Jehu Wipes Out Ahab’s Royal House
1Ahab’s royal family in the city of Samaria had a total of 70 sons. Jehu wrote some letters to the officials of the city. He also sent them to the elders there. And he sent them to the people who took care of Ahab’s children. Jehu said, 2“Your master’s sons are with you. You also have chariots and horses and weapons. And you are living in a city that has high walls around it. As soon as you read this letter, here’s what I want you to do. 3Choose the best and most respected son of your master. Place him on his father Joram’s throne. Then fight for your master’s royal house.”
4The leaders of Samaria were terrified. They said, “King Joram and King Ahaziah couldn’t stand up against Jehu. So how can we?”
5The city governor and the person in charge of the palace sent a message to Jehu. The message was also from the elders and the people who took care of Ahab’s children. In the message, they said, “We will serve you. We’ll do anything you say. We won’t appoint anyone to be king. Do what you think is best.”
6Then Jehu wrote them a second letter. He said, “You say you are on my side. You say you will obey me. If you really mean it, bring me the heads of your master’s sons. Meet me in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”
There were 70 royal princes. They were with the most important men of the city. Those men were in charge of raising them. 7When Jehu’s letter arrived, the men went and got the princes. They killed all 70 of them. They put their heads in baskets. Then they sent them to Jehu in Jezreel. 8When the messenger arrived, he spoke to Jehu. He told him, “The heads of the princes have been brought here.”
Then Jehu ordered his men, “Put them in two piles. Stack them up at the entrance of the city gate until morning.”
9The next morning Jehu went out. He stood in front of all the people. He said, “You aren’t guilty of doing anything wrong. I’m the one who made plans against my master Joram. I killed him. But who killed all these? 10I want you to know that the Lord has spoken against Ahab’s royal house. Not a word of what he has said will fail. The Lord has done exactly what he announced through his servant Elijah.” 11So Jehu killed everyone from Ahab’s family who was in Jezreel. He also killed all Ahab’s chief men. And he killed Ahab’s close friends and his priests. He didn’t leave anyone alive in Ahab’s family.
12Then Jehu started out for Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13he saw some people. They were relatives of Ahaziah, the king of Judah. Jehu asked them, “Who are you?”
They said, “We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We’ve come down to visit the families of the king and of his mother.”
14“Take them alive!” Jehu ordered. So his men took them alive. Then they killed them by the well of Beth Eked. They killed a total of 42 of them. Jehu didn’t leave anyone alive.
15Jehu left there. On the way he met Jehonadab. He was the son of Rekab. Jehonadab was on his way to see Jehu. Jehu greeted him. He asked, “Are you my friend? You know I’m your friend.”
“I am,” Jehonadab answered.
“If that’s true,” said Jehu, “hold out your hand.” So he did. Then Jehu helped him up into the chariot. 16Jehu said, “Come along with me. See how committed I am to serve the Lord.” Jehu had Jehonadab ride along in his chariot.
17Jehu came to Samaria. He killed everyone there who was left from Ahab’s family. And so he completely destroyed Ahab’s royal house. That’s what the Lord had said would happen. He had spoken that message to Elijah.
Jehu Kills the People Who Serve Baal
18Then Jehu brought together all the people. He said to them, “Ahab served the god named Baal a little. I will serve him a lot. 19Send for all of Baal’s prophets. Also send for all his priests and the others who serve him. Make sure that not a single one is missing. I’m going to hold a great sacrifice to honor Baal. Anyone who doesn’t come will be killed.” But Jehu was lying to them. He was planning to destroy everyone who served Baal.
20Jehu said, “Call everyone together to honor Baal.” So they did. 21Then he sent a message all through Israel. All those who served Baal came. Not a single one of them stayed away. They crowded into Baal’s temple. It was full from one end to the other. 22Jehu spoke to the one who took care of the sacred robes. He told him, “Bring robes for everyone who serves Baal.” So he brought the robes out for them.
23Then Jehu went into Baal’s temple. Jehonadab, the son of Rekab, went with him. Jehu said to those who served Baal, “Look around. Make sure that no one who serves the Lord is here with you. Make sure only those who serve Baal are here.” 24So they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jehu had stationed 80 men outside. He warned them, “I’m placing some men in your hands. Don’t let a single one of them escape. If you do, you will pay for his life with yours.”
