And the Lord said to him [Hosea], “Name him Jezreel; for yet a little while, and I will punish the house of Jehu for the bloodshed of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel.” - Hosea 1:4
Last week we read that the LORD selected Jehu to bring judgment upon the descendants of Ahab. Elisha’s servant anointed him to become the new king of Israel and instructed him, by God’s command, to completely cut off Ahab's royal line and to kill his household. Jehu began by assassinating Jehoram, the sitting king of Israel who was Ahab’s son, and Ahaziah, the king of Judah, who was Ahab’s grandson through his mother Athaliah. Thus, both the northern and southern kingdoms were directly impacted.
In this morning's message, we will continue discussing Jehu’s murderous spree. His zealous efforts to eliminate Ahab’s family and the lingering effects of their idolatry and pagan worship were quite extensive. I’ve titled today’s sermon “Jehu Cleans House”.
I. JEZEBEL IS SLAIN (2 Kings 9:30-37)
After assassinating both King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah outside of the city, Jehu and his company rode on into Jezreel. Jezebel made herself up and looked out the window of the palace there. As Jehu entered the gate, she cried out to him, “Is it well Zimri?” She referred to Jehu as Zimri because the LORD had used Zimri to wipe out the house of Baasha a few generations earlier (1 Kings 16:8-14). Jehu looked up at the window and asked if any of the officials who were with Jezebel actually sided with him. When a few indicated that they were, Jehu ordered these traitorous officers to seize her and throw her down. They did so, and when Jezebel’s body hit the ground her blood splashed on the wall and horses. Then Jehu trampled her body with his horse and chariot underfoot.
Unphased by Jezebel’s death, Jehu went in to eat and drink and instructed his servants to go out and bury her. However, when his servants returned to retrieve her body, there was nothing left to bury but her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands. They informed Jehu and he responded that this was the fulfillment of prophecy. God had told Elijah that Jezebel’s corpse would be eaten by the dogs in Jezreel and would become as dung in the field (1 Kings 21:23).
II. AHAB’S HOUSE IS DECIMATED (2 Kings 10:1-17)
Ahab had 70 “sons” (likely both sons and grandsons) living in the capital city of Samaria who were under the protection of a special guard. Jehu wrote letters to the leaders and elders of Samaria, including these guardians, challenging them to select a new king from among these sons and then prepare for battle. However, the leaders greatly feared Jehu’s strength and didn’t want to fight him. They wrote back expressing their allegiance to him and stated that they would not name any of Ahab’s sons as the new king, but instead would do whatever he asked of them.
So Jehu wrote to them a second time and told them to execute all of Ahab’s sons and bring their heads to him at Jezreel. Thus the great men of the city slaughtered Ahab’s sons and brought their severed heads to Jehu in baskets. When they arrived, he had them placed in 2 heaps at the city gate. The next morning he declared to the people, “I killed Jehoram, but who killed all of Ahab’s sons?” Jehu was declaring that, while he had been chosen as the leader of the conspiracy, clearly God was using other persons in conjunction with him to bring about judgment on Ahab’s house. In addition to his 70 sons, Jehu also killed Ahab’s officials, servants, priests, and other acquaintances in Jezreel.
Next, Jehu arose and departed for Samaria. Along the way, he met several of Ahaziah’s relatives at Beth-eked. When he found out that they were kin to Ahaziah, the king of Judah whom he had recently assassinated, he seized them and murdered them also - 42 men in all. He also met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, who expressed his support for the coup. Jehu invited Jehonadab to ride with him in his chariot and to witness his zeal for the LORD. When he finally arrived at Samaria, Jehu killed everyone left who remained loyal to Ahab.
III. BAAL WORSHIPERS ARE KILLED (2 Kings 10:18-36)
Once Ahab’s house was wiped out, Jehu proclaimed a solemn assembly for Baal. He summoned all of the priests, prophets, and worshipers of Baal to gather at the temple of Baal in Samaria. He declared that all were required to attend, and any who were absent would be killed. So everyone who worshiped and/or served Baal came, and Jehu pretended as though he would follow Baal also as king, but it was a ruse.
