Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets
Volume I: A Kingdom Divided
Lesson 15 Jehu Avenges the Deaths of the Prophets
the Second Book of the Kings 10:1–36
Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)*
New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE)*
Catechism of the Catholic Church
ex libris (in our library)
glossary for Thus Says the LORD—Volume I
cross references in Thus Says the LORD—Volume I
next lesson: Joash Repairs the Temple
This material coordinates with Lesson 15 on pages 92–96 in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.
“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, and I showed myself their Master, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each man teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”—the Book of Jeremiah 31:31–34
welcome to Volume I of our in-depth study of the biblical prophets
We invite you to check out the sample first lesson and video from Volume I of this Turning to 
God’s Word 
two-part Catholic Bible study. Our online pages link to the free related lesson videos, a glossary, and cross references in the biblical text, and include maps, additional commentary, and prayers based on the primary Scripture in each lesson. Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided contains 28 lessons and has been granted an imprimatur. It may be purchased from our website shop. The companion 23-lesson Volume II: Restoration & Redemption also is available for purchase. If you have a Bible-related question or comment, click on the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” button on any study page.
open with prayer
It’s always wise to begin any Bible study with prayer, whether reading the Scriptures alone or meeting with others in a discussion study group. You can pray using your own words or use one of the opening prayers on our website. We especially like the following:
Lord Jesus, you promised to send your Holy Spirit
to teach us all things.
As we read and study your word today,
allow it to touch our hearts and change our lives. Amen.
let’s review—the Second Book of the Kings 9:1–37
In Lesson 14 Jezebel’s Violent Death, Elisha sends one of the sons of the prophets to Ramoth-Gilead to anoint the military commander Jehu king of Israel. Jehu is told that he’s been chosen to become ruler of the northern kingdom in order to destroy the house of Ahab and to avenge the deaths of the LORD’s prophets and others in Israel who died attempting to remain faithful to God. Jehu takes his new job seriously and immediately goes to Jezreel where he kills the reigning northern king Joram, Ahab’s son, as well as Ahaziah, the king of Judah who had aligned with Joram to fight the Syrians at Ramoth-Gilead. Jehu next orders the death of Jezebel, Ahab’s widow. Before her body can be buried, her flesh is eaten by dogs, fulfilling a prophecy spoken by Elijah.
map notes—the LORD begins to cut off parts of Israel
Immediately after Jehu usurps the throne in the north, he begins a murderous campaign to destroy the house of Ahab and all worshipers of Baal, with the action taking place in and around Jezreel and Samaria. After Jehu’s killing spree comes to an end, the LORD promises that Jehu’s sons to the fourth generation will sit on the throne of Israel. Jehu fails to eliminate the golden calves at Dan and Bethel, however, and the Second Book of the Kings 10:32 records that the LORD begins to cut off parts of Israel. God uses the Syrian king Hazael as an instrument to bring this about. All of the territory conquered by the Syrians lies east of the Jordan River and stretches from Aroer near territory occupied by the Moabites north through Gilead and the region of Bashan. It includes the Transjordan territory settled by the tribes of Reuben and Gad and by the half-tribe of Manasseh. Click on the map (right) to enlarge it. The original map is on page 95 in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.
there’s a lot of killing going on (33:19)
In the video for Lesson 15, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps 
takes a look at what’s happening when God sanctions so much death. Because this is a difficult issue for present-day Christians, now might be a good time to review Matthew’s comments on the video overview for Lesson 7, “Elijah Triumphs over the Prophets of Baal.” It’s also useful to compare the actions of Jehu and Elijah in terms of how the LORD’s people have been turning to false gods, especially the god Baal, the worship of whom became state religion in the north when endorsed 
by Ahab and his wife Jezebel. While the prophet Elijah put hundreds of prophets of Baal to death, Jehu goes him one better by destroying as many of Baal’s priests and lay worshipers as possible.
The Scripture ranges for the videos that accompany this Catholic Bible study match the ranges for the sets of questions in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided. You can follow along with the video as Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps discusses Lesson 15, “Jehu Avenges the Deaths of the Prophets,” on pages 92–96 in the study book.
WHAT DO YOU THINK about Jehu’s actions as king?
