Jehu Anointed King of Israel
1The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of olive oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; don’t delay!”
4So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead. 5When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. “I have a message for you, commander,” he said.
“For which 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 and declared, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel. 7You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord’s servants shed by Jezebel. 8The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free.9:8 Or Israel—every ruler or leader 9I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. 10As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.’ ” Then he opened the door and ran.
11When Jehu went out to his fellow officers, one of them asked him, “Is everything all right? Why did this maniac come to you?”
“You know the man and the sort of things he says,” Jehu replied.
12“That’s not true!” they said. “Tell us.”
Jehu said, “Here is what he told me: ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ ”
13They quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Then they blew the trumpet and shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
14So Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi, conspired against Joram. (Now Joram and all Israel had been defending Ramoth Gilead against Hazael king of Aram, 15but King Joram9:15 Hebrew Jehoram, a variant of Joram; also in verses 17 and 21-24 had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds the Arameans had inflicted on him in the battle with Hazael king of Aram.) Jehu said, “If you desire to make me king, don’t let anyone slip out of the city to go and tell the news in Jezreel.” 16Then he got into his chariot and rode to Jezreel, because Joram was resting there and Ahaziah king of Judah had gone down to see him.
17When the lookout standing on the tower in Jezreel saw Jehu’s troops approaching, he called out, “I see some troops coming.”
“Get a horseman,” Joram ordered. “Send him to meet them and ask, ‘Do you come in peace?’ ”
18The horseman rode off to meet Jehu and said, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ”
“What do you have to do with peace?” Jehu replied. “Fall in 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, “This is what the king says: ‘Do you come in peace?’ ”
Jehu replied, “What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me.”
20The lookout reported, “He has reached them, but he isn’t coming back either. The driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi—he drives like a maniac.”
21“Hitch up my chariot,” Joram ordered. And when it was hitched up, Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his own chariot, to meet Jehu. They met him at the plot of ground that had belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. 22When Joram saw Jehu he asked, “Have you come in peace, Jehu?”
“How can there be peace,” Jehu replied, “as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”
23Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, “Treachery, Ahaziah!”
24Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart and he slumped down in his chariot. 25Jehu said to Bidkar, his chariot officer, “Pick him up and throw him on the field that belonged to Naboth the Jezreelite. Remember how you and I were riding together in chariots behind Ahab his father when the Lord spoke this prophecy against him: 26‘Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons, declares the Lord, and I will surely make you pay for it on this plot of ground, declares the Lord.’9:26 See 1 Kings 21:19. Now then, pick him up and throw him on that plot, in accordance with the word of the Lord.”
27When Ahaziah king of Judah saw what had happened, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan.9:27 Or fled by way of the garden house Jehu chased him, shouting, “Kill him too!” They wounded him in his chariot on the way up to Gur near Ibleam, but he escaped to Megiddo and died there. 28His servants took him by chariot to Jerusalem and buried him with his ancestors in his tomb in the City of David. 29(In the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king of Judah.)
Jezebel Killed
30Then Jehu went to Jezreel. When Jezebel heard about it, she put on eye makeup, arranged her hair and looked out of a window. 31As Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, you Zimri, you murderer of your master?”9:31 Or “Was there peace for Zimri, who murdered his master?”
32He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33“Throw her down!” Jehu said. So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered the wall and the horses as they trampled her underfoot.
34Jehu went in and ate and drank. “Take care of that cursed woman,” he said, “and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” 35But when they went out to bury her, they found nothing except her skull, her feet and her hands. 36They went back and told Jehu, who said, “This is the word of the Lord that he spoke through his servant Elijah the Tishbite: On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh.9:36 See 1 Kings 21:23. 37Jezebel’s body will be like dung on the ground in the plot at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, ‘This is Jezebel.’ ”
Wosi Yehu Israelhene
1Na odiyifo Elisa afrɛ adiyifo no mu baako afi adiyifokuw no mu. Ɔka kyerɛɛ no se, “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 nena no. Frɛ no fi ne nnamfo mu, na fa no kɔ pia mu, 3na hwie ngo no gu ne tirim. Ka kyerɛ no se, ‘Sɛnea Awurade se ni: Meresra wo ngo, ama woabedi Israel so hene.’ Afei, bue ɔpon no na guan, nsɛe bere!”