25Jehu finished sacrificing the burnt offering. As soon as he did, he gave an order to the guards and officers. He commanded them, “Go inside and kill everyone. Don’t let a single one of them escape.” So they cut them down with their swords. The guards and officers threw the bodies outside. Then they entered the most sacred area inside Baal’s temple. 26They brought the sacred stone of Baal outside. They burned it up. 27So they destroyed Baal’s sacred stone. They also tore down Baal’s temple. People have used it as a public toilet to this day.
28So Jehu destroyed the worship of the god named Baal in Israel. 29But he didn’t turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins. Jehu worshiped the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
30The Lord said to Jehu, “You have done well. You have accomplished what is right in my eyes. You have done to Ahab’s royal house everything I wanted you to do. So your sons after you will sit on the throne of Israel. They will rule until the time of your children’s grandchildren.” 31But Jehu wasn’t careful to obey the law of the Lord. He didn’t obey the God of Israel with all his heart. He didn’t turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. Jeroboam had caused Israel to commit those same sins.
32In those days the Lord began to make the kingdom of Israel smaller. Hazael gained control over many parts of Israel. He gained control over all their territory 33east of the Jordan River. It included the whole land of Gilead from Aroer by the Arnon River valley all the way to Bashan. That was the territory of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh.
34The other events of Jehu’s rule are written down. Everything he did and accomplished is written in the official records of the kings of Israel.
35Jehu joined the members of his family who had already died. He was buried in Samaria. His son Jehoahaz became the next king after him. 36Jehu had ruled over Israel in Samaria for 28 years.
Ezadde lya Akabu Littibwa
110:1 a 1Bk 13:32 b Bal 8:30 c 1Bk 21:1 d nny 5Mu Samaliya waaliyo batabani ba Akabu nsanvu. Awo Yeeku n’awandiika amabaluwa n’agaweereza e Samaliya10:1 Samaliya kye kyali ekibuga ekikulu eky’Obwakabaka obw’omu Bukiikakkono, okuva mu biro bya kabaka Omuli (1Bk 16:24). eri abakungu b’e Yezuleeri, n’eri abakadde ab’ekibuga, n’eri abakuza b’abaana ba Akabu. N’awandiika nti, 2“Amangwago ng’ebbaluwa eno ebatuuseeko, ng’abaana ba mukama wammwe bwe bali nammwe, ate nga mulina amagaali n’embalaasi, era n’ekibuga kiriko enkomera n’ebyokulwanyisa, 3mulonde ku batabani ba mukama wammwe asinga obulungi, ng’asaanira, mumuteeke ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka eya kitaawe, mulwanirire ennyumba ya mukama wammwe.” 4Naye ekyo ne bakitya nnyo, ne boogera nti, “Obanga bakabaka ababiri10:4 Bakabaka ababiri aboogerwako wano be ba Yolaamu ne Akaziya (9:22-28). tebaayinza kumwesimbamu, ffe tunaayinza tutya?”
510:5 Yos 9:8; 1Bk 20:4, 32Awo eyavunaanyizibwanga ebyolubiri, n’omukulembeze ow’ekibuga, n’abakuza ab’abaana ne baweereza obubaka eri Yeeku nti, “Ffe tuli baddu bo era tunaakola byonna by’onootulagira. Tetujja kufuula muntu n’omu kabaka; gw’oba okola ky’olowooza nga kye kisinga obulungi.”
6Awo Yeeku n’abawandiikira ebbaluwa eyookubiri ng’agamba nti, “Obanga muli ku lwange era nga muŋŋondera, mutemeeko emitwe gy’abatabani ba mukama wammwe, mugindetere e Yezuleeri, mugintuseeko enkya mu kiseera nga kino.”
