1. The prophet Elisha sent for a man from the company of the prophets. Elisha said to him, "Tuck your coat into your belt. Take this bottle of olive oil with you. Go to Ramoth Gilead.
2. "When you get there, look for Jehu. He's the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him. Get him away from his companions. Take him into an inside room.
3. Then get the bottle. Pour the oil on his head. Announce to him, 'The Lord says, "I anoint you as king over Israel." ' After that, open the door and run away. Do it quickly!"
4. So the young prophet went to Ramoth Gilead.
5. When he arrived, he found the army officers sitting together. "Commander, I have a message for you," he said. "For which one of us?" asked Jehu. "For you, commander," he replied.
6. Jehu got up and went into the house. Then the prophet poured the oil on Jehu's head. He announced, "The Lord is the God of Israel. He says, 'I am anointing you as king over my people Israel.
7. You must destroy the royal house of your master Ahab. I will pay them back for spilling the blood of my servants the prophets. I will also pay them back for the blood of all of my servants that Jezebel spilled.
8. The whole house of Ahab will die out. I will cut off every male in Israel who is related to Ahab. It does not matter whether they are slaves or free.
9. " 'I will make Ahab's royal house like the house of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. I will make it like the house of Baasha, the son of Ahijah.
10. Dogs will eat up Jezebel on a piece of land at Jezreel. No one will bury her.' " Then the prophet opened the door and ran away.
11. Jehu went out to where the other officers were. One of them asked him, "Is everything all right? Why did that crazy man come to you?" "You know the man. You know the kinds of things he says," Jehu replied.
12. "That's not true!" they said. "Tell us." Jehu said, "Here is what he told me. He announced, 'The Lord says, "I am anointing you as king over Israel." ' "
13. The officers quickly grabbed their coats. They spread them out under Jehu on the bare steps of the house. Then they blew a trumpet. They shouted, "Jehu is king!"
14. Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Jehu made plans against Joram. During that time Joram and Israel's whole army had been guarding Ramoth Gilead. They had been guarding it against Hazael, the king of Aram.