Jehu Kills All of Ahab's Descendants
1 Ahab still had 70 descendants living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote a letter to each of the important leaders and officials of the town, and to those who supported Ahab. In the letters he wrote:
2 Your town is strong, and you're protected by chariots and an armed cavalry. And I know that King Ahab's descendants live there with you. So as soon as you read this letter, 3 choose the best person for the job and make him the next king. Then be prepared to defend Ahab's family.
4 The officials and leaders read the letters and were very frightened. They said to each other, “Jehu has already killed King Joram and King Ahaziah! We have to do what he says.” 5 The prime minister, the mayor of the city, as well as the other leaders and Ahab's supporters, sent this answer to Jehu, “We are your servants, Your Majesty, and we will do whatever you tell us. But it's not our place to choose someone to be king. You do what you think is best.”
6 Jehu then wrote another letter which said, “If you are on my side and will obey me, then prove it. Bring me the heads of the descendants of Ahab! And be here in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”
The 70 descendants of King Ahab were living with some of the most important people of the city. 7 And when these people read Jehu's second letter, they called together all 70 of Ahab's descendants. They killed them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel.
8 When Jehu was told what had happened, he said, “Put the heads in two piles at the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”
9 The next morning, Jehu went out and stood where everyone could hear him, and he said, “You people are not guilty of anything. I'm the one who plotted against Joram and had him killed. But who killed all these men? 10 Listen to me. Everything the Lord's servant Elijah promised about Ahab's family will come true.”
11 Then Jehu killed the rest of Ahab's relatives living in Jezreel, as well as his highest officials, his priests, and his closest friends. No one in Ahab's family was left alive in Jezreel.
12-13 Jehu left for Samaria, and along the way, he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah at a place where shepherds meet. He asked, “Who are you?”
“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered. “We're going to visit his family.”
14 “Take them alive!” Jehu said to his officers. So they grabbed them and led them to the well near the shepherds' meeting place, where they killed all 42 of them.
15 As Jehu went on, he saw Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him, then said, “Jehonadab, I'm on your side. Are you on mine?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Then give me your hand,” Jehu answered. He helped Jehonadab into his chariot 16 and said, “Come with me and see how faithful I am to the Lord.”
They rode together in Jehu's chariot 17 to Samaria. Jehu killed everyone there who belonged to Ahab's family, as well as all his officials. Everyone in his family was now dead, just as the Lord had promised Elijah.
Jehu Kills All the Worshipers of Baal
18 Jehu called together the people in Samaria and said:
King Ahab sometimes worshiped Baal, but I will be completely faithful to Baal. 19 I'm going to offer a huge sacrifice to him. So invite his prophets and priests, and be sure everyone who worships him is there. Anyone who doesn't come will be killed.
But this was a trick—Jehu was really planning to kill the worshipers of Baal. 20 He said, “Announce a day of worship for Baal!” After the day had been announced, 21 Jehu sent an invitation to everyone in Israel. All the worshipers of Baal came, and the temple was filled from one end to the other. 22 Jehu told the official in charge of the sacred robes to make sure that everyone had a robe to wear.
23 Jehu and Jehonadab went into the temple, and Jehu said to the crowd, “Look around and make sure that only the worshipers of Baal are here. No one who worships the Lord is allowed in.” 24 Then they began to offer sacrifices to Baal.
Earlier, Jehu had ordered 80 soldiers to wait outside the temple. He had warned them, “I will get all these worshipers here, and if any of you let even one of them escape, you will be killed instead!”
25 As soon as Jehu finished offering the sacrifice, he told the guards and soldiers, “Come in and kill them! Don't let anyone escape.” They slaughtered everyone in the crowd and threw the bodies outside. Then they went back into the temple 26 and carried out the image of Baal. They burned it 27 and broke it into pieces, then they completely destroyed Baal's temple. And since that time, it's been nothing but a public toilet.
28 That's how Jehu stopped the worship of Baal in Israel. 29 But he did not stop the worship of the gold statues of calves at Dan and Bethel that Jeroboam had made for the people to worship.
30 Later the Lord said, “Jehu, you have done right by destroying Ahab's entire family, just as I had planned. So I will make sure that the next four kings of Israel will come from your own family.”
31 But Jehu did not completely obey the commands of the Lord God of Israel. Instead, he kept doing the sinful things that Jeroboam had caused the Israelites to do.
Jehu Dies
32 In those days the Lord began to reduce the size of Israel's territory. King Hazael of Syria defeated the Israelites and took control 33 of the regions of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan River and north of the town of Aroer near the Arnon River. This was the land where the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh had once lived.
34 Everything else Jehu did while he was king, including his brave deeds, is written in The History of the Kings of Israel. 35 Jehu died and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz became king. 36 Jehu had ruled Israel 28 years from Samaria.