Based on the terms of Jehu’s anointing recorded in the Second Book of the Kings 9:6–10, Jehu has been anointed specifically to kill on God’s behalf.
? How does Jehu’s assumption to the throne in the northern kingdom of Israel differ from the way in which Hazael becomes king of Syria?
? What does it mean to be anointed?
? What might explain why the LORD asked Elijah to anoint Jehu and Hazael?
? What might explain why Elijah failed to do this?
? The Second Book of the Kings 9:6-10 records that the phrase “Thus says the LORD the God of Israel” was used when Jehu was anointed. The term “the God of Israel” usually refers to the God of all of the descendants of Jacob, which would include people living in both the northern and southern kingdoms. Consider whether it’s likely the term retains that meaning 
when used to anoint Jehu. The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis offers more information about Jacob and the other Old Testament patriarchs Abraham and Isaac.
? Both Jehu and Hazael are tasked with slaying people residing in the northern kingdom. Why might it be necessary for a king of Israel to be involved in murdering fellow descendants of Jacob?
? What are some examples of the way in which Jehu relies on dramatic actions to achieve his goal of becoming uncontested king in the north?
? What are some examples of how present-day political leaders rely on dramatic actions to achieve their goals?
? Consider whether high theater is justified as a means to an end.
? What might explain why Jehu re-establishes Samaria as the northern kingdom’s political center instead of setting up his base of operations in Jezreel?
? What reasons might have been behind Ahab’s apparent fondness for Jezreel?
how Jesus explains violent death
It’s easy to misinterpret the violence in this section of the Old Testament and lose sight of the big picture regarding Divine Providence leading to God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. Death isn’t something that only occurs in the Old Testament, however. In the Gospel According to Luke 13:1–9, Jesus looks at the idea that the victims of violent or random deaths deserve to die because they’re sinners. Without looking at that Gospel passage, do you know how Jesus explains such deaths?
WHAT DO YOU THINK happens to the guardians of Ahab’s 70 sons?
In the Second Book of the Kings 10:1–7, the guardians of Ahab’s 70 sons don’t hesitate to behead their charges when asked to do so by Jehu.
? What reason do these guardians give for doing what Jehu asks?
? The Second Book of the Kings 10:17 records that after slaying everyone in Jezreel who had any relationship with Ahab, Jehu goes to Samaria “where he slew all that remained of Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the LORD which he spoke to Elijah.” Consider whether those Jehu slays in Samaria include the same people who had slain the 70 sons of Ahab.
? What evidence suggests that Jehu might have slain the guardians of Ahab’s 70 sons in Samaria?
? What evidence suggests that he might have spared them?
a mysterious number
The Second Book of the Kings 2:24 recorded that the prophet Elisha caused bears to kill 42 boys who had been mocking him. In the Second Book of the Kings 10:14, the number of kinsmen of Ahaziah from the southern kingdom of Judah who are slain by Jehu at Beth-Eked also is 42. While it seems likely that the number 42 held symbolic meaning for the authors of the First and Second Books of the Kings, it’s unclear to present-day readers exactly what that meaning may have been. Consider what the number might symbolize. One place to start is by considering that it’s arrived at by multiplying six by seven, and biblical meanings of both of those numbers are fairly well established.
another number with more obvious symbolism
The sons of Ahab who are slain by by their guardians in Samaria number 70. Because numbers are significant in Scripture, the number 70 suggests a link to the Table of Nations in the tenth chapter in the book of Genesis, which provides a genealogy of the sons of Noah and their dispersion after the Flood. Seventy therefore often appears in the Old Testament as a way of pointing to all of the known population of the ancient world. How might this influence how present-day readers interpret the murder of Ahab’s sons? The Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study In the Beginning: The Book of Genesis. takes an in-depth look at the early history of God’s people.
set apart—you could look it up in our archives
In the Second Book of the Kings 10:20, Jehu orders an assembly to be sanctified for Baal. In Lost in Translation, an online column that can help readers connect with ideas expressed in the original languages of the Scriptures, Turning to God’s Word author Matthew Phelps looks at being “set apart,” often translated as being sanctified. New Lost in Translation entries are posted on Mondays, and past entries are archived on our website. Contact us if you’d like to receive Lost in Translation by email every week. Setting apart can have either positive or negative connotations. Consider which might Jehu have in mind when he orders all the prophets, priests, and worshipers of Baal to assemble in the house of Baal in Samaria.
