And Achab had seventy sons in Sama- ria: so Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the chief men of the city, and to the ancients, and to them that brought up Achab’s children, saying:

Erant autem Achab septuaginta filii in Samaria: scripsit ergo Jehu litteras, et misit in Samariam, ad optimates civitatis, et ad majores natu, et ad nutritios Achab, dicens:

Over in Samaria, Achab had still seventy male descendants to his name. So Jehu dispatched a letter to the chiefs and elders there, and to those who had the young princes in their charge; these were the terms of it:

As soon as you receive these letters, ye that have your master’s sons, and chariots, and horses, and fenced cities, and armour,

Statim ut acceperitis litteras has, qui habetis filios domini vestri, et currus, et equos, et civitates firmas, et arma,

Here is work to be done when this letter reaches you. You have the royal family among you; chariots and horses, strongholds and weapons of war, are at your disposal.

Choose the best, and him that shall please you most of your master’s sons, and set him on his father’s throne, and fight for the house of your master.

eligite meliorem, et eum qui vobis placuerit de filiis domini vestri, et eum ponite super solium patris sui, et pugnate pro domo domini vestri.

Why then, you must pick out the likeliest among the princes, whichever enjoys your favour most, and put him on his father’s throne; then take up arms in the royal cause, and do battle.

But they were exceedingly afraid, and said: Behold two kings could not stand before him, and how shall we be able to resist?

Timuerunt illi vehementer, et dixerunt: Ecce duo reges non potuerunt stare coram eo, et quomodo nos valebimus resistere?

At this, they were thrown into consternation; here were two kings swept away by Jehu’s onset, and what resistance could they hope to offer him?

Therefore the overseers of the house, and the rulers of the city, and the ancients, and the tutors sent to Jehu, saying: We are thy servants, whatsoever thou shalt command us we will do, neither will we make us a king: do thou all that pleaseth thee.

Miserunt ergo præpositi domus, et præfecti civitatis, et majores natu, et nutritii, ad Jehu, dicentes: Servi tui sumus: quæcumque jusseris faciemus, nec constituemus nobis regem: quæcumque tibi placent, fac.

So all of them, guardians of the princes, chieftains and elders, sent word to Jehu, We are thy servants, awaiting thy commands; it is not for us to set up a king; do what is thy pleasure.

And he wrote letters the second time to them, saying: If you be mine, and will obey me, take the heads of the sons of your master, and come to me to Jezrahel by to morrow at this time. Now the king’s sons, being seventy men, were brought up with the chief men of the city.

Rescripsit autem eis litteras secundo, dicens: Si mei estis, et obeditis mihi, tollite capita filiorum domini vestri, et venite ad me hac eadem hora cras in Jezrahel. Porro filii regis, septuaginta viri, apud optimates civitates nutriebantur.

And this was the second letter he sent them, If you are loyal lieges of mine, cut off the heads of the princes, and bring them to me at Jezrahel this time to-morrow. These leading men of the city had the seventy princes in their keeping,

And when the letters came to them, they took the king’s sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezrahel.

Cumque venissent litteras ad eos, tulerunt filios regis, et occiderunt septuaginta viros, et posuerunt capita eorum in cophinis, et miserunt ad eum in Jezrahel.

and when the letter reached them, they killed all seventy, and sent back their heads in baskets to Jehu at Jezrahel.

And a messenger came, and told him, saying: They have brought the heads of the king’s sons. And he said: Lay ye them in two heaps by the entering in of the gate until the morning.

Venit autem nuntius, et indicavit ei, dicens: Attulerunt capita filiorum regis. Qui respondit: Ponite ea ad duos acervos juxta introitum portæ usque mane.

He, when news came to him that the princes’ heads had been brought there, would have them left in two heaps at the city gate till morning,

And when it was light, he went out, and standing said to all the people: You are just: if I conspired against my master, and slew him, who hath slain all these?

