Scripture Speaks

Jehu Destroys Ahab's House

     Then he arose and went into the house.  And he poured the oil on his head, and said to him, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel:  'I have anointed you king over the people of the LORD, over Israel.
    'You shall strike down the house of Ahab your master, that I may avenge the blood of My servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the LORD, at the hand of Jezebel.' "
                      2 Kings 9:6,7
  
     I originally opened to the passage below, but thought I would include this one to help explain the massacre of the house of Ahab.  Elisha is the one who is anointing Jehu.

    Then a messenger came and told him, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons."  And he said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until morning."
     So it was, in the morning, that he went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous.  Indeed I conspired against my master and killed him; but who killed all these? 
    "Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of the LORD which the LORD spoke concerning the house of Ahab; for the LORD has done what He spoke by His servant Elijah."
     So Jehu killed all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his great men and his close acquaintances and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
           2 Kings 10:8-11

     Read the above sentence to find out who killed Ahab's sons, poetic justice.  Now Ahab died before his sons, at Ramoth Gilead, shot by a certain man with a random arrow.  The LORD had Ahab killed because his wife Jezebel had Naboth killed so Ahab could have Naboth's vineyard.  This is when the LORD told Elijah the Tishbite that calamity would come to Ahab's house after his death.  In 1 Kings 22 Ahab is referred to as the "king of Israel," his name Ahab is not used - this drove me crazy as I read. 
     Some interesting notes - the two Ahaziahs drove me nuts also, the king of Israel and the king of Judah.  Not done yet - when Jehu sees Jezebel she asks, "Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?"  Then in the above passage Jehu says, "I conspired against my master and killed him."  I can't find Jehu's name mentioned in 1 Kings 22 where God is basically doing all the conspiring.  Did Jehu shoot the random arrow?  The king of Syria commanded his captains of his chariots to fight with no one except the king of Israel.
     I am probably making to much out of this, but I did quite a bit of reading and a little research.  It is fun, to me anyway.  I hope you have the same enjoyment.  Another interesting note - I keep opening to passages that I have read twice and my knowledge is horrible; I guess the third time is a charm, well maybe 😀.  Tell God that you love Him.

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

     Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.  Please read your Bible.