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.” ’ ”
Yehu Atiwa Mafuta Kuwa Mfalme
19:1 1Sam 10:5; 2Fal 8:28Nabii Elisha akamwita mtu mmoja kutoka kwa wana wa manabii na kumwambia, “Jikaze viuno, uichukue hii chupa ya mafuta, na uende Ramoth-Gileadi. 2Ukifika huko, mtafute Yehu mwana wa Yehoshafati, mwana wa Nimshi. Enda kwake, umtenge na wenzake, na umpeleke katika chumba cha ndani. 39:3 1Fal 19:16Kisha chukua hii chupa na umimine mafuta juu ya kichwa chake, nawe utangaze, ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: Ninakutia mafuta uwe mfalme juu ya Israeli.’ Kisha ufungue mlango na ukimbie; usikawie!”
4Basi yule kijana nabii akaenda Ramoth-Gileadi. 5Wakati alipofika, akawakuta maafisa wa jeshi wameketi pamoja, akasema, “Nina ujumbe wako, ee jemadari.”
Yehu akauliza, “Kwa yupi miongoni mwetu?”
Akamjibu, “Kwako wewe, jemadari.”
69:6 1Fal 19:16Yehu akainuka na kuingia ndani ya nyumba. Ndipo yule nabii akamimina mafuta juu ya kichwa cha Yehu na kutangaza, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli: ‘Ninakutia mafuta uwe mfalme juu ya watu wa Bwana, yaani Israeli. 79:7 Mwa 4:24; Kum 32:43Inakupasa uiangamize nyumba ya bwana wako Ahabu, nami nitalipiza kisasi cha damu ya watumishi wangu manabii na damu ya watumishi wote wa Bwana iliyomwagwa na Yezebeli. 89:8 1Sam 25:22Nyumba yote ya Ahabu itaangamia. Nitamkatilia mbali kila mzaliwa wa kiume wa Ahabu katika Israeli, aliye mtumwa ama aliye huru. 99:9 1Fal 14:10Nitaifanya nyumba ya Ahabu kuwa kama ile nyumba ya Yeroboamu mwana wa Nebati, na kama ile nyumba ya Baasha mwana wa Ahiya. 109:10 1Fal 21:23Kuhusu Yezebeli, mbwa watamla kwenye kiwanja huko Yezreeli, wala hakuna mtu atakayemzika.’ ” Kisha akafungua mlango na kukimbia.
119:11 Yn 10:20; 1Sam 10:11Yehu alipotoka nje na kurudi kwenda kwa maafisa wenzake, mmoja wao akamuuliza, “Je, kila kitu ni salama? Kwa nini huyu mwenye wazimu alikuja kwako?”
Yehu akajibu, “Wewe unamfahamu huyo mtu, na aina ya mambo ambayo yeye husema.”
12Wakasema, “Hiyo siyo kweli! Tuambie.”
Yehu akasema, “Haya ndiyo aliyoniambia: ‘Hivi ndivyo asemavyo Bwana: Ninakutia mafuta uwe mfalme juu ya Israeli.’ ”
139:13 Mt 21:8; 2Sam 15:10Wakaharakisha kuvua mavazi yao, na kuyatandaza chini ya Yehu ili akanyage juu kwenye ngazi ya nje. Kisha wakapiga tarumbeta na kupaza sauti wakisema, “Yehu ni mfalme!”
Yehu Anamuua Yoramu Na Ahazia
149:14 Kum 4:43; 2Fal 8:28Basi Yehu mwana wa Yehoshafati, mwana wa Nimshi, akafanya shauri baya dhidi ya Yoramu. (Wakati huu, Yoramu na Israeli wote walikuwa wakiilinda Ramoth-Gileadi dhidi ya Hazaeli mfalme wa Aramu, 159:15 2Fal 8:29lakini Mfalme Yoramu alikuwa amerudishwa Yezreeli ili kujiuguza kutokana na majeraha ambayo Waaramu walimtia katika vita na Hazaeli mfalme wa Aramu.) Yehu akasema, “Kama hii ndiyo nia yenu, msimruhusu hata mmoja kutoroka nje ya mji kwenda kupeleka habari huko Yezreeli.” 169:16 2Nya 22:7Ndipo Yehu akaingia katika gari lake la vita na kuendesha kwenda Yezreeli, kwa sababu Yoramu alikuwa amepumzika huko, na Ahazia mfalme wa Yuda alikuwa ameenda kumwona.
179:17 1Sam 14:16Mlinzi aliyesimama juu ya kinara cha Yezreeli alipoona askari wa Yehu wanakuja, akaita akisema, “Naona askari wanakuja.”
Yoramu akaamuru, “Mtwae mpanda farasi umtume akakutane nao na kuuliza, ‘Je, mmekuja kwa amani?’ ”
18Mpanda farasi akaondoka kwenda kukutana na Yehu na kusema, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo mfalme: ‘Je, mmekuja kwa amani?’ ”
Yehu akamjibu, “Una nini na amani? Unga msafara nyuma yangu.”