Abalangira ensanvu baabeeranga n’abakuza baabwe abaali abaami abakulu mu kibuga ekyo. 710:7 a 1Bk 21:21 b 2Sa 4:8Ebbaluwa bwe yabatuukako, ne bakwata abalangira ensanvu bonna ne babatta, ne bateeka emitwe gyabwe mu bisero, mwe baagiweerereza eri Yeeku e Yezuleeri. 8Omubaka n’agenda n’agamba Yeeku nti, “Emitwe gy’abalangira bagireese.” Yeeku n’alagira nti, “Mugituume entuumo bbiri ku mulyango gwa wankaaki okutuusa enkya.” 9Yeeku n’afuluma, n’ayimirira mu maaso g’abantu bonna n’ayogera nti, “Mmwe temuliiko musango, era nze nasalira mukama wange olukwe ne mutta, naye ani asse bano bonna? 1010:10 a 2Bk 9:7-10 b 1Bk 21:29Kale mukitegeere nga tewali kigambo kya Mukama, kye yayogera ku nnyumba ya Akabu ekitalituukirira, kubanga Mukama akoze ekyo kye yayogerera mu muddu we Eriya.” 1110:11 a Kos 1:4 b nny 14; Yob 18:19Bw’atyo Yeeku n’atta ab’enju ya Akabu bonna abaali basigaddewo mu Yezuleeri; n’atta n’abakungu be, ne mikwano gye enfirabulago, ne bakabona be, obutalekaawo n’omu.
12Awo Yeeku n’asitula n’ayolekera Samaliya. N’asisinkana baganda ba Akaziya kabaka wa Yuda mu kkubo okumpi n’ennyumba eyasalirwangamu endiga ebyoya, 1310:13 a 2Bk 8:24, 29; 2By 22:8 b 1Bk 2:19n’ababuuza nti, “Mmwe b’ani?” Ne bamuddamu nti, “Tuli baganda ba Akaziya, era tuzze okulamusa abaana ba kabaka n’abaana ba nnamasole.” 14N’alagira nti, “Mubakwate.” Ne babakwata, abasajja amakumi ana mu babiri bonna ne babattira kumpi n’obunnya obw’ennyumba gye baasalirangamu endiga ebyoya. N’atalekaawo n’omu.
1510:15 a Yer 35:6, 14-19 b 1By 2:55; Yer 35:2 c Ezr 10:19; Ez 17:18Eyo bwe yavaayo, n’asanga Yekonadabu mutabani wa Lekabu10:15 Abalekabu bazzukulu ba Lekabu, ate era bazzukulu ba Yesero; baawangaala okutuusa mu biro bya Yeremiya (Yer 35:6, 8). Baanyiikira nnyo okusinza Mukama ate nga balunzi ng’ajja okumusisinkana. Yeeku n’amulamusa, n’amubuuza nti, “Ossa kimu nange, nga nze bwe nzisa ekimu naawe?”
Yekonadabu n’addamu nti, “Weewaawo.” Yeeku n’amugamba nti, “Obanga weewaawo, mpa omukono gwo.” N’amuwa omukono gwe, Yeeku n’amulinnyisa gy’ali mu ggaali. 1610:16 Kbl 25:13; 1Bk 19:10Yeeku n’amugamba nti, “Jjangu tugende ffembi olabe obunyiikivu bwange eri Mukama.” Awo n’atambulira wamu naye mu ggaali lye.
1710:17 2Bk 9:8Awo Yeeku bwe yatuuka e Samaliya, n’atta bonna abaali basigaddewo ab’omu nnyumba ya Akabu, n’abazikiriza ng’ekigambo kya Mukama kye yayogera eri Eriya bwe kyali.
Okuttibwa kw’Abaweereza ba Baali
1810:18 Bal 2:11; 1Bk 16:31-32Awo Yeeku n’akuŋŋaanya abantu bonna, n’abagamba nti, “Akabu yaweerezaako Baali ebbanga ttono naye Yeeku anaamuweereza okusingawo. 1910:19 1Bk 18:19; 22:6Kale nno muyite bannabbi bonna aba Baali, bakabona be bonna, n’abaweereza be bonna, waleme okubulawo n’omu kubanga ŋŋenda okuwaayo ssaddaaka enkulu ennyo eri Baali, ne buli ataabeerewo alittibwa.” Naye okukola ekyo, Yeeku yasala lukwe alyoke azikirize abaasinzanga Baali.