When everyone had gathered in and filled the house of Baal, Jehu and Jehonadab ordered that garments be distributed to all of the Baal worshipers. They carefully determined that everyone present was allegiant to Baal and there were no followers of God in the crowd. Then they went in to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices. However, Jehu had secretly stationed 80 soldiers outside of the temple who awaited his order. After the burnt offering was complete, he commanded them to go in and kill all of the followers of Baal. In addition, he had them tear down and utterly destroy the house of Baal, and made it into a latrine.
Thus, Jehu completely eradicated the worship of Baal in Israel that had been implemented by Ahab and Jezebel. However, he still promoted the idolatrous worship of the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up in Bethel and Dan. God commended Jehu for destroying the house of Ahab and cutting off his royal line, however Jehu was still an unrighteous and ungodly king who led Israel into sin.
Jehu ruled from Samaria over the northern kingdom for 28 years. During his reign, Hazael and the Aramaens defeated Israel and cut off portions of their territory east of the Jordan River. The tribal lands of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were lost. When he died, Jehu was buried in the capital city and his son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
CONCLUSION
Jehu is an interesting figure in the Bible. On the 1 hand, he thoroughly obeyed God’s command to eliminate the house of Ahab. He assassinated both Jehoram in Israel and Ahaziah in Judah. He ordered the deaths of Jehoram’s 70 sons and their evil mother Jezebel. Perhaps he went a bit overboard in his murderous spree, killing many of Ahaziah’s nephews and relatives, Jehoram’s priests, servants, and acquaintances, and ultimately anyone in Samaria who remained loyal to Ahab - though none of these had any claim to Ahab’s throne.
Whatsmore, Jehu took it upon himself to wipe out Baal worship in Israel. He ruthlessly slaughtered all of those who followed Baal. Though his actions were extreme, nevertheless the destruction of Baal’s altar and temple were a good thing. The LORD commended Jehu for his obedience and promised that his sons would sit on the throne of Israel for 4 more generations.
On the other hand, God also condemned Jehu for the excessive bloodshed and violence he’d committed in Jezreel (and elsewhere). For his sin, Jehu’s royal dynasty would eventually be cut off as well. While God was pleased by what Jehu had done, He was displeased with the manner by which he had done it. Jehu provides a clear illustration that the ends do not justify the means. It is not acceptable for someone to use sinful methods to accomplish righteous outcomes. It’s not just where we go that matters, but how we get there…
Last week we read that the LORD selected Jehu to bring judgment upon the descendants of Ahab. Elisha’s servant anointed him to become the new king of Israel and instructed him, by God’s command, to completely cut off Ahab's royal line and to kill his household. Jehu began by assassinating Jehoram, the sitting king of Israel who was Ahab’s son, and Ahaziah, the king of Judah, who was Ahab’s grandson through his mother Athaliah. Thus, both the northern and southern kingdoms were directly impacted.
In this morning's message, we will continue discussing Jehu’s murderous spree. His zealous efforts to eliminate Ahab’s family and the lingering effects of their idolatry and pagan worship were quite extensive. I’ve titled today’s sermon “Jehu Cleans House”.
I. JEZEBEL IS SLAIN (2 Kings 9:30-37)
After assassinating both King Jehoram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah outside of the city, Jehu and his company rode on into Jezreel. Jezebel made herself up and looked out the window of the palace there. As Jehu entered the gate, she cried out to him, “Is it well Zimri?” She referred to Jehu as Zimri because the LORD had used Zimri to wipe out the house of Baasha a few generations earlier (1 Kings 16:8-14). Jehu looked up at the window and asked if any of the officials who were with Jezebel actually sided with him. When a few indicated that they were, Jehu ordered these traitorous officers to seize her and throw her down. They did so, and when Jezebel’s body hit the ground her blood splashed on the wall and horses. Then Jehu trampled her body with his horse and chariot underfoot.
Unphased by Jezebel’s death, Jehu went in to eat and drink and instructed his servants to go out and bury her. However, when his servants returned to retrieve her body, there was nothing left to bury but her skull, feet, and the palms of her hands. They informed Jehu and he responded that this was the fulfillment of prophecy. God had told Elijah that Jezebel’s corpse would be eaten by the dogs in Jezreel and would become as dung in the field (1 Kings 21:23).
II. AHAB’S HOUSE IS DECIMATED (2 Kings 10:1-17)
Ahab had 70 “sons” (likely both sons and grandsons) living in the capital city of Samaria who were under the protection of a special guard. Jehu wrote letters to the leaders and elders of Samaria, including these guardians, challenging them to select a new king from among these sons and then prepare for battle. However, the leaders greatly feared Jehu’s strength and didn’t want to fight him. They wrote back expressing their allegiance to him and stated that they would not name any of Ahab’s sons as the new king, but instead would do whatever he asked of them.
