Jehu Is Anointed as King of Israel
1Elisha the prophet sent for a man from the group of the prophets. Elisha said to him, “Tuck your coat into your belt. Take this bottle of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth Gilead. 2When you get there, look for Jehu. He’s the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to Jehu. Get him away from his companions. Take him into an inside room. 3Then get the bottle. Pour the oil on his head. Announce to him, ‘The Lord says, “I anoint you as king over Israel.” ’ After that, open the door and run away. Do it quickly!”
4So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. 5When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. “Commander, I have a message for you,” he said.
“For which one of us?” asked Jehu.
“For you, commander,” he replied.
6Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu’s head. He announced, “The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, ‘I am anointing you as king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7You must destroy the royal house of your master Ahab. I will pay them back for spilling the blood of my servants the prophets. I will also pay them back for the blood of all the Lord’s servants that Jezebel spilled. 8The whole house of Ahab will die out. I will destroy every male in Israel who is related to Ahab. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free. 9I will make Ahab’s royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah. 10Dogs will eat up Jezebel on a piece of land at Jezreel. No one will bury her.’ ” Then the prophet opened the door and ran away.
11Jehu went out to where the other officers were. One of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did that crazy man come to you?”
“You know the man. You know the kinds of things he says,” Jehu replied.
12“That’s not true!” they said. “Tell us.”
Jehu said, “Here is what he told me. He announced, ‘The Lord says, “I am anointing you as king over Israel.” ’ ”
13The officers quickly grabbed their coats. They spread them out under Jehu on the bare steps of the house. Then they blew a trumpet. They shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
14Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Jehu made plans against Joram. During that time Joram and Israel’s whole army had been guarding Ramoth Gilead. They had been guarding it against Hazael, the king of Aram. 15But King Joram had returned to Jezreel. He had gone there to give his wounds time to heal. The soldiers of Aram had wounded him in his battle against Hazael, the king of Aram. Jehu said to his men, “Do you want to make me king? If you do, don’t let anyone sneak out of the city. Don’t let them go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16Then Jehu got into his chariot. He rode off to Jezreel. Joram was resting there. And Ahaziah, the king of Judah, had gone down to see him.
17A lookout was standing on the roof of the tower in Jezreel. He saw Jehu’s troops approaching. So he called out, “I see some troops coming.”
“Get a horseman,” Joram ordered. “Send him to ride out to them. Have him ask, ‘Are you coming in peace?’ ”
18The horseman rode out to where Jehu was. He said, “The king asks, ‘Are you coming in peace?’ ”
“What do you know about peace?” Jehu answered. “Get in line behind me.”
The lookout reported, “The messenger has reached them. But he isn’t coming back.”
19So the king sent out a second horseman. When he came to them, he said, “The king asks, ‘Are you coming in peace?’ ”
Jehu replied, “What do you know about peace? Get in line behind me.”
20The lookout reported, “The second messenger has reached them. But he isn’t coming back either. The one driving the chariot drives like Jehu, the son of Nimshi. He’s driving like a crazy person.”
21“Get my chariot ready,” King Joram ordered. When it was ready, he rode out. Ahaziah, the king of Judah, rode out with him. Each of them was in his own chariot. They both went to meet Jehu. They met him at the piece of land that had belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. 22When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come here in peace, Jehu?”
“Your mother Jezebel worships statues of gods,” Jehu replied. “She also worships evil powers. The evil things she does have spread everywhere. As long as all of that goes on, how can there be peace?”
23Joram turned around and tried to get away. He called out, “It’s treason, Ahaziah!”
24Then Jehu shot an arrow at Joram. It hit him between the shoulders. It went through his heart. He sank down slowly in his chariot. 25Jehu spoke to Bidkar, his chariot officer. Jehu said, “Pick Joram up. Throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth from Jezreel. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Joram’s father Ahab? It was when the Lord spoke this prophecy against him. The Lord announced, 26‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons. You can be sure that I will make you pay for it on this piece of land.’ So pick Joram up. Throw him on that piece of land. That’s what the Lord said would happen.”
