Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said, "Gird up your waist and take this vial of oil in your hand. Go to Ramoth Gilead. When you arrive there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi. Take him from among his brothers and lead him into an inner room.

Take the box of oil and pour it on his head, saying, "The Lord says, I have anointed you king over Israel." Then open the door and flee without delay. The young prophet went to Ramoth-gilead as instructed.

When he arrived, the captains of the army were seated. He said to Jehu, "I have a message for you, Captain." Jehu asked, "Which one of us?" The young prophet replied, "For you, Captain."

Jehu got up and went into the house where the oil was poured on his head. The young prophet then said, "The Lord, the God of Israel, says, 'I have anointed you king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.'"

You shall strike down the household of your master Ahab, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and all the servants of the Lord who were slaughtered at Jezebel's hands. For the whole house of Ahab will perish; I will cut off from Ahab every male, whether slave or free.

I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. The dogs will eat Jezebel on the plot of ground in Jezreel, and there will be no one to bury her. Jehu did as the Lord had spoken.

Jehu then came out into the open area where his lord's servants were gathered. One of them asked, "Is everything all right? Why has this man come to you?" Jehu replied, "You know the young prophet and what he said." They said it was a lie, but Jehu insisted that the young prophet had spoken those exact words.

The young prophet then took his leave and fled. The servants of King Joram were confused and didn't understand what was happening. But Jehu quickly acted to seize power for himself.

Jehu rode in a chariot to Jezreel, where Joram lay wounded. Ahaziah king of Judah had also come down to visit Joram. A watchman on the tower saw Jehu's company approaching and reported back to King Joram. "I see a group coming," he said.

King Joram sent a horseman to ask Jehu if everything was all right, but Jehu replied, "What business do you have with peace? Turn around and go behind me." The watchman reported back that the messenger had arrived but wasn't returning.

A second horseman came to meet Jehu and asked, "Is it peace?" But Jehu again replied, "What business do you have with peace? Go behind me!" The watchman then said, "He's driving like Jehu son of Nimshi, furiously!"

King Joram ordered his chariot prepared. He, along with Ahaziah king of Judah, rode out to meet Jehu on the land that once belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite.

When King Joram saw Jehu, he asked, "Is it peace, Jehu?" But Jehu replied, "What peace? So long as your mother Jezebel's prostitution and witchcrafts continue to flourish?"

Joram turned his hands and fled, saying to Ahaziah, "There is treachery!" Ahaziah joined Joram in fleeing. Jehu drew his bow with all his might and shot King Joram between the arms. The arrow pierced his heart, causing him to slump in his chariot.

Then Jehu told Bidkar his captain, "Take up the body of Joram's son and cast it into the field of Naboth the Jezreelite." Jehu said this because he remembered how, when they were riding together after Ahab my father, the Lord laid a burden upon him.

"I have seen yesterday the blood of Naboth and his sons," declares the Lord. "I will requite you in this plot," declares the Lord. Take him and throw him into the field according to the word of the Lord.

But Ahaziah king of Judah saw what was happening and fled by way of the garden house. Jehu followed after him, saying, "Strike him also in his chariot." They did so at the ascent to Gur, which is near Ibleam. Then Ahaziah fled to Megiddo and died there.

His servants carried him back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the city of David. In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah began to reign over Judah.

When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it and prepared herself for death by painting her face and arranging her hair. She looked out at a window as Jehu entered through the gate.

"Has Zimri found peace?" she asked, referring to Zimri who had killed his master. Jehu lifted his face to the window and called out, "Who is on my side?" Two or three eunuchs looked out at him.

Jehu ordered them to throw Jezebel down from the window. They did so, and some of her blood was sprinkled on the wall and on the horses. Jehu then trod her underfoot.

After that, he came inside, ate, and drank, then said, "See now to this cursed woman. Bury her, for she is a king's daughter." But when they went to bury her, all they found were her skull, feet, and palms of her hands.

They returned and told Jehu what had happened. He replied, "This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'The dogs will eat Jezebel's flesh on the plot in Jezreel.'"

The corpse of Jezebel will be like dung on the field in Jezreel, so they will not say, "This is Jezebel."