6. So he wrote them a second letter. It read, “If you are on my side and ready to listen to me, bring the heads of your master’s heirs to me in Jezreel about this time tomorrow.”The 70 male heirs were staying with the city’s most powerful men. These men had raised them.
7. When the letter came to the men, they slaughtered all 70 heirs. They put the heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.
8. A messenger told him, “They’ve brought the heads of the king’s heirs.”Jehu said, “Put them in two piles at the entrance to the gateway until morning.”
9. In the morning he stood there. He told the people, “You are innocent. I plotted against my master and killed him. But who killed all these men?
10. You can be sure that the word of the Lord spoken about Ahab’s family will be fulfilled. The Lord will do what he said through his servant Elijah.”
11. Jehu also killed every member of Ahab’s household who was left in Jezreel: all the most powerful men, friends, and priests. Not one of them was left.
12. Then Jehu left for Samaria. When he came to Beth Eked of the Shepherds,
13. he found some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. “Who are you?” he asked.They answered, “We’re Ahaziah’s relatives. We’ve come to greet the families of the king and the queen mother.”
14. Jehu ordered, “Capture them!”⌊Jehu’s men⌋ captured and slaughtered 42 of them at a cistern near Beth Eked. They didn’t leave any survivors.
15. When he left that place, he met Jehonadab, son of Rechab, who was coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Are you as loyal to me as I am to you?”“I am,” Jehonadab answered.⌊So Jehu said,⌋ “If you are, give me your hand.”When he gave Jehu his hand, Jehu helped him up into the chariot.
16. Jehu said, “Come with me. See how devoted I am to the Lord.” So he had Jehonadab ride on his chariot.
17. When they arrived in Samaria, Jehu killed the rest of Ahab’s family, every member who was left in Samaria. He wiped them out, as the Lord had told Elijah.
18. Then Jehu brought all the people together. He said, “Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him a lot.