8. When Jehu was told what had happened, he said, “Put the heads in two piles at the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”
9. The next morning, Jehu went out and stood where everyone could hear him, and he said, “You people are not guilty of anything. I'm the one who plotted against Joram and had him killed. But who killed all these men?
10. Listen to me. Everything the Lord's servant Elijah promised about Ahab's family will come true.”
11. Then Jehu killed the rest of Ahab's relatives living in Jezreel, as well as his highest officials, his priests, and his closest friends. No one in Ahab's family was left alive in Jezreel.
12-13. Jehu left for Samaria, and along the way, he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah at a place where shepherds meet. He asked, “Who are you?”“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered. “We're going to visit his family.”
14. “Take them alive!” Jehu said to his officers. So they grabbed them and led them to the well near the shepherds' meeting place, where they killed all forty-two of them.
15. As Jehu went on, he saw Jehonadab son of Rechab coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him, then said, “Jehonadab, I'm on your side. Are you on mine?”“Yes, I am.”“Then give me your hand,” Jehu answered. He helped Jehonadab into his chariot
16. and said, “Come with me and see how faithful I am to the Lord.”They rode together in Jehu's chariot
17. to Samaria. Jehu killed everyone there who belonged to Ahab's family, as well as all his officials. Everyone in his family was now dead, just as the Lord had promised Elijah.
18. Jehu called together the people in Samaria and said:King Ahab sometimes worshipped Baal, but I will be completely faithful to Baal.
19. I'm going to offer a huge sacrifice to him. So invite his prophets and priests, and be sure everyone who worships him is there. Anyone who doesn't come will be killed.But this was a trick—Jehu was really planning to kill the worshippers of Baal.