Jehu

• Jehu was the son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi (2 Kings 9:2).

• He served as a commander in the army of King Ahab and later King Joram of Israel (2 Kings 9:5,14).

• God instructed the prophet Elisha to anoint Jehu as the next king of Israel (2 Kings 9:1-3).

• Elisha sent a young prophet to Ramoth-gilead to carry out the anointing (2 Kings 9:4-5).

• The young prophet anointed Jehu privately and told him to destroy the house of Ahab (2 Kings 9:6-10).

• Jehu's fellow officers discovered his anointing and proclaimed him king (2 Kings 9:11-13).

• Jehu drove his chariot to Jezreel, where King Joram was recovering from battle wounds (2 Kings 9:16-20).

• Jehu killed Joram by shooting him with an arrow as he fled in his chariot (2 Kings 9:21-24).

• Jehu also killed Ahaziah, the king of Judah, who was visiting Joram (2 Kings 9:27-28).

• Jehu ordered the execution of Jezebel, Ahab's widow. She was thrown from a window and her body was eaten by dogs (2 Kings 9:30-37).

• Jehu had all 70 of Ahab's sons in Samaria killed and their heads piled at the city gate (2 Kings 10:1-8).

• He eliminated all remaining members of Ahab's family in Jezreel (2 Kings 10:11).

• Jehu killed 42 relatives of Ahaziah of Judah at Beth-eked (2 Kings 10:12-14).

• He formed an alliance with Jehonadab son of Recab (2 Kings 10:15-16).

• Jehu tricked the worshippers of Baal into gathering at their temple, then had them all killed (2 Kings 10:18-25).

• He destroyed the temple of Baal in Samaria and turned it into a latrine (2 Kings 10:26-27).

• Although Jehu destroyed Baal worship, he continued to allow the worship of golden calves at Dan and Bethel (2 Kings 10:29).

• During his reign, Hazael of Aram (Syria) began to conquer Israelite territory east of the Jordan River (2 Kings 10:32-33).

• Jehu reigned over Israel for 28 years in Samaria (2 Kings 10:36).

• He died and was buried in Samaria, and his son Jehoahaz succeeded him as king (2 Kings 10:35).

Jehu's impact on Israel's political landscape.

1. End of the Omride Dynasty:

   1.    Jehu's coup ended the reign of the Omride dynasty (2 Kings 9-10).

   2.    This marked a major shift in Israel's leadership, as the Omrides had ruled for several decades.

2. Religious Reform:

   1.    Jehu eliminated Baal worship in Israel, which had been promoted by the previous dynasty (2 Kings 10:18-28).

   2.    However, he maintained the worship of golden calves at Dan and Bethel (2 Kings 10:29).

3. Weakened International Position:

   1.    During Jehu's reign, Israel's territory began to shrink due to Aramean (Syrian) expansion under Hazael (2 Kings 10:32-33).

   2.    This suggests a weakening of Israel's military and political power in the region.

4. Assyrian Influence:

   1.    Jehu is mentioned in the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III as paying tribute to Assyria.

   2.    This indicates that Israel was becoming subject to growing Assyrian influence in the region.

5. Strained Relations with Judah:

   1.    Jehu's killing of Ahaziah, king of Judah, and 42 of his relatives (2 Kings 9:27-28, 10:12-14) likely strained relations between the two kingdoms.

6. New Dynasty:

   1.    Jehu established a new dynasty that would rule Israel for four generations (2 Kings 10:30), bringing a measure of stability after the upheaval of his coup.

7. Partial Fulfillment of Prophecy:

   1.    Jehu's actions fulfilled part of Elijah's prophecy against the house of Ahab (1 Kings 21:21-24), which had political and religious implications.

Overall, Jehu's reign represented a significant shift in Israel's internal politics and religious practices, but it also marked the beginning of a period of declining influence in the broader regional context. His actions had lasting effects on Israel's relationship with neighbouring kingdoms and emerging powers like Assyria.

Several important lessons can be drawn from Jehu's life:

1. Obedience to God's call:

   1.   Jehu responded promptly to God's call through the prophet (2 Kings 9:1-13).

   2.   Lesson: Be ready to act when God calls, even if it means significant life changes.

2. Danger of partial obedience:

   1.   While Jehu eliminated Baal worship, he maintained the golden calves (2 Kings 10:28-29).

   2.   Lesson: Partial obedience can still lead to sin and its consequences.

3. Zeal without complete knowledge:

   1.   Jehu was zealous in carrying out God's judgment, but didn't fully follow God's ways (2 Kings 10:16, 31).

   2.   Lesson: Enthusiasm for God must be coupled with thorough understanding and obedience.

4. God's sovereignty in fulfilling prophecy:

   1.   Jehu's actions fulfilled prophecies against Ahab's house (1 Kings 21:21-24; 2 Kings 9:25-26).

   2.   Lesson: God's word will be fulfilled, often through human actions.

5. Dangers of pride and self-reliance:

   1.   Jehu boasted of his zeal (2 Kings 10:16) but didn't fully turn to God.

   2.   Lesson: Success in God's service should lead to humility, not pride.

6. Consequences of incomplete reformation:

   1.   Jehu's partial reforms didn't prevent Israel's eventual downfall (2 Kings 10:31-32).

   2.   Lesson: Half-measures in spiritual matters can have long-term negative consequences.

7. God's patience and judgment:

   1.   God rewarded Jehu's partial obedience (2 Kings 10:30) but also judged his shortcomings.

   2.   Lesson: God sees both our obedience and disobedience, responding to each accordingly.

8. The importance of heart transformation:

   1.   Jehu changed external practices but not the heart of the nation (2 Kings 10:31).

   2.   Lesson: True reform requires internal change, not just external compliance.

9. Legacy matters:

   1.   Jehu's actions affected multiple generations (2 Kings 10:30; 15:12).

   2.   Lesson: Our choices and actions can have far-reaching effects on others.

10. Beware of mixed motives:

    1.    Jehu's zeal for God seemed mixed with personal ambition (2 Kings 10:16-17).

    2.    Lesson: Examine your motives, ensuring they align fully with God's will.

These lessons from Jehu's life remind us of the complexity of human nature, the importance of full obedience to God, and the far-reaching consequences of our actions. They encourage us to seek God wholeheartedly and to be careful in how we carry out what we believe to be God's will.