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!”
20. The guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!”
21. Joram commanded, “Get my chariot ready.” Then he and Ahaziah got in their chariots and rode out to meet Jehu. They all met on the land that had belonged to Naboth.
22. Joram asked, “Jehu, is this a peaceful visit?”“How can there be peace?” Jehu asked. “Your mother Jezebel has caused everyone to worship idols and practise witchcraft.”
23. “Ahaziah, let's get out of here!” Joram yelled. “It's a trap!” As Joram tried to escape,
24. Jehu shot an arrow. It hit Joram between his shoulders, then it went through his heart and came out of his chest. He fell over dead in his chariot.
25-26. Jehu commanded his assistant Bidkar, “Get Joram's body and throw it in the field that Naboth once owned. Do you remember when you and I used to ride side by side behind Joram's father Ahab? It was then that the Lord swore to Ahab that he would be punished in the same field where he had killed Naboth and his sons. So throw Joram's body there, just as the Lord said.”
27. Ahaziah saw all this happen and tried to escape to the town of Beth-Haggan, but Jehu caught up with him and shouted, “Kill him too!” So his troops shot Ahaziah with an arrow while he was on the road to Gur near Ibleam. He went as far as Megiddo, where he died.
28. Ahaziah's officers put his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where they buried him beside his ancestors.
29. Ahaziah had become king of Judah in the eleventh year of the rule of Ahab's son Joram.
30. Jehu headed towards Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard he was coming, she put on eye shadow and brushed her hair. Then she stood at the window, waiting for him to arrive.