27Ahaziah, the king of Judah, saw what had happened. So he tried to get away. He went up the road toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him. He shouted, “Kill him too!” Jehu’s men wounded Ahaziah in his chariot. It happened on the way up to Gur near Ibleam. But Ahaziah escaped to Megiddo. And that’s where he died. 28Ahaziah’s servants took him to Jerusalem in his chariot. They buried him in his family tomb in the City of David. 29Ahaziah had become king of Judah. It was in the 11th year of Joram, the son of Ahab.
Jehu Kills Jezebel
30Jehu went to Jezreel. Jezebel heard about it. So she put makeup on her eyes and fixed her hair. Then she looked out of a window. 31Jehu entered the gate below. Jezebel said to him, “You are just like Zimri. You murdered your master. Have you come here in peace?”
32Jehu looked up at the window. “Who is on my side?” he called out. “Who?” Two or three officials looked down at him. 33“Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down. Some of her blood splashed on the wall. Some of it splashed on Jehu’s chariot horses as they ran over her.
34Jehu went inside. He ate and drank. “The Lord put a curse on that woman,” he said. “Take proper care of her body. Bury her. After all, she was a king’s daughter.” 35So they went out to bury her. But all they found was her head, feet and hands. 36They went back and reported it to Jehu. He told them, “That’s what the Lord said would happen. He announced it through his servant Elijah, who was from Tishbe. He said, ‘On a piece of land at Jezreel, dogs will eat up Jezebel’s body. 37Her body will end up as garbage on that piece of land. So no one will be able to say, “Here’s where Jezebel is buried.” ’ ”
Wɔsi Yehu Israelhene
1Na odiyifoɔ Elisa afrɛ adiyifoɔ no mu baako afiri adiyifoɔ kuo no mu. Ɔka kyerɛɛ no sɛ, “Siesie wo ho, na kɔ Ramot-Gilead. Fa saa toa a ngo wɔ mu yi ka wo ho kɔ. 2Hwehwɛ Yehosafat babarima Yehu a ɔyɛ Nimsi nana no. Frɛ no firi ne nnamfo mu, na fa no kɔ piam, 3na hwie ngo no gu ne tirim. Ka kyerɛ no sɛ, ‘Sɛdeɛ Awurade seɛ nie: Meresra wo ngo, ama woabɛdi Israel so ɔhene.’ Afei, bue ɛpono no na dwane, gye wo kra nkwa!”
4Enti, odiyifoɔ kumaa no yɛɛ deɛ wɔka kyerɛɛ no no, na ɔkɔɔ Ramot-Gilead. 5Ɔduruu hɔ no, ɔhunuu Yehu sɛ ɔne asraafoɔ mpanimfoɔ bi reyɛ nhyiamu. Ɔkaa sɛ, “Ɔsahene, mewɔ nkra bi de ma wo.”
Yehu bisaa sɛ, “Yɛn mu hwan?”
Ɔbuaa sɛ, “Wo a woyɛ ɔsahene no.”
6Enti, Yehu gyaa wɔn a aka no hɔ, kɔɔ efie. Na odiyifoɔ kumaa no hwiee ngo no guu Yehu tirim, kaa sɛ, “Sɛdeɛ Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn, seɛ nie: Mesra wo ngo sɛ, di Awurade nkurɔfoɔ Israelfoɔ so ɔhene. 7Ɛsɛ sɛ wosɛe Ahab, wo wura, no fie. Saa ɛkwan no so na mɛfa atua mʼadiyifoɔ a wɔkunkumm wɔn ne Awurade asomfoɔ no nyinaa a Isebel kunkumm wɔn no so ka. 8Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔpepa Ahab fiefoɔ nyinaa firi hɔ—ɔbarima biara, ɔsomfoɔ ne deɛ ɔde ne ho nyinaa a wɔwɔ Israel. 9Mɛsɛe Ahab fie, sɛdeɛ mesɛee Nebat babarima Yeroboam ne Ahiya babarima Baasa afie no. 10Na nkraman bɛwe Isebel ɛnam wɔ Yesreel asase so, na obiara rensie no.” Afei, odiyifoɔ kumaa no buee ɛpono no, tuu mmirika dwaneeɛ.