Cumque diluxisset, egressus est, et stans dixit ad omnem populum: Justi estis: si ego conjuravi contra dominum meum et interfeci eum, quis percussit omnes hos?

then, at dawn, he went out and confronted the people. You are without bias, he said to them; tell me, if I conspired against my master, who is to blame for the death of all these?

See therefore now that there hath not fallen to the ground any of the words of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Achab, and the Lord hath done that which he spoke in the hand of his servant Elias.

videte ergo nunc quoniam non cecidit de sermonibus Domini in terram, quos locutus est Dominus super domum Achab: et Dominus fecit quod locutus est in manu servi sui Eliæ.

You see for yourselves that no word of the Lord’s curse upon the house of Achab has missed the mark; what the Lord prophesied through his servant Elias, he has here fulfilled.

So Jehu slew all that were left of the house of Achab in Jezrahel, and all his chief men, and his friends, and his priests, till there were no remains left of him.

Percussit igitur Jehu omnes qui reliqui erant de domo Achab in Jezrahel, et universos optimates ejus, et notos, et sacerdotes, donec non remanerent ex eo reliquiæ.

Then Jehu put to death all that was left of Achab’s race in Jezrahel, with all that had been nobles, courtiers and priests in his reign, till no trace of him was left.

And he arose, and went to Samaria: and when he was come to the shepherds’ cabin in the way,

Et surrexit, et venit in Samariam: cumque venisset ad Cameram pastorum in via,

Then he made his way to Samaria; and when he reached the shepherds’ lodging by the road side,

He met with the brethren of Ochozias king of Juda, and he said to them: Who are you? And they answered: We are the brethren of Ochozias, and are come down to salute the sons of the king, and the sons of the queen.

invenit fratres Ochoziæ regis Juda: dixitque ad eos: Quinam estis vos? Qui responderunt: Fratres Ochoziæ sumus, et descendimus ad salutandos filios regis, et filios reginæ.

he fell in with some of Ochozias’ kindred, that had been king of Juda. And when he asked who they were, and they told him kinsmen of Ochozias, that were on their way to greet the sons and brothers of the king,

And he said: Take them alive. And they took them alive, and killed them at the pit by the cabin, two and forty men, and he left not any of them.

Qui ait: Comprehendite eos vivos. Quos cum comprehendissent vivos, jugulaverunt eos in cisterna juxta Cameram, quadraginta duos viros: et non reliquit ex eis quemquam.

he gave orders for their arrest. So they were seized as prisoners, forty-two of them in all, and their throats were cut over the pool by the shepherds’ lodging; not one of them was left alive.

And when he was departed thence, he found Jonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him, and he blessed him. And he said to him: Is thy heart right as my heart is with thy heart? And Jonadab said: It is. If it be, said he, give me thy hand. He gave him his hand. And he lifted him up to him into the chariot,

Cumque abiisset inde, invenit Jonadab filium Rechab in occursum sibi, et benedixit ei. Et ait ad eum: Numquid est cor tuum rectum, sicut cor meum cum corde tuo? Et ait Jonadab: Est. Si est, inquit, da manum tuam. Qui dedit ei manum suam. At ille levavit eum ad se in currum:

Passing on thence, he met Jonadab, son of Rechab, coming to greet him, and gave him welcome. Is thy heart true to me, he asked, as mine to thee? And when he learned that it was so, Give me thy hand, and lifted him up, by his outstretched hand, into the chariot.

And he said to him: Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord. So he made him ride in his chariot,

dixitque ad eum: Veni mecum, et vide zelum meum pro Domino. Et impositum in curru suo

Come with me, he said, and witness my zeal in the Lord’s cause. So, in his own chariot,

And brought him into Samaria. And he slew all that were left of Achab in Samaria, to a man, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Elias.

duxit in Samariam. Et percussit omnes qui reliqui fuerant de Achab in Samaria usque ad unum, juxta verbum Domini quod locutus est per Eliam.

he brought Jonadab to Samaria. And all of Achab’s household that were left in Samaria he destroyed to a man, so fulfilling that curse which the Lord pronounced through Elias.