Utufu Zelevoi Aba rote
1 'Bädri'ba Aba a'dote ŋgwàagoro be orivoya 'butenjidrieri Samaria ya. Ta'dota Jehu egyi waraga te ago zote Samaria ya, 'bakici miri'bai ri, 'di'desii ri, ndi gaga'bai ŋgwàagoro Aba ro ro ri ekye: 2 “Ondro waraga ono kosate dori amire oko, ŋgwàagoro 'desi amiro ro ṛo orivoya ami be, arabia ndi farasii yibe ṛo orivoya ami yibe, ago 'bakicii obeobero kpa ndi lakazà kyila robe be, 3 mìnji 'di kado parandra aza se ojondi ni ŋgwàagoro 'desi amiro ro yasi ago mi'ba nda giti 'bädri'ba täpi ndaro ro dri, ago miye kyila ta katidri 'desi amiro rota.”
4 Oko 'bakici 'dimiri'bai ndi 'di'desii 'bakici Samaria ro a'doyite turiro amba, ago atayite ekye: “Ca 'Bädri'bai ritu Yorama ndi Ahazia be niyi kote edrene Jehu mile oko mèdrena nda mile eŋwanyeya?” 5 Ta'dota dri'ba zo'desi miri ro ro, dri'ba 'bakici ro, ndi tro 'desii ndi gaga'bai be zoyi lazo te Jehu ri ekye: “Ama orivoya ruindu'bai miro, mayena tase cini mita ama be oyene ndi. Ämäri 'diaza o'bane 'bädri'ba ro i'do; miye tase kado kusi mi miro be 'do ayani.”
6 'Dooko Jehu go egyi waraga ṛiri te ànyari ekye: “Ondro ka'do ami orivoya maresi, ago ondro ka'do nyà'dote orivoya nja ma orone, mìru drî ŋgwàagoro 'desi amiro ro ago nyìkyi mare Jezerela ya ondo saa nonye.”
Ŋgwàagoro 'Bädri'ba Aba ro vona cini orivoya 'butenjidrieri 'di'desii ka ànya embani Samaria ya. 7 Ondro ànya kusuyi waraga Jehu rote oko, ànya ruyi ŋgwàagoro 'bädri'ba Aba ro 'butenjidrieri ana te tufuyi ànya te ago 'bayi drî ànyaro te koṛigai yasi ago zoyite ndäri Jezerela ya.
8 Ondro lazo'ba kesate ago kiti tana te Jehu ri ekye: “Ezi drî ŋgwàagoro 'bädri'ba ro rote oko”, nda atate ekye: “Adro ànya drîro drîro ritu dereŋwa 'bakici ro kala madale vo kiwi gwo.” 9 Kyenonosi, ondro nda kofote tesi oko, nda edrete ago atate vo lidri cini ro ri ekye: “Ami orivoya taenjiako. Ma ni orivoya 'dise käyitabe 'desi maro Yorama lomvo ago kufu nda be owo; oko a'di tufu cini kwoi niya? 10 Beṛo ämiri unine anjioko ata se cini OPI katabe katidri Aba ro lomvo osana ndi mina ya, tana yauono OPI ye tase nda katabe ruindu'ba ndaro Eliya si ono te.” 11 Ndi Jehu tufu 'di cini katidri Aba ro ro se ke'bebe Jezerela ya te, ndi dri'bai 'desi ro cini ndaro, bereazii para ndaro be te, ndi kohanii ndaro yibe, nda e'be alo aza ànyaro kote.
Utufu 'Didiri 'Bädri'ba Ahazia rote
12 'Dooko Jehu fote ago oyite Samaria ya. Liti ya lau, ondro nda kosate vose äzibe Gawa Lekye'bai ro ana ya oko, 13 Jehu 'bedrite 'didiri Ahazia 'bädri'ba Yuda ro robe, ago eji ànya te ekye: “Ami a'diyi owoya?” Ànya zayitadrite ekye: “Ama orivoya 'didiri Ahazia ro, mà ikyi ono taoro oyene katidri 'bädri'ba ro ri, ŋgwàagoro ndi toko 'bädri'ba robe ri.” 14 Jehu atate lidri ndaro ri ekye: “Mìru ànya lidriidriro.” Ago lidri Jehu ro ruyi ànya te lidriidriro ago fuyi ànya te loto 'bu se lau ana lomvo, vonai cini orivoya 'butesu foritu, nda e'be alo aza ànyaro kote.
Utufu 'Didiri cini Aba ro se Ke'bebe te
15 Ondro Jehu koyite ni nasi oko, nda 'bedrite Jonadaba ŋgwa Rekaba robe ka eziikyi drî ndaro utune, Jehu ye mede te ndäri ago atate ndäri ekye: “Inye'do tausu miro ojo ndi oso tausu maro ronye ya?”
Jonadaba zatadrite ekye: “Ndi inye.”
