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were eager about the matter； and desired he would tell them； he
answered； that God had said he had chosen him to be king over the
multitude。 When he had said this； every one of them put off his
garment； （15） and strewed it under him； and blew with trumpets；
and gave notice that Jehu was king。 So when he had gotten the
army together； he was preparing to set out immediately against
Joram； at the city Jezreel； in which city； as we said before； he
was healing of the wound which he had received in the siege of
Ramoth。 It happened also that Ahaziah； king of Jerusalem； was now
come to Joram； for he was his sister's son； as we have said
already； to see how he did after his wound； and this upon account
of their kindred； but as Jehu was desirous to fall upon Joram；
and those with him； on the sudden； he desired that none of the
soldiers might run away and tell to Joram what had happened； for
that this would be an evident demonstration of their kindness to
him； and would show that their real inclinations were to make him
king。
3。 So they were pleased with what he did； and guarded the roads；
lest somebody should privately tell the thing to those that were
at Jezreel。 Now Jehu took his choice horsemen； and sat upon his
chariot； and went on for Jezreel； and when he was come near； the
watchman whom Joram had set there to spy out such as came to the
city； saw Jehu marching on； and told Joram that he saw a troop of
horsemen marching on。 Upon which he immediately gave orders； that
one of his horsemen should be sent out to meet them； and to know
who it was that was coming。 So when the horseman came up to Jehu；
he asked him in what condition the army was； for that the king
wanted to know it； but Jehu bid him not at all to meddle with
such matters； but to follow him。 When the watchman saw this； he
told Joram that the horseman had mingled himself among the
company； and came along with them。 And when the king had sent a
second messenger； Jehu commanded him to do as the former did； and
as soon as the watchman told this also to Joram； he at last got
upon his chariot himself； together with Ahaziah； the king of
Jerusalem； for； as we said before； he was there to see how Joram
did； after he had been wounded； as being his relation。 So he went
out to meet Jehu； who marched slowly； （16） and in good order； and
when Joram met him in the field of Naboth； he asked him if all
things were well in the camp； but Jehu reproached him bitterly；
and ventured to call his mother a witch and a harlot。 Upon this
the king； fearing what he intended； and suspecting he had no good
meaning； turned his chariot about as soon as he could； and said
to Ahaziah； 〃We are fought against by deceit and treachery。〃 But
Jehu drew his bow； and smote him； the arrow going through his
heart： so Joram fell down immediately on his knee； and gave up
the ghost。 Jehu also gave orders to Bidkar； the captain of the
third part of his army； to cast the dead body of Joram into the
field of Naboth； putting him in mind of the prophecy which Elijah
prophesied to Ahab his father； when he had slain Naboth； that
both he and his family should perish in that place； for that as
they sat behind Ahab's chariot； they heard the prophet say so；
and that it was now come to pass according to his prophecy。 Upon
the fall of Joram； Ahaziah was afraid of his own life； and turned
his chariot into another road； supposing he should not be seen by
Jehu； but he followed after him； and overtook him at a certain
acclivity； and drew his bow； and wounded him； so he left his
chariot； and got upon his horse； and fled from Jehu to Megiddo；
and though he was under cure； in a little time he died of that
wound； and was carried to Jerusalem； and buried there； after he
had reigned one year； and had proved a wicked man； and worse than
his father。
4。 Now when Jehu was come to Jezreel； Jezebel adorned herself and
stood upon a tower； and said； he was a fine servant that had
killed his master！ And when he looked up to her； he asked who she
was； and commanded her to come down to him。 At last he ordered
the eunuchs to throw her down from the tower； and being thrown
down； she be…sprinkled the wall with her blood； and was trodden
upon by the horses； and so died。 When this was done； Jehu came to
the palace with his friends； and took some refreshment after his
journey； both with other things； and by eating a meal。 He also
bid his servants to take up Jezebel and bury her； because of the
nobility of her blood； for she was descended from kings； but
those that were appointed to bury her found nothing else