And Jehu gathered together all the people, and said to them: Achab worshipped Baal a little, but I will worship him more.

Congregavit ergo Jehu omnem populum, et dixit ad eos: Achab coluit Baal parum, ego autem colam eum amplius.

Next, Jehu called a general assembly of the people, and told them, It was but scant worship Achab paid to Baal; Jehu means to pay him greater worship yet.

Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, and all his servants, and all his priests: let none be wanting, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal: whosoever shall be wanting shall not live. Now Jehu did this craftily, that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.

Nunc igitur omnes prophetas Baal, et universos servos ejus, et cunctos sacerdotes ipsius vocate ad me: nullus sit qui non veniat: sacrificium enim grande est mihi Baal: quicumque defuerit, non vivet. Porro Jehu faciebat hoc insidiose, ut disperderet cultores Baal.

Summon me all Baal’s prophets, all his worshippers, all his priests; at this great sacrifice I mean to offer Baal, none must be absent; it is death to the man whose place is found empty. All this was but a design Jehu had in hand, for destroying Baal’s worshippers.

And he said: Proclaim a festival for Baal. And he called,

Et dixit: Sanctificate diem solemnem Baal. Vocavitque,

So he would have a solemn feast proclaimed in Baal’s honour, and this summons of his

And he sent into all the borders of Israel, and all the servants of Baal came: there was not one left that did not come. And they went into the temple of Baal: and the house of Baal was filled, from one end to the other.

et misit in universos terminos Israël, et venerunt cuncti servi Baal: non fuit residuus ne unus quidem qui non veniret. Et ingressi sunt templum Baal: et repleta est domus Baal, a summo usque ad summum.

went out all through the confines of Israel; all Baal’s worshippers came in answer to it, not a man was left behind. And all made their way into Baal’s temple, till it was full from end to end.

And he said to them that were over the wardrobe: Bring forth garments for all the servants of Baal. And they brought them forth garments.

Dixitque his qui erant super vestes: Proferte vestimenta universis servis Baal. Et protulerunt eis vestes.

Then Jehu bade the wardrobe-keepers bring out garments for all Baal’s votaries, and when these had been brought,

And Jehu and Jonadab the son of Rechab went to the temple of Baal, and said to the worshippers of Baal: Search, and see that there be not any with you of the servants of the Lord, but that there be the servants of Baal only.

Ingressusque Jehu, et Jonadab filius Rechab, templum Baal, ait cultoribus Baal: Perquirite, et videte, ne quis forte vobiscum sit de servis Domini, sed ut sint servi Baal soli.

he and Jonadab the son of Rechab went into Baal’s temple, and bade the worshippers look well to it that none of the Lord’s servants were among them, only the followers of Baal.

And they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings: but Jehu had prepared him fourscore men without, and said to them: If any of the men escape, whom I have brought into your hands, he that letteth him go shall answer life for life.

Ingressi sunt igitur ut facerent victimas et holocausta: Jehu autem præparaverat sibi foris octoginta viros, et dixerat eis: Quicumque fugerit de hominibus his, quos ego adduxero in manus vestras, anima ejus erit pro anima illius.

And where they had entered, there was offering and burnt-sacrifice to be made. Without, Jehu had posted eighty men, telling them, If you let any of my quarry slip through your hands, it shall be life for life.

