1
Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up [the sons of] Ahab, saying,
2
Now as soon as this letter comes to you, seeing your master`s sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor;
3
look you out the best and meet of your master`s sons, and set him on his father`s throne, and fight for your master`s house.
4
But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, Behold, the two kings didn`t stand before him: how then shall we stand?
5
He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who brought up [the children], sent to Jehu, saying, We are your servants, and will do all that you shall bid us; we will not make any man king: you do that which is good in your eyes.
6
Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, If you be on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your master`s sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time. Now the king`s sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up.
7
It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king`s sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel.