Ahab hadוּלְאַחְאָבseventyשִׁבְעִיםsonsבָּנִיםin Samaria.בְּשֹׁמְרוֹןJehuיֵהוּאwroteוַיִּכְתֹּבlettersסְפָרִיםand sent themוַיִּשְׁלַחto Samaria,שֹׁמְרוֹןtoאֶלthe commandersשָׂרֵיof Jezreel,יִזְרְעֶאלthe elders,הַזְּקֵנִיםand toוְאֶלthe guardiansהָאֹמְנִיםof Ahab’s sons,אַחְאָבsaying,לֵאמֹר
“Now,וְעַתָּהas soon asכְּthisהַזֶּהletterהַסֵּפֶרcomesבֹאto you,אֲלֵיכֶםsince with youוְאִתְּכֶםare the sonsבְּנֵיof your master,אֲדֹנֵיכֶםand with youוְאִתְּכֶםare the chariotsהָרֶכֶבand the horsesוְהַסּוּסִיםand a fortifiedמִבְצָרcityוְעִירand the weapons,וְהַנָּשֶׁק
chooseוּרְאִיתֶםthe bestהַטּוֹבand most uprightוְהַיָּשָׁרof the sonsמִבְּנֵיof your masterאֲדֹנֵיכֶםand set himוְשַׂמְתֶּםonעַלhis father’sאָבִיוthrone,כִּסֵּאand fightוְהִלָּחֲמוּforעַלthe houseבֵּיתof your master.”אֲדֹנֵיכֶם
But they were afraid,וַיִּרְאוּveryמְאֹדgreatly,מְאֹדand said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Look,הִנֵּהthe twoשְׁנֵיkingsהַמְּלָכִיםdid notלֹאstandעָמְדוּbefore him;לְפָנָיוhowוְאֵיךְthen can weאֲנָחְנוּstand?”נַעֲמֹד
The one who wasאֲשֶׁרoverעַלthe household,הַבַּיִתand the one who wasוַאֲשֶׁרoverעַלthe city,הָעִירand the eldersוְהַזְּקֵנִיםand the guardiansוְהָאֹמְנִיםsentוַיִּשְׁלַחtoאֶלJehu,יֵהוּאsaying,לֵאמֹר“Weאֲנַחְנוּare your servants,עֲבָדֶיךָand allוְכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרyou tellתֹּאמַרusאֵלֵינוּwe will do;נַעֲשֶׂהwe will notלֹאmake anyone king;נַמְלִיךְ אִישׁdoעֲשֵׂהwhat is goodהַטּוֹבin your eyes.”בְּעֵינֶיךָ
He wroteוַיִּכְתֹּבto themאֲלֵיהֶםa letterסֵפֶרa second time,שֵׁנִיתsaying,לֵאמֹר“Ifאִםyou areאַתֶּםfor me,לִיand youאַתֶּםare listeningשֹׁמְעִיםto my voice,וּלְקֹלִיtakeקְחוּthe headsרָאשֵׁיof the men,אַנְשֵׁיthe sonsבְנֵיof your master,אֲדֹנֵיכֶםand comeוּבֹאוּto meאֵלַיabout this timeכָּעֵתtomorrowמָחָרat Jezreel.”יִזְרְעֶאלָהNow the king’sוּ הַמֶּלֶךְsons,בְנֵיseventyשִׁבְעִיםpersons,אִישׁwere withאֶתthe great menגְּדֹלֵיof the city,הָעִירwho were bringing upמְגַדְּלִיםthem.אוֹתָם
And it happened,וַיְהִיwhenכְּthe letterהַסֵּפֶרcameבֹאto them,אֲלֵיהֶםthat they tookוַיִּקְחוּthe king’sהַמֶּלֶךְsonsבְּנֵיand slaughtered them,וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּseventyשִׁבְעִיםpersons,אִישׁand putוַיָּשִׂימוּtheir headsרָאשֵׁיהֶםin basketsבַּדּוּדִיםand sent themוַיִּשְׁלְחוּto himאֵלָיוat Jezreel.יִזְרְעֶאלָה
The messengerהַמַּלְאָךְcameוַיָּבֹאand toldוַיַּגֶּדhim,לוֹsaying,לֵאמֹר“They have broughtהֵבִיאוּthe headsרָאשֵׁיof the king’sהַמֶּלֶךְsons.”בְנֵיHe said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Putשִׂימוּthemאֹתָםin twoשְׁנֵיheapsצִבֻּרִיםat the entranceפֶּתַחof the gateהַשַּׁעַרuntilעַדthe morning.”הַבֹּקֶר
And it happenedוַיְהִיin the morningבַבֹּקֶרthat he went outוַיֵּצֵאand stoodוַיַּעֲמֹדand saidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלallכָּלthe people,הָעָם“Youאַתֶּםare righteous.צַדִּקִיםLook,הִנֵּהIאֲנִיconspiredקָשַׁרְתִּיagainstעַלmy masterאֲדֹנִיand killed him;וָאֶהְרְגֵהוּbut whoוּמִיstruckהִכָּהallכָּלthese?אֵלֶּה
Know,דְּעוּthen,אֵפוֹאthatכִּיnothingלֹאof the wordמִדְּבַרof YHWHיְהוָהwill fallיִפֹּלto the ground,אַרְצָהwhichאֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהspokeדִּבֶּרagainstעַלthe houseבֵּיתof Ahab;אַחְאָבYHWHוַיהוָהhas doneעָשָׂהwhatאֵת אֲשֶׁרhe spokeדִּבֶּרthroughבְּיַדhis servantעַבְדּוֹElijah.”אֵלִיָּהוּ
Jehuיֵהוּאstruckוַיַּךְallאֵת כָּלwho remainedהַנִּשְׁאָרִיםof the houseלְבֵיתof Ahabאַחְאָבin Jezreel,בְּיִזְרְעֶאלand allוְכָלhis great menגְּדֹלָיוand his close friendsוּמְיֻדָּעָיוand his priests,וְכֹהֲנָיוuntilעַדhe leftהִשְׁאִירhimלוֹnoבִּלְתִּיsurvivor.שָׂרִיד
He got upוַיָּקָםand cameוַיָּבֹאand wentוַיֵּלֶךְto Samaria.שֹׁמְרוֹןHe wasהוּאat Beth-ekedבֵּית עֵקֶדof the shepherdsהָרֹעִיםon the way,בַּדָּרֶךְ
and Jehuוְיֵהוּאfoundמָצָאthe brothersאֲחֵיof Ahaziahאֲחַזְיָהוּkingמֶלֶךְof Judahיְהוּדָהand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Whoמִיare you?”אַתֶּםThey said,וַיֹּאמְרוּ“Weאֲנַחְנוּare the brothersאֲחֵיof Ahaziah,אֲחַזְיָהוּand we have come downוַנֵּרֶדto greetלִשְׁלוֹםthe sonsבְּנֵיof the kingהַמֶּלֶךְand the sonsוּבְנֵיof the lady.”הַגְּבִירָה
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Seize themתִּפְשׂוּםalive.”חַיִּיםThey seized themוַיִּתְפְּשׂוּםaliveחַיִּיםand slaughtered themוַיִּשְׁחָטוּםatאֶלthe pitבּוֹרof Beth-eked,בֵּית עֵקֶדfortyאַרְבָּעִיםtwoוּשְׁנַיִםmen,אִישׁand he did notוְלֹאleaveהִשְׁאִירanyאִישׁof them.מֵהֶם
He wentוַיֵּלֶךְfrom thereמִשָּׁםand foundוַיִּמְצָאJonadabאֶת יְהוֹנָדָבsonבֶּןof Rechabרֵכָבcoming to meet him,לִקְרָאתוֹand he blessed himוַיְבָרְכֵהוּand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto him,אֵלָיו“Isהֲיֵשׁyour heartאֶת לְבָבְךָupright,יָשָׁרasכַּאֲשֶׁרmy heartלְבָבִיis withעִםyour heart?”לְבָבֶךָJonadabיְהוֹנָדָבsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“It is.”יֵשׁ“If it is,וָיֵשׁgive meתְּנָהyour hand.”אֶת יָדֶךָHe gave himוַיִּתֵּןhis hand,יָדוֹand he took him upוַיַּעֲלֵהוּwith himאֵלָיוintoאֶלthe chariot.הַמֶּרְכָּבָה
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Comeלְכָהwith meאִתִּיand seeוּרְאֵהmy zealבְּקִנְאָתִיfor YHWH.”לַיהוָהSo they had him rideוַיַּרְכִּבוּ וֹin his chariot.בְּרִכְבּוֹ
He cameוַיָּבֹאto Samariaשֹׁמְרוֹןand struckוַיַּךְallכָּלwho remainedהַנִּשְׁאָרִיםof Ahabלְאַחְאָבin Samaria,בְּשֹׁמְרוֹןuntilעַדhe had wiped him out,הִשְׁמִידוֹaccording to the wordכִּדְבַרof YHWHיְהוָהthatאֲשֶׁרhe spokeדִּבֶּרtoאֶלElijah.אֵלִיָּהוּ
