Illustration created for this project.
Jehu
A commander anointed king of Israel by a young prophet sent by Elisha, with the commission to destroy the house of Ahab. He drove furiously to Jezreel, shot Joram through the heart, had Jezebel thrown from her window, and secured the heads of Ahab's seventy sons in baskets. He then gathered every worshipper of Baal into their temple on the pretence of a great sacrifice and had them killed, breaking down the pillar and making the place a latrine. Yet he did not turn from the golden calves at Bethel and Dan.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1
Archaeology — physical evidence · 1
Life, role & deeds
BibleA furious charioteer anointed to destroy the house of Ahab and stamp out Baal in Israel.
2 Kings 9:20; 10:28
Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin FRCP(Glasg) — CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
ArchaeologyThe Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III shows Jehu (or his envoy) bowing before the Assyrian king — the only known contemporary image of an Israelite ruler.
Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III (British Museum 118885), discovered by A. H. Layard 1846 at Nimrud (Kalhu); relief register depicting the tribute of 'Iaua (Jehu) son of Omri' bowing before the Assyrian king (c. 841 BC).
Where in scripture
2 KingsThe watchman said, “He came to them, and isn’t coming back. The driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously.”
2 Kings 9:20 — Drives furiously
Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
2 Kings 10:28 — Wipes out Baal
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Family
In their own words — 19 recorded sayings
“And when he came, he saw the captains of the army seated together; and he said, I have something to say to you, O captain. And Jehu said, To which of us? And he said, To you, O captain.” — 2 Kings 9:5
“Then Jehu came out again to the servants of his lord, and one said to him, Is all well? why did this man, who is off his head, come to you? And he said to them, You have knowledge of the man and of his talk.” — 2 Kings 9:11
“And they said, That is not true; now give us his story. Then he said, This is what he said to me: The Lord says, I have made you king over Israel.” — 2 Kings 9:12
“But King Joram had gone back to Jezreel to get well from the wounds which the Aramaeans had given him when he was fighting against Hazael, king of Aram.) And Jehu said, If this is your purpose, then let no one get away and go out of the town to give news of it in Jezreel.” — 2 Kings 9:15
“So a horseman went out to them and said, The king says, Is it peace? And Jehu said, What have you to do with peace? come after me. And the watchman gave them word, saying, The horseman went up to them, but has not come back.” — 2 Kings 9:18
“Then he sent out a second horseman, who came up to them and said, The king says, Is it peace? And Jehu said in answer, What have you to do with peace? come after me.” — 2 Kings 9:19
“Now when Joram saw Jehu he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he said in answer, What peace is possible while all the land is full of the disgusting sins of your mother Jezebel, and her secret arts?” — 2 Kings 9:22
“Then Jehu said to Bidkar, his captain, Take him up, and put him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite: for is not that day in your memory when you and I together on our horses were going after Ahab, his father, and the Lord put this fate on him, saying: I saw the blood of Naboth and of his sons yesterday; and I will give you full payment in this field, says the Lord? So now, take him and put him in this field, as the Lord said. Now when Ahaziah, king of Judah, saw this, he went in flight by the way of the garden house. And Jehu came after him and said, Put him to death in the same way; and…” — 2 Kings 9:25-27
…and 11 more recorded sayings.
Speaker attribution: Clear Bible MACULA (CC BY 4.0). Wording: Bible in Basic English (public domain).
Events
In art
