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 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 mad 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!”
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 some 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!”