Jehu is a multi-dimensional figure
There’s temptation to view Jehu solely as a righteous weapon that the LORD uses to destroy descendants of Jacob who fail to worship the God of the covenant with Abraham, or solely as an evil king bent on spreading death and destruction throughout the northern kingdom. The biblical text provides passages to support either interpretation. In reality, Jehu is indeed an instrument of the LORD. But while Jehu is praised by God for destroying the house of Ahab, in the Second Book of the Kings 10:31 Jehu also is described as a king who “was not careful to walk in the law of the LORD the God of Israel with all his heart; he did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin.”
? After describing Jehu’s destruction of the house of Baal and all of those worshiping there, the Second Book of the Kings 10:29 records that Jehu nevertheless didn’t destroy the golden calves set up by Jeroboam at Bethel and Dan. What reason might Jehu have for failing to destroy these idols?
ex libris—beware of liturgical dangers
I
n The Spirit of the Liturgy, Pope Benedict XVI writes about the golden calf at 
Mount Horeb and the danger it posed to God’s people. The golden calves set up by Jeroboam at Dan and Bethel in the northern kingdom and not removed by Jehu or by any of the northern kings who preceded him represent a similar threat to worship of the LORD. Although the original intent was to use the golden calf at Mount Horeb and the golden calves at Dan and Bethel as visual stand-ins for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the very idea demonstrates a lack of understanding about who God is and how God should be worshiped. In the Old Testament no visual representations of the LORD are allowed. God is to remain unseen. It’s 
only in the New Testament that it’s possible to look at Jesus, see the face of the God, and live. At ex libris—main bookshelf, you can read an excerpt and learn more about The Spirit of the Liturgy and other books related to Bible study.
what’s happening when & where
Click on the timeline for Lesson 15 to expand it. It also appears on page 96 in the study book. Scholars speculate that the prophet Joel may have lived as early as the 9th century B.C. or as late as the 4th century B.C. The Book of Joel is the focus of Lesson 15 Joel & the Day of the LORD in the second 
volume of this Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study, Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume II: Restoration & Redemption.
the best Catholic commentary about Scripture
To find out more about how Church teaching is supported by Scripture passages in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided, check out the Index of Citations in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Links to the primary Scripture passages in the lesson (Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition [RSVCE*]) and relevant paragraphs in the Catechism are provided here. Not every passage in the biblical text for this Catholic Bible study is referenced in a Catechism paragraph, however, including the passage in this lesson from the Second Book of the Kings 10:1–36.
ways our glossary might prove helpful
In addition to providing information about geographical locations, our glossary also points out 
persons and places mentioned in the biblical text under multiple names or spellings. If you can remember a name but aren’t sure in which lesson it shows up, you can find it in the glossary, which lists every proper noun in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.
to learn more, read more Scripture
If you’re having difficulty with a particular passage of Scripture, it can be helpful to read the relevant 
cross references—but looking these up can take time. To make that easier, we’ve compiled the cross references from the Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE)—the translation that we reprint in our study books. That list can be found at the top of every online study page, and it includes links to cross references in the primary biblical text for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided.
don’t forget about our indexes & extra online material
If you’re trying to locate information about a specific Scripture passage, you can look it up in the index at the back of the study book or sample lesson. If you want to find a particular commentary, you can look up its title in the topics index. To learn more about another book of the Bible for which there’s a Turning to God’s Word study, visit the online study directories to read the commentaries and watch any accompanying videos. Finally, if you have a question or would like to make a comment about any of our studies, you can use one of the “ask us your question” or “what do you think” buttons to email our authors.
ex libris—Church documents & books about religious topics
Link to magisterial documents referred to in our Bible studies at ex libris—magisterial documents. This listing includes significant recent encyclicals as well as a number of historical Church documents. Recommended books related to Scripture study can be found at ex libris—main bookshelf.
wondering how to pronounce some of these words?
The following link is to a reading from the New International Version (NIV) Bible. To listen, open the link and click on the audio icon above the printed text. Although not taken from the translations used in our study materials, the NIV reading provides an audio guide to pronunciation of words in this lesson’s primary biblical text. A close online version of the translation of the Bible used in Catholic liturgy in the United States as well as an audio guide for daily Mass readings for the current month can be found on the website of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
the Second Book of the Kings 10:1–36 (NIV)
close with Bible-based prayer related to this lesson
Many of our Catholic study groups like to conclude their discussions with a prayer based on the scriptural focus of their lesson, and some participants include Scripture-specific prayer in their individual study. If you’re uncomfortable composing your own Bible-based prayers, you can follow our four easy steps. If you prefer, you can use the following prayer based on this lesson’s biblical text.
O God, you commissioned Jehu to punish your people
who’d turned away from true worship to honor false gods.
Grant that we may heed your word to us,
and help us to turn away from all that threatens our love for you.
We ask this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ,
who serves as your ultimate Prophet
by demonstrating his unwavering love for you—
and your unwavering love for your people. Amen.
Lesson 16 Joash Repairs the Temple—the Second Book of the Kings 11:1—12:21
Lesson 14 Jezebel’s Violent Death—the Second Book of the Kings 9:1–37
you also may like our free Lenten study of Jesus’ Passion (digital only)
Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering is a five-lesson Catholic Bible study offering an in-depth look at the biblical foundations of the movie The Passion of the Christ. This revised study, which has been granted an imprimatur, contains all of the original material of the 2004 edition as well as many new features in an improved, reader-friendly format. Click on the book’s cover to view the introduction. Free digital lessons of Jesus’ Passion: The Story of Redemptive Suffering are available on the website during Lent.
start a Turning to God’s Word Bible study
Thank you for your interest in Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets— Volume I: A Kingdom Divided
. 
Information about beginning this or one of our other Turning to God’s Word Bible studies can be found at start a Bible study. Tami, Matthew, and I always are available to answer your Bible-study questions or concerns. Contact us if you’d like to start one of our studies or have your schedule listed with other TtGW study groups on our website. —Jennifer
*There are seven deuterocanonical books in the Old Testament—the Books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees, as well as some passages in the Books of Esther and Daniel. Protestants usually refer to these works as “apocryphal,” a word that means “outside the (Protestant) canon” because they’re excluded from most Protestant Bibles. The word “deuterocanonical” means “second canon”; Catholics use that word to refer to any section of the Catholic Old Testament for which there are no extant, or existing, Hebrew manuscripts. All of the deuterocanonical books appear in the Septuagint, the earliest remaining versions of which date to the 1st century B.C. This Greek translation of the Old Testament was in common use by Jews at the time of Jesus. Learn more by reading How Do Catholic & Protestant Bibles Differ?
Turning to God’s Word printed Bible studies use the 2006 Revised Standard Version Second Catholic Edition (RSV2CE) translation for all Scripture references except those to the Psalms, which are taken from The Abbey Psalms and Canticles, prepared by the Benedictine monks of Conception Abbey and published in 2020 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Scripture on the online study pages for Thus Says the LORD: God Speaks Through His Servants the Prophets—Volume I: A Kingdom Divided links to the 1966 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE). The New International Version (NIV) audio recordings follow the same chapter and verse numbering as the RSV Catholic translations, but the NIV translation doesn’t include the deuterocanonical books and passages.
The 1966 RSVCE uses archaic pronouns and verb forms such as “thee,” “thou,” “didst” in the Psalms and in direct quotations attributed to God. The 2006 RSV2CE replaces these with more accessible English. A handful of significant translation changes in the RSV2CE include rendering almah as “virgin” in the Book of Isaiah 7:14 and restoring the term “begotten” in the Gospel According to John 3:16.
Numbering varies for some passages in this Bible study. Turning to God’s Word studies (print and digital) follow the numbering in the Revised Standard Version Catholic translations (RSV2CE and RSVCE). Discrepancies in the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) are noted in the Index of Scripture Citations in the study book and the online sample.
You can learn more about the Psalms by viewing a sample lesson from the Turning to God’s Word Catholic Bible study Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume I: Lauds & Vespers. The second part of that study, Sing a New Psalm: Communicating with God Through the Prayers of the Church—Volume II: Vigils, Day Prayer & Compline, is scheduled for publication in 2025. Some verse numbers may vary in different translations of the Psalms.