Who is King Jehu in the Bible?

Quick Facts

Father: Jehoshaphat, 2Ki 9:2
Predecessor: Joram of Israel, 2Ki 9:14-29
Succession: 10th king
Length of reign: 28 years, 2Ki 10:36
Successor: Jehoahaz of Israel, 2Ki 10:35
Kingdom: Kingdom of Israel
Reign: 841–814 BCE
Morality: evil king, 2Ki 10:29
Bible reference: 2Ki 9; 2Ki 10

Jehu is anointed as king of Israel

The name Jehu means Jehovah is He. He was the son of Jehoshaphat, the grandson of Nimshi, and the 10th king of the Kingdom of Israel. Though he started well, he also continued in the sin of Jeroboam I and was counted as a bad king. He rained for 28 years and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz.

His call into prominence began in the days of Elijah. God told Elijah to go and anoint Jehu as king of Israel, but he couldn’t do it. When Elisha succeeded Elijah, he sent one of his prophets to Ramoth-Gilead to anoint Jehu as king of Israel. Upon being anointed, Jehu was instructed to carry out a mission to rid the land of the evil practices and influence of the house of Ahab. (2 Kings 9:1-13) 

Jehu kills the family of Ahab

Jehu’s first task as king was to eliminate all the male members of the House of Ahab. He started by executing King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah who were descendants of Ahab (2Ki 9:14-29). Jehu then set his sights on Jezebel, the infamous queen and wife of Ahab. Jezebel met a gruesome end, as, by Jehu’s command, she was thrown out of a window and trampled by horses, fulfilling the prophecy that had been spoken against her. (2Ki 9:30-37)

In addition, Jehu also targeted the seventy sons of Ahab in Samaria. He sent letters to the leaders of the city and ordered them to kill all seventy sons, which they promptly carried out. This act was a clear message to the people that Jehu was determined to eradicate any trace of the house of Ahab from the land. (2 Kings 10:1-17)

Jehu destroys the worship of Baal

Jehu’s most notable action, however, was his campaign against the religion of Baal. With malicious intent, Jehu pretended to be a zealous worshiper of Baal and invited all the worshipers, prophets, and priests of Baal to a grand feast. Once they were all gathered in the temple of Baal in Samaria, Jehu ordered his men to kill them all. Not only did he eliminate the worshipers of Baal, but he also burned and demolished the house of Baal, completely eradicating the religion of Baal from the Kingdom of Israel. (2 Kings 10:18-27)

Jehu sins against God

Jehu spoke highly of himself as one who is zealous for the Lord (2Ki 10:16). However, though he removed the worship of Baal from the kingdom, he could not stop the other aspect of his kingdom’s idolatry which was the worship of the golden calves. Jehu himself and the people continued the sins of King Jeroboam I by worshiping the golden calves which were in Bethel and Dan. However, it is important to note that Jehu’s main mission was to eliminate the House of Ahab and the worship of Baal, which he accomplished with great zeal. (2 Kings 10:28-31)

Jehu fights Hazael of Syria

Jehu’s reign was not without challenges, as he faced threats from Hazael, the king of Syria, and lost all Israeli territories east of the Jordan to him which were all the lands of Gilead, Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manassites. Nevertheless, Jehu’s legacy as a king who carried out God’s judgment against the house of Ahab and the worshipers of Baal remains significant in biblical history. His actions serve as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God and standing against evil, even in the face of opposition. (2 Kings 10:32-36)

God’s promise and Jehu’s death

Though Jehu himself was guilty of idolatry, for executing God’s judgment against the house of Ahab and ridding the land of Baal religion, God promised him that his descendants to the fourth generation would be kings of Israel (2Ki 10:30). Jehu ruled for 28 years, died of natural causes, and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king. (2 Kings 10:35-36)

Contemporaries of Jehu

  • Joram of Israel, son of Ahab and king of Israel, whom Jehu killed. (2 Kings 9:24)
  • Ahaziah of Judah, son of Jehoram of Judah and king of Judah, whom Jehu killed. (2 Kings 9:27)
  • King Hazael of Syria – Jehu lost many wars and the territories of Israel east of Jordan to King Hazael. (2 Kings 10:32-36)
  • Queen Athaliah, daughter of Ahab was the self-imposed queen of Judah. (2 Kings 11:1)
  • Joash of Judah, son of King Ahaziah whom Jehu killed, succeeded Athaliah his grandmother. (2 Kings 12:1)
  • Prophet Elisha – he sent one of the prophets to anoint Jehu as king of Israel. (2 Kings 9:1)
  • Jehoiada the priest – he was a reformer in Judah and the spiritual father of Joash of Judah. (2 Kings 11:17-20)

Achievements of Jehu

  • Jehu fulfilled his task of eradicating the house of Ahab. (2Ki 9:14-29; 2Ki 9:30-37; 2 Kings 10:1-17)
  • Jehu destroyed the worship of Baal. (2 Kings 10:18-27)

Major events during Jehu’s time

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