Jehu Becomes King of Israel
1 One day, Elisha called for one of the other prophets and said:
Take this bottle of olive oil and get ready to go to the town of Ramoth in Gilead. 2 When you get there, find Jehu son of Jehoshaphat and grandson of Nimshi. Take him to a place where the two of you can be alone, 3 then pour olive oil on his head to show that he is the new king. Say to him, “The Lord has chosen you to be king of Israel.” Then leave quickly—don't wait around for anything!
4 The young prophet left for Ramoth. 5 When he arrived, the army officers were meeting together. “Sir, I have a message for you,” he said.
“For which one of us?” Jehu asked.
“You, sir,” the prophet answered. 6 So Jehu got up and went inside. The prophet poured olive oil on Jehu's head and told him:
The Lord God of Israel has this message for you: “I am the Lord, and I have chosen you to be king of my people Israel. 7 I want you to wipe out the family of Ahab, so Jezebel will be punished for killing the prophets and my other servants. 8 Every man and boy in Ahab's family must die, whether slave or free. 9 His whole family must be destroyed, just like the families of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah. 10 As for Jezebel, her body will be eaten by dogs in the town of Jezreel. There won't be enough left of her to bury.”
Then the young prophet opened the door and ran out.
11 Jehu went back to his officers, and one of them asked, “What did that crazy prophet want? Is everything all right?”
“You know him and how he talks,” Jehu answered.
12 “No, we don't. What did he say?” they asked.
“He had a message from the Lord,” Jehu replied. “He said that the Lord has chosen me to be the next king of Israel.”
13 They quickly grabbed their coats and spread them out on the steps where Jehu was standing. Someone blew a trumpet, and everyone shouted, “Jehu is king!”
Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah
14-16 King Joram of Israel had been badly wounded in the battle at Ramoth, trying to defend it against King Hazael and the Syrian army. Joram was now recovering in Jezreel, and King Ahaziah of Judah was there, visiting him.
Meanwhile, Jehu was in Ramoth, making plans to kill Joram. He said to his officers, “If you want me to be king, then don't let anyone leave this town. They might go to Jezreel and tell Joram.” Then Jehu got in his chariot and rode to Jezreel.
17 When the guard in the watchtower at Jezreel saw Jehu and his men riding up, he shouted to the king, “I see a large group of men coming this way.”
Joram ordered, “Send someone out to ask them if this is a friendly visit.”
18 One of the soldiers rode out and said to Jehu, “King Joram wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”
“What's it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just stay behind me with the rest of my troops!”
About the same time the guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back.”
19 So Joram sent out another rider, who rode up to Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”
“What's it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just get behind me with the rest of my troops!”
20 The guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!”
21 Joram commanded, “Get my chariot ready.” Then he and Ahaziah got in their chariots and rode out to meet Jehu. They all met on the land that had belonged to Naboth. 22 Joram asked, “Jehu, is this a peaceful visit?”
“How can there be peace?” Jehu asked. “Your mother Jezebel has caused everyone to worship idols and practice witchcraft.”
23 “Ahaziah, let's get out of here!” Joram yelled. “It's a trap!” As Joram tried to escape, 24 Jehu shot an arrow. It hit Joram between his shoulders, then it went through his heart and came out his chest. He fell over dead in his chariot.
25-26 Jehu commanded his assistant Bidkar, “Get Joram's body and throw it in the field that Naboth once owned. Do you remember when you and I used to ride side by side behind Joram's father Ahab? It was then that the Lord swore to Ahab that he would be punished in the same field where he had killed Naboth and his sons. So throw Joram's body there, just as the Lord said.”
27 Ahaziah saw all of this happen and tried to escape to the town of Beth-Haggan, but Jehu caught up with him and shouted, “Kill him too!” So his troops shot Ahaziah with an arrow while he was on the road to Gur near Ibleam. He went as far as Megiddo, where he died. 28 Ahaziah's officers put his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where they buried him beside his ancestors.
29 Ahaziah had become king of Judah in the eleventh year of the rule of Ahab's son Joram.
Jehu Kills Jezebel
30 Jehu headed toward Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard he was coming, she put on eye shadow and brushed her hair. Then she stood at the window, waiting for him to arrive. 31 As he walked through the city gate, she shouted down to him, “Why did you come here, you murderer? To kill the king? You're no better than Zimri!”
32 He looked up toward the window and asked, “Is anyone up there on my side?” A few palace workers stuck their heads out of a window, 33 and Jehu shouted, “Throw her out the window!” They threw her down, and her blood splattered on the walls and on the horses that trampled her body.
34 Jehu left to get something to eat and drink. Then he told some workers, “Even though she was evil, she was a king's daughter, so make sure she has a proper burial.”
