Jehu

Illustration pending

Also called: Zimri

OT Divided Monarchy

Army commander anointed king to destroy the house of Ahab in judgment for Jezebel's idolatry and murders, commended by God for that zeal, yet condemned by Hosea for its excessive bloodshed and for never removing Jeroboam's golden calves.

For younger readers

Jehu became king of Israel after God sent a prophet to anoint him and told him to end the wicked rule of King Ahab's family, who had led Israel into worshiping the false god Baal. Jehu acted quickly and fiercely, defeating Ahab's family and even tricking Baal's worshipers so he could destroy them and their temple. God said Jehu had done what was right in stopping this evil. But even though Jehu did this hard job, he never fully gave his own heart to God — he still let people worship golden calf statues instead of the one true God. Jehu's story teaches that doing the right action isn't the same as truly loving and following God with your whole heart.

Life Story

Jehu, an army commander, was anointed king over Israel by a young prophet sent from Elisha, told that God was raising him up to destroy the house of Ahab in judgment for Jezebel's murders and idolatry (2 Kings 9:1-10). Jehu acted with startling speed: he killed King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah, had Jezebel thrown from a window to be eaten by dogs exactly as Elijah had prophesied, and had all seventy of Ahab's remaining sons beheaded (2 Kings 9:14-37; 10:1-11). He then gathered Baal's prophets and worshipers under the pretense of a sacrifice to Baal and slaughtered them all, tearing down Baal's temple (2 Kings 10:18-28). God commended Jehu for carrying out this judgment, promising his descendants would sit on Israel's throne to the fourth generation (2 Kings 10:30) — later fulfilled exactly (2 Kings 15:12). Yet Jehu "was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD... with all his heart"; he never tore down the golden calves at Bethel and Dan, and Israel's worship stayed corrupted (2 Kings 10:29-31). The prophet Hosea later announced God would still judge Jehu's house for the bloodshed at Jezreel, showing that being an instrument of judgment is not the same as covenant faithfulness (Hosea 1:4).

First named in 1 Kings 19:16-17

References: 1 Kings 19:16-17; 2 Kings 9:2-31; 2 Kings 10:1-36; 2 Kings 12:1; 2 Kings 13:1; 2 Kings 14:8; 2 Kings 15:12; 2 Chronicles 22:7-9; 2 Chronicles 25:17; Hosea 1:4

Genealogy

Father

Jehoshaphat

Mother

—

Spouse(s)

—

Children

Jehoahaz

Connections

Jehoshaphat — begot → Jehu
Jehu — begot → Jehoahaz

View full connections graph →

See on the full timeline →