Day 27

Backtracking a little bit, Joram was in his 11th year when Ahaziah became king over Judah.

Jezebel was apparently still alive at this point and dolled herself up when Jehu came to Jezreel. She posed seductively and called out to Jehu, “Have you come in peace, you murderer? You’re just like Zimri, who murdered his master." Jehu asked if anyone up there was on his side. A few eunuchs peered out and were ordered by Jehu to throw Jezebel out the window, which they did and her blood spattered against the wall and on the horses. Jehu trampled her body under his horses’ hooves and went into the palace to eat and drink. After he had his fill, he suggested Jezebel be buried b/c she was the daughter of a king. All that was left of Jezebel was her skull, feet, and hands. God's words through Elijah were carried out about her being eaten by dogs.

Jehu wrote a message forewarning leaders in the city of Jezreel, elders, and those in charge of Ahab's 70 songs and posted them in Samaria. The letter stated that the most capable son should be put on the throne and prep time was needed to fight for the master's position. All the leaders who read the letter were petrified so they responded by submitting themselves into servant hood to Jehu and stating no one would be made king b/c he was in charge. Jehu wanted all 70 of Ahab's sons beheaded and the heads were to be sent to him first thing in the morning. The heads were in 2 piles at the city gate. Everyone, including friends and priests, who had any connection to Ahab were taken out by Jehu. Jehu then met up with Ahaziah's relatives who were shepherds by trade, at Beth Eked. All 42 were abducted and killed. Jehonadab the Rocabite joined forces with Jehu and they traveled to Samaria together. Everyone there who had any connection to Ahab was killed as God previously told Elijah.

Jehu called all the Baal prophets saying he wanted to offer a sacrifice, but in reality he just wanted them all dead. They all squished inside Baal's temple and eighty men had orders from Jehu to not let anyone escape and if they did, they were to kill them. Once the sacrifices were made, Jehu signaled his officers saying, "Enter and kill! No survivors!: The massacre began and corpses were thrown outside the temple and the path to the inner shrine was cleared. A huge phallic shaped stone was taken out and destroyed as well as the altars and the entire temple. This area has been a public toilet ever since. Ahh the humor :) Even after all these events occured, Jehu didn't turn away from the sins of Jeroboam. Israel still sinned. Bethel and Dan were still homes to golden calves. As a reward for doing what God commanded, Jehu's sons would reign over Israel for 4 generations. It was in God's plan to make Israel a smaller area and Hazael moved in from the east and conquered many territories.

Jehoahaz was the heir to the throne of Israel after Jehu reigned in Samaria for 28 years. Athaliah was Ahaziah's mother and she took over when she learned he was dead and started killing off the royal family. King Joram's daughter and Ahaziah's sister, Jehosheba, took Joash (Ahaziah's son) and kidnapped him so he wouldn't die. They hid with his nurse in the Temple of God for 6 years and escaped death. In the 7th year of Athaliah's reign, the captains of the body guards and security force for the palace were sent for by Jehoiada (a priest). Jehoiada made a covenant with them when they met at the Temple of God and only after they were sworn to secrecy did they learn about young Joash. At the changing of the guard on the Sabbath, Joash was to be protected by on duty and off duty officers. They had been ordered to kill anyone who tried to get to him. Jehoiada crowned prince Joash, handed the scroll of God's covenent to him, and pronounced him king. Athaliah saw the guards and the crowd forming as they shouted, "Long live the king" and ripped her robe crying, "Treason! Treason!" Military officers were to drag Athaliah outside the Temple of God and kill her as well as her followers. The people then entered Baal's temple and destroyed everything in sight, including Maltan the priest. Jehoiada stationed security around the Temple of God and appointed bodyguards for king Joash who was only 7 yrs old at the time. Jehu was in his 7th year of reigning when Joash took the throne.

Joash was trained by Jehoada and pleased God for the duration of his life. The sacred fertility shrines stayed put and people use them for sacrificing and incense burning. Joash told the priests to take the offering money brought to the Temple, both for mandatory and freewill, and renovated the Temple's damaged areas. By Joash's 23rd year of reigning, the priests hadn't honored his request and the Temple of God looked terrible. The priests were told by the king as well as Jehoiada, that all the money was to go directly to him and they were forbidden to take any money for repair. A small box was put at the entrance to the Temple and when it was full, the secretary to the king and chief priest could empty it. They would then put it towards the trades people who would do repairs.

Meanwhile, king Hazael of Aram attacked and captured Gath. Joash gave Hazael a huge gift of sacred memorials so he wouldn't attack Jerusalem. The palace staff who worked for Joash aspired against him and took it upon themselves to assassinate him as he walked outside the city wall. The assassins were Jozabad and Jehozabad. Amaziah was the heir to the throne.