remaining but the extreme parts of her body； for all the rest
were eaten by dogs。 When Jehu heard this； he admired the prophecy
of Elijah； for he foretold that she should perish in this manner
at Jezreel。
5。 Now Ahab had seventy sons brought up in Samaria。 So Jehu sent
two epistles； the one to them that brought up the children； the
other to the rulers of Samaria； which said； that they should set
up the most valiant of Ahab's sons for king； for that they had
abundance of chariots； and horses； and armor； and a great army；
and fenced cities； and that by so doing they might avenge the
murder of Ahab。 This he wrote to try the intentions of those of
Samaria。 Now when the rulers； and those that had brought up the
children； had read the letter； they were afraid； and considering
that they were not at all able to oppose him； who had already
subdued two very great kings； they returned him this answer： That
they owned him for their lord； and would do whatsoever he bade
them。 So he wrote back to them such a reply as enjoined them to
obey what he gave order for； and to cut off the heads of Ahab's
sons； and send them to him。 Accordingly the rulers sent for those
that brought up the sons of Ahab； and commanded them to slay
them； to cut off their heads； and send them to Jehu。 So they did
whatsoever they were commanded； without omitting any thing at
all； and put them up in wicker baskets； and sent them to Jezreel。
And when Jehu； as he was at supper with his friends； was informed
that the heads of Ahab's' sons were brought； he ordered them to
make two heaps of them； one before each of the gates； and in the
morning he went out to take a view of them； and when he saw them；
he began to say to the people that were present； that he did
himself make an expedition against his master ＇Joram＇； and slew
him； but that it was not he that slew all these； and he desired
them to take notice； that as to Ahab's family； all things had
come to pass according to God's prophecy； and his house was
perished； according as Elijah had foretold。 And when he had
further destroyed all the kindred of Ahab that were found in
Jezreel； he went to Samaria； and as he was upon the road； he met
the relations of Ahaziah king of Jerusalem； and asked them
whither they were going？ they replied； that they came to salute
Joram； and their own king Ahaziah； for they knew not that he had
slain them both。 So Jehu gave orders that they should catch
these； and kill them； being in number forty…two persons。
6。 After these； there met him a good and a righteous man； whose
name was Jehonadab； and who had been his friend of old。 He
saluted Jehu； and began to commend him； because he had done every
thing according to the will of God； in extirpating the house of
Ahab。 So Jehu desired him to come up into his chariot； and make
his entry with him into Samaria； and told him that he would not
spare one wicked man； but would punish the false prophets； and
false priests； and those that deceived the multitude； and
persuaded them to leave the worship of God Almighty； and to
worship foreign gods； and that it was a most excellent and most
pleasing sight to a good and a righteous man to see the wicked
punished。 So Jehonadab was persuaded by these arguments； and came
up into Jehu's chariot； and came to Samaria。 And Jehu sought out
for all Ahab's kindred； and slew them。 And being desirous that
none of the false prophets； nor the priests of Ahab's god； might
escape punishment； he caught them deceitfully by this wile； for
he gathered all the people together； and said that he would
worship twice as many gods as Ahab worshipped； and desired that
his priests； and prophets； and servants might be present； because
he would offer costly and great sacrifices to Ahab's god； and
that if any of his priests were wanting； they should be punished
with death。 Now Ahab's god was called Baal； and when he had
appointed a day on which he would offer those sacrifices； he sent
messengers through all the country of the Israelites； that they
might bring the priests of Baal to him。 So Jehu commanded to give
all the priests vestments； and when they had received them； he
went into the house ＇of Baal＇； with his friend Jehonadab； and
gave orders to make search whether there were not any foreigner
or stranger among them； for he would have no one of a different
religion to mix among their sacred offices。 And when they said
that there was no stranger there； and they were beginning their
sacrifices； he set fourscore men without； they being such of his
soldiers as he knew to be most faithful to him； and bid them slay
the prophets； and now