4Enti odiyifo kumaa no kɔɔ Ramot-Gilead. 5Oduu hɔ no, ohuu Yehu sɛ ɔne asraafo mpanyimfo bi reyɛ nhyiamu. Ɔkae se, “Ɔsahene, mewɔ nkra bi de ma wo.”
Yehu bisae se, “Yɛn mu hena?”
Obuae se, “Wo a woyɛ ɔsahene no.”
6Enti Yehu gyaw wɔn a aka no hɔ, kɔɔ fie. Na odiyifo kumaa no hwiee ngo no guu Yehu tirim, kae se, “Sɛnea Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn, se ni: Mesra wo ngo sɛ di Awurade nkurɔfo Israelfo so hene. 7Ɛsɛ sɛ wosɛe Ahab, wo wura no, fi. Saa ɔkwan no so na mɛfa atua mʼadiyifo a wokunkum wɔn ne Awurade asomfo no nyinaa a Isebel kunkum wɔn no so ka. 8Ɛsɛ sɛ wɔpepa Ahabfifo nyinaa fi hɔ—ɔbarima biara, ɔsomfo ne nea ɔde ne ho nyinaa a wɔwɔ Israel. 9Mɛsɛe Ahab fi, sɛnea mesɛee Nebat babarima Yeroboam ne Ahiya babarima Baasa afi no. 10Na akraman bɛwe Isebel nam wɔ Yesreel asase so, na obiara rensie no.” Afei, odiyifo kumaa no buee pon no, tuu mmirika guanee.
11Yehu san kɔɔ ne nkurɔfo mpanyimfo no nkyɛn. Wɔn mu baako bisaa no se, “Dɛn na damfo a ne ti asɛe no rehwehwɛ? Biribiara kɔ yiye ana?” Yehu buae se, “Wo ara wunim sɛnea ɔbarima no keka ne nsɛm fa.”
12Wɔn nyinaa kae se, “Woboa. Ka nokware.” Enti Yehu kae se, odiyifo no ayi akyerɛ no se Awurade asra no ngo sɛ ommedi Israel so hene.
13Wɔde wɔn ntade sesɛw atrapoe no so ntɛm ara, hyɛn torobɛnto, teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Yehu yɛ ɔhene.”
Yehu Kum Yoram Ne Ahasia
14Enti Yehosafat babarima Yehu a ɔyɛ Nimsi nena pam ɔhene Yoram ti so. Afei, na Yoram de ne ho akɔbɔ asraafo wɔ Ramot-Gilead a na wogyina de tia Aramhene Hasael asraafo no. 15Nanso na wɔapira Yoram wɔ ɔko no mu, ama wasan aba Yesreel sɛ ɔrebɛsa ne ho yare. Enti Yehu ka kyerɛɛ mmarima a wɔka ne ho no se, “Esiane sɛ mopɛ sɛ midi hene no nti, obiara nnguan nkɔ Yesreel nkɔka nea yɛayɛ wɔ hɔ no.” 16Na Yehu kɔtenaa teaseɛnam mu, kɔɔ Yesreel kɔhwehwɛɛ ɔhene Yoram a na wapira da hɔ no. Na Yudahene Ahasia nso wɔ hɔ bi.
17Ɔwɛmfo a na ɔwɔ Yesreel abantenten so no huu Yehu ne ne nkurɔfo sɛ wɔreba nti, ɔteɛɛ mu guu Yoram so se, “Mihu sɛ asraafo reba. Soma ɔpɔnkɔkafo bi, na ɔnkɔhwɛ sɛ wɔreba no asomdwoe so ana.” Ɔhene Yoram nso teɛɛ mu.
18Enti ɔpɔnkɔkafo no kohyiaa Yehu bisaa no se, “Ɔhene pɛ sɛ ohu sɛ moreba no asomdwoe so ana?”
Yehu buae se, “Wuhia asomdwoe de ayɛ dɛn? Di mʼakyi!”
Ɔwɛmfo no frɛɛ ɔhene se, “Ɔpɔnkɔkafo no ahyia wɔn, nanso ɔmma.”
19Enti ɔhene no somaa ɔpɔnkɔkafo a ɔto so abien. Okoduu wɔn nkyɛn bisae se, “Ɔhene pɛ sɛ ohu sɛ moreba no asomdwoe so ana?” Bio, Yehu bisae se, “Wuhia asomdwoe de ayɛ dɛn Di mʼakyi!”