35 But when they went out to bury her body, they found only her skull, her hands, and her feet. 36 They reported this to Jehu, and he said, “The Lord told Elijah the prophet that Jezebel's body would be eaten by dogs right here in Jezreel. 37 And he warned that her bones would be spread all over the ground like manure, so that no one could tell who it was.”
Jehu ma rire ombara mOisrael
1 Kombunda yanao omuprofete Elisa wa isana umwe wokambumba kovaprofete omitanda na tja ku ye: “Rirongera nu u yende kOramot mOgilead. Twaerera onya ndji yomaze womiṋinga; 2 nu tji wa kavaza ngo, kapahe Jehu, omuzandu wa Josafat, omuzandu wa Nimsi. Mu twara ketuwo peke ohumburuko novakwao; 3 tirira omaze womiṋinga nga kotjiuru tje, nu itja nai: ‘Muhona ma tja eye we ku twirisa u rire ombara ya Israel!’ Nu zapo tjimanga poṋa mbo.”
4 Ingwi umwe wokambumba kovaprofete otja ya kOramot mOgilead 5 ka kavaza ovahongore votjimbumba tjovita ava wongara pamwe. Eye wa tja nai: “Muhongore omunene, ami mbi nombuze yoye.”
Jehu wa pura nai: “Ove mo hungire na uṋe wetu?”
Eye wa zira a tja: “Me hungire na ove, muhona.” 6 Tjazumba aveyevari otji va hita mondjuwo, nomuprofete ingwi omutanda wa tirira omaze womiṋinga kotjiuru tja Jehu na tja ku ye: “Muhona, Ndjambi wa Israel, ma tja nai: ‘Ami me ku twirisa u rire ombara yotjiwaṋa tjandje Israel. 7 Ove mo zepa omuhona woye ombara, ingwi omuzandu wa Ahab, kokutja mbi vere Isebel mena raindu tja zepa ovaprofete vandje varwe. 8 Eṱunḓu arihe ra Ahab nozondekurona ze mave ṱu; ami me zepa omuvena auhe meṱunḓu re, omunene nokaṱiṱi. 9 Ami me tjiti keṱunḓu re otja pu mba tjitire keṱunḓu ra Jerobeam, ombara ya Israel, nora Basa, ombara ya Israel. 10 Isebel ke nakupakwa; nungwari orurova rwe maru riwa i ozombwa mokuti kwa Jesreel.’ ” Ingwi omuprofete omutanda tja za nokuhungira omambo nga otja pita metuwo na tupuka.
11 Jehu wa yaruka kovakarere ovakwao, nowo ve mu pura nave tja: “Oviṋa avihe vi ri nawa? Omundu ngo omunaviyoze aa vanga tjike na ove?”
Jehu wa zira a tja: “Mamu tjiwa omundu ngo nokuhungira kwe!”
12 Nowo va zira nave tja: “Ayee, kako, eṱe katu nokutjiwa. Tu raera kutja eye wa tja vi!”
Nu Jehu wa zira a tja: “Eye we ndji raere kutja Muhona wa tja nai: ‘Ami me ku twirisa u rire ombara ya Israel?’ ”
13 Mokamanga imba ovakarere vapuna Jehu va yara ozombanda zawo kozondondo kutja Jehu a kurame ko, ave posisa ozohiva nave ravaere nai: “Jehu eye ombara!”
Joram, ombara ya Israel, ma ṱu
14 Jehu we rikuta kuna ovakwao okusekamena Joram. 15 Ombara Joram wa ri mOjesreel ka ya okukaveruka ovito vye mbya tendwa movita tji va rwa na Hasael, ombara ya Sirie, mOramot-Gilead. Nu Jehu wa tja nai kovakarere vapuna ye: “Tji mamu kara puna ami, ape ningi umwe ngu ma hene mOramot okukaraera otjiwaṋa mOjesreel.” 16 Jehu wa ronda metemba re rovita na i kOjesreel. Joram ingee wa ri e hiya veruka, nu Ahasia, ombara ya Juda, wa ri ngo okumuvarura.
17 Omutjevere ngwa ri moruhungu romatjeverero mOjesreel wa muna Jehu novandu ve amave ya. Eye wa ravaera na tja: “Me munu otjimbumba tjovandu.”
Joram wa zira a tja: “Hinda omukavire a katjiwe kutja ovandu mbo ovanahange poo ovanavita.”
18 Nomukavire ngwi wa katjakanena Jehu ne mu raere nai: “ombara mai vanga okutjiwa kutja ove weya otja omunahange?”
Jehu wa zira na tja: “Ihi katjiṋa tjoye! Ndji kongorera!”
Omutjevere ngwi ngwa ri moruhungu wa hepura kutja omuhindwa wa vaza otjimbumba, nungwari ka kotokere. 19 Omuhindwa warwe wa tumwa na kapura Jehu epuriro tjingero. Jehu wa zira rukwao a tja: “Ihi katjiṋa tjoye! Ndji kongorera!”