Mlinzi akatoa habari, “Mjumbe amewafikia lakini harudi.”
19Basi mfalme akamtuma mpanda farasi wa pili. Wakati alipowafikia akasema, “Hivi ndivyo asemavyo mfalme, ‘Je, mmekuja kwa amani?’ ”
Yehu akajibu, “Una nini na amani? Unga msafara nyuma yangu.”
209:20 2Sam 18:27Yule mlinzi akatoa taarifa akasema, “Mjumbe amewafikia, lakini hata yeye harudi. Uendeshaji ule ni kama wa Yehu mwana wa Nimshi, anaendesha kama mwenye wazimu!”
219:21 1Fal 21:1Yoramu akaagiza, akasema, “Weka tayari gari langu la vita.” Na baada ya gari kuwa tayari, Yoramu mfalme wa Israeli, na Ahazia mfalme wa Yuda, wakaondoka kila mmoja kwenye gari lake ili kukutana na Yehu. Walikutana naye katika shamba lililokuwa mali ya Nabothi, Myezreeli. 229:22 1Fal 18:19Yoramu alipomwona Yehu akauliza, “Je, Yehu, umekuja kwa amani?”
Yehu akajibu, “Kunawezaje kuwa na amani wakati ibada za sanamu na uchawi wa mama yako Yezebeli ungaliko?”
239:23 2Fal 11:14Yoramu akageuka nyuma na kukimbia, akimwambia Ahazia, “Huu ni uhaini, Ahazia!”
249:24 1Fal 22:34Kisha Yehu akatwaa upinde wake na kumchoma Yoramu katikati ya mabega. Mshale ukapenya kwenye moyo wake, naye akaanguka ghafula ndani ya gari lake. 259:25 1Fal 21:19-22Yehu akamwambia Bidkari, mwendeshaji wa gari lake, “Mwinue na umtupe katika shamba lililokuwa mali ya Nabothi, Myezreeli. Kumbuka jinsi mimi na wewe tulivyokuwa tukiendesha pamoja magari yetu nyuma ya Ahabu baba yake, wakati Bwana alipotoa unabii huu kumhusu: 269:26 1Fal 21:19‘Jana niliona damu ya Nabothi na damu ya wanawe, nami kwa hakika nitakufanya uilipe juu ya shamba hili, asema Bwana.’ Sasa basi, mwinue na umtupe juu ya kiwanja, kulingana na neno la Bwana.”
279:27 Amu 1:27; 2Fal 23:29Wakati Ahazia mfalme wa Yuda alipoona kilichotokea, akakimbia kupitia barabara ya Beth-Hagani. Yehu akamkimbiza akipaza sauti na kusema, “Muue naye pia!” Wakamjeruhi katika gari lake kwenye njia ielekeayo Guri karibu na Ibleamu, lakini akatorokea Megido na akafia huko. 289:28 2Fal 23:30Watumishi wake wakambeba kwa gari la vita na kumpeleka Yerusalemu, wakamzika pamoja na baba zake kwenye kaburi lake katika Mji wa Daudi. 299:29 2Fal 8:25(Katika mwaka wa kumi na moja wa Yoramu mwana wa Ahabu, Ahazia alianza kutawala katika Yuda.)
Yezebeli Auawa
309:30 Yer 4:30; Eze 23:40Kisha Yehu akaenda Yezreeli. Yezebeli aliposikia habari hii, akayapaka macho yake rangi, akatengeneza nywele zake na kutazama nje dirishani. 319:31 1Fal 16:9-10Yehu alipokuwa akiingia langoni, Yezebeli akasema, “Je, umekuja kwa amani, Zimri, wewe muuaji wa bwana wako?”
32Yehu akaangalia juu dirishani na kuita, “Je, ni nani aliye upande wangu? Ni nani?” Matowashi wawili au watatu wakamtazama. 339:33 Za 7:5Yehu akasema, “Mtupeni huyo mwanamke chini!” Kwa hiyo wakamtupa chini, nayo baadhi ya damu yake ikatapanyika ukutani na nyingine juu ya farasi walipokuwa wakimkanyaga kwa miguu yao.
349:34 1Fal 16:31Yehu akaingia ndani, akala na akanywa. Akasema, “Mshughulikieni huyo mwanamke aliyelaaniwa. Mzikeni, kwa sababu alikuwa binti wa mfalme.” 35Lakini walipotoka kwenda kumzika, hawakukuta kitu chochote isipokuwa fuvu la kichwa, miguu yake na mikono. 369:36 Za 68:23; 1Fal 21:23Wakarudi na kumwambia Yehu, ambaye alisema, “Hili ndilo neno la Bwana alilosema kupitia kinywa cha mtumishi wake Eliya Mtishbi, kwamba: Katika kiwanja cha Yezreeli, mbwa wataikula nyama ya Yezebeli. 379:37 Za 83:10; Yer 8:2Maiti ya Yezebeli itakuwa kama mavi shambani katika uwanja wa Yezreeli, kwamba hakutakuwepo mtu atakayeweza kusema, ‘Huyu ndiye Yezebeli.’ ”
