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Jehu

The furious charioteer anointed to end Ahab’s dynasty, zealous against Baal but not wholehearted for God.

Old Testament · c. 841–814 BC · 1 Kings, 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, Hosea · Also known as Son of Nimshi, King of Israel

About Jehu

Jehu, an army commander, was named to Elijah as Israel’s future king. Years later Elisha sent a young prophet to anoint him in secret at Ramothgilead, then flee. The watchman on Jezreel’s wall knew him from afar: "the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." Jehu killed King Joram, had Jezebel thrown down, and wiped out Ahab’s family, as Elijah had foretold. "Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD," he said, and "thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." But "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart," and kept the golden calves. He reigned twenty-eight years.

This guide speaks about Jehu, not as him, out of care: his rise was extremely violent, and the prophet Hosea later condemned "the blood of Jezreel." Jehu is the only Israelite king pictured in a surviving image from his own time: the Black Obelisk of the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III, now in the British Museum, shows Jehu or his envoy bowing with tribute.

The story

Anointed in an inner chamber

Elisha sent one of the sons of the prophets to Ramothgilead: "look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi... and carry him to an inner chamber; Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the LORD, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not."

2 Kings 9:1-10

He driveth furiously

Jehu rode for Jezreel. The watchman on the tower reported, "He came even unto them, and cometh not again: and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously."

2 Kings 9:17-20

See my zeal for the LORD

"Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD." Jehu gathered all Baal’s worshippers into Baal’s temple and destroyed them and the temple. "Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel. Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat... Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan."

2 Kings 10:16-29

Took no heed

God told him his sons would reign to the fourth generation, "because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes." "But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart." A century later Hosea warned, "I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the house of Jehu."

2 Kings 10:30-31; Hosea 1:4

Key moments

Questions about Jehu

Why was Jehu famous for his driving?

As his chariot approached Jezreel, the watchman reported, "the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi; for he driveth furiously." He was recognisable from a distance by his speed. The phrase stuck: people still call a reckless driver "a Jehu."

Was Jehu a good king?

Mixed. God commended him: "thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes," and "Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel." But "Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart," keeping the golden calves at Bethel and Dan. And Hosea later announced judgment for "the blood of Jezreel," suggesting his violence went beyond God’s purpose. Zeal is not the same as wholeheartedness.

Is there any evidence for Jehu outside the Bible?

Yes. The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, an Assyrian king, records tribute from "Jehu son of Omri" and shows a figure, Jehu himself or his envoy, bowing before the Assyrian king. It is in the British Museum and is the only known picture of an Israelite king made in his own lifetime. The Bible mentions Assyrian pressure on Israel in Jehu’s reign.

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Read it yourself

Start with 2 Kings 9:1-20; 10:18-31.

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