20 Nomutjevere ngwa ri moruhungu romatjeverero wa hepura rukwao kutja omuhindwa wa vaza otjimbumba, nungwari ka kotokere, neye wa weza na tja: “Omuhongore wotjimbumba ma hingi etemba re rovita tjimuna omundu ngwa vera oviyoze otja Jehu tje hinga.”
21 Joram wa rakiza a tja: “Kutireye etemba randje rovita!” Nowo va tjita nao. Nu Joram, ombara ya Israel, na Ahasia, ombara ya Juda, va hinga auhe metemba re okukahakaena na Jehu. Owo va kahakaenena mehi rotjikunino tji tja ri otja Nabot, Omujesreel. 22 Joram wa pura Jehu na tja: “We ya mohange?”
Jehu wa zira na tja: “Mape kara vi ohange, ngunda atu noundjai auhe natu karera ovisenginina mbya utwa i nyoko Isebel?”
23 Joram ngunda ama tanaura etemba re rovita okutupuka wa ravaera na tja: “Ihi otjiwova, Ahasia!” 24 Jehu opa nanena outa we na yaha Joram pokati kozohongwe, notjiku tja tuvakaṋa omutima; neye wa wira metemba re na koka. 25 Nu Jehu wa tja nai komukarere we ohongora Bidkar: “Toora orurova rwe nu u keruyumbe mehi rotjikunino tji tja ri otja Nabot; rizemburuka kutja ami na ove tji twa kavirire ozombarakana kongotwe yombara Ahab, ihe ya Joram, Muhona otja hungira omambo nga ku Ahab: 26 ‘Tjiri, ami erero mba mwine omaṱiro wa Nabot nowovazandu ve. Nu ami mba kwizika kutja me ku verere mba mehi rotjikunino tjingetjo!’ ” Jehu wa rakiza komukarere we ohongora na tja: “Nambano toora orurova rwa Joram u ru yumbe mehi rotjikunino tji tja ri otja Nabot otja Muhona pa hungira kutja mape tjitwa nao.”
Ombara Ahasia ma ṱu
27 Ahasia, ombara ya Juda, wa muna imbi mbya tjitwa, notja tupuka metemba re rovita okuhungama otjihuro Bet-Gan, ama rambwa i Jehu wa rakiza kovarwe ve wovita na tja: “Eye wina mu zepeye!” Nowo ve mu tanda ngunda ama hingi etemba re rovita mondjira okuyenda kOgur, popezu notjihuro Jibleam. Nungwari eye wa kondja okukayenda nga tja kavaza kotjihuro Megido ka kakokera. 28 Ovakarere ve va yarura orurova rwe metemba re rovita kOjerusalem, nave kemupaka momaendo wouhona mOtjihuro tja David.
29 Ahasia wa rira ombara ya Juda mombura oitjamurongo na imwe youhona wa Joram, omuzandu wa Ahab.
Ombara oserekaze Isebel ma ṱu
30 Jehu wa vaza mOjesreel. Isebel tja za nokuzuva imbi mbya tjitwa, we rivava omuti momeho okuyezorerisa, a ṱunu ozondjise ze na kurama poruiho rwondjuwo youhona ama tara komuvanda. 31 Jehu tja hita momuvero worumbo, Isebel wa ravaera na tja: “Ove, Simri! Ove, muzepe womuhona woye! We ere tjike mba?”
32 Jehu wa yera omeho we na ravaere a tja: “Owaṋi ngu ri komukuma wandje?” Ovakarere vevari poo vetatu vondjuwo youhona ve mu mwina moruiho, 33 nu Jehu wa tja nai ku wo: “Yumbeye Isebel pehi!” Nowo va yumba Isebel pehi, nombinḓu ye ya rimbarera kekuma rondjuwo na koukambe. Jehu wa hingira oukambe netemba re rovita kombanda yorurova rwa Isebel. 34 Neye otja hita mondjuwo youhona na karya nokunwa. Tjazumba wa tja nai: “Tooreye omukazendu ngo ngwa sengwa mu kemupake, orundu eye omusuko wombara.” 35 Nungwari ovarumendu mba mbe kemupaka kave vazere po otjiṋa posi yotjikongo tjotjiuru tje, nomaṱupa womake nowozombaze ze. 36 Owo tji va serekarera otjiṋa hi ku Jehu, eye wa tja nai: “Imbi Muhona ombya hungira kutja mavi tjitwa, indu tja hungira notjinyo tjomukarere we Elia na tja: ‘Ozombwa maze ri orurova rwa Isebel mokuti kwa Jesreel. 37 Orurova rwe maru rimbarere mbo tjimuna ombumbi, nga tji pe hi nomundu ngu me ru zemburuka!’ ”