Jehuיֵהוּאgatheredוַיִּקְבֹּץallכָּלthe peopleהָעָםand saidוַיֹּאמֶרto them,אֲלֵהֶם“AhabאַחְאָבservedעָבַדBaalהַבַּעַלa little;מְעָטJehuיֵהוּאwill serve himיַעַבְדֶנּוּmuch.הַרְבֵּה
Nowוְעַתָּהcallקִרְאוּto meאֵלַיallכָלthe prophetsנְבִיאֵיof Baal,הַבַּעַלallכָּלhis worshipersעֹבְדָיוand allוְכָלhis priests;כֹּהֲנָיוlet noאַלoneאִישׁbe missing,יִפָּקֵדforכִּיI haveלִיa greatגָּדוֹלsacrificeזֶבַחfor Baal;לַבַּעַלanyoneכֹּל אֲשֶׁרwho is missingיִפָּקֵדwill notלֹאlive.”יִחְיֶהBut Jehuוְיֵהוּאwas actingעָשָׂהwith cunningבְעָקְבָּהin orderלְמַעַןto destroyהַאֲבִידthe worshipersעֹבְדֵיof Baal.הַבָּעַל
Jehuיֵהוּאsaid,וַיֹּאמֶר“Consecrateקַדְּשׁוּa solemn assemblyעֲצָרָהfor Baal.”לַבַּעַלAnd they proclaimed it.וַיִּקְרָאוּ
Jehuיֵהוּאsentוַיִּשְׁלַחthrough allבְּכָלIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלand allכָּלthe worshipersעֹבְדֵיof Baalהַבַּעַלcame;וַיָּבֹאוּthere was notוְלֹאa manאִישׁleftנִשְׁאַרwhoאֲשֶׁרdid notלֹאcome.בָאThey wentוַיָּבֹאוּinto the houseבֵּיתof Baal,הַבַּעַלand the houseוַ בֵיתof Baalהַבַּעַלwas filledיִּמָּלֵאfrom one endפֶּהto the other.לָפֶה
He saidוַיֹּאמֶרto the one who wasלַאֲשֶׁרoverעַלthe wardrobe,הַמֶּלְתָּחָה“Bring outהוֹצֵאgarmentsלְבוּשׁfor allלְכֹלthe worshipersעֹבְדֵיof Baal.”הַבָּעַלAnd he brought outוַיֹּצֵאthe garmentsהַמַּלְבּוּשׁfor them.לָהֶם
Jehuיֵהוּאand Jonadabוִיהוֹנָדָבsonבֶּןof Rechabרֵכָבwentוַיָּבֹאinto the houseבֵּיתof Baal,הַבָּעַלand he saidוַיֹּאמֶרto the worshipersלְעֹבְדֵיof Baal,הַבַּעַל“Searchחַפְּשׂוּand seeוּרְאוּthat there is notפֶּן יֶשׁhereפֹּהwith youעִמָּכֶםany ofמֵthe servantsעַבְדֵיof YHWH,יְהוָהbutכִּי אִםonlyלְבַדָּםthe worshipersעֹבְדֵיof Baal.”הַבַּעַל
They went inוַיָּבֹאוּto offerלַעֲשׂוֹתsacrificesזְבָחִיםand burnt offerings.וְעֹלוֹתNow Jehuוְיֵהוּאhad stationedשָׂםfor himselfלוֹoutsideבַחוּץeightyשְׁמֹנִיםmenאִישׁand had said,וַיֹּאמֶר“The manהָאִישׁwhoאֲשֶׁרlets escapeיִמָּלֵטany ofמִןthe menהָאֲנָשִׁיםwhomאֲשֶׁרIאֲנִיam bringingמֵבִיאintoעַלyour hands,יְדֵיכֶםhis lifeנַפְשׁוֹwill go forתַּחַתhis life.”נַפְשׁוֹ
And it happened,וַיְהִיwhen he had finishedכְּכַלֹּתוֹofferingלַעֲשׂוֹתthe burnt offering,הָעֹלָהthat Jehuוַ יֵהוּאsaidיֹּאמֶרto the runnersלָרָצִיםand to the captains,וְלַשָּׁלִשִׁים“Go in,בֹּאוּstrike them;הַכּוּםlet noאַלoneאִישׁget out.”יֵצֵאAnd they struck themוַיַּכּוּםwith the edgeלְפִיof the sword,חָרֶבand the runnersוַ הָרָצִיםand the captainsוְהַשָּׁלִשִׁיםthrew them outיַּשְׁלִכוּand wentוַיֵּלְכוּtoעַדthe cityעִירof the houseבֵּיתof Baal.הַבָּעַל
They brought outוַיֹּצִאוּthe standing stonesמַצְּבוֹתof the houseבֵּיתof Baalהַבַּעַלand burned it.וַיִּשְׂרְפוּהָ
