Israel

2022-11-12

While Elijah was on the run from Jezebel after the slaughter of the prophets of Baal, the LORD told the prophet to anoint Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi as king of Israel (1 Kings 19:16). It was not until much later when Elisha, Elijah’s successor, told his servant to anoint Jehu king. The servant did so privately, and the captain became king.

The servant told the new king he was to destroy the house of Ahab. “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 the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel” (2 Kings 9:7). All the men were to be destroyed, as well as Jezebel. Though anointed in private, his fellow servants wasted no time in following him. “And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king” (2 Kings 9:12-13).

Jehu furiously drove his chariot to Jezreel to destroy the king Jehoram (Joram) the son of Ahab. Sending messengers, the king asked his captain, “Is it peace?” But he had the messengers fall in behind him. King Joram and Ahaziah king of Judah came out to him to Naboth’s vineyard, which was stolen of Jezebel and Ahab. “And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many? And Joram turned his hands, and fled, and said to Ahaziah, There is treachery, O Ahaziah” (2 Kings 9:22-23). He slew both kings, both descended of Ahab (2 Chronicles 22:7). Jezebel also was thrown from the window by eunuchs when Jehu told them.

Jehu was an influential man, as his servants were quick to make him king based on what he said Elisha’s servant had done. Messengers of Joram fell in behind him quickly. The eunuchs were quick to throw down Jezebel. Jehu consolidated power quickly and executed the vengeance of the Lord completely. Jehu sent letters to the great men of Samaria, and they destroyed 70 sons of Ahab. Their heads were sent to Jezreel and piled in heaps by the gate, and the remnant of his seed was destroyed there. Ahaziah’s kin were destroyed as they unwittingly went to salute king Joram.

Jehu then lured all the worshippers of Baal to a feast as a plot to destroy them. He destroyed the worshippers and burned all the idols, making the temple a sewer. “Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel” (2 Kings 10:28). However, the calves of Bethel and Dan remained. Jehu’s dynasty remained a little while because of His zeal against Baal. “And the LORD 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 mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel” (2 Kings 10:30). Jehu did not seek to follow the Law of the LORD.

In his days, Hazael took Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe because “In those days the LORD began to cut Israel short” (2 Kings 10:32). The days of Israel started winding down. They never stopped worshipping at the idols of Jeroboam.

Jehu was purportedly mentioned on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III as one who gave tribute to the Assyrian king. “Tribute of Jehu, son of Omri. I received from him: silver, gold, a golden bowl, a golden beaker, golden goblets, pitchers of gold, lead, staves for the hand of the king, javelins” (K. C. Hanson, The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III). However, the Scriptures do not mention him being related Omri, the father of Ahab.

Jehu started off with a zeal for the LORD, but once his initial task of the Ahab purge was done, he was no different than his predecessors. Completely follow the LORD; do not leave anything undone (of course, without the violence of Jehu). If you are a man of influence like Jehu, use it for the Lord’s cause.

This is a part of the Kings of Israel series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.