So Jehu wrote to them a second time and told them to execute all of Ahab’s sons and bring their heads to him at Jezreel. Thus the great men of the city slaughtered Ahab’s sons and brought their severed heads to Jehu in baskets. When they arrived, he had them placed in 2 heaps at the city gate. The next morning he declared to the people, “I killed Jehoram, but who killed all of Ahab’s sons?” Jehu was declaring that, while he had been chosen as the leader of the conspiracy, clearly God was using other persons in conjunction with him to bring about judgment on Ahab’s house. In addition to his 70 sons, Jehu also killed Ahab’s officials, servants, priests, and other acquaintances in Jezreel.
Next, Jehu arose and departed for Samaria. Along the way, he met several of Ahaziah’s relatives at Beth-eked. When he found out that they were kin to Ahaziah, the king of Judah whom he had recently assassinated, he seized them and murdered them also - 42 men in all. He also met Jehonadab, the son of Rechab, who expressed his support for the coup. Jehu invited Jehonadab to ride with him in his chariot and to witness his zeal for the LORD. When he finally arrived at Samaria, Jehu killed everyone left who remained loyal to Ahab.
III. BAAL WORSHIPERS ARE KILLED (2 Kings 10:18-36)
Once Ahab’s house was wiped out, Jehu proclaimed a solemn assembly for Baal. He summoned all of the priests, prophets, and worshipers of Baal to gather at the temple of Baal in Samaria. He declared that all were required to attend, and any who were absent would be killed. So everyone who worshiped and/or served Baal came, and Jehu pretended as though he would follow Baal also as king, but it was a ruse.
When everyone had gathered in and filled the house of Baal, Jehu and Jehonadab ordered that garments be distributed to all of the Baal worshipers. They carefully determined that everyone present was allegiant to Baal and there were no followers of God in the crowd. Then they went in to offer burnt offerings and sacrifices. However, Jehu had secretly stationed 80 soldiers outside of the temple who awaited his order. After the burnt offering was complete, he commanded them to go in and kill all of the followers of Baal. In addition, he had them tear down and utterly destroy the house of Baal, and made it into a latrine.
Thus, Jehu completely eradicated the worship of Baal in Israel that had been implemented by Ahab and Jezebel. However, he still promoted the idolatrous worship of the golden calves that Jeroboam had set up in Bethel and Dan. God commended Jehu for destroying the house of Ahab and cutting off his royal line, however Jehu was still an unrighteous and ungodly king who led Israel into sin.
Jehu ruled from Samaria over the northern kingdom for 28 years. During his reign, Hazael and the Aramaens defeated Israel and cut off portions of their territory east of the Jordan River. The tribal lands of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh were lost. When he died, Jehu was buried in the capital city and his son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
CONCLUSION
Jehu is an interesting figure in the Bible. On the 1 hand, he thoroughly obeyed God’s command to eliminate the house of Ahab. He assassinated both Jehoram in Israel and Ahaziah in Judah. He ordered the deaths of Jehoram’s 70 sons and their evil mother Jezebel. Perhaps he went a bit overboard in his murderous spree, killing many of Ahaziah’s nephews and relatives, Jehoram’s priests, servants, and acquaintances, and ultimately anyone in Samaria who remained loyal to Ahab - though none of these had any claim to Ahab’s throne.
Whatsmore, Jehu took it upon himself to wipe out Baal worship in Israel. He ruthlessly slaughtered all of those who followed Baal. Though his actions were extreme, nevertheless the destruction of Baal’s altar and temple were a good thing. The LORD commended Jehu for his obedience and promised that his sons would sit on the throne of Israel for 4 more generations.
On the other hand, God also condemned Jehu for the excessive bloodshed and violence he’d committed in Jezreel (and elsewhere). For his sin, Jehu’s royal dynasty would eventually be cut off as well. While God was pleased by what Jehu had done, He was displeased with the manner by which he had done it. Jehu provides a clear illustration that the ends do not justify the means. It is not acceptable for someone to use sinful methods to accomplish righteous outcomes. It’s not just where we go that matters, but how we get there…