20Ɔwɛmfo no teɛɛ mu se, “Ɔpɔnkɔkafo no ahyia wɔn, nanso ɔno nso mma. Ɛbɛyɛ Nimsi babarima Yehu a ɔka ɔpɔnkɔ mmirikatɛntɛ so no.”
21Ɔhene Yoram hyɛe se, “Ntɛm, monyɛ me teaseɛnam no krado mma me.” Na Israelhene Yoram ne Yudahene Ahasia tenatenaa wɔn nteaseɛnam mu kohyiaa Yehu. Wohyiaa no wɔ asase a na ɛyɛ Nabot, Yesreelni dea no so. 22Ɔhene Yoram bisae se, “Wobaa no asomdwoe so ana, Yehu?”
Yehu buae se, “Mpɛn dodow a wo na Isebel abosom ne ne bayi atwa yɛn ho ahyia yi, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na maba no asomdwoe so?”
23Ɛnna ɔhene Yoram twee ne teaseɛnam pɔnkɔ no hama, de dan ɔpɔnkɔ no ani, guanee a ɔreteɛteɛ mu se, “Ɔmammɔfo Ahasia!”
24Na Yehu twee nʼagyan tow wɔɔ Yoram mmati ntam. Agyan no hwirew ne koma mu ma ɔtew hwee wɔ ne teaseɛnam no mu, wui. 25Yehu ka kyerɛɛ ne kunini Bidkar se, “Tow no kyene Nabot, Yesreelni no asase no so. Wokae bere a na yɛtete nteaseɛnam mu, di nʼagya Ahab akyi no? Awurade kae se, 26‘Meka ntam, di nsew sɛ, metua no so ka wɔ Nabot agyapade mu ha, sɛnea Awurade se ni,’ sɛ okum Nabot ne ne mmabarima nnɛra a mihuu no. Enti tow no kyene Nabot asase so ha, sɛnea Awurade kae no.”
27Bere a Yudahene Ahasia huu asɛm a asi no, oguan kɔɔ Bet-Hagan. Yehu taa no teɛteɛɛ mu se, “Munkum ɔno nso bi.” Enti wɔtow Ahasia agyan wɔɔ no wɔ ne teaseɛnam mu wɔ Gur atrapoe a ɛbɛn Yibleam. Otumi kɔe ara koduu Megido, na owui wɔ hɔ. 28Ne mpanyimfo de no too teaseɛnam mu, kɔɔ Yerusalem kosiee no wɔ ne mpanyimfo ho wɔ Dawid kurom. 29Na Ahasia dii ade wɔ Yuda no, na Israelhene Yoram nso adi ade mfe dubaako.
Isebel Wu
30Bere a ɔhemmea Isebel tee sɛ Yehu aba Yesreel no, ɔkekaa nʼanintɔn, yɛɛ ne ti fɛfɛɛfɛ, tɛw mfɛnsere mu. 31Bere a Yehu wuraa ahemfi pon no mu no, ɔhemmea no teɛɛ mu guu ne so se, “Owudifo, wobaa no asomdwoe so ana? Wote sɛ Simri a okum ne wura no.”
32Yehu pagyaw nʼani huu no wɔ mfɛnsere no mu teɛɛ mu se, “Hena na ɔwɔ mʼafa!” Na piamfo baanu anaa baasa hwɛɛ no. 33Yehu teɛɛ mu se, “Montow no nkyene fam.” Enti wɔtow no fii mfɛnsere no mu, maa ne mogya bi bɔ petee ɔfasu no ne nʼapɔnkɔ ho. Na Yehu maa nʼapɔnkɔ tiatiaa nʼamu no so.
34Na Yehu kɔɔ ahemfi hɔ kodidi, nomee. Akyiri no, ɔkae se, “Monkɔ nkosie ɔbea a wɔadome no yi, efisɛ ɔyɛ ɔhene babea.” 35Nanso wɔkɔɔ sɛ wɔrekosie no no, ne ti ne nan ne ne nsa nko ara na wohui.
36Bere a wɔbɛbɔɔ Yehu amanneɛ no, ɔkae se, “Eyi ne Awurade asɛm a ɔnam ne somfo Tisbini Elia so kae se, ‘Asasetam bi a ɛda Yesreel no so na akraman bɛwe Isebel nam no. 37Na nʼamu bɛbɔ apete, te sɛ wura wɔ Yesreel pɔw mu a ne saa nti, obiara ntumi nhu no.’ ”