11Yehu sane kɔɔ ne nkurɔfoɔ mpanimfoɔ no nkyɛn. Wɔn mu baako bisaa no sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na damfo a ne ti asɛe no rehwehwɛ? Biribiara yɛ anaa?” Yehu buaa sɛ, “Wo ara wonim, sɛdeɛ ɔbarima no keka ne nsɛm fa.”
12Wɔn nyinaa kaa sɛ, “Woboa. Ka nokorɛ.” Enti, Yehu kaa sɛ, odiyifoɔ no ayi akyerɛ no sɛ Awurade asra no ngo sɛ ɔmmɛdi Israel so ɔhene.
13Wɔde wɔn ntadeɛ sesɛɛ ntwedeɛ no so ntɛm ara, hyɛnee totorobɛnto, teateaam sɛ, “Yehu yɛ ɔhene.”
Yehu Kum Yoram Ne Ahasia
14Enti, Yehosafat babarima Yehu a ɔyɛ Nimsi nana pam ɔhene Yoram tiri so. Afei, na Yoram de ne ho akɔbɔ akodɔm wɔ Ramot-Gilead a na wɔgyina de tia Aramhene Hasael akodɔm. 15Nanso, na wɔapira Yoram wɔ ɔko no mu, ama wasane aba Yesreel sɛ ɔrebɛsa ne ho yadeɛ. Enti, Yehu ka kyerɛɛ mmarima a wɔka ne ho no sɛ, “Esiane sɛ mopɛ sɛ medi ɔhene no enti, mma obiara nnwane nkɔ Yesreel nkɔka deɛ yɛayɛ wɔ hɔ.” 16Na Yehu kɔtenaa teaseɛnam mu, kɔɔ Yesreel kɔhwehwɛɛ ɔhene Yoram a na wapira da hɔ no. Na Yudahene Ahasia nso wɔ hɔ bi.
17Ɔwɛmfoɔ a na ɔwɔ Yesreel abantenten so no hunuu Yehu ne ne nkurɔfoɔ sɛ wɔreba enti, ɔteaam guu Yoram so sɛ, “Mehunu sɛ akodɔm reba. Soma ɔpɔnkɔkafoɔ bi, na ɔnkɔhwɛ sɛ wɔreba no asomdwoeɛ so anaa.” Ɔhene Yoram nso teaam.
18Enti, ɔpɔnkɔkafoɔ no kɔhyiaa Yehu bisaa no sɛ, “Ɔhene pɛ sɛ ɔhunu sɛ moreba no asomdwoeɛ so anaa.”
Yehu buaa sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na wonim fa asomdwoeɛ ho? Ma mensene!”
Ɔwɛmfoɔ no frɛɛ ɔhene sɛ, “Ɔpɔnkɔkafoɔ no ahyia wɔn, nanso ɔmma.”
19Enti, ɔhene no somaa ɔpɔnkɔkafoɔ a ɔtɔ so mmienu. Ɔkɔduruu wɔn nkyɛn bisaa sɛ, “Ɔhene pɛ sɛ ɔhunu sɛ moreba no asomdwoeɛ so anaa.” Bio, Yehu bisaa sɛ, “Ɛdeɛn na wonim fa asomdwoeɛ ho? Di mʼakyi!”
20Ɔwɛmfoɔ no teaam sɛ, “Ɔpɔnkɔkafoɔ no ahyia wɔn, nanso ɔno nso mma. Ɛbɛyɛ Nimsi babarima Yehu a ɔka ɔpɔnkɔ mmirikatɛntɛ so no.”
21Ɔhene Yoram hyɛɛ sɛ, “Ntɛm, monyɛ me teaseɛnam no krado mma me.” Na Israelhene Yoram ne Yudahene Ahasia tenatenaa wɔn nteaseɛnam mu kɔhyiaa Yehu. Wɔhyiaa no wɔ asase a na ɛyɛ Nabot, Yesreelni dea no so. 22Ɔhene Yoram bisaa sɛ, “Wobaa no asomdwoeɛ so anaa, Yehu?”