2010:20 Kuv 32:5; Yo 1:14Yeeku n’alagira nti, “Mukole olukuŋŋaana olutukuvu eri Baali.” Ne balulangirira. 21Awo n’aweereza obubaka okubuna Isirayiri yonna, abaweereza ba Baali bonna ne bajja, n’okusigala n’etasigala muntu n’omu. Ne bakuŋŋaanira mu ssabo lya Baali10:21 Akabu ye yazimba essabo lya Baali (1Bk 16:32), ne lijjulira ddala okuva ku luuyi olumu okutuukira ddala ku luuyi olulala. 22Yeeku n’agamba eyavunaanyizibwanga ebyambalo byabwe nti, “Leetera abaweereza ba Baali bonna ebyambalo.” Bonna n’abaleetera ebyambalo. 23Awo Yeeku ne Yekonadabu mutabani wa Lekabu ne bagenda mu ssabo lya Baali. Yeeku n’agamba abaweereza ba Baali nti, “Mwetegereze nnyo mulabe nga mu mmwe temuliimu muweereza wa Mukama, wabula abasinza Baali bokka.” 2410:24 1Bk 20:39Ne bayingira okuwaayo ssaddaaka n’ebiweebwayo ebyokebwa. Naye Yeeku yali atadde abasajja kinaana ebweru w’essabo, ng’abalabudde nti, “Omuntu yenna anaataako n’omu ku basajja abo be ntadde mu mikono gyammwe, anaaliwa n’obulamu bwe ye.”
2510:25 a Kuv 22:20; 2Bk 11:18 b 1Bk 18:40Amangwago bwe yamala okuwaayo ekiweebwayo ekyokebwa, n’alagira abaserikale n’abaami nti, “Muyingire mubatte; waleme okuwonawo n’omu.” Bwe baamala okubatta n’ekitala, ne basuula emirambo gyabwe ebweru, ne bayingira munda mu ssabo ekkulu erya Baali. 2610:26 1Bk 14:23Ne bafulumya empagi ezaali mu ssabo lya Baali, ne bazookya. 2710:27 1Bk 16:32Ne bamenyaamenya empagi ya Baali, ne bamenyaamenya ne ssabo lya Baali, ne balifuula kabuyonjo ne leero.
2810:28 1Bk 19:17Awo Yeeku n’amalirawo ddala okusinza kwa Baali mu Isirayiri. 2910:29 a 1Bk 12:30 b 1Bk 12:28-29 c 1Bk 12:32Naye teyaleka kukola ebibi ebya Yerobowaamu mutabani wa Nebati, bye yayonoonyesa Isirayiri, ng’okusinza ennyana eza zaabu ezaali mu Beseri ne mu Ddaani.
3010:30 nny 35; 2Bk 15:12Mukama n’agamba Yeeku nti, “Olw’okukola obulungi n’otuukiriza byonna mu maaso gange, n’okola ennyumba ya Akabu byonna ebyali ku mutima gwange bye nnali nteeseteese okukola, bazzukulu bo kyebaliva batuula ku ntebe ey’obwakabaka eya Isirayiri okutuusa ku muzzukulu owa nnakana.” 3110:31 a Nge 4:23 b 1Bk 12:30Naye Yeeku n’atassaayo mwoyo okutambulira mu mateeka ga Mukama Katonda wa Isirayiri. Era teyakyuka okuva mu kkubo ery’ebibi erya Yerobowaamu, lye yayonoonyesa Isirayiri.
3210:32 a 2Bk 13:25 b 1Bk 19:17; 2Bk 8:12Mu biro ebyo Mukama n’atandika okukendeeza ensalo za Isirayiri. Kazayeeri n’abawangula ng’atandikira 3310:33 Kbl 32:34; Ma 2:36; Bal 11:26; Is 17:2ku luuyi olw’ebuvanjuba mu nsi ey’e Gireyaadi mu bitundu eby’Abagaadi, n’Abalewubeeni, n’Abamanase okuva ku Aloweri okuliraana ekiwonvu kya Alunoni n’okuyita e Gireyaadi okutuuka e Basani.
3410:34 1Bk 15:31Ebyafaayo ebirala ebyabaawo mu mirembe gya Yeeku, n’ebintu byonna ebikulu bye yakola, tebyawandiikibwa mu kitabo eky’ebyomumirembe egya bassekabaka ba Isirayiri?
35Yeeku n’afa, n’aziikibwa mu Samaliya, Yekoyakaazi mutabani we n’amusikira. 36Ebbanga Yeeku lye yafuga Isirayiri mu Samaliya lyali emyaka amakumi abiri mu munaana.