And it came to pass, when the burnt offering was ended, that Jehu commanded his soldiers and captains, saying: Go in, and kill them, let none escape. And the soldiers and captains slew them with the edge of the sword, and cast them out: and they went into the city of the temple of Baal,

Factum est autem, cum completum esset holocaustum, præcepit Jehu militibus et ducibus suis: Ingredimini, et percutite eos: nullus evadat. Percusseruntque eos in ore gladii, et projecerunt milites et duces: et ierunt in civitatem templi Baal,

And now, when the burnt-sacrifice was done, he gave orders to his bodyguard and his officers to go in and make an end of them; not one must escape. So these, his bodyguard and his captains, put them to the sword. Then they went to the Keep of Beth-baal,

And brought the statue out of Baal’s temple, and burnt it,

et protulerunt statuam de fano Baal, et combusserunt,

and took out Baal’s statue from the temple, to burn it,

And broke it in pieces. They destroyed also the temple of Baal, and made a jakes in its place unto this day.

et comminuerunt eam. Destruxerunt quoque ædem Baal, et fecerunt pro ea latrinas usque in diem hanc.

and crush it to pieces. As for Baal’s temple, they pulled it down, and made it a house of easement, as it is to this day.

So Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel:

Delevit itaque Jehu Baal de Israël:

Thus Jehu abolished the worship of Baal in Israel.

But yet he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who made Israel to sin, nor did he forsake the golden calves that were in Bethel and Dan.

verumtamen a peccatis Jeroboam filii Nabat, qui peccare fecit Israël, non recessit, nec dereliquit vitulos aureos qui erant in Bethel et in Dan.

Yet he would not forgo the sins of Jeroboam son of Nabat, that taught Israel to sin; at Bethel and at Dan the golden calves had their worship still.

And the Lord said to Jehu: Because thou hast diligently executed that which was right and pleasing in my eyes, and hast done to the house of Achab according to all that was in my heart: thy children shall sit upon the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.

Dixit autem Dominus ad Jehu: Quia studiose egisti quod rectum erat, et placebat in oculis meis, et omnia quæ erant in corde meo fecisti contra domum Achab: filii tui usque ad quartam generationem sedebunt super thronum Israël.

For thy zeal in doing my will, the Lord told him, for carrying out my just decrees against the line of Achab, I will let thy heirs keep the throne of Israel up to the fourth generation;

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord the God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, who had made Israel to sin.

Porro Jehu non custodivit ut ambularet in lege Domini Dei Israël in toto corde suo: non enim recessit a peccatis Jeroboam, qui peccare fecerat Israël.

and still this Jehu was too careless to follow the law of Israel’s God with his whole heart, by abandoning the sins of Jeroboam, that taught Israel to sin!

In those days the Lord began to be weary of Israel: and Hazael ravaged them in all the coasts of Israel,

In diebus illis cœpit Dominus tædere super Israël: percussitque eos Hazaël in universis finibus Israël,

It was in his days that the Lord began to grow aweary of Israel; and Hazael struck at all their frontiers,

From the Jordan eastward, all the land of Galaad, and Gad, and Ruben, and Manasses, from Aroer, which is upon the torrent Arnon, and Galaad, and Basan.

a Jordane contra orientalem plagam, omnem terram Galaad, et Gad, et Ruben, et Manasse, ab Aroër, quæ est super torrentem Arnon, et Galaad, et Basan.

where these lay east of the Jordan, Galaad, and Gad, and Ruben, and Manasses, and Aroer on the river Arnon, the whole territory of Galaad and Basan.

But the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and his strength, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

Reliqua autem verborum Jehu, et universa quæ fecit, et fortitudo ejus, nonne hæc scripta sunt in libro verborum dierum regum Israël?

What else Jehu did, all his history and the record of his great deeds, is to be found in the Annals of the kings of Israel.

And Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria: and Joachaz his son reigned in his stead.

Et dormivit Jehu cum patribus suis, sepelieruntque eum in Samaria: et regnavit Joachaz filius ejus pro eo.

And at last he was laid to rest with his fathers at Samaria, and the throne passed to his son Joachaz;

And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel, in Samaria, was eight and twenty years.

Dies autem quos regnavit Jehu super Israël, viginti et octo anni sunt in Samaria.

he had reigned over Israel, there in Samaria, for twenty-eight years.