Yehu buaa sɛ, “Mpɛn dodoɔ a wo maame Isebel abosom ne ne bayie atwa yɛn ho ahyia yi, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na maba no asomdwoeɛ so?”
23Ɛnna ɔhene Yoram twee ne teaseɛnam pɔnkɔ no ahoma, de danee ɔpɔnkɔ no ani, dwaneeɛ a ɔreteateam sɛ, “Ɔmammɔfoɔ Ahasia!”
24Na Yehu twee nʼagyan to wɔɔ Yoram mmati ntam. Agyan no hwiree nʼakoma mu, ma ɔbu hwee ne teaseɛnam no mu, wuiɛ. 25Yehu ka kyerɛɛ ne kunini Bidkar sɛ, “To no twene Nabot, Yesreelni no asase no so. Wokae ɛberɛ a na yɛtete nteaseɛnam mu di nʼagya Ahab akyi no? Awurade kaa sɛ, 26‘Meka ntam di nse sɛ, mɛtua no so ka wɔ Nabot agyapadeɛ yi mu. Sɛ ɔkum Nabot ne ne mmammarima nnora a mehunuu no enti, mɛtua no ka. Enti, to no twene wɔ Nabot asase yi so.’ ”
27Ɛberɛ a Yudahene Ahasia hunuu asɛm a asi no, ɔdwane kɔɔ Bet-Hagan. Yehu taa no teateaam sɛ, “Monkum ɔno nso bi.” Enti, wɔtoo Ahasia agyan wɔ ne teaseɛnam mu wɔ Gur aforoeɛ a ɛbɛn Yibleam. Ɔtumi kɔeɛ ara kɔduruu Megido, na ɔwuu wɔ hɔ. 28Ne mpanimfoɔ de no too teaseɛnam mu, kɔɔ Yerusalem, kɔsiee no ne mpanimfoɔ ho wɔ Dawid kurom. 29Na Ahasia dii adeɛ wɔ Yuda no, na Israelhene Yoram nso adi adeɛ mfeɛ dubaako.
Isebel Owuo
30Ɛberɛ a ɔhemmaa Isebel tee sɛ Yehu aba Yesreel no, ɔkekaa nʼanintɔn, yɛɛ ne ti fɛfɛɛfɛ, tɛɛ mpomma mu. 31Ɛberɛ a Yehu wuraa ahemfie ɛpono no mu no, ɔhemmaa no teaam guu ne so sɛ, “Owudifoɔ, wobaa no asomdwoeɛ so anaa? Wote sɛ Simri a ɔkumm ne wura no.”
32Yehu pagyaa nʼani hunuu no wɔ mpomma no mu teaam sɛ, “Hwan na ɔwɔ mʼafa!” Na apiafoɔ baanu anaa baasa hwɛɛ no. 33Yehu teaam sɛ, “Monto no ntwene fam.” Enti, wɔtoo no firii mpomma no mu, maa ne mogya bi bɔ petee ɔfasuo no ne nʼapɔnkɔ ho. Na Yehu maa nʼapɔnkɔ tiatiaa nʼamu no so.
34Na Yehu kɔɔ ahemfie hɔ kɔdidi, nomeeɛ. Akyire yi, ɔkaa sɛ, “Monkɔ nkɔsie ɔbaa a wɔadome no yi, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔyɛ ɔhene babaa.” 35Nanso, wɔkɔɔ sɛ wɔrekɔsie no no, ne tikwankoraa, ne nan ne ne nsa nko ara na wɔhunuiɛ.
36Ɛberɛ a wɔbɛbɔɔ Yehu amaneɛ no, ɔkaa sɛ, “Yei hyɛ asɛm a Awurade nam ne ɔsomfoɔ Tisbini Elia so kaeɛ no ma sɛ, ‘Asase tam bi a ɛda Yesreel no so na nkraman bɛwe Isebel ɛnam. 37Na nʼamu bɛbɔ apete, te sɛ wura wɔ Yesreel haban mu a ne saa enti, obiara ntumi nhunu no.’ ”