Jehu logotate ekye: “Ondro ka'do ndi inye, nyozo drì miro märi. Ndi nda ozo drì ndaro te Jehu ri, ago Jehu lutu nda te kuru arabia ya.” 16 Nda atate ekye: “Nyikyi mabe, mindre ŋgalu maro OPI ri robe.” Ago ànya muyite arabia ndaro si. 17 Ondro Jehu kosate Samaria ya oko, nda tufu 'didiri cini Aba ro se ke'bebe Samaria ya te, madale nda nde ànya te waṛi, oso ata OPI ro se nda katabe Eliya si ronye.
Utufu Bala Mätu'bai te
18 'Dooko Jehu mbikala lidri cini rote, ago atate ànyari ekye: “'Bädri'ba Aba indurute bala ri toto fereŋwa; oko ma Jehu minduruna ndäri ndra. 19 Ka'do inye mìzi nebii cini Bala ro märi, 'dise cini kabe nda mätu ndi kohanii cini ndaro be, mì'ba alona aza koperu ko, tana maoye tori 'desi olone Bala ri; nda se aza kabe ruope orine ndäri lidriidriro i'do.” Oko Jehu ye ana miomba yi tana nda kutufu 'dise kabe Bala mätu robe. 20 'Dooko Jehu ozotate ekye: “Ayota tu alokado kalaombiro Bala ri.” Ndi ànya ayoyi tana te. 21 Ago Jehu zo lazo te wari cini Yisaraele ro yasi ago 'dise cini kabe Bala mätu ikyiyite, alona aza ri kote ikyiako. Ànya cini ciyite yekalu Bala roya, ago yekalu Bala ro gate twi ni sidri ä'du telesina ya le telesina ya. 22 'Dooko Jehu atate nda se dri'ba vo boŋgo o'baro ro ana ri ekye: “Nyezi boŋgo runduṛuro 'dise cini kabe Bala mätu ri.” Ndi nda ezi boŋgo runduṛuro te ànyari. 23 'Dooko Jehu oyite yekalu Bala roya Jonadaba ŋgwa Rekaba robe; ago nda atate Bala mätu'bai ri ekye: “Mìṛi vo ago mìndre nonye ruindu'bai OPI ro i'do ami lako noŋwa, oko toto 'dise kabe Bala mätu ayani.” 24 'Dooko nda cite tori olone ago ŋgapäṛi ozane, 'dooko Jehu 'ba lidri 'butenjidriena teṛo orine tesi, ago atate ànyari ekye: “Mano se ko'ba alo aza ànya se mozobe ami rigye 'do rote voopane, äfuna nda ayani vona ro.” 25 Dori ondro Jehu konde ädu ŋgapäṛi ozaro ozana te oko, nda atate vookwa'bai ndi dri'bai be ri ekye: “Mìci nyùtufu ànya mì'ba mano aza alo kopavo ko.” Ondro ànya kutufuyi Bala mätu'bai te bando si oko, vookwa'bai ndi dri'bai be lovoyi avo ànyaro te tesi ago ciyite zoya yasi si yekalu Bala ro roya, 26 ago ànya lofoyi joce se orivoya Yekalu Bala roya te tesi ago zayite asi si. 27 Ta'dota ànya pereyi joce Bala rote ndi yekalu Bala robe, ago edeyite 'bu zeozero ro le tu ono si ono.
28 Jehu tufu mätu Bala rote waṛi ni Yisaraele yasi oso inye. 29 Oko Jehu na yi kote ni takozi Yeroboama ŋgwa Nebata ro ro yasi; se koloci Yisaraele'bai be takozi oyene 'daŋgoi logo läguläguro ro se orivoya Betele ndi Dana be ya ana mätu si. 30 OPI atate Jehu ri ekye: “Tana miyete tase kadoro ayani ma mile, ago miye tase cini ya maro kolebe te katidri Aba ro ri ono, zelevoi miro a'dona ndi 'bädri'bai Yisaraele ro le kovole'ba lisuna ya.” 31 Caoko Jehu so kote ota OPI Lu Yisaraele ro ro voro ya cini ndaro si, nda edre kote ni takozi Yeroboama ro se koloci Yisaraele'bai be takozi oyene ana yasi.
Odra Jehu ro
32 Tuse kai si OPI eto telesi wari Yisaraele ro azaka tokyena te. Azaele 'bädri'ba Siria ro pe ànya te ṛe wari cini Yisaraele ro yasi. 33 Etoni 'buzele Yaradene roya, sago le ŋgäṛiŋwadri 'ba'desi Aroeri ya se orivoya Golo Arenona kala, anjioko wari Gilada ndi Basana ro robe, se 'bakalai Gada, Rubena ndi Manase ro 'buzelesi koriyibe kigye ana otokye te.
34 Taoye cini azaka se Jehu koyebe, ndi mbara cini ndaro be, egyi tana te Buku Ambâ ro 'Bädri'bai Yisaraele ro roya. 35 Jehu drate ago ànya seyi nda te Samaria ya zutui ndaro lako. 'Dooko Joaza ŋgwa ndaro rite 'bädri'ba ro vo ndaro ya. 36 Jehu rite 'bädri'ba ro Yisaraele dri Samaria ya ndroa na 'buteritu fonjidriena.