9. The next morning Jehu went out. He stood before all the people and said, ‘You are innocent. It was I who conspired against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?
10. Know, then, that not a word the Lord has spoken against the house of Ahab will fail. The Lord has done what he announced through his servant Elijah.’
11. So Jehu killed everyone in Jezreel who remained of the house of Ahab, as well as all his chief men, his close friends and his priests, leaving him no survivor.
12. Jehu then set out and went towards Samaria. At Beth Eked of the Shepherds,
13. he met some relatives of Ahaziah king of Judah and asked, ‘Who are you?’They said, ‘We are relatives of Ahaziah, and we have come down to greet the families of the king and of the queen mother.’
14. ‘Take them alive!’ he ordered. So they took them alive and slaughtered them by the well of Beth Eked – forty-two of them. He left no survivor.
15. After he left there, he came upon Jehonadab son of Rekab, who was on his way to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said, ‘Are you in accord with me, as I am with you?’‘I am,’ Jehonadab answered.‘If so,’ said Jehu, ‘give me your hand.’ So he did, and Jehu helped him up into the chariot.
16. Jehu said, ‘Come with me and see my zeal for the Lord.’ Then he made him ride in his chariot.
17. When Jehu came to Samaria, he killed all who were left there of Ahab’s family; he destroyed them, according to the word of the Lord spoken to Elijah.
18. Then Jehu brought all the people together and said to them, ‘Ahab served Baal a little; Jehu will serve him much.
19. Now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. See that no one is missing, because I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who fails to come will no longer live.’ But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
20. Jehu said, ‘Call an assembly in honour of Baal.’ So they proclaimed it.
21. Then he sent word throughout Israel, and all the servants of Baal came; not one stayed away. They crowded into the temple of Baal until it was full from one end to the other.
22. And Jehu said to the keeper of the wardrobe, ‘Bring robes for all the servants of Baal.’ So he brought out robes for them.
23. Then Jehu and Jehonadab son of Rekab went into the temple of Baal. Jehu said to the servants of Baal, ‘Look around and see that no one who serves the Lord is here with you – only servants of Baal.’
24. So they went in to make sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had posted eighty men outside with this warning: ‘If one of you lets any of the men I am placing in your hands escape, it will be your life for his life.’
25. As soon as Jehu had finished making the burnt offering, he ordered the guards and officers: ‘Go in and kill them; let no one escape.’ So they cut them down with the sword. The guards and officers threw the bodies out and then entered the inner shrine of the temple of Baal.
26. They brought the sacred stone out of the temple of Baal and burned it.