They tore downוַיִּתְּצוּthe standing stoneמַצְּבַתof Baal,הַבָּעַלand they tore downוַיִּתְּצוּthe houseבֵּיתof Baalהַבַּעַלand made itוַיְשִׂמֻהוּinto latrinesלְמוֹצָאוֹתtoעַדthis day.הַיּוֹם
So Jehuוַ יֵהוּאwiped outיַּשְׁמֵדBaalהַבַּעַלfrom Israel.מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל
Onlyרַקfrom the sinsחֲטָאֵיof Jeroboamיָרָבְעָםsonבֶּןof Nebat,נְבָטby whichאֲשֶׁרhe made Israel sin,הֶחֱטִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלJehuיֵהוּאdid notלֹאturn awayסָרfrom following them:מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶםthe goldenהַזָּהָבcalvesעֶגְלֵיthatאֲשֶׁרwere in Bethelבֵּית אֵלand thatוַאֲשֶׁרwere in Dan.בְּדָן
YHWHיְהוָהsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלJehu,יֵהוּא“Becauseיַעַן אֲשֶׁרyou have done wellהֱטִיבֹתָin doingלַעֲשׂוֹתwhat is rightהַיָּשָׁרin my eyes,בְּעֵינַיand according to allכְּכֹלthatאֲשֶׁרwas in my heartבִּלְבָבִיyou have doneעָשִׂיתָto the houseלְבֵיתof Ahab,אַחְאָבsonsבְּנֵיof the fourth generationרְבִעִיםwill sitיֵשְׁבוּfor youלְךָonעַלthe throneכִּסֵּאof Israel.”יִשְׂרָאֵל
But Jehuוְיֵהוּאwas notלֹאcarefulשָׁמַרto walkלָלֶכֶתin the instructionבְּתוֹרַתof YHWH,יְהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלwith allבְּכָלhis heart;לְבָבוֹhe did notלֹאturn awayסָרfromמֵעַלthe sinsחַטֹּאותof Jeroboam,יָרָבְעָםby whichאֲשֶׁרhe made Israel sin.הֶחֱטִיא אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל
In thoseבַּ הָהֵםdaysיָּמִיםYHWHיְהוָהbeganהֵחֵלto cut off partsלְקַצּוֹתof Israel;בְּיִשְׂרָאֵלand Hazaelוַ חֲזָאֵלstruck themיַּכֵּםin allבְּכָלthe territoryגְּבוּלof Israel:יִשְׂרָאֵל
fromמִןthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּןeastward,מִזְרַח הַשֶּׁמֶשׁallכָּלthe landאֶרֶץof Gilead,הַגִּלְעָדthe Gaditesהַגָּדִיand the Reubenitesוְהָרֻאובֵנִיand the Manassites,וְהַמְנַשִּׁיfrom Aroer,מֵעֲרֹעֵרwhichאֲשֶׁרis byעַלthe wadiנַחַלArnon,אַרְנֹןboth Gileadוְהַגִּלְעָדand Bashan.וְהַבָּשָׁן
The restוְיֶתֶרof the actsדִּבְרֵיof Jehu,יֵהוּאand allוְכָלthatאֲשֶׁרhe did,עָשָׂהand allוְכָלhis might,גְּבוּרָתוֹare they notהֲלוֹא הֵםwrittenכְּתוּבִיםin the bookעַל סֵפֶרof the chroniclesדִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִיםof the kingsלְמַלְכֵיof Israel?יִשְׂרָאֵל
Jehuיֵהוּאlay downוַיִּשְׁכַּבwithעִםhis fathers,אֲבֹתָיוand they buriedוַיִּקְבְּרוּhimאֹתוֹin Samaria;בְּשֹׁמְרוֹןand Jehoahazוַ יְהוֹאָחָזhis sonבְּנוֹreignedיִּמְלֹךְin his place.תַּחְתָּיו
The daysוְהַיָּמִיםthatאֲשֶׁרJehuיֵהוּאreignedמָלַךְoverעַלIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלwere twentyעֶשְׂרִיםeightוּשְׁמֹנֶהyearsשָׁנָהin Samaria.בְּשֹׁמְרוֹן