18. The horseman rode out to meet Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if there’s anything wrong.”Jehu said, “What’s it to you whether things are right or wrong? Fall in behind me.”The sentry said, “The messenger reached them, but he’s not returning.”
19. The king then sent a second horseman. When he reached them he said, “The king wants to know if there’s anything wrong.”Jehu said, “What’s it to you whether things are right or wrong? Fall in behind me.”
20. The sentry said, “The messenger reached them, but he’s not returning. The driving is like the driving of Jehu son of Nimshi—crazy!”
21. Joram ordered, “Get my chariot ready!” They hitched up his chariot. Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah, each in his own chariot, drove out to meet Jehu. They met in the field of Naboth of Jezreel.
22. When Joram saw Jehu he called out, “Good day, Jehu!”Jehu answered, “What’s good about it? How can there be anything good about it as long as the promiscuous whoring and sorceries of your mother Jezebel pollute the country?”
23. Joram wheeled his chariot around and fled, yelling to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap, Ahaziah!”
24. Jehu pulled on his bow and released an arrow; it hit Joram between the shoulder blades and went right through his heart. He slumped to his knees in his chariot.
25-26. Jehu ordered Bidkar, his lieutenant, “Quick—throw him into the field of Naboth of Jezreel. Remember when you and I were driving our chariots behind Ahab his father? That’s when God pronounced this doom upon him: ‘As surely as I saw the blood of murdered Naboth and his sons yesterday, you’ll pay for it on this exact piece of ground. God’s word!’ So take him and throw him out in the field. God’s instructions carried out to the letter!”
27. Ahaziah king of Judah saw what was going on and made his escape on the road toward Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him, yelling out, “Get him, too!” Jehu’s troops shot and wounded him in his chariot on the hill up to Gur, near Ibleam. He was able to make it as far as Megiddo; there he died.
28. His aides drove on to Jerusalem. They buried him in the family plot in the City of David.
29. In the eleventh year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, Ahaziah had become king of Judah.
30-31. When Jezebel heard that Jehu had arrived in Jezreel, she made herself up—put on eyeshadow and arranged her hair—and posed seductively at the window. When Jehu came through the city gate, she called down, “So, how are things, ‘Zimri,’ you dashing king-killer?”
32. Jehu looked up at the window and called, “Is there anybody up there on my side?” Two or three palace eunuchs looked out.